Preparation

Once basic planning was done it was time to focus on preparation for our trip.  This takes several forms.  There's first aid items.  Personal care items.  Miscellaneous stuff.  Camera and video gear.  And the most challenging for me-clothing.  Usually my packing list is similar for the majority of our trips.

First aid items:  neosporin/antibacterial ointment, bandaids, visine and voltaren ointment for my husband, tylenol, benadryl, claritin D, immodium, vicks, vasoline, pepto, cepacol, sunscreen, after sun gel, insect repellant.  Most trips we don't end up using all of these but I like to be prepared especially as we are seniors.

Personal care items:  masks we got from the state, dental care items, disposable razors and shaving cream, hand sanitizer, deodorant, nail brush/pumice/foot cream/bubble bath bombs/facial cleanser/a few make up products like lipstick for me.  And because I see a dermatologist I bring my own bar of soap.  We also bring our RX medications.  Glasses and sunglasses.

Miscellaneous items:  some duct tape, eye glass repair kit, sewing kit, wet ones wipes, travel packets of TIDE, travel alarm clock, Swiss Army knife, small flashlight, digital luggage scale, our digital thermometer, extra batteries, wine opener.

Camera and video gear:  iPhone and its charger -first trip I'm bringing this for majority of video and picture taking.  Small Canon point and shot with good zoom.  Lots of memory cards for this camera and spare battery along with charger.  My husband's underwater camera.  My Apple lap top with charger.

Clothing:  Husband- swim suits (2), hat, underwear, pj bottoms (2), 2-3 pair lightweight casual but nice long pants for dinner, collar shirts for dinner (5), almost knee length shorts (6 pair), casual T shirt type tops (6), pair flip flops, pair sneakers he'll wear on the plane, pair slip on shoes for dinner, couple pair socks for dinner.  Fleece jacket he'll wear on the plane and only use just in case.

Clothing:  Me-swim suits (2), pool/beach cover up (2), hat, underwear, nightgowns (3), robe, knee length capri pants for dinner (4 pair), skirts for dinner (2), nice tops for dinner, wraps for dinner (2), shorts (4 pair), casual tops, 2 pair flip flops, pair waterproof KEENS, pair nice shoes for dinner.  I'll also wear a fleece jacket on the plane.  

For the beach and snorkel day trip we will bring water shoes and our own snorkel gear.  Our long sleeve rash guard shirts to prevent sunburn while in the water.  I'm also bringing a float for the beach.  A small air pump will be packed also.

                                                                                                                                                                                 

This morning 4/24 I received an e-mail from Jet Blue.  I did the check in process on line.  Great!  

Moment of truth.  Husband's suitcase packed.  My suitcase packed.  Used digital weight instrument to weigh our bags.  Have to be 50# or less.  His 43#, mine 38#.  Hooray!  Will be able to bring home some souvenirs.                                   

  

Documents.......  Passports, Covid vaccine cards, International Health cards, my small notebook with all our trip information written down in it.  Print outs of flights, resort stay, car rental, snorkel tour, and other St. Maarten/St. Martin information.  These items will all be in a travel folder that I will carry and guard with my life!