Back in the olden days cars weren't as dependable as they are now - or, more to the point, the ones I could afford definitely weren't dependable. I formed the habit of carrying "what if I break down" stuff in the car. Some things were carried year round but in the winter I wanted to be sure I could keep warm and unstuck with what I had. There were no cell phones then so help was where you found or didn't find it.
Today I thought it would be a good idea to see what I have in the car. It's like the cupboard deal - if you don't know what you have you don't know what you have!
I'm a little overboard perhaps considering I'm not traveling cross country any more - but here's what I found this morning.
Way in the back are a couple of cardboard boxes with blankets and some food in them. Mostly the boxes are to keep things from rolling around, making noise and driving me nuts! The food is snack stuff - you know, it's not the sort of thing you are supposed to eat but it's there if you need it. Also there is a short handled shovel and a bag of deicing salt. The plan is to find someone else to do the work but I have the shovel.
Behind the driver's seat is a fire extinguisher wrapped in a towel to keep it from rolling around - I don't like things moving until I want them to move. Also there is an ammunition case. No ammo in it - at least not the kind it was designed to carry. But these boxes are sturdy, water tight, easy to transport and actually pretty cheap. They make a very good place to store things you want to keep contained and dry! It's cold out today so I brought the box inside to see what was really in it and found:
1 medium sized first aid kit
1 bunch of long zip ties
1 bandanna
1 full face wind proof head covering
1 package of hand warmers - the kind that heat themselves up when opened
1 ice scraper (an extra)
1 comb (who knows)
1 ziplock bag with lip balm, a pen, an after bite stick and a couple Advil
2 lighters and 3 candles
2 foil blankets - the kind that reflect your body heat back at you and pack up really small
1 roll of toilet paper squished w/the cardboard removed
1 bivy kit consisting of: One metal canteen cup inside a small stuff sack with one of the blankets. A long piece of shock cord,long leather boot laces, whistle, mirror (plastic), small first aid kit,. Also one candle, one lighter and one package of regular jello (full of sugar).
The bivy kit (short for bivouac) is left over from backpacking days when a savvy hiker took it even on day hikes just in case they were forced to stay out overnight. With what's in that little package you can, if necessary, make a shelter, heat water in the canteen bottom with a candle and have warm sugary jello for energy as well as use the mirror and/or whistle to signal for help. I threw it in the ammo box cause I could. Old habits die hard.
What else did I find? A bigger stuff sack that lives between the dog crate and the back seat. It contains a wind proof anorak, a really ugly but very warm fleece hat, set of long underwear, mittens, heavy socks and some other misc warm items.
There is a waterproof liner over the entire back seat (dog protection) and it has a heavy bath towel over it and in it's little pocket is a bottle of water, a dog bowl and a roll of paper towels.
Up nearer the driver is a jumble of things: long handled ice scraper with brush, a couple flashlights (ok, three), tissues, couple pair of winter gloves, more of those auto hand warmers, pens, reading glasses and probably more things I should find and identify (assuming they can still be identified).
I'm not advocating that everyone be ready to live in their car at a moment's notice - or with no notice. But, in fact, no notice is probably what you're going to get if something goes wrong. I'd a damn sight rather be relatively comfortable while I'm waiting for Mr. AAA to grace me with his presence when the alternative would be shivering in my inside coat with my sneakers on wondering why I didn't make a few simple preparations for problems.
Weather happens and stuff happens - put the two together and it can be life changing. Take a minute and look at what's in your car/truck/SUV/whatever. See if you can squeeze in a few comfort items in case you need them. Think how smug you'll feel when you tell me you are already all ready!
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