Six hours and counting

The packing is more or less completed, and we have begun the "did I remember to pack ..." stage of the adventure.

This is the most dangerous stage of the pre-trip adventure.

Mark is sitting at his desk, and he thinks: "I wonder if I'll need a socket wrench?" Then: "I've got room for it."

Yep, it's the "need" stage. Suitcases and carry-ons by the millions are stuffed with things people need. Not critical clothing items or medicines, but last minute essentials like extra pencils, a hard drive, framed pictures of the dog, two hair dryers, an extra sweater (you're going to the South Pacific you idiot!), a spare wallet, 200 business cards .... and so it goes.

The reality (if one is willing to face reality 6 hours before one leaves for the airport,) is that you don't "need" anything beyond the essentials. Sure, adequate and diverse clothing, shoes, hats, and all that. But those 4 fountain pens will leak on the airplane, and you'll never sit somewhere and play dominos with the set you brought from home. ("But it won't take up much room," Mark is reported to have said.)

And the fact that domino set might cost $10 in extra weight is always a consideration. And that's not funny.

As for the socket wrench, Mark was reminded by The Goddess that he doesn't own a socket wrench, nor would he know what to do with one if he had it. Those, he replied, were merely details.