- Get Packing
Where is it written that one spouse has to pack for the entire family? Does having ovaries automatically make women better packers? I say let your husband pack his own stuff and let the unmatched socks fall where they may. And speaking of children, if your kids have enough dexterity to play video games, they can put clothes in a suitcase.
- Big Money
You will overpay for two out of three daily meals. We once paid $35 at Disneyland for hamburgers, sodas and fries for three. If you're staying at a hotel, pack a small cooler with milk and a box of cereal. Don't forget the disposable bowls and spoons. Eating pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse isn't the life-defining moment your kids need.
- Oops
Someone will stain her favorite shirt. I was shopping in Monterey, California, when I managed to dribble a cafe mocha on my linen blouse. Luckily, I'd put two Shout Wipes in my purse. I got the stain out and was saved the embarrassment of looking like Pig Pen.
- Photo Opportunity
Don't forget to take your camera. And not just on vacation with you; also when you go on excursions during your vacation. I have missed many photos because the camera was still packed neatly in my luggage. If you are using a disposable camera, don't advance the film right away. We have taken photos of ceilings and the inside of pockets because we accidentally pushed the button. Let the kids take a few pictures, too.
- Super-size It
Pack a full-size bar of soap. I know hotels provide those miniature bars, but it's like using an eraser. Pack the full-size shampoo and conditioner bottles. You don't want to miss anything during the hours when you're trying to squeeze conditioner from a bottle the size of a lipstick tube.
- Waiting to Exhale
The beauty of vacationing outside your area code is the freedom from sucking in your gut. So what if some stranger from Maine sees your bulges? He's no Brad Pitt in Birkenstocks. Put that stretch fabric to a real test. I was enjoying my anonymity at Capitola-by-the-Sea near Santa Cruz, California, when my husband spotted someone wearing a Fresno Grizzlies T-shirt. Quick, grab that beach towel!
- Light Up
Take along a mini tap-light. You can find these at Target or Wal-Mart. Make sure it works before you go on your trip. It will be a nice nightlight for little kids or provide the illumination you need to avoid tripping over luggage.
- To unpack or Not to Unpack?
Some people unpack if they are staying several days in a hotel, but we've always been more, well, lazy. We prefer to wrangle each day's clothing from the jaws of the luggage. Of course, if we are going somewhere nice, I'll hang up my good clothes to relax from the folding that got them into the luggage. Always bring more socks and unmentionables than you think you'll need.
- Beach a Go-go
Pack stuff for the beach in a separate duffle bag. This means swimsuits, beach towels, water socks, hats, flip-flops and sunscreen. Bring zip-top plastic bags for wet items. Don't forget the beach toys, radio and reading material, too. Invest in a beach umbrella and sand chair. There are no trees on the beach.
- Protect Yourself
You can never have too much sunscreen. Health experts say the average adult needs to put on enough sunscreen to fill a shot glass. Need motivation? Search the Internet for "skin cancer pictures" and you'll be buying sunscreen by the gallon.
- Be Safe
Take along current photos of your children. Make a mental note of what your children are wearing each day in case they get lost. Have a plan for what to do if the group gets separated. Cell phones and walkie-talkies are great for this.
- You Are Here
Finding your car in a parking lot is easier if it has an antenna ball. Shelve your dignity and put one of those cutesy characters on board. After a long day of walking and whining, you'll be happy to find your white Ford Taurus among the thousands of others.
- Sanity Savers
Take along your prescription medicine, and be certain you have enough to last your vacation. Keep aspirin in the glove compartment and bottled water in the car. Baby wipes and a plastic bag or two in case of carsickness will serve you well.
- Etc.
As I tell my daughter, "Sometimes life is boring." Look outside the window for entertainment. We make a list of weird and common things we'll see on the trip and cross them off as we go. We also bring rectangular-shaped items; I believe they're called books.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, 
