QUESTION: Did we forget anything that you would bring?

What to pack has been the backdrop of our lives for the last…two months? This post has been a long time coming.

First off, we are taking a total of 70 pounds broken into four bags. Both our backpacks are 50L, which is the maximum carry on size (but double check the measurements!).

We have  LOTS of small sunscreen bottles. From experience, we know that you can’t easily find it in Costa Rica, so we’re taking a bunch. In a pinch we might sell it to tourists for $50 an ounce.

We are taking both Cipro and Azithromycin general antibiotics for stomach bugs (in S. America/Asia respectively), which is how you can tell we are in it for the long haul. Our own bowl and spoon: always helpful, and great for avoiding wasteful to-go containers.

We will undoubtedly write more about how (or if) all of these items come in handy, but I want to touch on a few controversial items.

First, my running shoes. Erin almost asked my parents to leave the room yesterday so she could tell me I’m an idiot for deciding at the last minute to add my running shoes to my current luxury of sandals and light tennies. What can I say? I don’t want to run in non-running shoes.

Hair clippers. So controversial it’s not even in the list below. But when I’m looking clean and handsome after four weeks in the Amazon I’m pretty sure Erin is going to rescind her opposition. Oh and if we blow our budget, we can make some extra cash giving buzzcuts to other travelers.

Silk liners/bed sheets… We debated this at least five times. Cotton bed sheets weigh more, take more space, but are cool in hot climes. Silk liners are light and small and they encapsulate you from cooties, but aren’t helpful in 88 degrees and 90% humidity. So we brought two liners and one sheet. Go figure.

Bags	First Aid	Health/Wellness	Technology	Misc	Clothes	Documentation
Backpacks	Moleskin	Toothbrush	iPad/Keyboard	Headlamps	Hat	Passports
Day Bag	Band Aids	Toothpaste	iPhone	Batteries	3 short sleeve shirts	Drivers License
Hip Pack	Tape	Floss	Chargers	Playing Cards	2 long sleeve shirts	Vaccination Cards
Ziplock	Gauze	Glasses	Earbuds	Pen and Paper	3 pants	Flight Info
Ditty Bags	Tweezers	Contacts	Earbud Splitter	Metal Bowls	2 shorts	Insurance Info
Small Dry Bag	Gloves	Vitamins	Camera	Fork/Spoon Combo	5 pairs socks	Credit/Debit Cards
Pack Covers	Neosporin	Toilet Paper	Camera Battery Charger	Watch	2 tank tops	Paper copies of passports
Travel Cubes	Pain Meds	Sunscreen	Camera Case	Inflatable Pillows	Rain jacket
	Diarhea Meds	Shampoo	Lens Cloths	Silk Liners & Light sheet	Fleece
	Antiseptic Wipes	Earplugs	Universal Plug	Binoculars & Harness	4 quick dry underwear
	Cipro	Hankies	SPOT Locator	Money Belt/Pouch	3 quick dry bras
	Xanax	Pack Towels		Duct Tape	Sandals
	Vicadin	Eye Mask		Clothes Line	Sneakers + Alex running shoes
	Azithromycin	Diva Cup		Door Wedge
		Probiotics		Keychain Flashlight
		Bug Spray		Sewing Kit
		Lip Balm		Carabiners
		Water Filter		Trash Bags
		Nail Clippers		Sunglasses
		Emory Board		Sink Plug
		Hair Ties/Barrettes		Laundry Bag

Three last tokens from home that are neither practical nor controversial for either of us:  1) I clipped a small tuft of our cat Lily’s hair and brought it to remind her of us. It’s like carrying a small rabbit foot–soft and a little creepy. 2) Two little metal Hindu god statuettes from our friend Jessica. They are like religious Micro Machines, and I’m pretty sure they will bring us good luck. 3) Some “Bark More for Mt. Hood” stickers. Cause that’s what I do.