I know I'm new because I am so meticulous with my loading. I vacuum and clean the car BEFORE the trip. I put everything in the night before, checking my list as I gather gear, as I haul it downstairs, again as I load it, again after I load it, again the next morning, and yet again if for any reason I am stopped ont he way to the site (picking up dive buddy, gas, bathroom break, etc.) I lay in bed thinking "mask. snorkel....notthatitmatters....fins? both of them? I'll go check! ok, bothof those. wetsuit? Hm, I think so. regs? toolkit? did I put the voltmeter back in there yet? bc! Oh wait, got that. light? hm, three of those. what about an emergency strobe? ah, it's a spring dive, probably won't need it. computer? dive tables (I have three of them)?? Kitchen sink...now where did I put that?"
I'm sure in another year, I won't be meticulously loading bins, I won't care if the tank isn't positioned perfectly. There will be no more checklist. I will sleep just fine thenight before. Heck, I probably will switch and wash the car when I get home, not when I'm leaving. And the parents willb e happy, I'll also stop taking the sink out of the kitchen with me on every dive. What can I say, works great to anchor a line to descend on!