DH and I are getting ready for the first vacation we are taking alone since we had kids.  I talked him into an adventure holiday with a week in Egypt and a week in Kenya.  

    Staring at 4,000 year-old temples and tombs is for me, the safari is for him.  It’s pretty exciting to be going to such exotic locales and imaging everything we’ll see and do. 

   Oddly enough, the biggest hurdle we have to overcome is not the vaccinations, medicatiovisas, or major preparations for leaving the kids with our parents.  The problem is the packing.  

    Now, I’ve packed for six people for years and for every conceivable type of vacation; camping, cottaging, hoteling, visiting, cruising.  But this is the first time I’ve had a weight restriction.  Before this the only restriction has been how much I could cram into the van.  And most times it has been an engineering masterpiece how much I can fit into a van and still leave space for the kids to breath. 

    Because we will be flying on very small aircraft to remote camps, we are allowed only 33 pounds including carry-ons.  I have accepted this as a personal challenge; to pack clothes, accessories, toiletries, medications and extras for two and a half weeks and still be under the weight limit.  

    It hasn’t been easy.  I was over by eight pounds the first time.  Out came the extra shoes, the second bathing suit and the hair dryer.  Then I discarded the rain jacket, spare shirts and two pairs of pants.  Still over, I took out a book to read, a sweater and extra bug spray.  I was getting desperate and resorted to counting Q-tips and pouring out some of the shampoo.  

    But in the end I have succeeded.  Just.  And sorry kids, but everyone is getting papyrus as a souvenir.  It doesn’t weight much.