Not Packed, Still Going: The Start of Our Colombia Adventure

There’s something about the days leading up to a trip that no one really talks about.

The packing lists get made. The plans get finalized. The countdown begins. And somewhere in between all of that… real life keeps happening.

This has been one of the busiest stretches I can remember. A whirlwind end to 2025 followed immediately by an even busier start to 2026. Travel, family, responsibilities, more travel, and somehow squeezing life in between it all. I’m not entirely sure how we made it through, but we did.

We did.

Through moving my daughter and grandson, court dates, back-to-back cruises, house guests, and everything in between, Chris has been right there beside me. The calm to my chaos, the steady when everything else felt like it was moving a little too fast.

We’ve tested this marriage in ways I didn’t see coming — 14-day cruises (twice), long travel days, unexpected illness, and the kind of schedules that don’t leave much room to breathe. And yet, here we are.

Still married.
Still laughing.
Still choosing each other.

And now… preparing for Colombia.

Or at least, we should be.

Because as I sit here, less than 48 hours before we leave for South America, I have not packed a single thing. Not one outfit. Not one shoe. Not even the “just in case” extras I usually convince myself I need.

This is not like me.

I am typically the over-packer. The one who can somehow fit 34 days’ worth of clothes into a suitcase meant for five. The one who travels with more underwear than any reasonable person could possibly need.

But this time, something different happened.

Chris decided he was going to teach me how to pack.

We were going to take one suitcase. Just one. A shared suitcase. He was going to prove that we didn’t need all the extra space I usually insist on.

So he packed first.

And then, very proudly, he told me how much room I had left.

Five pounds.

Five.

He managed to fill 45 pounds of a 50-pound suitcase before I even touched it.

So now, instead of proving a point, we are bringing two suitcases anyway — and for once, I am not the reason why.

I’m not packed.
We’re leaving soon.
And somehow, I’m not even stressed about it.

Because if the past few months have taught me anything, it’s this:

Not everything has to be perfectly planned to be perfectly experienced.

Colombia is waiting.

And apparently… so is my suitcase.