one suitcase.

it's funny.  when i first started this overseas gig i really relished going home, not just for the family/home time or the good friend time or the diverse ethnic food time, but so i could bring more stuff back.  i used to start the lists more than a month before my scheduled departure, detailing amounts and brands so that i couldn't forget when the time came for the big Target/Macy's/CVS trips.  mmm.  Target.  drool.

maybe it's because i've grown up a bit, but my list this time is very limited.  it's so limited, in fact, that i even have a sub-list entitled, "do not buy any of this or i'll punch you."  i've realized that dove dark chocolate is not considered to be a life-or-death situation, nor is bubbilicious bubble gum and that i don't need to stockpile cold medicines.

while i do believe that i've re-evaluated my priorities a bit and have matured, my truncated list is probably more of a function of the fact that more things have become more available here and because i've realized that i HAVE A LOT OF CRAP HERE NOW.  argh.  it's shameful.  what does my maid think of me?  (some might find that to be a shameful statement in itself, but there are many good reasons to have a maid, if you are in a socioeconomic situation like mine.)  i also now have a townhouse, which means furniture, decorations, accessories, blah blah blah.  i have a ton of clothes here and i keep hitting up people's moving sales!  what is wrong with me?  did i really need a turkey roaster?  oh, but it was $3.  and apparently i felt the need to buy a slow cooker after three years without one.  why oh why do i have such a connection with STUFF?

and, now that i'm looking forward to a move after the next school year, the amount of stuff i have is not only shameful but also daunting.  i kinda wanna give it all away or sell it off now, so that i don't have a major freak-out session next may.  maybe i will.  or maybe i will continue to hoard it. 

in order to remedy the situation, my first small step will be that i am only bringing one suitcase back to the states, for the first time ever.  hopefully this will prevent me from going overboard (again) and help keep me in check.  or i might cave and bring two, again.