Lead up List Making

Lists, Lists, Preparation and More Lists 

Carry-on: 

Entertainment 

Crossword puzzle/game book 

Paperback 

Journal 

Phone charger 

Headphone + backup headphones

Laptop (download Good Omens) 

Comfort 

Scarf 

Neck pillow 

Lumbar roll 

Eye mask 

Hoodie + nightie 

1 extra change of clothes (this included sandals and shorts, which were a delight to change into once I got to the Auckland airport on a day that hit 90F.

Waterbottle (the agony of picking which one, though!) 

Pharmacy 

Prescription bottles 

Aleve/Tylenol/ginger candy/pseudophedrine 

Hygiene toothbrush/toothpaste/mouthwash 

Alcohol wipes + bleach wipes 

Face wipes deodorant 

Olio 

Important documents 

Sunglasses 

Spare glasses 

Nurse accoutrement (stethoscope, pens, watch) 

Phone/wallet/keys 

Clothing 

1 Robe 

1 swimsuit + long-sleeved coverup (these will henceforth be known as “togs”) 

1 bike shorts 

3 short sleeve shirts 

3 long sleeve shirts 

2 SPF protection button-ups 

3 tanktops 

1 all-purpose LBD 

1 sundress 

1 hat (I'm pretty sure this hat has already saved me from approximately one sunburn every single day I've been here)

4 shorts 

6 pants 

6 bras 

4 compression socks 

5 socks 

1 set scrubs 

Raincoat + rain pants 

Flip-flops 

Tennis shoes 

Rain boots 

Work sneakers

Warm things - gloves, silk scarf (plan on knitting beanie and winter scarf while I’m there) 

Extras 

Converter plug + USB multi-plug 

Charge cord for: laptop, bike lights, phone 

Vibe (REMOVE BATTERIES) 

Skates + pads Whistle + ref stripes 

Bike lights + helmet + backpack cover + bike pouch + lock + gloves 

Swim goggles + cap + wax earplugs 

Jewelry 

Most of my packing has worked out well, I don't feel like I'm missing anything after being in NZ for a week. I do currently resent all my worldly possessions for being so heavy, but I have also figured out how to Matryoshka doll my luggage so that I just have one hardshell suitcase and one duffle, instead of two rolling suitcases and a duffle and a backpack. The heavy addition of my skates finally proved worthwhile since I went skating tonight through Hagley Park.

Thanks to a now-defunct Flickr user for the above image. In the park I startled four of these magpie larks (no relation of either magpies or me). They are also called peewee or pewit birds. They kept fluttering from place to place along the grass, never into the oak trees for protection. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't trust the way I was moving on my 8 wheels, it's a pretty unnatural motion for a predator, but it also doesn't read as completely harmless. Each time they fluttered up their black and white patterns swirled in a very dramatic way, like they had been taking tips from the Phantom of the Opera. The bit of reading I did about pewits let me know that they make "mudcup" nests, which don't sound very comfortable and are monogamous, which isn't very comfortable either. I also learned that they got here from Australia, and that the term for a bird that gets blown off course and ends up someplace unintended is a "vagrant."  That seems pretty judgy, but I have seen a funny Kiwi prickliness towards Australia so far, so it may be fitting.