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The whole “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” thing is a bit overplayed in my estimation.  However, I can’t deny that there are fundamental ways that we’re just wired differently.  Between you and me (and my better half if she reads this), the differences become very apparent when we’re running to catch flights, packing bags or navigating a new city.  For those of you brave enough to travel with us fellas, I offer you these tips:

Pack with Us, Not for Us

I’m a bit absent minded.  By “a bit” I mean that I’m lucky I’m wearing pants most days and am able to find my way home on days when pants were nothing more than a novel suggestion.  It’s just the way it is.

Of course that means that I may need a little…prompting… in the packing department.  Maybe your guy does too.  No, I don’t need you to pull out all of the clothes for the trip and act like you’re my mom.  Not cool.  What I need from you is a subtle check on what the heck I’m doing.  Scope out the toothbrushes in the bathroom.  Is mine there?  Then I’ve forgotten to pack it.  Crack open the dryer.  Still have clothes in there?  Solid chance I have one pair of boxers for a weeklong trip.  For the love of everything, grab more.

That kind of stuff.

He-Man Hero Stuff

Remember the show from the ’80s where the main character would transform from mild-mannered to hero all in the space of a few words?  We’re kind of like that.  We’ll carry your bags through the airport, bring you concourse food and stand guard while you use the restroom.  It’s what we do.  What we also do is set off in the wrong direction to the gate, bring back beef jerky or carry your stuff into the bathroom with us and then drop it in the sink.

We’re sorry.

But when it comes down to it, just smile, nod and pat us on the head for being your protector and pack-mule.  We’ll just keep on carrying things while you gently guide us in the right direction.

Practice Tetris

I’m not actually suggesting that you practice packing your bags to conserve space and fit things more efficiently.  I am, however, saying that it wouldn’t hurt to know that X, Y and Z will fit into the bag that’s before you.  As a guy?  We dig it when big things can become small things.  Just take a look at phones, computers and toy robots that star in movie franchises.  If you can manage to pack the proverbial five pounds of manure into the three pound bag, you’ll have our undying respect.  You’ll also have room for that one item that we forgot.  Again.

Steve Zimmermann has drank with Aussies in Italy, danced on floating stages in Austria, sailed with dolphins in St. Vincent and pulled boats through creeks in Ireland.  He is a Lancaster, PA based writer who worked on the PR side of travel tourism before embarking on a career as a copywriter who happens to do a lot of traveling.  Follow him @zedcreative and say hello.