On My Mind: My Incredibly Versatile Vacation Bag
A couple of weekends ago, my best friend texted me impromptu at 6 p.m. asking if I’d be interested in having a glass of wine. I secured a bottle while he took a long walk from his apartment in Crown Heights to mine in Park Slope, where he arrived about an hour later. We sat in my backyard, sipping on a light, bright, ice-cold white. I got three mosquito bites before it occurred to me to spray up, and I forgot to eat dinner (extremely rare!) until he left around ten. It was perfect.
I’ve been grilling outside, walking outside, and lounging outside. And while I’m behind on planning a couple of trips I want to take over the next few months, I leave tomorrow for a few days in the Berkshires with my husband and in-laws, made possible by the long weekends that this season encourages. Basically, we’re officially in summer, and I’m very happy about it.
For this particular getaway, I’m focusing on packing for comfort. I’m bringing lightweight cotton and linen shorts and pants, basic tees, some cozy sweaters, and a few other pieces, shown below (in the case of old items that are no longer around, I’ve picked out similar versions).
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This cardigan is a dream for summer layering (it comes in a short-sleeved version, too).
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I guess I have a thing for front buttons.
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My old hand-me-down dark-denim overshirt is my preferred jacket this time of year.
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I love fisherman sandals and just treated myself to these.
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My favorite incredibly versatile vacation bag. Goes from casual to nice better than any other.
Here’s everything else I’ve seen recently…
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I stopped by the pharmacy yesterday to grab a travel bug spray and a fresh container of hydrocortisone for when I inevitably get bitten anyway (are you sensing a pattern here?). On the way to the checkout, I grabbed a new set of these hair clips, which are the only — and I mean only — ones I have ever found that stay put in my incredibly fine hair. I keep them all over my apartment and in every bag; they’re an item that would surely be on my “What I Can’t Live Without” list if I were a celebrity.
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The other must-have for my head on this trip is a baseball cap. And while I have quite a few logoed ones I love, I bought this when I stopped in Front General Store in Dumbo last weekend. I used to think plain caps were kind of lame, but I found myself gravitating toward it. No regrets. Good shape, goes with everything.
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I actually bought this small cooler at a hardware store last summer when I was in the same Berkshires area in order to take home provisions from my favorite farm. It will be coming with us this time to do the exact same thing. I am a big sucker for buying hyperlocal goods if I’m a short enough drive away from the city. It makes cooking for the days after you get home more inspiring and fun. Also, it’s good for keeping car sandwiches (a nonnegotiable) fresh on the drive out.
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My old ice packs seem to have mysteriously disappeared, so a re-up was in order.
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Sunprint Kit
I’m bringing a Sunprint Kit. It’s an incredibly satisfying low-stakes nature activity. I like that it makes me pay attention to the shapes of all the plants around me, and the resulting prints are actually quite cool. I have one from last summer on my fridge.
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I’m also taking Set, which I enjoy playing both with other people and by myself.
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