Peace Corps guidelines: Limit two checked bags and two carry-ons (one + personal item). No more than 80 pounds total; no one bag weighing more than 50 pounds. Total dimensions (length + width + height) of checked baggage may not exceed 107 inches; larger pieces of checked baggage can't exceed 62 inches; total carry-on can't exceed 45 inches.

...But I read in a book that these guidelines are loose, that the airline gives the Peace Corps as a group an allotted number of pounds, so as long as some members are underweight, others can be over. (And the already-too-big suitcase that I'm taking weighs 20 pounds on its own.) The general aim of the weight specifications is so that you don't bring more than you can carry.

So here goes: what I would take with me if I were stranded on a deserted island... so to speak:

Clothing:

• Shirts: 4 T-shirts; 3 tank tops; 3 collared shirts; 1 fleece; my favorite Ship sweatshirt; 2 cardigans (1 black, 1 tan)

• 1 long dress; 4 below-knee-length skirts

• Pants: 1 pair sweatpants; 2 pair light cotton pants; 2 pair jeans; 1 pair black slacks; 2 pair cotton shorts

• 1 rain poncho

• 1 baseball cap

• 5 pair socks

• 10 pairs underwear; 3 sports bras; 4 regular bras; 1 pair long johns

• 2 bathing suits

• 2 bandanas

Shoes:

• 1 pair Teva/Reef flip-flops

• 1 pair "work" sandals

• 2 pair dress shoes

• 1 pair hiking boots

• 1 pair sneakers

Toiletries, et cetera:

• toothbrush; toothpaste (1 in use, 1 extra); floss

• 2 pairs sunglasses

• 2 bottles gel eye drops, 2 bottles liquid eye drops

• deodorant (1 in use, 1 extra)

• 1 bar soap; soap container

• double sided magnifying/regular hand mirror

• tweezers

• 2 bottles thick conditioner

• comb, 2 brushes

• bag of disposable razors

• 4 mini packs of Kleenex

• big bottle liquid hand sanitizer

• antimicrobial soap

• the Diva Cup

• fingernail clippers, 2 nail files

• LOTS of hair gummies

• 1 extra-large packtowl

• swimmer's shammy

• moisturizing lotion

• 2 bottles ibuprofen, 2 bottles of Pepto-Bismol pills, antihistimine, Neosporin

• flouride paste

• mini first-aid kit

• 4 tubs of Carmex

Gear:

• Medic-Alert bracelet

• heavy-duty sport watch

• digital camera

• film camera; 5 rolls of film

• batteries

• socket adapter; 220/110 voltage transformer

• Maglite flashlight

• 1 pair good scissors; 1 pair collapsible travel scissors; 2 rolls scotch tape; 2 rolls duct tape

• 2 combination locks

• lots of Ziploc freezer bags

• two Nalgene bottles

• kitchen knifes and mini-cutting board

• large Leatherman, pocket Leatherman; buck knife

• 2 journals

• pencil bag; pens, pencils, permanent markers, etc.

• address book

• 2005/2006/2007 planner

• sewing kit

• pillow

• sheets, blanket

• wallet; money belt or concealable purse

• stationery and stamps

• cash (or Visa card)

• 12 passport-sized photos

• plastic document/file folders

• PC paperwork; Volunteer Handbook; personal papers, etc.

Entertainment:

• small shortwave/AM/FM radio

• MP3 player & accessories

• poster-sized map of the world; map of Cameroon

• photo album

• deck of cards; Uno

• French-English dictionary

Gifts:

• good-smelling hand cream

• 5 boxes Crayola crayons

• coloring books

And the luggage:

• Samsonite framed suitcase (31" x 18" x 14")

• large backpack

(Red italics are what I already have.)

All of this in 80 pounds? I don't think we're in PA anymore, Toto.