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"Do you make a "Before I leave" list?" Topic


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261 hits since 19 Apr 2026
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Personal logo Murphy Sponsoring Member of TMP19 Apr 2026 8:56 a.m. PST

I've been busily focused on prep for Little Wars, and while yesterday was a day I should have been doing stuff to prep for it, I needed a bit of a break, and my wife and I had "real life errands" and such to run.
I had to get a haircut, she needed stuff from the stores, we needed to hit Aldi, I needed to hit Lowes, etc.
So we did that and by the time we got home it was almost 9 pm.
I was simply too tired to deal with any of it that night.

But, while I've been getting things ready, I also notice lots of "little things I need to do on the side BEFORE I leave", (one of them being a "replace the batteries in one of my blink cameras before I leave", etc.).

So to make sure I am doing it, I had to make a list to ensure they were done and not "Forgotten".

Currently the list is:
* Water for CPAP
* Batteries for the security camera replaced.
* New wax guards for the hearing aids.
* Check oil and fluids for vehicle.
* Check to make sure insurance card and registration cards are up to date, (this IS Illinois, that I am traveling to).
* Spare glasses in luggage.
* Medications, (To include Tylenol, Benadryl, inhaler, and my Blood sugar kit)
* Charging block and cable for phone.

Does anyone else here have to make a list like this to make sure things are done or packed BEFORE you leave?

If so, is there anything right now I am currently missing?

Thanks in advance!

Frederick Supporting Member of TMP19 Apr 2026 9:00 a.m. PST

Very complete list

The thing I used to forget was the phone charger – which is why I have three of them

Andrew Walters19 Apr 2026 9:42 a.m. PST

I have made such lists. Everyone who showed up to run a game with no dice has a list.

robert piepenbrink Supporting Member of TMP19 Apr 2026 10:04 a.m. PST

Of course. Mine actually has a bit more redundancy--glasses in luggage, "trip bag" and pocket of jacket, for instance, and multiple charging cords for smart phone and kindle. A week's meds for a three-day trip, and replacement filter for the CPAP.

"Missing" might be too strong a word, but the trip bag contains printed-out confirmation of reservation, my deck of 3x5 cards with addresses and phone numbers and a real paper road map if I'm driving. GPS has run me in a circle before now.

I agree with Andrew--well, no actually I don't. Plenty of people who keep forgetting things and act surprised every time. But the GM list and the flea market table list are different from Murphy's trip list

doubleones19 Apr 2026 12:54 p.m. PST

I have lengthy lists of game supplies whenever I GM. Shorter lists for personal effects. I always take my own tape measure, ruler, dice, superglue and hand gel regardless of whether I'm playing or GMing.

epturner19 Apr 2026 2:38 p.m. PST

Murphy;
Working in Logistics in both the civilian kind and the Army kind, I live and die by checklists and spreadsheets.

Especially the "before you get in the car to leave" kind…

Every. Day. Before. Work.

Eric

citizen sade19 Apr 2026 2:54 p.m. PST

It might be illuminating to examine how people's list compare to what they were 20/30/40 years ago. FWIW, mine used to be cash, credit card, Durex and a couple of packs of Marlboro.

79thPA Supporting Member of TMP19 Apr 2026 5:26 p.m. PST

Yes, I do. It is too easy to forget things, especially if you feel like you are in a rush.

d88mm194019 Apr 2026 8:42 p.m. PST

In Frank Waters' book, "The Yogi of Cockroach Court", the main hero had a "List of Ten Things to Forget"!

TMPWargamerabbit19 Apr 2026 10:50 p.m. PST

One credit or debit card then I can handle the situation for items forgotten*. So my world spins on two items which are placed together every night. Car keys and wallet. Cannot go anywhere without the keys and the wallet gets me home. If I have to take something…I place the car keys on it.

*Ps. Add any required medical requirements for those that need.

HMS Exeter Supporting Member of TMP19 Apr 2026 11:08 p.m. PST

Yes.

Martin Rapier19 Apr 2026 11:24 p.m. PST

I have various pre prepared lists for various types of activity, which get edited as required for specifics. I also have a travel 'go' bag with stuff like spare glasses, charging cables, battery pack, eye shields, ear plugs etc which I just chuck in whatever travel bag I'm using.

Main thing for a games convention? Take a pen and paper. Surprisingly useful. Take a spare pen too, as someone is bound to "borrow" it.

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