What I pack when I'm packin'...for a convention.

An interesting post on what to take to a convention was pointed out over on Anthrocon's website. ( http://www.anthrocon.org/what-to-take-to-a-furry-convention ) Got me thinking some about what I usually take with me when I rock a con.  As with so many things in my life I write I hope this does not devolve into a cautionary tale of what, maybe, not to do.

Stuff I pack when I’m traveling to a Furry Convention -

 
Stuff for Hygene ( A/K/A Toiletries ) - I’ve found it best to pack these items individually in small Zip Lock bags to avoid cross contamination of something should leak.

• Basic Stuff -- Tooth brush, tooth paste, body wash, shampoo, deodorant, razor/extra blades, shaving cream/oil, and hair product (if you have hair) -- You know...All the stuff you need to keep from looking like a ragged yetti.
• Health Stuff -- Anti-Monkey Butt Powder, sun block, small first-aid kit, anti-diarrhea pills, and ibuprofen -- You want to be covered in case of minor emergency, hangover, or freak ventures out under the TheSun(tm).
• Sleeping Stuff -- Ear plugs -- Foamies.  32db attenuation.
• Other Stuff -- Other stuff related to that awkward elephant in the room where conventions are concerned. (Personal safety is sexy, dudes and dudettes.)

Apparel ( Bring some! )

• Underwear & Socks -- I bring one pair per convention day ( including travel days ) and + 2 for emergencies.
• Pants -- I bring one pair for every two days of travel/convention ( including travel days )T-Shirts -- I bring one per day of the convention, including travel days.
• Button-down Shirts -- I usually pack two and iron them as needed.
• Zip-up Hoodie -- For layering and warmth, if needed.
• Wind breaker -- For layering for warmth, rain protection
• Weather specific clothing -- Cons in Feb in Canada are cold. Take a jacket.
• Sport coat & tie -- Only if I expect the be doing something nice/dressy during the convention.

Footwear ( Wear Some! )

• Good walking shoes/sneakers -- Comfortable shoes for being on your feet for hours and hours, lately I’ve been wearing Chuck Taylors at cons.
• Flip-Flops -- To make air travel easier on myself, I rock flip-flops when I fly.
• Weather Specific -- If I’m going to be going to a convention in Canada in February I think I might plan to take some fairly warm footwear with me.
• Costume Specific -- Anything that’s specific to an outfit or costume I’m taking with me, obviously.
• Dress Shoes -- Again, only if I expect to be doing something that will require me to dress up a bit.

Costume/Fursuit ( Wash Some! )

• Sewing kit -- For simple repairs if necessary.
• Liquid Laundry Soap -- In a 3oz bottle.  Useful for doing a spot of laundry (like dive skins) in the hotel room sink. 
• Dive Skins -- Useful to sliding in and out of your suit and helping to keep it from becoming a sweaty mess.
• Anti-bacterial Spray -- To help keep your costumes (and footwear) from becoming a stinking heap.
• Extra Lanyards -- Useful to doing up back-zips or hanging extra crap around your neck when you’re in suit/costume with no pockets.
• Grooming supplies -- You know...To preen the shit out of your fursuit.

Electronics

• Powerstrip -- So that I make sure I plug everything in.
• Chargers -- If has a battery I make double sure to bring a charger for it.
• Cell Phone -- I rock a smartphone but even dumbphone will do the deed enabling you to call.
• Cameras -- I'm geek so I pack a wearable GoPro HD, a Canon point-&-shoot, and, sometimes, a Canon DSLR.
  Computer/Tablet -- Lately I’ve been rocking an iPad Mini as the only computing device I take with me. Before that it was a Samsung Galaxy 8.9.
• BlueTooth keyboard -- For the tablet when I have more than casual typing to do.
• Camera connection kit for the Tablet -- A kit that lets me pull photos/videos off my cameras and upload them somewhere else.
• Small laptop -- Not as much any more, most of why I took laptops with me to conventions has been superseded by my tablet.

Documents and Monies

• Government Issued ID -- Lately I’ve been using my passport.  Having it just makes everything go much more smoothly.
• Printed Travel Confirmation -- Printed copies of my hotel and airline confirmations including customer support numbers just in case.
• Health Insurance Card -- If I get hit by the Martian Death Flu (or break my ankle) while I’m at a convention I wanna know exactly where my insurance info is at.
• Cash -- I carry enough cash for incidentals but usually not much else. (snacks, sodas, small impulse purchases, cab/bus fare, etc) If I’m going to a group dinner or making a large purchase I”ll hit the ATM shortly before that event.
• Debit/Credit Cards -- Debit and Credit cards. I usually take 2 credit cards with me. Never pay for a hotel room with a debit card. EVER. Use a secured credit card if you have to.

Misc Stuff

• Contact Cards -- You know...A card. With information on how to get in touch with me that I can hand out to people. (FA/LJ/Twitter/Email/Etc...)
• Satchel -- Backpack.  Shoulder bag.  Whatever.  Just something that I can use to stash stuff and keep my mitts free.  Call it a loot bag or whatever but it’s good to have, especially packing along the ‘lectronic gear.
• The Murder Kit -- A few 13-gallon kitchen bags, a couple of 30-gallon trash bags, a bung of 1-gallon Zip Lock bags, a couple of plastic shopping bags, and a small assortment of zipties.  Good for separating dirty, stinky clothes from clean or keeping your hotel room tidy as a courtesy to the housekeeping staff or wrapping up dead bodies. You know...stuff to help hide the evidence.
• Office Supplies -- A pack of bristol board (for art/sketches in the dealer’s room), a couple mechanical pencils, a couple of pens, a folder or two, a couple binder clips, a couple paper clips, and a few rubber bands.
• Flask -- 12oz, stainless steel and usually filled with rum sourced locally to the event.

That’s basically it.  Anything above and beyond that is just extra stuff I’m taking along for very specific purposes.  Because in the nearish future I’ll be riding a motorcycle to Biggest Little Fur Con I’ll refactor this list for motorcycling to a convention. (I’ve done this a few times.  Lots of fun!)