To Pack or Unpack, That is the Question

I'm taking a poll today - does anyone out there enjoy unpacking a suitcase after a trip? Do you get satisfaction from throwing your dirty clothes in the hamper, putting away all the stuff you packed "just in case" (but of course didn't need), and then returning said suitcase to the closet, attic, garage—or wherever it neatly lives until you need it again? I am not that person. Unpacking is not a joy-inducing activity for me. It is, in fact, quite the opposite. For some reason unbeknownst to me, I despise the task.

Lots of chores give me a personal sense of accomplishment. I am not a neat freak by any means but I do like to see a bed made and pillows neatly lined up. I have no problem happily organizing my pantry after it reaches the point of mass chaos. There is an odd sort of joy in seeing my canned goods neatly aligned—even if it only lasts for a week or so. I even like to see dirt blast away on the driveway when subjected to the power of a pressure washer. Crossing off items on a to-do list is usually motivating, but unpacking a suitcase ranks right up there with putting Christmas decorations away. It is disagreeable in every sense of the word.

Before a trip, I admit to a reasonable amount of procrastination when it comes to packing in the first place, but eventually, I dive in head first because I don't want to forget anything. I need time to figure out what I need, what I might need, and what I don't need but want to pack anyway. There is a sense of fulfillment when everything is folded or rolled up just so, and the suitcase is securely zipped. There is also excitement for whatever is about to come. After all, there was a reason for packing!

We just returned from a weekend in Texas where we celebrated our oldest daughter receiving her master's degree. Wahoo! The trip was wonderful and my husband and I were bursting with parental pride the whole time. However, we are now home and our suitcases lie idly on our bedroom floor staring sadly at us like an abandoned puppy. How long they will remain there, nobody knows. Your guess is as good as mine.

In normal life, my husband is the definition of organized. He rarely procrastinates on anything, but the unpacking phenomenon affects him, too. We will both step over suitcases for days—maybe even weeks—hoping the other person will give in and unpack for both of us. We endure stubbed toes in the middle of the night because we forgot the suitcases were there and slam into them on our way to the bathroom. We rifle through them in a frustrated state looking for clothing staples that should be hanging in our closets, and we throw random stuff on top of them—adding to what needs to be put away.

Finally, when one of us can't stand it anymore—we give in and unpack. As soon as the luggage is stowed, we ask ourselves, "Why was that so hard?" Crickets. No answer.

Is this loathing of unpacking suitcases indicative of a larger psychological issue? Do we carry other "emotional baggage" around needlessly, or, are we just lazy?

The fun and excitement of a trip are over the moment we return home and step over the threshold. The suitcase moves to the bottom of our priority list; it taunts us until an even less desirable task (like filing our tax return) pops up or until we just can't take it anymore.

Are you a prompt unpacker or a procrastinator? Are we alone in our detest for unpacking? What other household tasks do you put off? Let me know in the comments!

Have a great week!