Reading Ernest posts, here and at Countryside, reminded me of a game I often play with myself. If you had to pack a back-pack with everything you could, and leave your home to start a new life, what would you take with you. Assume the climate is similar to what you are living in now, and you must carry it yourself!

I would start with my Bible, as I love to read, and it would serve this purpose as well as a religious one. A good sharp knife, a sewing kit, with lots of strong thread. A few sturdy outfits, extra shoes, and as many socks as I could tuck in. Seeds that I have on hand. Aspirin and other pain relievers, bandages and antiseptic ointment. A few cooking pans, and some plastic dishes, some salt,pepper and other small packs of spices. A few pictures as mementoes, paper and pencils. Scissors, some silverware, some heavy cord. A few toothbrushes, nail clippers.

I am getting tired so I will have to think some more on this. Maybe you all will give me some ideas! This is pretty hard!

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), November 24, 2001

Answers

I love your list..would have to add some wool and a spindle...unless I could carry my spinning wheel separatly.I would have a hard time leaving it. and a bar of good soap. And red licorice.

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), November 25, 2001.

You must have a strong back

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), November 25, 2001.

Yes, Cindy, I was just thinking the same thing! And a HUGE back- pack! I believe I would get a copy of my dad's book of edible wild plants, and also take along our copy of Bushcraft, which tells how to survive in the wild with only a good knife! I think, though, since I'm allowed to have a back-pack that I will also take waterproof matches, a couple of boy scout cook kits, and some good, strong, nylon cord. And some clothespins. And soap. My Bible, and a notebook and pens, and let's not forget the good knife!

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), November 25, 2001.

Matches! I knew I was tired! I could do without clothes pins, but I would take a piece of clothesline rope. Since I have 4 kids I would make them carry some of it!!!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 25, 2001.

Do you mean I couldn't bring my goats??

Would we be able to purchase things where we were going? Is so, I don't think I'd bring everyday articles, probably something like the tools to practice a skill- such as needles, scissors, thread, pins, and fabric, and quilt batting, along with my Bible and other books that would be difficult to replace, maybe family photos and such.

If we are speaking of wandering into the wilderness, I don't think we'd last long. We just do not have the skills and know how that our forefathers did, and I say this after 'roughing it' for years and being homeless in all sorts of circumstances.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), November 25, 2001.

I know Rebekah, not a very practical question was it??? Too many variables involved I guess

I usually think about this at night, and wonder just what I would take if I only had a few minutes to gather up some stuff and had to leave my home for parts unknown. You just never know when the toughts might come in handy someday.

I know right now there are people in the world who because of war and other tragedies, must quickly re-locate, and I just wonder what I would grab to make life a little less miserable in this kind of situation.

-- Melissa (ME@HOME.NET), November 25, 2001.

I can't say I have consciously thought about this but must be subconsciously since about a month ago I had a dream. I had to pack my truck with only what I really needed in a very short time and I woke up in a panic because everytime I tried to put in my best pal, dog Roxi there wasn't space!!! Amazing how our minds work sometime.

I think probably the most important things would be some way to make fire, some rope, something to make water drinkable, so general purpose soap (like Felnapa or Castile) an ax and shovel, my Leatherman, something to form shelter like a tarp or tent, a pot and basic food supplies. This is assuming there is a reason for being FORCED to leave my home at all, as in a wide spread disaster or someone is taking my current lifestyle from me and I am escaping. This is the short list, in my dream my full size pickup truck was full so there are a lot of other things I would take if given more than a backpack. Scary thought!

-- Betsy (betsyk@pathwaynet.com), November 25, 2001.

toilet paper

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), November 25, 2001.

Melissa-thats not as bizarre as it might sound. Some years ago, we lived quite close to the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond Ky. One year, we actually got a civil defense calender in the mail that told what to do in an "Emergency"-thier emergencies centered around an "event" at the Depot. One thing was stuff to keep in your car trunk-extra clothes, a blanket, packets of food, ect, also a "disaster box" extra prescription medications, baby formula and diapers, small amounts of cash, snacks, etc. plus suggestions to keep extra clothes and sleeping gear "Handy" all this in case you had to evacuate your house suddenly. They had lists where different people would evacuate too-for example-schools and business in sector "a" would evacuate to area "1" and so forth. Getting that calander was what prompted me to get my family out to the country. I spent a lot of nights mentally packing and repacking my car. I did actually put a few things in the trunk and I packed an "Emergency Box" with flashlights candles,granola bars and other instant foods, bottled water and so on. I used one of those large Rubbermaid tubs. The Army did have some problems with leaking nerve gas canisters,(!) but we never evacuated. I heard some areas did evacuate 9/11, but I don't know for sure. I have used the Emergency box for power outages and a tornado. Once, during a freak snowstorm, we were spared going to a Red Cross shelter because we had stored canned goods and water and a non electric heat source-we were without power/water for ten days.I don't know what I would take in a backpack- but I certainly know what I would drive away with!

-- Kelly in Ky (Ksaderholm@yahoo.com), November 25, 2001.

I'd make backpacks for the dog and goat. Could carry even more that way. I'd try to be sure I had a few small items for barter, too.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), November 25, 2001.

Good Knife, some kind of survival book, a way to keep dry, rope if possible, firearm and ammo, way to purify water,warm clothing

-- Tom (Calfarm@msn.com), November 26, 2001.

At least two good knive(s) one a folding, the other a strong carbon blade.

Military pot / skillet combination.

Three folding water containers, preferably 1 gallon min.

A good hammock.

Trash bags.

Mosquito netting.

Lightweight tarp / painters cloth.

Triple antibiotic ointment, several tubes.

A small .22 caliber rifle with a brick of ammo

Materials for making snares.

Extra pair of pants /shirt / 2 pairs of socks.

Good sewing kit w/ extra heavy duty needles , safety pins and buttons.

Neckerchief.

50 feet of strong cordage.

Rain poncho.

Flint and steel. In our climate, the excess humidity present doesn't give matches a long life, they become useless within a year.

Good Question Melissa!

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), November 26, 2001.

You must be tough j.r., no way I could carry all that!! Cale probably could though!!!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 26, 2001.

I would take one of my small loomsas they feed my soul. Sally

-- (mallardhen67@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.