Size matters

It’s a constant conundrum for me. I’m always looking for the perfect purse. Aren’t we all?

I have a long list of criteria for my purses, such as I need lots of pockets, preferably ones that close. I’m a firm believer in the fact you can never have too many pockets. I can always find something to put in them.

Hence one of my problems: I’m a packrat and I carry everything but the kitchen sink with me. There’s the necessary stuff, like the wallet. There’s also two make-up cases that don’t have any make-up in them. I hate having a whole bunch of small items floating loose in my purse, so that’s my solution. One has assorted things like breath mints and Band-Aids — stuff I don’t always need, but have to have, just in case.

The other make-up case? Well, I’m a woman, figure it out.

I also manage to cram into my purse a bottle of sunscreen, a small bottle of water, a small tube of hand lotion, a package of Kleenex, a notebook, a bag of throat drops, three lipglosses and a lipbalm, and too many other items to mention.

I don’t need a purse, I need a suitcase.

I want to carry a smaller purse. I cringe every time I have to go cover something and I know I’ll have to carry my purse for a long time — my shoulder actually gets sore from the weight. I look at these women who have a tiny little purse dangling from their shoulder or wrist and I’m envious.

But then I realize they only have their plastic money and one lipstick in there. That’s all that would fit.

The answer is, of course, to cut down on what I carry with me. But what could I leave at home? The water? What if I get thirsty? The sunscreen? I might wind up covering something in the sun for a long time. The notebook? What if I think of something I need to remember; I have to write it down or I’ll forget.

Excuse me, this may take a while.