What 3 'unnecessary' items could you not leave home without?
 

So you are almost ready to go, and the rucksack is full to bursting with all those come in handy travel accessories.
But, if you had to be mean and remove everything bar the minimum amount of clothing necessary (which would be a whole new topic in its own right) and your passport, small washkit, and first aid kit - what 3 items could you NOT bear to leave at home or travel without? And why?
A special photo? A penknife? Wooly knitted monkey? Camera? A certain food - a taste of something familiar if you are ever at a low ebb?
No matter how ridiculous or quirky they may be perceived to be by others, what are your top 3? After all, some may scoff, but then maybe they are missing out on something! Enlighten us!

www.ubertramp.com

flashlight
earplugs
watch

Cash
My pink crocodile Manolos with the 1 1/2 inch heel.
My black pashmina that doubles as a blanket.

dental floss, chapstick and a book

My ipod - it's how I sleep on the plane.

My wallet with all my photos - they're part of me.

cash too

Hunting knife, bandana, video camera. Oh wait, that was Survivorman. Never mind.

Books, Lip Balm, Power Bar or similar.

Camera gear (I'm counting it all as one item :) )

iPod & headphones

Plastic travel envelope w/travel diary

Lipstick
Moisturizer
My tiny, stuffed Hippo. He's been everywhere with me.

Honestly? There is not a single "unnecessary" thing that I couldn't live without. (I consider lipstick a necessity.;) )

I would argue that a camera is not really an <i>unnecessary</i> item!;)

Oops. You all are correct. I gave 3 *necessary* items. I don't take anything that is 'unnecesary'.

Cologne
Magazine or book
Paper bootie things for security when you have to remove your shoes.

I was considering the camera as &quot;unnecessary&quot; but the lenses, filters, tripod, memory cards, PSD, etc. as &quot;necessary&quot; by default if you take the camera (what good is the camera if you don't have the rest?) :-d

Umm …if I take the dog… that leaves….?

…kidding!

Oh! NOT leave home without...

My Bad!

ya, i know, i'm still trying to figure out even one thing that i pack that is not necessary. i mean isn't that the whole idea of packing light. that you only take what you need?

I usually don't even take a first aid kit... (Unless you count band aids and NuSkin as a first aid kit- those we need, the Nuskin for me to prevent blisters, and the band aids for my husband after he has blisters!)

But Burt's Bees lip balm is rarely beyond arm's length for me at any moment.

:-?

makeup
tweezers
books (includes mags, cryptics, sudokus)

1.Swimsuit
2.Something comfy to change into @ night when/if they lose my luggage
3.Flip flops

These are not bare-bone necessities but I find it very hard to do without

1. Swiss Army Knife (with corkscrew). No need to explain.

2. Vaseline (for my NOSE you dirty-minded bunch!) As an island girl I am always very sensitive to dry climates and applying petroleoum jelly to the inside of my nose has enabled my sleep comfortably in dry airplanes and hotels. I know it sounds disgusting but it works for me. Recommended by a nice old lady in Yellowstone when she saw me holding my head backwards after a nose bleed.

3. Plastic mesh wash cloth - In order to feel clean I need to scrub with a washcloth. The one I have dries in a couple of minutes.

How far inside of your nose to you place the Vaseline? I'm not kidding either. I wanted to try this in the future. Don't know if you apply it to the sides inside, or just the edge of the nostrils. Thanks!

Nothing is necessary if you can buy it at the store when you get wherever you are going. LOL ;-)

Okay, I meant UNncessary.

unless you're planning to swim in the nude, i think a bathing suit is an absolute necessity!

Some wives might say a &quot;husband&quot; is unnecessary - if the traveling is all for &quot;fun&quot;. LOL ;-)

Twice as many clothes as I really need.

Corkscrew

Laptop...always. Cannot.Disconnect. Need.Internet.Lifeline.

suze, you've posted about packing a flashlight before. No pun intended, but please enlighten me. :)

I packed a small flashlight a couple of times traveling to Europe. I never used it, so I didn't take it on subsequent trips. Did I need it and just not know it?

A dear friend of the family used to recite the following in his heavy German accent before going out:
&quot;Vatch, Vallet, Testicals, Spectacles, I am ready.&quot;

I agree. Never leave home without your testicals.

Approximately 50% of the population leaves the house every day without their testicals and it doesn't seem to hurt them.

Jorr, next time you go out, give it a try. :-d :-d

Amy-try Ayr. It's a saline/vaseline gel. And I go up until the Q tip stops. lol

Hi lucy_d, I pack less and less but I always pack a very small travel flashlight. And I always put a new battery in it before I pack it. The reason..if the hotel power goes out you will at least have that flashlight to use.

I know its cheating but I forgot about:

4. Binoculars - absolutely a must if you are into stained glass windows and painted ceilings. Also if you want to observe details of cordoned-off paintings and friezes.

Amy - the answer is: as far in as you can. I tied spraying with saline solution but it does not work as well for me as Vaseline.

Oops a misspelling, it's test<b>icles.</b>

oh ya, binoculars for sure!

Okay, I have already overpacked and I don't even have my jeans and one shirt in there. I don't need Qtips, do I really? Kleenex? All I have is a hoodie (for the cold) and that is taking up all the space. Maybe I should roll all the clothes up. It will be wrinkled when I get there, but... LOL LOL :-)

Skip the kleenex - you can just use toilet paper. :)

How about wearing the hoodie during the trip? You could tie it around your waist or the carry on bag if it gets too warm. Then you should be able to fit the jeans and top in the bag.

Yup, Amy, just wear or carry the hoodie on the plane.