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Original poster

Not to understand why people ask you if you're all packed days before you leave...

115 replies

Theoeopleversuswork · 14/03/2023 22:41

Going on a work trip in a week and a colleague asked me today if I was all packed. Eh? We are leaving next Tuesday.... I have the whole weekend and haven't even started washing.....

I've been asked this question so many times in my life and am always bemused as to why people do this and what it is supposed to achieve. I can understand shopping and making lists in good time before a trip and I can understand packing big items which you won't use daily to cut down on prep time a couple of days in advance, but what use is it to pack suitcases several days in advance?

Don't you end up having to get stuff back out of the suitcase, use it and repack it if you do this? Are people just torturing themselves to be smugly organised? Or am I missing some great life hack?

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 14/03/2023 22:42

I always pack the night before I go and no great plan right number of knickers. A selection of closes covering the likely occasions

sendbackaletterfromamerica · 14/03/2023 22:42

I love packing early and ticking off my list then going without necessary items because they are packed! Sounds crazy but I do it!

secretllama · 14/03/2023 22:42

I dont get this either...I only ever pack the night before 🤣 or even on the day if my flight isn't until later in the day! Half the stuff you can't pack as you'll need daily anyway!

Puffalicious · 14/03/2023 22:43

It's just people making conversation- chill. It's usually an in to chat about the trip, what you might take, what you're reading etc. It's just small talk. I pack the day before, like most folk probably.

Schnooze · 14/03/2023 22:43

I normally pack the night before, having timetabled the washing etc beforehand, but occasionally if I know I’ve got a busy week I’ll try to get organised at the weekend.

Original poster
Theoeopleversuswork · 14/03/2023 22:44

sendbackaletterfromamerica · 14/03/2023 22:42

I love packing early and ticking off my list then going without necessary items because they are packed! Sounds crazy but I do it!

But don't you end up having to get stuff back out, wear it, wash it and repack it?

It seems like just organised for the sake of it to me....

OP posts:
NancyJoan · 14/03/2023 22:45

So weird, I agree. It takes the same length of time a week before departure as an hour before; it doesn’t make you more efficient if you do it in advance. Easy enough to mentally prepare, make sure things are clean/ironed. For a holiday I pack the day before, for an overnight I just do it in the morning, unless it’s a crazy-early start.

Womencanlift · 14/03/2023 22:46

Work trip is last minute for me but that’s because I do it so often I can pretty much do it automatically without much thought

Holiday I will start packing a few days before and I have enough clothes to do that and not have to take stuff out and re-wash

TooBigForMyBoots · 14/03/2023 22:50

I think it harks back to the days when travel was a big deal and often holiday clothes were bought and put onto a case straight away. As were unused toiletries and toothpaste.Grin

DashboardConfessional · 14/03/2023 22:50

Womencanlift · 14/03/2023 22:46

Work trip is last minute for me but that’s because I do it so often I can pretty much do it automatically without much thought

Holiday I will start packing a few days before and I have enough clothes to do that and not have to take stuff out and re-wash

So do I. I wash anything I need the week before, so I will get it all out, decide what I need and make a stack of folded stuff that doesn't need a wash. I wouldn't say the pile is packed, though. It's just quarantined.

Original poster
Theoeopleversuswork · 14/03/2023 22:52

TooBigForMyBoots · 14/03/2023 22:50

I think it harks back to the days when travel was a big deal and often holiday clothes were bought and put onto a case straight away. As were unused toiletries and toothpaste.Grin

Interesting, could be.

I think also some people love the ritual of packing for a holiday. I don't, personally, so I can't understand spending more time than necessary doing it but that sort of makes sense.

OP posts:
knobheadex · 14/03/2023 22:55

Yeah, it's weird. I pack about 12 hours before I leave. I've got enough clothes to have 'everything' in the wash and still have enough to pack for every eventuality though.

JudgeRudy · 14/03/2023 22:58

Agree, it's about as reasonable as asking "Oh, where are you going? Anywhere nice?"...."No, not this year, we've decided to go for dull and dirty and are staying at a filthy B&B in Slough"

JudgeRudy · 14/03/2023 22:59

knobheadex · 14/03/2023 22:55

Yeah, it's weird. I pack about 12 hours before I leave. I've got enough clothes to have 'everything' in the wash and still have enough to pack for every eventuality though.

I'm tumble drying mine at 2am when I'm leaving at 7am

Gremlinsuplate · 14/03/2023 22:59

Do you know my mum? She always asks questions like this. I realised it's because she has a suitcase just of holiday clothes for her and dad than only come out when they go to Portugal twice a year so it's always packed.

Pre kids I'd packed on the night before if leaving early, otherwise the morning of the trip. Bit more of a military operation now with two young kids but still only start packing a day or two ahead. We don't own enough clothes otherwise!

QueSyrahSyrah · 14/03/2023 23:02

I travel a lot between work and personal trips, if I packed a week or more in advance I'd spend half my life with a suitcase out or half of my stuff in it.

The night before is fine by me or even on the day if we're leaving home anytime after around 11am. Maybe a day earlier for an especially big or out of the ordinary trip.

Turnipworkharder · 14/03/2023 23:04

Of course you pack at least 3 days before you go. That way you know if you need to buy anything.

All toiletries go in the case,underwear, clothing ,shoes, painkillers.

Then a note on top with things to add like hairdryer any medication ect.
Or maybe it's just me that does it this way. 😀

Btjdkfnn · 14/03/2023 23:05

I think it's because they can't think of anything else to say.

I think about packing before leaving and write a list - that way I know if anything needs buying/washing/finding/whatever.

I will generally not pack until a day or two before as I don't have many clothes and will be actually wearing them!

NuffSaidSam · 14/03/2023 23:08

I think it means 'are you ready for your trip' or 'how are your preparations for your trip coming' or 'I know you're going on a trip and I should probably ask you about it but I don't know exactly what to say'.

Basically, it's just polite chit-chat, they're not actually conducting a survey on whether or not your suitcase is packed.

It's one of those times when being able to read between the lines is a useful skill.

Custardbanana · 14/03/2023 23:10

If I pack too early I pack too much stuff. I'd rather do it all last minute and hope for the best. Im sure I could get my hands on anything wherever I was going if I had forgotten it.

Hbh17 · 14/03/2023 23:14

I never understand this either. Doing packing several days before just means you are falling over bags in the house and your clothes are getting creased. The day/night before is ample time. But I do like to organise any paperwork and admin well in advance - that is the important bit; far more so than clothes.

Purplehyena · 14/03/2023 23:20

They’re just trying to make conversation!

That said, I start packing days in advance. I have my main packing list then keep a separate one of the things I can’t pack yet (as I need them before I go). Takes the stress away for me to have it done early, and it means I have time to sort things if I’m missing something.

Purplehyena · 14/03/2023 23:21

Turnipworkharder · 14/03/2023 23:04

Of course you pack at least 3 days before you go. That way you know if you need to buy anything.

All toiletries go in the case,underwear, clothing ,shoes, painkillers.

Then a note on top with things to add like hairdryer any medication ect.
Or maybe it's just me that does it this way. 😀

Exactly this!

CurlyhairedAssassin · 14/03/2023 23:24

TooBigForMyBoots · 14/03/2023 22:50

I think it harks back to the days when travel was a big deal and often holiday clothes were bought and put onto a case straight away. As were unused toiletries and toothpaste.Grin

I think this is the reason for it too. I’ve only ever known people of my parents’ generation to say it, and the odd person in the generation below who just parrots out what their own parents said.

ChopSuey2 · 14/03/2023 23:25

Like @NuffSaidSam I take it to mean "are you all ready/prepared?"

My answer is always no. Without fail, I travel with damp clothes 😂