Hm. Reminds me of the beginning of The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig. They had to do exactly this. Well, I will be fully dressed and will leave the house in underwear, trousers, tshirt, sweater, socks, good walking shoes, coat hat scarf and gloves. Into my suitcase,
Seven pairs of underwear, three more bras, seven pairs of hand-knit socks, seven t-shirts, two pairs of trousers, one set of pajamas, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, brush, comb, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, face wash, lotion, lip balm, Advil, Aleve, melatonin, my prescription medications, my laptop computer and its power source, my digital camera and iPod and their cables, my three moleskine notebooks and some random pens and pencils, a copy of One Flash of Lightning (to steady myself–for comfort and self-reliance and distance from material possessions) and a couple of pocket editions of Jane Austen, a couple of skeins of sock yarn and sock knitting needles, a couple packs of origami paper, my birth certificate, social security card, and wallet with all of its associated cards and well as the titles to my house and car (hope springs eternal, you know). I suppose that would just about fill up a suitcase, and is all I would really want. We don’t get very attached to objects, in my family. If I had more room I might pack sheets and towels, as well as a couple each of plates, forks, knives, spoons, and cups, depending on just how uncertain my destination was.
Oh, and all of my pearls. They might sell for something, even though they’re fresh water.
I see no way to take my cat with me. My heart would go out to her, but she still has her most important possessions–claws and teeth. She will be able to manage as well as I will.
