Have Bag, Will Stay In Room

“Remember that Spirit charges for checked baggage.”

Big T’s statement meant I had to rethink things and go on one of my two yearly Orlando vacations taking just one carryon. Now this is near impossible for someone like me whose motto is, “Be prepared”. But the frugal side could hear, “$15, $25, $100″ for those extra pieces whispered into my ear. Get rid of a bag; better yet two.”

Out came half the clothes I just bought on sale–things for cooler weather. I reasoned it was April in the tropics. So I probably wouldn’t even wear them. All I would take would be shorts, sleeveless tops, swimwear, undies, and sandals. As I closed the lid, I realized there was no room for the empty duffel. I went through everything again one more time. Out came my raincoat. Now I had a place to put anything I found bargain hunting during the trip.

In went the duffelbag. Anyone who ships knows that paying for the first checked bag on an airline is cheaper than sending something parcel post. Drat! The zipper on my suitcase would not close. Undaunted, I applied weighty pressure. If vacuum bags can compact things so can my fanny. In the background could hear hubby again.

“What happens if Security tries to open it?”

A mental image of Jack-in-the Box came into my head. Unstymied I continued packing my one personal item, a huge tote–camera, book, sudoku, lunch, empty cup, IPOD, cell phone, assorted chargers, smaller purse filled with everything a lady normally carries then some, and a clear quart sized ziploc filled to the max with different three ounce toiletries. I still had room, not much though, to spare in case I remembered something else.

What I did not plan for was the weather front that hit Florida early Tuesday. When the plane touched down at McCoy, the wind was really blowing. Its 45 MPH gusts made the 4o degree temperature arctic.The forecaster’s observation that the previous low record of 40 set back a half century ago didn’t get broken left me cold.

Chilled to the bone, I headed straight to my room and changed into my bathing suit. No, I was not crazy. No, I was not a polar bear going for a swim. I was taking the only warm clothes I had brought, the ones I had just taken off, to the laundry room just down the hall. Why? It is not that I am a compulsive clean freak. It’s just that I really wear my food well.

I made myself some hot coffee and switched on the television. I kept switching channels until I found the local weather. The guy standing at the map was no Mr. Weatherbe. He forecast a warming trend on the way as he announced the weather was still going to be 10 degrees below normal.

And I came down to Florida in hopes of finding a tropical heatwave.