I love to travel. Experiencing new places, events and meeting new people is all fantastic to me. I also love doing more local traveling and seeing what is in my own backyard However in order to travel, I have to do one of my least favorite things; pack my bag. I've always hated packing. I'm a master procrastinator when it comes to packing a suitcase. As a matter of fact, I'm avoiding packing for a trip right now.

Packing my bags before a trip is almost always a stressful experience. What all do I actually need? My suitcase is a neurotic mess of me either being over prepared or severely under prepared. I tend to pack for things that are extremely unlikely out of paranoia that I might forget something. Do I need a straightener, bathing suit, and winter clothes? Probably not, but I'll be damned if I can't go swimming on Christmas vacation just because I forgot a bathing suit! It's totally ridiculous, and I know this. However, if I under-pack, I totally beat myself up over not bringing something.

The next part of packing that I hate is actually fitting it in. Nothing is more satisfying than getting a carry-on to zip or sitting on that suitcase and hearing the latch shut. Packing should be an Olympic sport. Fitting everything in your bag is like an intense game of Tetris. The worst part is that you have to do this TWICE. The second time is always somehow harder than the first time you packed your luggage. If I didn't buy any souvenirs and have the same amount of stuff I came with, then how will this suitcase not close?!

After you put all of your earthly possessions into your luggage, you get to carry it! At this point of my packing process, I just want to abandon all of my luggage and become a minimalist. I almost always ask myself, "How do I have so much stuff? Did I really need three bags for this weekend?" Carrying bags through your hotel or airport can be a pain, literally. If you choose a suitcase with wheels to avoid carrying something, the wheels will inevitably get caught on something.

At the end of the day, we can all agree that packing is a necessary evil. Having basic toiletries and clean clothing are an absolute must. While packing and carrying luggage aren't my favorite parts of traveling, it does provide me with a sense of home even when I'm not physically there.