Packing For The Trip
Not much happened this week, prepping-wise, because we were in Colorado visiting family for a chunk of it. Sarah and I went down for five days with the kids, and the kids are staying another week with their grandparents and cousins.
When I was packing for this trip–as I did for our Las Vegas trip last month–I pondered what I could bring to help me be as prepared as possible while traveling. Obviously on any trip like this you can’t prepare for a major disaster (if you think there is likely to be a major disaster maybe it’d be better to just stay home); you can be more prepared for minor problems though, and minor problems are far more likely to happen. We try to avoid checking bags, both because it’s a hassle and most of the time costs extra; so we’re more limited to what we can bring. Since we were going to be staying with my parents I wondered if I really needed to bring much of anything. Then I remembered that we were going to be renting a vehicle and doing a lot of driving around, and of course there wouldn’t be anything extra in a rental vehicle.
So I started with our ‘five basic needs’.
- Food: I kept the four power bars in my bag, but on a trip like this going without food isn’t too big of a risk.
- Water: I have a 3-liter CamelBak and a 750 ml water bottle in my pack (redundant). Enough for a day trip for myself and to share as needed. The kids each had their own water bottles.
- Shelter: It’s summer so I took out the fleece jacket, rain jacket, and warm gloves, but I left in the thermal shirt and stocking cap. I also had leather work gloves and a small tarp.
- Security: Again with just carry-on luggage you’re very limited: no knives, no pepper spray, no firearms. I do carry a heavy chain with my pack to secure luggage as needed, it could be used as a weapon if necessary.
- Energy: I have a flashlight and a headlamp in my pack, both use AAA batteries; I also have extra AAA batteries and a cell phone charger. I took my fire starting kit out, but left in a couple of lighters.
- Medical (6th basic need?): I have my personal trauma kit and then a back-up first aid kit with extra supplies. Excessive? Maybe. But I do have the knowledge and training to take care for those around me and I’m the one everyone will come to. I also carry a sampling of OTC meds.
- Hygiene: I always have a towel (per Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), a ziplock bag of wet ones, and some antibacterial wipes.
- Miscellaneous: I have a few basic hand tools, zip ties, some duct tape, para cord, paper and pens, and a couple carabiners.
My bag is always checked VERY closely by the TSA, but it’s now been vetted in the Seattle, Las Vegas, and Colorado Springs airports. And yes, in addition to this I did fit my clothes. After years in the military, and long motorcycle trips, I have learned to pack lightly and very compactly. I can fit most of my clothes in an Eagle Creek Pack-It Cube which fits nicely in my pack’s main pocket.
Also this week, the hand washing laundry stuff we ordered arrived. We are now proud owners of a Rub-Lite Glass Washboard and a Rapid Washer. Next month we’ll get a couple of wash tubs and probably a hand wringer. Then we’ll be ready to start learning that skill set.
What did you do?
Anxiously awaiting the hand washing! 😀
Yea me too. But even in a collapse clean clothes and linens will be nice.
How did you get a lighter past airport security?
As of August 2007 lighters are no longer on TSAs prohibited list (TSA: New Policies for Lighters, Electronics, and Breast Milk)
Great to know. Thanks for the info and thanks for the site. Good stuff.
BTW-I just copied your red carabiner for the FAK idea. Handy as a shirt pocket.
Thanks! Yep the red/’easy to find it quickly’ carabiner is an example of my Keep It Simple Stupid mentality.
What about a magnesium striker?
I can’t remeber if it was carry on or carry on sized but checked,
but i had one in my luggage when we flew into Dallas for a convention just after Katrina,
when there was still worries about flash flooding from rains, and evacuees everywhere.
The other gals laughed at my 19lb suitcase (they were swapping contents to get in under 50lb a piece) and straw filter and sheath knife. But who cut all the apples and cheese? You should have seen their faces when we went to wal-mart and all the bottled water was sold out! The striker was the only thing in my kit I didn’t use, not that the girls we eager to see it in use after i told them my duct tape was excellnt tinder! (with which I taped a blistered heel from some one’s newly purchased fashion shoes)
That’d be a great addition for fire building redundancy (I did have 2 lighters) and I bet you can fly with a magnesium striker in your carry on; coincidentally I’m flying this weekend so I’ll add one and see what they say/do.
In my mind, one of the worst places to be in a disaster is in an airport: you’re far from home, don’t know anyone (typically), are unfamiliar with the area (generally), and you don’t have any of your “stuff”. I always fly with a stripped down (TSA approved) kit. And I didn’t know duct tape was good tinder, I’ll try it out.
Had my whole fire starting kit in my bag this time (lighters, matches, magnesium striker, heat tablets, flame accelerants) and no issues at all.
Who said you can’t fly with firearms? Check the TSA and airline website! Summary:
Gun(s) must be declared at check in. Gun has to be in lockable container. Ammo in another container. Containers can be packed in suitcase. Assumption: firearms are legal in both departure and destination. Check it out.
You’re exactly right, you can fly with firearms. And though there’s some hassles, it’s easier than most people think.
But, that article talked about what I was bringing in carry-on baggage (not checking anything).