Some people travel light, others bring everything except their own kitchen sink. When I landing on Guam on August 4, 2004, I had two suitcases and that's it. Everything else I left in San Diego, and it's still there. I'm just waiting to see my stuff on "Storage Wars".

So what should you bring to Guam?

You should keep in mind that Guam is not California, Virgina, or Texas. Guam is Guam and generally speaking, the big California King bed and enormous sectional sofa may not fit in the average home on Guam. In fact, it's not uncommon to find 3 bedroom homes under 1300 square feet.

If it doesn't fit, use a hammer..

Rooms tend to be smaller here, so it's less to cool, particularly in older homes and condos. Lately, some builders have been leaning towards a more "Western" style design with larger rooms to appeal to arriving state-siders, but we're still often faced with the issue of trying to find a home that all your stuff will fit in, especially if you want a condo. Places look a lot bigger, until they have furniture in them.

If you plan to rent, appliances are almost always included with the property. If you prefer to use your own, in some cases the owner may be willing to remove them so that you can use your own. It's generally not necessary to bring your own refrigerator and stove. Washer and dryer are usually provided, but sometimes not, and the bases usually have a supply of loaners on hand for off base residents.

Many of our condos and apartments will only accommodate the stack-able type washers and dryer combos.