A few weeks ago my husband and I attended a seminar to learn how to pack a suitcase. We did this because we’ve committed to a Rick Steves’ tour and the literature we receive from the Steves’ organization never fails to remind us that we must carry our own luggage.

You may think packing a suitcase is something everyone can do without instruction, but if you saw how we normally pack for a brief road trip you’d understand that packing light is an art form we’ve yet to master.

To prepare for a few days in eastern Washington, we fill an SUV cargo bay and rear seat with suitcases stuffed with clothes for every occasion, boxes, pillows, New Yorkers, books, CD’s, snacks, food likely to spoil in our absence, wine, umbrellas (no matter what the season), and extra shoes and boots that don’t fit in the suitcases.

At the Edmonds Performing Arts Center we found seats in the balcony. The main floor was filled. I felt much better when I saw so many others seeking packing instruction, people who probably shared our tendencies to assume that nothing we normally use, such as toothpaste, will be available anywhere outside metropolitan Seattle and, therefore, must enjoy reserved seating in our luggage.

“Packing Light” turned out to be a demonstration of unpacking; still, it was instructive. I had never seen a suitcase where everything fit into something else. Each class of items one would typically pack — clothing, toiletries, underwear, medicines, shoes — merited its own containment vessel. The presenter had rolled up her clothing and stuffed it into the largest bag and everything else into smaller ones.

She encouraged women to carry a ziplock pouch filled with scarves, since these could dress up and disguise the pants and tank top they would be wearing every day for weeks. And scarves could hide stains. However, despite these accessories, I’d expect the bouquet from the clothing to give the game away.

When we exited the Steves’ travel store, our wallets were the only things I would characterize as “light.” We walked out with two new suitcases, day packs and all the bags that fit in them. I still don’t know where we’re going to put the pillows, umbrellas, stacks of unread magazines, and the extra shoes and boots.

Ann Oxrieder has lived in Bellevue for 35 years. She retired after 25 years as an administrator in the Bellevue School District and now blogs about retirement at http://stillalife.wordpress.com/.