Inspired by the poll a few weeks ago about what makes a road warrior, I am very curious about how much you guys travel for work. The general consensus seemed to be that a road warrior is someone who takes 1-4 business trips per month. I think that’s accurate, especially when you’re going by averages. There have been times when I didn’t travel for an entire quarter, and then traveled every week for months after. On average, though, I travel about twice per month. The past three weeks I traveled each week, and now I am home until January. Hooray!

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Recently, a friend said that a road warrior is anyone who travels for business on a regular basis, even if that’s only once a quarter. It got me thinking—is there a threshold? How often do you have to travel to be considered a road warrior? There are people who travel Sunday-Thursday, every week, and people who travel three or four times a year. And of course, people in the middle who travel a couple of times a month. So Readers, what do you think?

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After the large amount of business travel I did in the last few months (ten trips in four months, including that two week conference!), I really started thinking about things I pack for every trip. There’s the obvious stuff, like clothes and makeup. But then there’s the less obvious stuff—my little bag of office supplies, for example, or face wipes. So I went through all over my various packing lists and put together this comprehensive version. Most of this, like the toiletries, comfort bag, office supplies bag, chargers, travel umbrella, and pashmina, live in my suitcase or travel purse so I never have to mess with them. It looks like a lot, but I make good use of every last thing!

In the suitcase:

• Skirt or pants for every two days
• Top for every day
• Flip flops/sneakers (depending on time of year)
• Two pairs of work shoes
• Sleep clothes
• Workout clothes
• Jewelry/belts/scarves
• Socks (if needed)
• Toiletries
• Curling Iron
• Umbrella
• Makeup

In purse:

• Chargers
• Laptop
• Books/magazines/Kindle
• Knitting
• Purse stuff: wallet, keys, phone, lipstick
• Dollar bills for tipping
• Passport, any necessary itinerary papers (especially for international travel)
• Snacks/water (usually purchased at the airport)
• Business cards
• Pashmina
• Office supplies (in a small bag): pen, highlighter, notepad, wireless mouse, binder clips, flash drive, headphones with microphone
• Comfort items (in a small bag): Emergen-C, eye mask, lip balm, tea bags, Splenda, ibuprofen, tums

Possible extras:

• Coat/jacket
• Swimsuit
• Jeans

Toiletries:

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash
• Razor
• Face wash
• Hydrating mist
• Eye cream (spare contacts case)
• Moisturizer (spare contacts case)
• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Contact case and solution
• Glasses
• Hair cream (spare contacts case)
• Face wipes
• Deodorant
• Lotion
• Feminine products

Readers, did I miss anything? What do you take on every trip?

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Over the last week and a half, I was driving around Texas for some reason or another 7 out of 9 days. That was a lot of driving time, for sure. Driving isn’t my main way of traveling for work, mostly I fly, so this was a bit out of the ordinary. I fly again this week, to Ohio again for several days (which I’m a little nervous about due to the crazy experience I had there last time). Hopefully it will be just fine.

But this story is about a trip a couple of weeks ago. First, some background. My mother and I live in the same town, and despite my constant travel have usually been able to get together a couple times a month.  However, she was promoted a few years ago, and now travels almost as often as I do. At least half of her trips are car trips, if not more, but she does fly periodically. For the past several months one of us has been gone virtually all of the time, so haven’t been able to see each other very much at all. Then, two weeks ago, I was heading to Nashville Wednesday at 6:30, and she was headed to Philadelphia at 5:45. I left early for the airport, and got to spend twenty minutes with my mom for the first time in a month.

Of course, it was great to catch up! Though I’m not sure what it means that the only time we see each other is at the airport…… I guess we’re both just road warriors…..

Readers, have you ever timed a flight so you can see a friend or family member at the airport?