The great vacation preparation begins. HELP

   So after being a mom for 2 1/2 yrs now I have still yet to master the "traveling light" method. Am I the only one? Don't get me wrong I've improved some. I no longer bring a suitcase to target for a diaper run anymore but vacation is a whole different story.

Every year my family goes to the Florida Keys for about 3 weeks. It sounds like a long time and expensive but the house is a friends so it really only costs us food and entertainment, oh and of course gas. We have yet to fly since having our son , I can be extremely neurotic you will find out. The drive from New Jersey to the very end of Florida is quite an adventure with a little one on board. I plan on blogging extensively on that trip ;)

 Let me get back to traveling light. This just does not happen. I try every year to bring less but I have really only succeeded in clever packing trickery. I make it "look" like I only packed 5 outfits for Ty instead of the normal 15, this makes my husband feel like I actually listened to him for once . Our secret :) I really do want to take less but I think its just impossible. I always have the "what if I need this" or "I could have used that" syndrome.

 I think I have to remember that I am going to Florida and not some undeveloped retreat where there isn't a Walmart right down the road .

 If you have any input please share it.WHat do you do to prepare? How do your trips usually go?
I am always looking for advise from parent's who road trip to make the ride a little easier ... and lighter.