Easter weekend on Padre Island, on the Gulf coast of Texas, was a spur of the moment trip---winter weather in the midwest was hanging on forever it seemed, and the lure of the beach was strong. A last minute bargain airfare sealed the deal, we each packed a bag, and headed to the airport.

By evening, we were settling into a small condo pretty close to the beach. It was wonderful and warm, as we had hoped. The kids liked to pack their own bags, but as we unpacked, it became obvious that our son J.T.'s packing style left much to be desired.---he had neglected to pack swim trunks for his beach weekend, and had also included no underwear.

Finding swim trunks on the island was easy---every gas station and roadside shop had them, along with shell jewelry and beach towels. But underwear was another matter. A little IGA market in Port Aransas looked promising, seeming to have a little of everything. But no such luck. Waiting to check out, we struck up a conversation with a couple from Wisconsin. "Do you know where we might find underwear for an 8-year-old boy", we asked. "No", replied the woman. "We usually bring our own".

Good advice. And because we can never know what to expect when traveling with kids, it's good to be prepared......for the unexpected.