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E55: How to Get Vacation Ready: Sunscreen, Socks, and... Legal Docs?
15 Plays19 days ago
This week, we’re unpacking (pun intended) the travel essentials you actually need (yes, that includes legal documents!)
From medical powers of attorney for adults to health care authorizations for kids heading to camp or visiting the grandparents, we’re breaking down the simple steps to stay protected on the go. Plus, we share our best packing tips, forgotten must-haves, and the wildly specific (and slightly unhinged) items our team refuses to travel without.
Whether you're flying first-class or road-tripping to grandma’s, this episode has the perfect advice to get you vacation-read.
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Transcript
Introduction to Wills and Estate Planning
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome to another episode of One of Us Knows What They're Talking About and the other one is you. I'm Lori Burch, your host. Join us as we discuss and unpack wills, trusts, estate planning, and probate law in a way that's actually informative, interesting, and well, hopefully entertaining. Because if you don't have a will, the state of Texas has one for you.
00:00:27
Speaker
Let's dive in.
Summer Travel Essentials
00:00:40
Speaker
This is a fun topic today, which it's not to say that other times the topic's not fun. They're always important or interesting. But today is a really fun topic.
00:00:52
Speaker
And that is, especially with the summer upon us, talking about travel and travel essentials. And that can mean whatever the hell you want it to mean.
00:01:05
Speaker
Right? But most people like to travel. they?
Staycations vs. Traveling Far
00:01:10
Speaker
I probably probably probably on them the end of where i I like to travel, but very little.
00:01:22
Speaker
I don't like to be gone for a long period of time. On the like comfort to distance ratio. there's There's different things that I will take into account.
00:01:36
Speaker
Yeah. What do you all think of staycations? No.
00:01:45
Speaker
I need to be far. and what What is like your definition of far? The grueling demands of your home are just too much for you, Sarah? ah Sure. Yeah.
Defining Staycations
00:01:58
Speaker
No, I kind of get I like i feel like A staycation for me would be i get like a VRBO or Airbnb in Fort Worth.
00:02:12
Speaker
Okay. That would be like a staycation in my mind. Okay. I think it has to be like an hour away at like a minimum.
00:02:22
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. Isn't that just like, and never mind. I don't want to pick this apart. Oh, I do. Please continue. Well, I thought staycation was for people who they actually don't go anywhere, but they like take off time from work and just do things at home, like read or binge movies or shows. That's for the weekend. No, I think staycation is more...
00:02:48
Speaker
You're staying within your general area, but, like, you get a hotel down the street. And, like, you're doing activities. Like, you're doing, like if you want to do something, you get something close to downtown, and you do the Hiddleston Museums. You get a really nice dinner, and, like...
00:03:04
Speaker
But you're you're down there. You're like in the touristy areas. You're still in the DFW area. Yeah, that's what I would think a staycation is. Or if you're going up to like a really cute B&B in McKinney and you're just hanging out there for the whole weekend, like downtown and doing the activities, going to the winery. Like, I think that's a staycation. Mm-hmm.
00:03:29
Speaker
Why wouldn't you just want to be in your own bed with your own stuff? And you could still go to those wineries. You could still go do all those things.
00:03:40
Speaker
Yeah, that's a weekend plan. And it's just a weekend activity. It's a staycation. I can go home in the afternoons and go hang out in my bed if I want to. Yeah. So it says it can be a vacation spent at home or within a short distance of home.
00:03:59
Speaker
Yeah, but if you're doing chores, you're just asking for some PTO or un-PTO to do chores. Yeah. i didn't I didn't create the definition.
00:04:10
Speaker
mean, It's not something. and Yeah, I'm just like...
00:04:17
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. All right.
Legal Documents for Traveling Without Children
00:04:19
Speaker
Well, so let's talk first about the best part of this topic, and that is sort of legal documents or planning should you have in anticipation of vacation? You'd be surprised.
00:04:38
Speaker
yeah Well, it depends. So or are you like traveling? do you have kids? Are you traveling with your kids? Are you traveling without them? Why don't you just address all those things? Because or are your kids under 18 traveling without you?
00:04:55
Speaker
yeah Yeah. I feel like that's the biggest thing, especially during the summer whenever you have like parents shipping kids off to summer camps or like even like just day camp, sleep away camp, like whatever it is.
00:05:10
Speaker
want to make sure if something happens that whoever is the responsible adult can take them to like a doctor or the ER or something. yeah But also if you're on vacation with like grandma and grandpa or yeah other friends or family, at least in Texas, there is an actual legal document that parents should create.
00:05:34
Speaker
called a designation of healthcare agent. this is a substitute from what I've heard for decades now of, oh, I just filled out, I just hand wrote this note, or I just filled this out and signed it, that this is who can make medical decisions for my kids if I'm unavailable to reach.
00:05:54
Speaker
And maybe that would be honored, I think probably a very low chance of that, but there actually is something official you can put in place. When I first started this practice, I would only do that when people would tell me of a specific incident that they were going to have that they were going to travel without their children or their children were going to travel without them.
00:06:14
Speaker
But then i started thinking, you know, this is something that why wouldn't you just have one as a backup no matter what? And then also in situations where there are stepchildren and the step parent doesn't have any legal rights to fall back on, but if they're the one who's taking care of the kids,
00:06:33
Speaker
If the legal parents are so inclined, they can make sure that the step parent can make emergency medical decisions if the legal parents aren't reachable or available. So, you know, when it comes to traveling, those are those are important things to have in place.
00:06:49
Speaker
Also, sometimes people have accidents while they're on vacation. Have any of you ever had to go to the hospital while on vacation?
00:06:59
Speaker
No. Fingers crossed. Yeah. um No, thankfully no.
Medical Documents You Need for Travel
00:07:06
Speaker
No. Doctor's office, something happened. Yeah, I don't, ah I can't think, but also don't do anything very risky as well.
00:07:14
Speaker
Well, sound fun. I don't really like to go on vacation and I don't want to do anything like really risky. I mean, but some of the things that I feel that keeps me alive to preserve all of you. You like to go to the beach. You could have like stepped on a really sharp. eye was there something just a damn minute. You know what happened to me in Bonita Springs last year?
00:07:36
Speaker
i I was deformed. Oh, my Not that ah the ah You are the only person that would say that that saw what went down.
00:07:49
Speaker
You're better now. I don't like if i don't even know how I slept for a week. So I called them sand piranhas, but I think they're called sand fleas or something.
00:08:00
Speaker
And i would buy all over my arms, all over my legs, just covered. It was miserable. didn't have to go to the hospital though, so that's good.
00:08:12
Speaker
Because that's where you showed us the little thing you have that gets really hot and you would put it on your arm to stop the itching. Yeah. yeah And I would just, I would do that several times a day just to have temporary release relief from the itching. Because I tried everything. little or just you?
00:08:28
Speaker
Adley got a little bit of it. But not nearly the extent that I did.
00:08:34
Speaker
Bugs love me. And Adley, but. ah Man, that that time I really got the front of You were a bigger sport. saw my feet and my ankles and my knees.
00:08:51
Speaker
Just awful. Really, really terrible. Anyway, um so mishaps can happen at home. And on vacation.
00:09:03
Speaker
And so that's why it's good to have what what would be good to have if a medical emergency occurred.
00:09:13
Speaker
Medical power of attorney. Yeah. i meta And what? Sarah, I just don't. ah Sam, what is a medical power of attorney? ah It's so that if you are incapacitated or in a condition that you can't make medical decisions, that you need people that can make sure you get the care that you need.
00:09:36
Speaker
Is there any sort of companion document that should go hand in hand with that? Sarah, I need Sarah to answer this. Oh, I don't know if that's a good idea. The HIPAA form? Okay, it actually was a good idea.
00:09:50
Speaker
yeah What does HIPAA stand for? and No, never mind. if No, please don't. No. here's Here's what I want you to
Accessibility of Legal Documents During Travel
00:10:01
Speaker
do. Can you spell HIPAA?
00:10:05
Speaker
I can, but do it. Do it. It gets and people do it wrong a lot. I know you've called me out for it before on notes. Probably.
00:10:16
Speaker
It's HIPAA people. Yes. Thank you. Not PPA. No. It's not HIPAA. Yeah, no.
00:10:28
Speaker
Or an APA. So, yes. And what is the importance of the HIPAA document, Sarah? Oh, really tempting fate here. um It's so doctors can release ah your medical information to people you trust.
00:10:47
Speaker
Okay. So for example, perhaps the people that are listed on your medical power term, that they could get access to emergency information and records to make a decision.
00:11:00
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So I think those are good things to have on your person
00:11:08
Speaker
when you travel. And in this day and age, what are some good ideas of ways to make sure that you have ready access to a medical power of attorney or HIPAA medical record release in case of said emergency or back to the designation of health care agent?
00:11:25
Speaker
Physically printed or having on your phone? Okay, physically printed, Sam, really? I don't know. i Is this a Nemaw in you that's coming out? like Are you going to carry that around?
00:11:39
Speaker
i mean, but some some people do. We've had clients come in to update who like have it on them at all times. I know, Sam. And how many decades older than you are those clients?
00:11:54
Speaker
You weren't giving me... ah That wasn't an actual question. I know, but they like they weren't that old. I wasn't saying they were old.
00:12:04
Speaker
okay Like two decades older than you. well We're talking about the span of time of development of technology. So I'm not talking about people that don't know how to use it. It's just their instincts and their comfort zone isn't to necessarily put it on an app on their smartphone.
00:12:21
Speaker
But that probably is, in this day and age, a better way to have your documents readily available is to use some sort of app that's on your phone.
00:12:31
Speaker
um Also, on i don't know if Android does this because I don't have one and I don't make friends with people who do. But on iPhone, there's your emergency medical ID.
00:12:47
Speaker
Do you have your setup, all of you? Yes. Do you? Who is yours, Sam? My parents. Okay.
00:12:59
Speaker
Sarah? Great question.
00:13:04
Speaker
Let me look. Yeah, go look. Cynthia? My spells. Okay. Oh, I have multiple people as my emergency contact. Yeah, don't you add me at one point?
00:13:15
Speaker
Yeah, you're on here. Woo!
00:13:20
Speaker
I like you started working here. My parents and Emily. Responsible adult. You. Yeah. Yeah.
Packing Habits and Essentials
00:13:28
Speaker
Why you have a key to my house. Good. Good.
00:13:32
Speaker
So yeah. so those are those are important travel documents. Probably not the most fun thing to put on your packing list, but important nonetheless. So I would consider that from a legal standpoint and travel essential.
00:13:48
Speaker
Right? Yeah. What are some other travel essentials before we get into the ridiculousness of your lists? ah i didn't I didn't have time to really look at it. And so I don't know if you actually made difference between.
00:14:08
Speaker
No. So let's start with.
00:14:12
Speaker
So, Cynthia, one of your initial thoughts was travel essentials are dependent on, depending on where you're going. Like, are you going to away for a while? Are you going away for just the weekend?
00:14:25
Speaker
So what would, and and then I said, i also think like road trip versus plane. Yeah. are two completely different types.
00:14:37
Speaker
Like one place that we go to often is we'll go back to like our parents' house. Like my husband will go visit our parents. And i know if I'm going there, my packing list is drastically different than if I'm going somewhere like that I'm staying at a hotel or a place like that.
00:14:54
Speaker
Because if I'm going there, i know that I don't have to pack like um shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, sometimes a toothbrush. I was going to say, I have a toothbrush. But typically I do have to pack that stuff for Luke if we're going anywhere because he will come to me. He's like, where's our toothpaste?
00:15:11
Speaker
I'm like, no I packed mine. Where's yours? So it just depends on where I'm going. If we're going somewhere like, let's say we're going to go to a friend's house so in San Antonio for the weekend, then I would pack all those things.
00:15:27
Speaker
And then also like extra, I'm an overpacker. So if I'm going to be there for like three days, you're going to feel like I'm staying there for a week.
00:15:38
Speaker
Oh, yes.
00:15:40
Speaker
I'm an overpacker. And then if I'm flying, obviously then I have to be like, okay, great. Tiny airplane bottles. But if I'm not full size.
00:15:51
Speaker
Does anybody else pack underwear as if they're going to have explosive diarrhea every single day? Did you see our number one? Oh, no. I told you I didn't look. Am I ruining me looked at your list? That was our Yeah, that's our number one. Okay. I guess I better look as... ah Right, that's fair.
00:16:13
Speaker
What? I think you're good after that. Yeah, after that one. Yeah, you should be good. Yeah, you're good after the first two. The first two are the only reasonable ones. And I... Whenever I was ah younger, I would go to church camp and there always be a lake.
00:16:29
Speaker
And we would have a friend, Doug... Doug, I hope you're doing well. That it was always a fear. Is Doug going to push you into the lake? Oh. Are you going to end up in the now? Doug. Don't do that. you always popped extra, extra.
00:16:43
Speaker
Just to make sure you never know when Doug's going to push you in.
00:16:49
Speaker
Okay. But also, another thing that I take into account is where am I going? Is there an ease of like a Walmart or a CVS or something?
00:17:01
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Well, because we stay in a lot of timeshares, our packing is different versus if we're staying in a hotel because we have a washer dryer, we have a full kitchen.
00:17:14
Speaker
So that can change greatly depending on what we pack there. But I i am not a ah not an overpacker unless it is a road trip because it's actually – I prefer to fly, but what I do like about road trips is that I don't have to be as strategic of what I'm bringing. And this thing can have just like a bag of snacks in there and and all of that.
00:17:41
Speaker
But I do have a question. ah How do you all pack for a trip? Do you just, like it's the day before a trip or do you pack like a week before a trip? And then do you make a list or do you just like in the moment, like this is what I need and throw it into a bag?
00:18:00
Speaker
I feel like I'm like half and half. Like I'll do laundry. I'll like figure out what I'm taking two days beforehand. Do laundry if I need it. And then pack the night before. Essentially. Okay.
00:18:11
Speaker
Yeah. That's what I do. I pack the night before. And make sure everything's clean. But do you do you make a list or do you just kind of in the moment go through in your head what you need?
00:18:23
Speaker
Probably in the moment. Yeah. Because I have a my toiletries bag, like a travel one, is always ready to go. I just need to throw a toothbrush and toothpaste in there.
00:18:36
Speaker
But most of the stuff that I'm going to need is contained within that little bag. And then... Like the week of I make sure I do laundry and then start putting some things aside. But as I'm sitting there packing, I'm like, okay, I have, I go through everything.
00:18:55
Speaker
Get up in the morning. Okay. So they wash my face with moisturize, brush my teeth, toothpaste, yeah good. That's like the bare minimum. And then from there, like, okay, am I going to shower on this trip? Is it just like an overnight thing? Or is it like, I'm gonna have to wash my hair?
00:19:13
Speaker
Listen, washing my hair is a thing. so like showering is an everyday thing, but washing my hair, I don't do that every day. I get it. Just the statement of, am I going to need to shower?
00:19:25
Speaker
Not in a context. That's what got me. like is it Is there going to be a hair washing involved? Then that changes things. I see. And then depending on where am I going?
00:19:36
Speaker
um Am I going to be able to like if I'm going to Luke's parents house, it's like, great. I am packing the comfy clothes because i will be on the couch with an activity relaxing or outside by the pool, not doing anything. So I can take whatever.
00:19:53
Speaker
if I'm going to go see my mom, I have to take outfits that she will not um in her mind be embarrassed to see me outside in. And I'm like, that's very, I have, I pack differently depending on you know who we're going to go see because I just don't want to hear about it.
00:20:12
Speaker
i will still hear about it. Nothing's ever good enough, but you know, it's fine. But that's how I decide. It's like, where am I going? What am I doing? Who am I with? Is there a possibility of a fancy outing?
00:20:25
Speaker
Okay. Okay.
00:20:30
Speaker
Okay. Is there anything that you all typically forget or have forgotten?
00:20:43
Speaker
Toothpaste, I feel like, is the most common one. Yeah. Really? But then I know I can, if, like, I'm in a hotel, that can usually get it downstairs or go to, like, a Walmart. Get it.
00:20:55
Speaker
we' usually We're usually pretty thorough. I feel like Charger is also one that I forget. No, that goes in my backpack at all times.
00:21:05
Speaker
I feel like more than anything, i have to prepare for what my husband's ever forget. Ah, yes. Carly forgot socks on our Florida trip.
00:21:17
Speaker
Dang.
00:21:19
Speaker
They usually forget Charger. Somebody does.
Lori's Travel Preparation Process
00:21:25
Speaker
So I want to know if you all can imagine how I pack and get ready for trips.
00:21:35
Speaker
feel like you've told us before how you do it. I don't feel like I have, but that's fine. oh
00:21:45
Speaker
I've traveled with you, so I feel like I have some insight. You wouldn't have any idea how I prepared for that trip. Or I prepare for any trip. So typically you do have a thing where you you know you have your toiletry kit ready to go because you have travel sizes of everything. Yeah, I don't ever have to pack any of that stuff. I also have a toothbrush for Kimberly in my travel stuff.
00:22:14
Speaker
Yeah. And then, see, this is the thing. Is it like how you pack with Adley where it's like you go through and you pick out the days and then you lay it out and then you pack it? But also, I've been on trips where you're like, hey i haven't packed yet. it's like But I know you've done laundry for it.
00:22:32
Speaker
You typically do laundry ahead of time of the stuff you're going to take.
00:22:40
Speaker
But do you make a list? That's a question. number That's a question. What do you think?
00:22:52
Speaker
I feel like no. I feel like you've got it in your head enough times now that you don't need to like physically write a list.
00:23:01
Speaker
I have a standard travel list that's already made for every trip. And I have it categorized by chores that need to be done for the house.
00:23:13
Speaker
instructions for any house or pet sitters, what I need to pack for me, what I need to pack for Adley and Poppy, because the other girls there, they should be able to figure it out for themselves.
00:23:24
Speaker
And then whether we're going to San Antonio, because that's a place we go a lot or not. And it's just already pre-made. Like I could cut and paste it right now. And then depending on the trip we're taking, nice i edit the list for specific to that.
00:23:39
Speaker
Then once I've scheduled a trip, I put a task in the sauna for that trip with a checklist of everything else.
00:23:50
Speaker
So like right now we've got Hawaii coming up. And then note like we've already taken care of like airfare, I'll have to confirm, or you know, hotel, I'll have to confirm with the rental company that we've got the car and the right car seat and all of that.
00:24:09
Speaker
But, you know, confirming the pet sitter, making sure the day before I put out our mail, have a little aqua mailbox that I set by the Keurig that they put our mail into. I'll print out a fresh list of instructions with pet instructions. I'm going to have to ask add cupcake, axolotl, but those are already pre-made.
00:24:27
Speaker
I just have to edit them depending on the trip and depending on what changes our animals have had. Yeah. Right now, the top of the list, the only reason, because it's still like six weeks out, I have, um and nobody take you know nobody listening to this, like, oh, that's a good time to go rob
Packing for Family Trips
00:24:47
Speaker
Lori. We're going to have a pet sitter or a house sitter that's going to be here pretty much the whole time, more than we're even here normally. So this it's much better to rob us while we're in town. um But just don't. Nobody say that either.
00:24:59
Speaker
We have cameras all around the house ah ah all around the perimeter of the home. Anyway, and let's see right now, the top end when I was just talking to Adley about it last night because Adley was pretty adamant about starting to make a list. I'm like, I already have a list, but she's like, we need a list of things we need to get.
00:25:18
Speaker
And so we were going through that list. And I really think the only thing we need to get for this trip are probably water shoes for Adley.
00:25:31
Speaker
because Poppy should be able to fit into some of Adley's old water shoes. But I don't know. So there's like shopping. So you have enough time to get the things that you need for your trip. And then there you go. But no, I have a printed list.
00:25:44
Speaker
I mean, it's already created. It's just a running list. Nice. Yeah. And you know who never forgets things? Me. Although in fairness, there was one time i didn't bring a charger or the right charger just because, you know, iPhones and iPads.
00:26:04
Speaker
I think they're finally trying to get their story straight, but I still have enough of the old ones that have the lightning plug for the iPhone. Yeah. But the USB-C for iPad.
00:26:16
Speaker
And so i just grabbed the wrong one.
00:26:21
Speaker
But it's really because I usually bring two of each.
00:26:28
Speaker
Two of each charger? Uh-huh. Oh, okay. Okay.
00:26:35
Speaker
Yeah, because we're the rental car, then we want I want to leave one in there. Oh. or you know And i don't listen I don't know if the rental car we'll have now will have the wireless car play, but you know can't always count on that.
00:26:48
Speaker
So you got the one in the car. And then i want one by my nightstand. But I don't pack chargers for anybody else except for Adley and Poppy. So Kimberly, Kaia, Carly, they all know they got to take care of their own.
00:27:04
Speaker
And if they don't, they can't use one of mine.
00:27:09
Speaker
Nice. Luke and his siblings have this um very Lord of the Flies type approach to chargers that are at the house to the point where Luke's mom decided um that anytime that she acquires a charger, there's a specific pattern duct tape that she puts on it.
00:27:28
Speaker
So that way she knows if anybody has that colored duct tape on their charger, they stole her charger. okay. That's a good idea.
00:27:38
Speaker
ah like it.
Tech and Pet Travel Essentials
00:27:44
Speaker
and That's the one thing that sucks about all of my family having Androids is I can't take their chargers.
00:27:53
Speaker
Oh, and there it is.
00:27:57
Speaker
i had i had to connect my headphones. Did you say your family has Androids? Yeah. So maybe you don't want my dad to Frank Duolingo since he's an Android.
00:28:09
Speaker
Well, I know. I just don't want to text with him. i don't want to see the green. That's fair.
00:28:16
Speaker
But it's fine because he hasn't accepted my friend quest anyway. He hasn't? I don't think so. need to pull him anyway so I can... You're going to get a demerit, Sam, if he doesn't accept your boss's friend request on Duolingo.
00:28:35
Speaker
ah You should tell him you're going to be fired. Oh, God. You're going to be put on a pip. yeah But wait, do y'all have that? Like, whenever you you go to, like, I guess, Lori, for you you, do have this on your couch for your kids. Like, y'all have, like, the iPad chargers, like, the cables that are specifically meant for that.
00:28:58
Speaker
There's always... Luke's dad, years ago, got a recliner that has, like, a a USB port to where you can plug in a charger. That charger, that cord never leaves the recliner.
00:29:12
Speaker
If it does, woe be it unto you. Yeah. i don't It's the recliner charger. You may use it, but you do not move it. Yeah, I know my mom hates when I come to Houston because i always forget the outlet thing to put into my charger.
00:29:31
Speaker
um and Well, you shouldn't now. The charger box, because Birch Law has branded ones with two different types of USB ports. Am I allowed to take one?
00:29:43
Speaker
You are allowed to take one. Sarah, you can check it out to her. Maybe we should just have people check them out. And then you have to return them if you quit or get fired. know library part of that That could be part of the engine tour.
00:29:55
Speaker
I hope that's what feel. It's going be this one and then the the little red one that I have that I think is actually at my parents' at this point. Because I usually take it there. And then forget. See, I like having the BirchLaw one because it has the regular, like, bigger USB-C yeah and the USB-C port. So one is for my phone and the other one use. she's talking about our original ones, the red ones, before they started doing the USB-C.
00:30:18
Speaker
That is the before times. So I can make sure I always have my watch charger and my cell phone, which is the same one. and I can just take that with me. Yeah.
00:30:29
Speaker
Yeah. So what other, trip before we get into Sam and Sarah's ridiculous list, what other, if any travel essentials can we think of? Like legitimate ones for yourselves, not the ridiculous shit
Safety and Comfort Travel Essentials
00:30:44
Speaker
you put on. Don't forget your sunscreen.
00:30:47
Speaker
Yeah, sunscreen. Yeah. So I have... So on my standard list, again, I edit it for the type of trip. So there's always bug spray.
00:30:59
Speaker
There's definitely bug spray now. ah um Sunscreen, goggles, swimsuits. But like if when we went to Colorado, I just edited the list to take those things off.
00:31:12
Speaker
But like gloves and scarves and snow pants would stay on the list. Yeah. Well, for us, we're taking our dog with us a little bit.
00:31:24
Speaker
That's probably very important, Sam, for you and your pigment. yeah Your pigment? very white and I'm very redhead. So those combinations do not mix well with the sun.
00:31:37
Speaker
How about you, Sarah? um probably
00:31:45
Speaker
Probably stuff to fill in my eyebrows. That's pretty incestual. Like, I'm not even joking. I'm not even joking. I have to pack that. We know that's your one thing you have to have before you leave the house.
00:31:58
Speaker
You know, my I have two things I can't leave the house with. And this isn't just for travel. This is all the time. It's your earrings and something else, right? Well, actually, okay.
00:32:09
Speaker
No, you're right. Two things that I have to wear and two things I have to have with me. I just forget the phone. That's a part of my body. Earrings and a watch.
00:32:20
Speaker
like I don't feel like I can be seen in public without that. But then what do i have to have with me? Your lenses cleaner and your lip gloss. Or hand wash freezer. Oh, so close. Yes.
00:32:31
Speaker
I have have lotion and lip gloss. Lotion and lip gloss. I was like, hold on. it it varies because of like the glasses situation. But I know lip gloss. And then I was like, yes, moisturize. In a pinch, I can use my shirt for my glasses.
00:32:45
Speaker
Yeah, that's true. so yeah Although now this this thing that that I got and got all of you. Have you all been using it? i have. you Sam, don't know I'm talking about.
00:32:58
Speaker
If you wore your glasses, Sam, I would give you one. That's fair. but we on ours i actually have two different brands of it, so I'm not going to mention either because they're not a sponsor.
00:33:11
Speaker
But they, I'll do a demo for those who are watching the video version. You like take it and then yeah and I, for people who wear glasses, here's a little thing. Well, some, for people who don't wear glasses, here's something you don't know about people who do wear glasses.
00:33:29
Speaker
Your glasses are never as clean and as nice as when you first get them. yeah However, this tool changes the game.
00:33:41
Speaker
for So it's pretty, pretty good. So sometimes I have to do the little cleaner first, like the little swab cleaning wipe to get some of like the oil.
00:33:55
Speaker
And because I think I shared this is my my humble brag. I'm really not, but I know how it sounds. So it sounds like a humble brag. I don't mean it that way, but my eyelashes are very long.
00:34:07
Speaker
And so they the problem I have with glasses is I get like my eyelashes rub against them. And whether I have mascara on or not, either way, just your natural oils on your eyelashes like make mine pretty greasy.
00:34:24
Speaker
So I need like the white. This is such a great conversation. I need the white. And then, but then now I'm doing a second step of using this cleanser.
00:34:37
Speaker
And I, I've never had my glasses look like they do when I first put them on, but these do it if you clean it the right way.
00:34:45
Speaker
I like the little brush. So this going to be my new travel. Yeah, I haven't used that because I really don't. I don't know what kind of debris the rest of you are getting on your glasses. Because, like again, I'm saying oils and It's eyelashes. You can't use a brush. For it's like my eyelashes will sometimes get in there.
00:35:01
Speaker
oh you're losing your eyelashes? Everyone does.
00:35:08
Speaker
ah Yes. You naturally should. I don't. Hair. I just grow more. No, you know that one horrible story of mine, don't you? Where I lost all my eyelashes at one time.
00:35:21
Speaker
No. used to and i emphasize used to use an eyelash curler. Curl. After I'd put on mascara.
00:35:34
Speaker
The day I stopped using it was the day that I had just put hand lotion on went to curl, and my hands slipped, my fingers s slipped. And it ripped.
00:35:46
Speaker
And I looked at the eyelash curler and all my type top eyelashes were in it.
00:35:56
Speaker
Did you even them out or did you just let it? Did what I just described not sound painful? Did I did i have to like also mention the pain in addition to the horror?
00:36:10
Speaker
Yeah.
00:36:14
Speaker
Yeah. Did it hurt or did you not notice until like... You know what? You know what, Sam? Let's just try it on you. Oh, I'm okay. Thank you for the offer, though.
00:36:28
Speaker
Let's try it on you. and then you let me know. already pulled my eyelashes out enough. They don't need more. Why do you pull them? I don't know. but Okay, well, imagine pulling them all out at once with violent force.
00:36:44
Speaker
What does your heart tell Sam? It hurts.
00:36:51
Speaker
Yeah. It hurts is the answer. Yeah. But anyway, um I do not have an eyelash curler in my travel bag.
Luxury Travel Comforts
00:37:02
Speaker
i um So some other travel essentials for me that I was thinking about, this is only for air travel, but um I would have to say tsa PreCheck,
00:37:14
Speaker
os the Admiral's Club in first class but if I'm not willing to buy a first class ticket for my entire family then at least being able to get free drinks because I'm executive platinum in coach one day maybe it'll just be private flying private buts all hair ah but for now I do have someone but actually the lady who does my hair um she pretty much only flies private and she swears by it So nice.
00:37:43
Speaker
I don't know. like enough Hold on. The other thing for us is if you're taking your pet with you or not. So if you're taking your dog, you have to pack. Usually we'll pack like food for dog, bowl for dog, bed for dog, leash, extra baggies and such.
00:37:58
Speaker
However, if we're going to Luke's parents house, we will take those things. But it's like Luke likes to say tags on vacation his grandparents house so he could have the junk food so he can have their dog's food. say Yeah.
00:38:15
Speaker
I predict that when we no longer have car seats, that we'll probably do a lot more traveling.
Challenges of Traveling with Young Children
00:38:24
Speaker
But it is so – and it's starting to get better because Adley now is in a booster. And booster, that's no big deal. Even the car that we rent has one. And you don't have to bring it on the plane or anything like that.
00:38:35
Speaker
um But the whole car seat thing. And then strollers. And they just have so much stuff. But – The upside with the two little ones is they're actually both pretty good travelers. So we never had, um well, I mean, you know first time for something, but I think they're both old enough now that they're fine.
00:38:55
Speaker
um But never had like the screaming baby or anything like that on a flight. There was one time, Adley, I think, She was probably under two years old and she'd already flown a couple of times, so but we were sitting on the tarmac, like wait like it was taking a long time to take off and they didn't have the air on And then she started crying and getting fussy.
00:39:19
Speaker
And the thing that was kind of, that was the only moment where I'm like, oh God, you know, I'm one of these people. And what was very heartwarming actually is I'm sure there were people on the plane who were like complaining, but you know, anybody says something me I will punch them in the face about my children.
00:39:34
Speaker
But what was heartwarming is that everybody around us was really so kind. and And it was very brief period of time. it's because she was so sick of waiting. And it was hot. She's like, let's get on this plane. Let's go.
00:39:46
Speaker
um They're like, oh, you know this you know, my kids did this or that. or this I mean, everybody's really nice. So that was thankfully. So they're good travelers. But it's just all their stuff.
00:40:00
Speaker
Yeah, it's a lot to plan for. And then like where you're going because they have to have the car seats and it's not like, oh, we'll just take an Uber to the hotel or said no, because they both have to be in car seats.
00:40:14
Speaker
And end, the answer is yes, I have done this. Have to put two car seats attached into a taxi. That was super fun. um I'm not sure if you've ever installed car seats, but it's horrible.
00:40:28
Speaker
Sam, it's horrible. It is horrible. you'll You'll know, Sam, when you have the child you don't Oh, no. My nephew ah lived with us for his first, like, two or three years. So, kind of fun time.
00:40:41
Speaker
know It's worse than putting a duvet cover on. yeah. Hold on. I take umbrage with that. Duvet covers are easy. I know you but you're in a very small minority of people that do.
Humorous Travel Essentials
00:40:53
Speaker
They're super easy. If you cannot figure out duvet, I question a lot of your life decisions.
00:41:01
Speaker
about it. All right, Sam and Sarah, are you ready? Are there any more legitimate travel essentials that anybody wants to discuss?
00:41:14
Speaker
so No.
00:41:17
Speaker
Okay.
00:41:19
Speaker
All right. Well, then, what do you have cooked up for us? All right. So we have our own version of travel essentials. yeah And them we've already talked about number one, but You know, we think it's necessary to pack three times the amount of underwear you need in case you... your pants every day.
00:41:41
Speaker
And on that topic, the same thing with socks, but just in case you sip in puddles and every day. So you never know. Right. Or in some puddles pretty easily.
00:41:53
Speaker
you're You're pushed in the in a lake. Yeah. You're pushed in a lake.
00:41:59
Speaker
You never know when you're be pushed in a lake. Yeah. for all You need to bring a picture of your pet because you will miss them every single day. Every single day. And lantern in case the power goes out everywhere. And yes, this does come with a nightgown and hat.
00:42:15
Speaker
You're talking like an old house lantern? Great. Okay. yeah Sam, that's what you need to go for is Halloween now. I need to see this visual. can't. likea All right, wait. um nobody I don't want to any crosstalking for this next one.
00:42:31
Speaker
Okay, go.
00:42:34
Speaker
We recommend bringing a George Foreman grow.
00:42:40
Speaker
Pretty self-explanatory. i mean You never know where going to need it. Chances are low, but never zero. Right. ah Is that how you live your life, Sam? The chances are low, but never... Actually, that's how you live your life. It is how I live my life.
00:42:53
Speaker
You have a lot of um very interesting anxieties and, like, worries that, yeah, okay. I'm not an anxious person, but I have very specific anxieties. You do.
00:43:03
Speaker
It all makes sense now. The next one is a volleyball. Specifically, I think Sarah said it's named Wilson. Passed away. Yeah, in case you get stranded. Yeah, you need a friend.
00:43:16
Speaker
Yeah. Like, I just put him in my carry-on? Yeah. Or carry him. No, you wait for it to float in. Or carry him. It selects you. selects a while.
00:43:28
Speaker
All right. Next, we recommend we recommend mini ducks and googly eyes to hide everywhere.
00:43:39
Speaker
Just for fun. Keeps it whimsical. Keeps it fun. Keeps it light. Also, we recommend bringing a megaphone just in case there's crowds and you need somebody to you know hear you.
00:43:50
Speaker
Everybody will love that. Yeah. And also, if you're in a crowd, we recommend shoes that squeak so no one can lose you. Or light up. I think that would be fun, too. oh that would be fun.
00:44:02
Speaker
Yeah. How quiet is this crowd you're in? Yeah, seriously. Or the shoes are really loud. ah and then I think about that alternative, but that's true.
00:44:16
Speaker
And then finally, Travel Essentials that we recommend is a backpack so big it needs its own plane ticket. ah In Sid's backpack, it is stuffed with the mini ducks and googly eyes and also rocks.
00:44:29
Speaker
Why rock? i Sarah put that. I don't know. For fun. To collect them. Did you watch The Parent Trap recently or something?
00:44:40
Speaker
ah No, but maybe subconsciously.
00:44:44
Speaker
yeah Is this really the best you could do? Yeah, it started off good and then we really just kind of fell apart at the end.
00:44:56
Speaker
Yeah. You don't have to tell any of us that. You don't have to justify this. yeah We have our bad days.
00:45:04
Speaker
We're still waiting for a good one. Whoa. You guys have said that you've said one time that you guys really like Garamond. I don't remember what it was, but you know when you make yourself laugh, it's nice.
00:45:18
Speaker
Okay.
Favorite Travel Destinations
00:45:20
Speaker
right. Favorite place to travel and then we'll we'll end this. Oh, it doesn't have, it can be a specific place or it can be a type of place.
00:45:29
Speaker
Okay.
00:45:32
Speaker
Mountains. Oh, do you, you had to say it like that? Yeah. Okay. Alright. Mountains. Mountains. Yeah, Sam, you say it like that.
00:45:46
Speaker
No, I can't do it. did it in and then it lost. it yeah Wait, can you do it again, Sarah? Mountains. Mountains.
00:45:57
Speaker
No, I can see how it's like a legitimate like, it can't quite match that. No, I tried. Alright. Sam?
00:46:08
Speaker
I like going to theme parks.
00:46:14
Speaker
That's so on brand. i love that. I also like cruises. Cruises are fun. Okay. And if you do the Disney cruise, you get both.
00:46:25
Speaker
Heck yeah. Wow. Cynthia? Um, I like going places with bodies of water because i like to sit next to said body of water under the shade and take a nap or read a book and have a nice, like, nice beverage.
00:46:44
Speaker
It could be water. It could be non-water. It just, that, the nice lapping sound of water whenever you're by a body of water, whether it's waves, whether it's like you're the lake and you're just nice and chill under the shade.
00:46:59
Speaker
Until Doug pushes you into it. and Until Doug pushes you into it. Yeah. Listen, haven't seen Doug in a while and I haven't been pushed into a body of water in a while, but if we go to lake house. there iss a lowbe but no you know ah Very good. All right.
00:47:17
Speaker
On that, I think we've covered travel essentials. Thank you. Thanks for listening. And just to cover all our bases about what you just heard, I'm sorry and you're welcome.
00:47:30
Speaker
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00:47:44
Speaker
Links are in the show notes. If there's a topic you'd like us to cover, maybe you have a question you'd like us to answer, or maybe you just want to say hi, hit the link in the show notes or go to birch-law.com forward slash podcast and fill out the contact form.
00:48:08
Speaker
Much better. Yeah, I thought that had a lot of energy.