Recently I went on a road trip, and I stopped by Monticello. There I saw Thomas Jefferson's "gentleman's traveling kit." It had a pen and ink, some paper, an observational journal, a razor and some other necessities for a gentleman at that time. It got me thinking: what would be in my traveling kit?

1. Passport

In case your president decides to do something stupid and you want to get out of the country. Your passport does you know good if it's sitting at home.

2. Wallet

Make sure you have a debit or credit card as well as some cash. The former are needed to rent hotels, and the latter is good in case the government takes over the bank and freezes your account. On a less paranoid note, cash comes in handy if somewhere doesn't take cards.

3. Swim Suit

I've been swimming in clothes way too often due to a forgotten swimsuit sitting at home in my chest of drawers. Don't make my same mistakes. Take a swim suit with you. And don't forget a towel. It's a good backup in case the hotel runs out of clean ones or if you want to go to the beach spontaneously. Especially if you're on a long trip, bring a plastic bag to put your wet clothes in later.

4. Hygienic Products

Don't forget that the airport won't accept liquids over three ounces. Check your toothpaste, foundation, moisturizer, and whatever other liquids you have to make sure they meet the limit. Then put them in a plastic bag. And of course, bring your toothbrush, deodorant, hairbrush and all those lovely things. Although it might seem odd, a roll of toilet is paper is also good to bring. Some public restrooms in America lack toilet paper, but this is especially true for foreign countries. Bring your own toilet paper when you leave the country.

5. Change of Shoes

Flips flops might be perfect for the airport or the swimming pool, but tennis shoes and a necessity for any heavy walking. Don't miss out on a scenic hike or a jaunt to the beach because you forgot proper footwear.

Of course there are some other things that you should pack, like clean socks and pajamas. But if I was especially scatterbrained while packing, this kit would cover the things I most need or forget.