Everything AND the Kitchen Sink

Hi, my name is Gina and I'm a recovering pack rat... Why get into this now? Three reasons:

1. I saw that insane Pack Rat "puppet" / thing of nightmares at B&N the other day again. It makes me laugh hysterically while secretly fearing that some day I'll find it hovering over me in my sleep.
2. Because I finally Googled "packrat" and it's a REAL rodent. And it's adorable. So, you know... in my defense.
3. Vacation is coming. 

Mostly the last point is the struggle. Despite having gotten progressively better about not hoarding objects (including food) - thanks to several interventions and relocations - when it comes time to face the suitcase, my pack rat anxiety ramps up. Yes, I'll only be gone for a few days, but what if I NEED something? Maybe I'll finally wear that poncho that I've never worn ever, because it's vacation. Better bring it, just in case. And all those shoes. Because they don't sell shoes anywhere else in the world, so if I needed a pair that I didn't bring with, I'd have to go barefoot. Like Pocahontas. And we all know what happened to her. She didn't end up with Mel Gibson and then she died. All because she didn't pack those heels. 

I always wear bright socks in airports (in case anyone ever needs to ID my body).
And, I pack a plushie Canadian moose named Maximus when travelling alone.
But that's a story for another day.

The funny thing is: I'm great at packing. I could pack the Smithsonian into a shoe box. Dozens of outfits, shoes, miscellaneous crap, snacks, all the vitals and then throw in the kitchen sink. Because I've still got room in my suitcase. ((Note: the credit for learning this skill goes straight to my momma - you should see the woman pack a car, it's a thing of beauty. I'll never need to hire movers, because she'll make it fit somehow! #OneTrip))

It's not how to pack it, it's more like... Why? Why feel the need to pack half of my belongings into a bag that will potentially get lost en route (or picked up by that old lady at baggage claim who mistakenly thought your red suitcase was her black one)? It's totally unnecessary. And I have, in plenty of cases, packed extremely light (read: a week around Italy during college with just a backpack and a bag of cookies), meaning it IS possible. So, what is it that triggers my hoarding nature occasionally when attempting to pack? I figured out some possibilities:

• The idea of my stuff shuffling around inside my suitcase during the baggage handling process bugs me. If the suitcase is jammed full, then everything stays nicely nestled in its appropriate place. It has no room to move unless the hull is breached.
• I really hate wasting money. If I didn't pack something, and had to go buy it, I'd kick myself. Plus, I'd then have duplicate items, which really just comes full circle into the pack ratting thing. 
• For vacation wardrobe, the more outfits, the more photos you can be featured in. I know all the damn tricks for mixing / matching, but when I look back later I just see that exact same shirt. Now with a scarf, with a jacket, with a sombrero... Doesn't matter; it's the same frickin' shirt. And it's probably smelly because you wore it the whole trip. I'm not fooling myself or anyone else. I'm judging me.
• It's kind of a puzzle. I love puzzles. How to fit ones entire closet into a suitcase? What a most excellent game. 

I hate that shirt, better pack it. And the hangers, too.
Just to make it more of a challenge.

• If I buy a souvenir and don't have room to bring it back, I'll toss something else out. Anything packed is subject to discard. This was the strategy I employed returning from study abroad. All bags, filled to the brim. Arrived at the airport, found a scale. Weighed, discarded items, weighed, tossed, etc. til I hit weight. The garbage became home to almost all my socks/panties, empty notebook pages, plain shirts, tights, various flats, etc. Anything that could be easily replaced was chucked. This seems to contradict point two above, BUT odds are I'll be too lazy to replace anything tossed so #streamlining.
• I like my stuff. That's part of the pack rat nature. I want my things at my disposal, including while travelling.
• There are so many items with multiple purposes and my suitcase wants them all. A pillowcase used to be my secret weapon for hostel hopping. It's a grocery bag, a towel, a beach blanket, a headscarf, and...a pillowcase. 
• What if something goes awry? When we end up on that desert island, and I'm the only one who has a sewing kit and full pharmacy, y'all will be glad I packed all that crap! And I'll become the most powerful person on the island after the bartering system goes into effect. While everyone else is Lord of the Flying, I'll be doing a wardrobe change every five minutes.

At no point in time have I really regretted over-packing. But I have regretted under-packing. So for now, this pack rat will continue to attempt to streamline at home, but maybe not so much for travel. Will work through my over-packing insecurities in due time. Meanwhile, my kitchen sink and I will send you a postcard from the beaches of Key West! 

Anyone else have problems deciding what to pack? Do you get a little bit judgey when you see you've packed six pairs of socks for a weekend trip, too?

I Quit my Six-Figure Job to Sell Popsicles in Timbuktu

We've all seen articles on the internet with similar titles. Someone is a super successful VP of something, rolling in dough, but is oddly dissatisfied and starting to twitch from the overwhelming anxiety. They quit their job and move to a tropical island where they now sell ice cream and take long walks. They're happy as a clam, and money didn't get them there. Well, money got them their plane ticket there, and paid off their debts, bought them their beach-side bungalow, and gave them financial security to allow them the freedom to go hock their frosty treats to tourists, but you know, money didn't make them happy... but I digress. 

Unfortunately, my title was nothing but snark. I've not yet found myself in a six-figure salary role, else you know, I'd surely quit it. When I get there, I'll let you know. BUT meanwhile, I did quit my job!

Taking this show on the road! Come, plant!

Saying "quit" is far more dramatic than saying, "I got a new job." And to be honest, the masses respond much more favorable to "quit." Maybe it's the "don't let the man get you down" mentality running like a strong undercurrent through the middle classes. Or maybe it's the dream of all disgruntled lackeys chained to their desks in corporate America. Whatever it is, because I love me some solidarity, I made sure to tell everyone. The cashier at the dollar store, the lady at the pharmacy, receptionists of all shapes and sizes, the drive-thru guy: every stranger I had an excuse to talk to. 

Typically, when someone says, "Hi, how are you?" I'll respond with the standard polite, "Fine thanks, I'd like two cheeseburgers." Not the past two weeks. The past two weeks I went for the shock factor. No one expects a response of, "Doing swell, I just quit my job!" Granted, some gave me the "you still need to pay me" suspicious look, but overall the response was more "good for you!" I got several high fives, and even more well wishes. Pretty sure some people were more excited than me even.

After my farewell happy hour, I made going-away treats.
The cupcakes were blue, since I knew everyone would be sad to see me go #Ego
OR they were blue because I made them after happy hour #BoozeyBaking

So what did I learn from quitting my job and making a fresh start? I'll keep it quick:

• Sometimes the grass is greener. Life's too short. Take the leap. 
• That weight on your shoulders? It's not the world, it's your perception. Don't be a beast of burden. Check it each day at 5 o'clock, it's okay. Your health will thank you. So will your friends and family. Stress shouldn't be the third wheel in your relationships, or ride shotgun. It should be stuffed in the trunk or left on the side of the road. If you're at the right place, they'll support that.
• The baby birds can fly on their own. You can't always help them. And if they can't fly, well... Darwinism? 
• True colors show brightest during those final two weeks. The wheat will separate from the chaff. You'll figure out who's worth keeping. 
• Don't burn out before deciding to move on. Shine on. 
• Making new friends and meeting new people feels oddly foreign the older you get. It shouldn't. It's exciting. I highly recommend it. In general, people are just plain nice. 

Someday, I'll look back in my autobiography to the stat of this chapter, a chapter preceded by frustration and bitterness, and will smile at the title: The Turning Point. Cheers to new beginnings, dear friends. Cue the Frank Sinatra.

Regrets, I've had a few, 

but then again, too few to mention.

Resolutely Yours

Why hello there, 2016! Fancy seeing you here. You sure snuck up on us all! Barely got used to writing the "15" on my dates, and here you are to screw that all up again (luckily the 5 and 6 are an easy to correct - thanks, similar looking numbers!).

While 2015 sure was a hoot, 2016 is already shaping up to be one heck of a 365. To keep grounded during all the shenanigans, I decided to resolve a few things. Be resolute. Let my resoluteness abound. Not like, make resolutions, but you know... basically make resolutions. We all know once you attach the word "resolution," it's over. So really, I just decided to take some things I've been meaning to do and put them in list form. Because I don't trust anything that's not in list form (thanks, Buzzfeed, you've ruined my life).

In case you're looking for some resolve of your own, or just are curious, here's the list that will intertwine itself into my daily 2016 doings. You all have permission to obnoxiously hold me accountable now, and I have permission to say, "What list?" come May if I haven't held true to any off it. As is the American way.

1. Tidy Up: Life is never spotless, but I'm making a point to clean up my place each night before bed (dishes, putting things away, etc.). That way, when the serial killer that's been lurking in the shadows my whole life finally strikes, and Derek Morgan comes to my apartment to investigate, he'll look around and think, "Wow, this girl really had her shit together. It's too bad she's dead now because we'd have been perfect together." (And then he rips off his shirt...in mourning.) 
2. Hydrate: Not just drinking more water - that's a given. I may as well live in a desert for the amount of water I consume. It's a constant struggle to pick H20 over my other favorite awful forms of "hydration" (Dew, it's you). But besides that, I need to moisturize better, too. My face/neck regime is solid (thanks, Grandma!), but winter in the WI takes a toll. Let's face it, underneath our clothes are entire bodies are covered in scales. Bridget Jones let the cat out of the bag there. It's time to spend the two minutes and $2 it takes to put lotion on my legs/arms/everything else once in a while, like an adult.
3. Jam It: Love me some good jams, so decided to put a few new radio stations into my rotation. New music keeps life light and dance moves fresh. My sister gave me the precious gift of a shower radio, and currently it only gets two stations: church and local alternative. I've opted for the latter. My hippie rubber ducks approve.



Shower companions, jammin' it up.

4. Get in Touch: Being blessed with a wide array of wonderful friends and family, it's time to stay in touch better. Yes, that means scheduling phone calls sometimes, and spending a week trying to work out timing conflicts, but it's important. Blanket apologies on any previous neglect; cocktails soon (but, for reals this time).
5. Square One on the Noms: Time to quit hoarding food like a squirrel. I'm working on eating up all my food stuffs so I can start fresh and maybe just a wee bit healthier. (No, I'm not just going to throw it away! Y'all know I hate to waste - especially when it comes to food! I'm taking one for the team and eating it til it's gone.)
6. Get Out of Dodge: Boy, my passport sure needs renewing. Finally upgrading to a photo without braces and glasses - huzzah! Also, need to pick out adventure number three for the year. With Key West in February and Colorado in September, there is an awful six month gap there that is distinctly lacking in trips. Simply unacceptable. 
7. Be the Mermaid, Run the Race: Speaking of Key West, this gal has to pull off a swimsuit in a few short weeks. Much dread, many workouts. Besides that motivation, this spring/summer, I have re-upped my commitment to doing a 5k with the beau. It didn't work out so well last spring, but this time I'm determined not to let him down. Eye of the frickin' tiger and whatnot.
8. Shine On: Must revisit the positive attitude of old. Have lost it a smidge, so it's time to get that shine back. No one likes a Debbie Downer, cranky bee.
9. Life Skills: Get some. Like knitting. The end times could strike at any moment. What will you contribute to the post-apocalyptic nomadic herd? If you don't have something better than a keen eye for a good Instagram pic, they'll kick you to the curb. Time to revisit old abilities that have gotten rusty maybe - like building a fire and shooting a gun. Or knitting. Seriously, I really keep meaning to learn that one.
10. To Blog or Not to Blog: Speaking of life skills. Story telling is totally one. If I'm going to keep on this though, it's time to get a domain and maybe switch to another platform (any advice on that one is much appreciated). And get back into the writing rhythm. Else maybe this lil guy should take a hiatus. Decision to be made soon.
11. Streamline: Time to pare down some of my knick-knack, bric-a-brac, beloved little trinkets. I've always wanted my living space to contain enough objects that, should a guest be present and I need to step away for a minute, they would be able to occupy/entertain themselves. Case in point, my elephants. 80% of visitors know what I mean. Because trinkets are my favorite. But, there's that fine line between happy and hoarder. New year, fresh start! 

Starting off on the right foot... certainly not the LEFT one!