How do you pack for a year? Someone tell me please.

Throughout the last week I've began packing for my year-long European Adventure. Honestly, packing is hardly the word I should use. That would indicate that I've created some sort of mental organization or even a hastily scrawled list of what should go, what should stay, and then accordingly putting everything neatly in its place among my two suitcases. Yes, two suitcases. Two suitcases for a year. What I HAVE been doing, if I can't call it packing (and I can't), has resembled a panicked whirl wind of mental debates and mind numbing deliberation: sweaters, shorts, jeans, dresses, SHOES! I don't even want to TALK about shoes. This goes with that, but that sure takes up a lot of room. I need a black one, a brown one, I really like the green one. How often will I wear this? How much in the way of "cold weather" clothes should I bring? Should I just take the bare minimum and plan on buying my wardrobe? Oh...but that silky maroon cami would look classic under that black cardigan on a cool evening in Geneva. Does Geneva have silky maroon cami's? Can I BUY A SILKY MAROON CAMI!?!??!?! Flip flops, walking shoes, running shoes, hiking shoes, red shoes with the buckle on the top, to Ugg or not to Ugg...sigh...you see the delimma (and heard the head explosion). And after the clothes are sorted again and again - well there's the socks the underwears the toiletries to consider...the pajama's! Oh I forgot about the pajamas! Work out clothes!

Blaaaaaswweebuuuhhhahhhhhhlaaaa! Okay...deep breath...lets think about this...


An entire year. What does that entail? Well a Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring for sure. So there's that to consider. There are many Sundays and weekends that would indicate a need for nicer all be it "going out on the town" types of ensembles. Yet, I must be conservative, light, and consider the fact I will be shopping like a madwomen in some of the most celestial shopping locations in the world (read Turkey;Grand Bazaar of unique items, Paris; well Paris! Hello!, Italy;shoes, H&M's on every corner, strange jewelry stands and souvenir shops, London; Oxford Street, Milan, Geneva, flea market upon flea market...I don't need to go on...but I could. I could!). Thus, I want to leave room...dare I say OODLES of room for those unique and fabulous items I may pick up on the Champs Elysee or Piccadilly Circle (the thought also came to me that Steven, being a boy, could have a good deal of room to move around in his suitcase, ya know, cause boys have one type of this and one type of that and they're gold..hm...yes precious...(rubbing hands together diabolically)..he could!). Thus the idea is to pack everything I need - keeping it to stylish and useful essentials - leave a good amount of "growing room"- and consider usurping some space in Steven's suitcase should the Grand Bazaar head scarves and authentic jewelry call for such. Hm.

Thus, here's to calling all packers of suitcases, business travelers, or travelers of any sort, road trippers, weekend vacation enthusiasts, and specifically world travelers, what do I pack? What should I prepare for? Is my dark brown Hippie skirt worth taking (answer is yes...)? I'm ready for the Internet to do it's blog reading duty and let me know how in the world...how in the Turkey, Switzerland, France, Spain, Italy, and so-help-me London world-do I pack for a year? I leave it in your faithful hands...I'm going to go get some chocolate and calm down.