Well, in less than two weeks, I will be in the coastal city of Barcelona. I have been reading and taking notes and making lists and trying to get organized for weeks and even months now. I have even started crossing items off my packing checklist. The chair in my living room has become a catch-all for scarves and travel-sized pharmacy items and notebooks and adapters and coats. Who knew you needed so much to travel abroad! Well, I use the word "need" very lightly. How many pairs of shoes do I really need after all? There is the fine line between comfortable and fashionable. There is a much broader line between the temperate climate in Barcelona and Rome and the chilly forecasts for Vienna and Prague. It's going to be challenging to pack for six different cultures and climates in one little carry-on bag. I'm sure I'll manage, but right now the task seems a bit unattainable. I'd love to leave some space for purchases while I'm abroad, but I think the reality may end up being multiple packages shipped from a post office from across the pond. Too bad I can't just buy an extra ticket for my purchases on the return flight back to the States.