Quote from: Solars Toy on March 04, 2012, 09:03:59 AM
It was said by Henry David Thoreau...

"It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply and preparedly that if an enemy take the town... he can walk out the gate empty-handed and without anxiety."
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden, or Life in the Woods

And that is the question I ask, if where you lived was suddenly struck by a natural disaster or political unrest could you just walk away and leave everything behind?  What kind of anxiety would it cause you or your spouse?  One example would be pictures and important papers.  As we have seen in the current tornadoes aftermath so many things are lost.  What options have you taken to protect some of these things from being destroyed forever.

Toy

I own property in five states, each have a cache of my needed top five items. Annually I check on my goods.

My wife will have a problem walking away, but she'll come, because each year I improve the caches.

Quote from: lessthantolerant on March 11, 2012, 04:38:19 AM
I own property in five states, each have a cache of my needed top five items. Annually I check on my goods.

My wife will have a problem walking away, but she'll come, because each year I improve the caches.

Smart Man....

Quote from: Solars Toy on March 04, 2012, 09:03:59 AM
It was said by Henry David Thoreau...

"It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply and preparedly that if an enemy take the town... he can walk out the gate empty-handed and without anxiety."
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden, or Life in the Woods

And that is the question I ask, if where you lived was suddenly struck by a natural disaster or political unrest could you just walk away and leave everything behind?  What kind of anxiety would it cause you or your spouse?  One example would be pictures and important papers.  As we have seen in the current tornadoes aftermath so many things are lost.  What options have you taken to protect some of these things from being destroyed forever.

Toy

I think we are talking two different scenarios here.

One would be a natural disaster where the government and social order remain more or less intact. Here, important documents, and valuables would be needed. Here it would be a good idea to have a "go bag" of some sort with important info - birth certificates (are you listening Mr Obama?) bank and credit card statements, and, perhaps, educational and work info. Food and water for a number of days should also be on hand and read to go.

The other, more extreme scenario would be were a major breakdown of society has occurred. In this case, official documentation is going to be less than useless. You'd be better off packing as much food, water, firearms and ammo you can carry. But, even then, don't bog yourself down! Take only a few days food and water and resign yourself to the fact that, one way or another, you are going to have to "live off the land".

Anything that won't contribute to your survival will need to be left behind - pictures, books nic-nacks, etc...

-Dr Watt 

Quote from: Dr_Watt on April 02, 2012, 08:39:27 PM
I think we are talking two different scenarios here.

One would be a natural disaster where the government and social order remain more or less intact. Here, important documents, and valuables would be needed. Here it would be a good idea to have a "go bag" of some sort with important info - birth certificates (are you listening Mr Obama?) bank and credit card statements, and, perhaps, educational and work info. Food and water for a number of days should also be on hand and read to go.

The other, more extreme scenario would be were a major breakdown of society has occurred. In this case, official documentation is going to be less than useless. You'd be better off packing as much food, water, firearms and ammo you can carry. But, even then, don't bog yourself down! Take only a few days food and water and resign yourself to the fact that, one way or another, you are going to have to "live off the land".

Anything that won't contribute to your survival will need to be left behind - pictures, books nic-nacks, etc...

-Dr Watt 

Speaking for ST since she can't since her surgery.
We live in Ca, where a simultaneous occurrence of both scenarios are probable, which was kind of the point.
Three days and running out of provisions due to an earthquake can foster civil unrest rather quickly, especially in the scummier parts of cities.

So I tend to agree, screw all the useless shit and grab the essentials and get the hell out of dodge.
You can always bury somethings and comeback later.

Hope her surgery and recovery goes well. Send her our best!

-Dr Watt

Quote from: Solar on April 03, 2012, 07:08:54 AM
Speaking for ST since she can't since her surgery.
We live in Ca, where a simultaneous occurrence of both scenarios are probable, which was kind of the point.
Three days and running out of provisions due to an earthquake can foster civil unrest rather quickly, especially in the scummier parts of cities.

So I tend to agree, screw all the useless shit and grab the essentials and get the hell out of dodge.
You can always bury somethings and comeback later.

Come on up to Lassen county the air is fine.

Quote from: lessthantolerant on April 25, 2012, 03:13:07 AM
Come on up to Lassen county the air is fine.

I'm fine where I am, I'm 70 miles from the city, high in the Sierra.

"Useless" is actually in the eye of the beholder. A photraph might seem useless, until you need a reminder of what you are living for, or if you are looking for someone after a disaster, or if someone is looking for you. Birth and property documents  may not be important in an apopcalyptic scenario, but in a disaster a next of kin card might be useful.

    On the other hand, light and tight has it's merits. My bugout bag is 4"x9.5"x13" and has a couple pockets attached. Fully loaded, it is under fifteen pounds, including food and water. If I take out all of the "Useless" stuff, and take htree days rations and no water, I am under five pounds. If I go with just what I need, it will all fit in my pants pockets if I am wearing seasonal clothes.

    This is assuming I am in eastern north america when disaster strikes.

    You cannot always go back.

    What makes determining what is "Useless" is largley dependant on what kind of situation is most likely. For me, It is a building fire. About once every year, I am in a hotel when the fire alarm goes off. usually it is just a drill, but it is a learning tool too. As a result of this, i have a my documents in my bag because they are very time consuming to replace, and during fire drills is a prime time for rooms to be ransacked. I also carry a poncho, not because I might get wet, but because it can make a pretty handy shelter for some women or children who might be in need of some privacy. I also carry a few rolls of life savers or a handfull of wrapped candy to hand out to mothers with whiney kids, and that promotes good will, and that can be very important in short term disasters, drills or not. Establishing yourself as a positive "go to" person can be a huge benifit, just as is the ability to dissappear in others.

Quote from: Eyesabide on April 25, 2012, 07:43:05 PM

  My bugout bag is 4"x9.5"x13" and has a couple pockets attached. Fully loaded, it is under fifteen pounds, including food and water.

How did you manage that? My aid bag is that size and weighs that much.

I am not sure what you mean by "AID Bag" is AID an acronym?
One pouch I have a nalgene bottle, another is for a cell phone and GPS, and a third is an organiser with some "get to quicks" in it. That is where my first aid and documents, an AM/FM/SW reciever are, various pens, signal mirror and water pureification and extra water bag are. Some paper, a freznel magnifier and space blanket are there as well. A swiss army knife and reading glasses too. Other stuff fits in their as well, fire sourcees and signaling devices like a whistle. toiletries can fit, but I usually keep them in the main section. This is a personal bag, I have no family that are likely to be near so i do not have to worry about others in the same sense as if I had a spouse or children.

    In my main bag, A hennesy or ENo Hammock will fit, but I stopped carrying that in favor of a tarp or poncho, for more space. Right now I use the poncho. Food is mostly in foil pouches, unless I am experimenting with some concoctions I somtimes use on hikes. A water puifier is in there too, I do not like chemicals in my water over long periods of time. Sometimes I have a metal cup, but have been experimenting with other options for boiling water.

  The bag I use is a Kifaru E&E with organiser pocket, I don't have pictures of all that can go in there but there are a couple you tube demos that have some good ideas.

Quote from: Eyesabide on April 25, 2012, 11:27:39 PM
I am not sure what you mean by "AID Bag" is AID an acronym?
One pouch I have a nalgene bottle, another is for a cell phone and GPS, and a third is an organiser with some "get to quicks" in it. That is where my first aid and documents, an AM/FM/SW reciever are, various pens, signal mirror and water pureification and extra water bag are. Some paper, a freznel magnifier and space blanket are there as well. A swiss army knife and reading glasses too. Other stuff fits in their as well, fire sourcees and signaling devices like a whistle. toiletries can fit, but I usually keep them in the main section. This is a personal bag, I have no family that are likely to be near so i do not have to worry about others in the same sense as if I had a spouse or children.

    In my main bag, A hennesy or ENo Hammock will fit, but I stopped carrying that in favor of a tarp or poncho, for more space. Right now I use the poncho. Food is mostly in foil pouches, unless I am experimenting with some concoctions I somtimes use on hikes. A water puifier is in there too, I do not like chemicals in my water over long periods of time. Sometimes I have a metal cup, but have been experimenting with other options for boiling water.

  The bag I use is a Kifaru E&E with organiser pocket, I don't have pictures of all that can go in there but there are a couple you tube demos that have some good ideas.

Sorry. M3 Aid bag. It's army issue:


I bought a Maxpedition Jumbo Versipak a couple years ago.

It has the benefit of an easy to access pouch where I carried my pistol. I carried my netbook and power supply in the main compartment, and associated do-dads in the top pocket and side pocket. It's real comfortable and I'd recommend it for everyday use.

Elfie is cringing right now- She has about seven of my various packs in locations near her. Canoeing pack, river pack, winter pack, overnight pack, car pack, etc. That maxpedition jumbo versipack is mighty tempting.  But then, She might tighten it around my neck if I walked through her door with it!

Quote from: Eyesabide on May 11, 2012, 05:15:10 PM
Elfie is cringing right now- She has about seven of my various packs in locations near her. Canoeing pack, river pack, winter pack, overnight pack, car pack, etc. That maxpedition jumbo versipack is mighty tempting.  But then, She might tighten it around my neck if I walked through her door with it!

MeLady my be small but I can see her doing it.   LOL

She really isn't that small from my perspective, but then it is hard to judge size from the duck and cover position.

Yo eyes! Another bag!  REALLY Drive me nuts,  i can hear it now..... I need the other small one witb the slight shade of green with dark zippers..ok this one?  No the otger one....this one?  No its bigger then that small one......(and on it goes)