What do you pack to live in a coffin for 6 months?

Now that we've got all those pesky emotions out of the way, here's the functional deployment-related post, for anyone else in the same boat (okay, pun intended).

Here's the packing we list scraped together over the past week, on the advice of some fellow submariners and their wives. Time will tell whether this was a good list or not! One suggestion was that 1/3 of your seabag should be packed with clothes... the other 2/3 should be snacks. Uniforms alone took up an entire seabag, a duffle bag and a suit bag, so I'm not quite sure how that one works!

Sneakers (2)

Shower shoes

Dryer sheets

Space bags

Sweats/work-out clothes (2)

Socks/underwear (10-14)

Poopy suits (3-4)

Other uniforms (Justin's boat asked him to bring khakis, whites, SDB's and NWU's- dang thats a lot of clothes!)

Promotion Insignia (Justin will become LTJG in May!)

Civies (2)

Pillow/pillowcase

Towel

Toiletries

Flashlight

Multitool

Cash

Backpack

Laundry bag

Drink mixes- we got Gatorade, Mio and Starbucks Via (I think drinks served on a sub are water and coffee...)

Snacks/candy- also helps make friends ;)

Thermos/water bottle

Tablet + charger

Headphones

Camera + batteries, charger, BIG SD card

I definitely think the tablet is a must. I loaded it up with pictures and a playlist of our favorite songs (and a few goofy ones a la "Under the Sea" from the little Mermaid). Justin also set up a folder that will sync with our desktop computer in Boston whenever he is able to get wifi. This allows us to share pictures, songs and videos both ways. I love technology!

Another suggestion I got a lot was to write out cards for Justin to open periodically. I think this is something I would enjoy if I were out to sea, but Justin is not really a card person. Not to mention we barely had time to get this list together, let alone shop for and write a bunch of cards. Instead I used good ole MS Paint to make some funny little notes for Justin to open as he gets certain qualifications.

So there you have it. I'm pretty sure that will take up 100% of Justin's personal space on the sub. Next I need to figure out what I should send him in the mail!