#7 Learn to love tarps

For the past few days I've been thinking a lot about tarps.
Yes. Really. Tarps.

Those big, plastic (or polyvinyl) blanket like things with grommets in the sides.

http://www.tarpsupply.com/buy-case1-blue-6x8.html

I have spent hours on the treadmill pondering the many uses for tarps because they are one of those things that you need to have. Simply put, if you own a home, or a car, or have children, or pets, or think that there is some point in your existence you may need to be outside for a while, you want to have a tarp handy.

The worst thing is to need a tarp and not have one. Well maybe not THE worst, but it can sure feel like it at the time.

But most people don't think, "hey, one day I may NEED a tarp so I will pick one up now, just to have on hand." If we did, everyone would have tarps and I wouldn't need to suggest this.

The problem I've run into with my consideration of tarps, other than the funny looks for from the interns who ask me what I'm thinking about on the treadmill, is that once I start thinking of all the things you need a tarp for, I (a.) want to run out an buy a bunch of new tarps in lots of different sizes, and (b.) keep coming up with ideas for things you can do with tarps.

And then I decided to google it. Yes. I googled "Tarps". The good thing is I realized I am not the only one who spends an excessive amount of time thinking about things to do with tarps. I feel like I'm a 10 year old being asked to build a fort, and survive in the outback with an ax, a tarp, and some duct tape. (Which is actually not too far off base.)

Okay, Climate change and tarps.

With climate change we are witnessing an increase in severe weather events. Increased rain, increased flooding, increased heat waves, increased freezes, increased snowfall, increased winds and storms, increased hail, increased tornadoes, increased hurricanes, and increased storm surges (where water comes in from the coasts). And even increased wildfires - though not technically weather -still closely linked, increasing and bad. Right now (August 2016) there are some pretty severe weather happening with unprecedented flooding in Louisiana that has many many thousands of people who didn't even live in flood zones flooded out of their homes. At the same time in California there are wildfires consuming homes and communities with a ferocity that is astounding.

Just to be clear - tarps won't stop flooding or forest fires, but they can help out a lot in emergencies like these.

Tarps can be used in the event that there is damage to your home including roofs and windows, your car, your yard, or any other area that is vulnerable to weather. And get some bungee cords too. They are super helpful.

Let's take an example - a lot of rain falls, the soil gets softer, the wind picks up and you have an uninvited tree in your living room. Until you get it fixed, unless you want rain, wind and critters coming in through that new hole, you want to cover it with a tarp. If needed you can even put a few tarps together. When it comes down to it, you don't want to have to try to find a tarp and bungee cords in the local home improvement store after a really bad storm, because you probably are not the only one looking for them then.

http://www.knoxvilleroofcontractors.com/emergencyroofrepairs/

Here's another example - your car is sitting in the driveway. Severe weather hits and you hear there is hail forecast. If you have a tarp in the car, you can run out, and grab your floor mats to cover the back and front windows and then cover it with a tarp. If you have a blanket or towels in the car, put those on too and then the tarp on top. It can prevent things like this from happening:

http://www.dings-n-things.com/how-to-protect-your-car-from-hail-damage/

And let's face it, a little preparedness can absolutely help in a case like this.

Other uses for tarps - looking at climate change.

If there is going to be extreme heat or extreme cold and you want to protect gardens, fruit trees in blossom, or outdoor animal habitats - tarps are great for creating a barrier between what you want to protect and elements. For cold - a tarp with a blanket under it can provide extra insulation and protect from harsh winds. For heat - a well staked tarp can provide shade over a garden to reduce the evapotranspiration and keep plants comfortable.  You want to have enough space for airflow so the plants are not smothered, of course.

You can also extend the growing season of your garden with a tarp system to create a green house, so that you have and extended growing season - in that case, light colored or clear plastic tarps are great. We'll talk about that in another installment.

You can also use tarps to collect water and direct water. In cases where the foundation of your house in not getting proper drainage in a heavy rain, using tarps beneath drain spouts can move the water out in to the yard. You can also collect water during dry spells with a tarp.

And of course, if you have to leave your home, a tarp is a must have item.
(This is the true jackpot of the google search, btw)

You can build a tent:

http://instinctsurvivalist.com/tarps-tarps-and-more-tarps/

This is where having a Boy/Girl Scout in the family can be very helpful. But if nothing else, look at these and figure out how you would do it if you had to. Using a single tarp for ground cover, sides and top of the tent may work well, but be sure the open side faces downhill if it is raining, or you'll have a tent full of rain. Alternately, you can use a few tarps together and use one to cover the ground:


You can have a ground cover for your tent:

http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/threads/help-with-a-shelter-bedroll-for-light-wknd-hiking.117519/

Seriously, if you have to spend much time on the ground, and you are in an area that has any soil moisture at all, put a tarp down underneath you. This creates a barrier to keep you dry and comfortable, and if it rains it keeps you more comfortable. It also reduces the number of critters climbing in to snuggle.


You can create a nice covered outdoors area:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rclawson/3773547754

As climate change results in increased demand on the power grid - and air conditioning stops working, we will have to remember that our ancestors survived when it was more than 84 degrees outside. A tarp, strung between trees, or poles as needed, can create a dry shaded spot to gather. You can even get fancy and create privacy areas if needed by running a tarp around 3-4 trees close together. (Handy for changing clothes etc.) But use some common sense. Don't set up the bar-b-cue grill right underneath the low hanging edge of the tarp. And set up a way to capture the water that falls from it to use for washing dishes, bathing, etc. It's not as fancy as those electric crank out awning, but it sure can be nice, especially if it's raining.


You can use a tarp to carry things or move things

http://media.chicoer.com/2016/06/20/photos-news-week-of-6-20-2016/#1

Yard debris after a storm, other bulky stuff junk that needs to be moved, leaves and compostable yard wastes for your compost pile. Hauling things with a tarp is very efficient, if you have the right combination of weight to labor. And you look like you know what you're doing too.



You can make a hammock

http://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/10-survival-essentials/

It's not really the lovely, hammock you may fantasize about relaxing in, but in an emergency, it can keep you dry, off the ground, and insulated. There are times in an emergency that is a pretty AWESOME combination.



You can use it as an emergency rain poncho

http://popupbackpacker.com/the-search-for-the-holy-grail-waterproof-breathable-rain-gear/

Nothing says "I'm ready for anything" more than a poncho made from a tarp. It's stylish, if covers a lifetime of over indulgence, and it keeps you dry. Sort of a plastic muumuu, which can be used for all sorts of other things (like a tent!)

The Google search yielded so many tarp-tastic ideas, these are just a few.

Additional information for what you can do with tarps include:

50 Campfires - the Camping Authority 5 great uses for a blue tarp
Provides a quick overview of some additional uses with cute photos

Far Out Living - 101 Uses for Tarps
Provides an extensive list of uses for tarps that feel impressively as though many have actually been tried and true.

Off the Grid News - 19 Off-Grid Survival Uses for a Plain Old Tarp
Provides some videos on tent building and other uses...

Happy Preppers - Tarps Nine ways to use a tarp for prepping
Provides some good information on tarp uses, as well as a lot of other information.

You can see the pattern developing here.

Tarp = Useful

More Tarps = MORE Useful

As I noted above, get some strong good quality sufficiently large bungee cords (at least a dozen for a large tarp). They are great for tie downs and don't require too much fancy knot tying skills. Go ahead and get some rope too, but bungee cords are amazing.

Recommended would be at least 2-3 medium to large sized tarps for your home, at least 1 tarp to keep in your car - medium, and then maybe a few smaller tarps, depending on where you live and how much you use them.

Remember a tarp is a terrible thing to need.

# 6 Insulate your home

Insulation is easily a non-exciting, non- sexy topic.

http://sites.psu.edu/mfsblog/2015/02/12/insulation/

No one has parties to talk about insulation, and generally it is something we take for granted. And don't think we need to think about it. Right?

I mean we are talking about fluffy stuff in the attic, right?


Yeah. That.

Except, with climate change, where increased extreme weather temperatures (both hot and cold), increased energy costs (not everything will be solar and even if it is WHY WASTE IT?) and increased likelihood of loosing power (ice storm anyone?) will mean our homes will be more exposed than ever to "bad weather".

So having some extra insulation helps. Having more helps more. It's sort of hard to have too much.

Would I suggest you get insulation and add it to the insulation you have? Yes.

Would I suggest you have insulation in areas you don't think you need it? Absolutely.

Let's talk about your floor. If you live in the south east US. Likely, your house does not have much insulation under the floor. Why would you. In a single story 1980's suburban home, a foundation poured over a dirt "crawl space" and the house built over that was fine. Sure the attic has blown in insulation (that white fluffy stuff made from fiberglass usually), and there may be some insulation between the walls. But the floor? Why insulate that?

Because once you take of the wall to wall carpet that has been there 25 years and then the foam padding, and all you have is ply wood floors - you remember what cold floors feel like in January. Trust me on this one. And even if you put down fancy new flooring, it's still not as snug as if you had some nice thick insulation under there. Cold air seeps up in the winter, adding the the chill in the house.

https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_sealing.hm_improvement_sealing

Several years ago, I decided to insulate the floors (which were down to the sub flooring, thanks to nasty carpet and a poorly trained Newfoundland) Using a tax credit, I bought the insulation at the local home improvement store - in batting that was the right width to fit between the floor joists (That the rafters under the floor that the floor boards sit on) and the bendy metal rods to hold them in place - ask the guys at the store, they will help you find the right stuff.

Check out The Energy Star web page on insulation for more details and to see if you actually need to do this. (You do)

And I spent a few days crawling around in the dirt under the crawl space, doing fantastic dirty yoga. The difference inside the house was amazing!! The floors were not freezing. And the sounds in the house were muffled as well.

Insulation is measured in R-values. The higher the R-value to higher the insulation. There is a great description of calculations for R-values and heat loss on the Mathematics for Sustainability student blog Thankfully, there are people who want to do this, so I don't have to. BUT a good rule of thumb is more insulation is better.

http://energy.gov/energysaver/insulation

I live between 3 and 4. But I want to insulate my home to at least a 5 or 6, and higher if possible. Climate change, folks - it's all about changes in how our climate behaves and too much insulation is rarely a bad thing. 

Since the attic is already insulated, I haven't tackled that. But I will soon. Insulation technology has increased drastically in the past 10 years, so I am really looking forward to adding in some new insulation when we have our roof replaced.

http://greenaircare.com/attic-insulation/

But the reality we are facing with climate change, means we need to improve insulation.

In the event of extreme heat or extreme cold, it will require less energy to cool or heat your home. In the event of warm or cool weather that needs air-conditioning or heating, it will require less energy and cost you less. It's definitely something worth investing in now so that you can save in the future.

http://www.homeenergyauditco.com/insulation.html

There are all sorts of insulation now. Foam insulation, blown in insulation, batting insulation, all of it worth looking at. You can do it yourself, or you can hire a professional. But whatever you decide it is worth doing. It's an investment you need to make.

http://www.smarterhomes.org.nz/publications/your-guide-to-a-smarter-insulation/

If you rent, ask your land lord to insulate your home/apartment/etc. If nothing else, throw rugs, bookshelves on outer walls, and fabric wall hangings can actually make a difference. We will spend more time on that soon. But not matter what, you need to do it.
You'll be glad you did it.

Especially when the weather turns ridiculous.

#4 Start a compost pile

So, when you are in the kitchen, preparing something to eat, and you have left over vegetable peels, fruit rinds, melon innards, egg shells, or onion skins, what do you do with them?

Most of us will admit tossing them in the trash is sort of appealing.

That's right. You're in a hurry. You want to clean up (or seem like you did) and you need to get rid of it. So you toss it in the trash. With everything else. With the newspaper, with the plastic bag the cucumbers were in, with the casserole Aunt Louis left a month ago and you never got around to eating.... Sounds lovely. Job done.

We all do it.
Or we all want to do it.

If you are older than about 30 that's generally what you do. Unless (a.) you grew up with hippy freak parents, (b.) you grew up on a farm, or (c.) you actually have gotten hip to composting.

I'll confess here.

I don't fit into any of these, but I try to compost.

I mean to compost.

I really WANT to compost.

I have a garden ready for compost.

I have a compost receptacle that sits just outside my kitchen door in the garage (because Husband did not want it in the kitchen counter).

I am really good at filling it and taking out and putting it into the compost pile... until I am not.

And then I suck at it. I truly suck.

Yep. Coffee grinds go down the drain (do you know how much earthworms absolutely ADORE coffee grounds? I've seen earthworm sonnets to coffee grounds. Ok. I lied. But I still think that would be pretty cool, and honestly, I think earthworms writing sonnets would be sort of awesome, especially when they are hopped up on coffee grounds.)

And yep, sometimes perfectly wonderfully nutritious compost ends up in the trash. BUT that is such a waste!

Why?

1. the vegetable matter that ends up in the trash makes your trash really stink (funky old broccoli has a stench that could wilt the boys locker rooms in a high school without air-conditioning in Texas) Neighbors will talk about how bad your trash smells.

2. the stinky vegetable wastes then end up in land fills, after it gets hauled there. So fuel is burned getting it there, and then it creates all sorts of stinky greenhouse cases (methane) once it's there.

3. Those same stinky vegetables waste/fruit rinds/banana peels and coffee grinds are chock full of nutrients your garden craves. Yes. Seriously. Plants are sort of cannibalistic that way if you think about it. They love to eat the corpses of those who lived before them. And earthworms love coffee grinds. And when you mix the stinky waste with dirt the smell goes away. Yes. Really.

So get with it and start a compost pile!

It's not that hard, it's not that tedious, it will not smell bad if you do it right.

Composting isn't hard. It's just a matter of keeping up with it.

So, now that you are ready to start a compost pile there are some things you need to think about:
Where will you do it? What kind of compost pile will you have? How much effort will you put into tending it?

These are not too hard to figure out. If you life in an apartment, you will not be too likely to put a compost heap in your window. If you live in the suburbs, a compost inside some sort of container may work well. If you have more space, a compost heap may be all you need. But you can manage to compost in all those.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/vermicomposting.htm

For the apartment - vermi-composting may be your best bet. This uses earthworms in a box to compost for you. This is a very enthusiastic article on how to do this, and most of what you need to know to have a happy compost system set up. If you don't live in an apartment, this is also a great way to go, if space is limited and you don't get icked out by worms. (Don't! Worms love coffee and write sonnets about coffee grounds, they are hermaphroditic, and they have magic poop. Seriously, what is not to love?)

A general, middle american suburban compost can be made easily out of 4 balls of straw or hay (not pine straw) and a wooden pallet. Go ahead and get an extra bale of hay or straw to get started. Put it out at the edge of the yard, away from too much traffic, or and not next to water sources. The four bales can be put end to end to create a donut shape with a hole in it. Keep the bales bound by the twine. The shipping pallet rests of top to keep dogs and other pesky critters out of it, but let's rain in. Take the extra bale, undo the twine, and set it nearby. You'll want to pull off a couple of "flakes" and loosen them, and put them at the bottom of the donut hole. Then start putting kitchen compost in and cover it up with a handful of straw from your spare bale overtime you do it. Soon, you'll notice that the food waste is starting to break down and the straw of hay is too. Excellent! Now start mixing in the waste as you go, usually with a small shovel, and again topping it off with more straw. The idea here is that the compost will break down, the outer bales keep moisture and temperature comfortable, and it is usually good for 6 -12 months depending on where you live. Once the outer bales break down you'll have a strong compost pile going build another one right next to it, the same way.  You can let the first one rest for a while and turn it every few weeks. The dirt in that will be great to add to gardens and around trees for mulch and fertilizer. You can even add some worms if you like. There are a lot of variations on this method, but the nice thing is this is low maintenance and can have some lovely results. This article is about how to do it on a slightly larger scale.

You can also do it on smaller scale too in a plastic storage bin. http://organicgardening.about.com/od/compost/ht/storagecompost.htm But I'd want to add worms. Worms are awesome, write sonnets and love coffee. What's not to like. Did I mention they have magic nutrient rich poo? Yah-huh!! They sure do!

If you live on a lot of land, and don't have a compost already, you can build a bigger version of the straw bale depending on how much waste you generate. Bears, dogs, wild coyotes, foxes, armadillos, opossums and raccoons will enjoy the pile, so you might want it a ways from your house. and if you mix the waste in fast, it can reduce unwanted visitors.

A few things about compost piles to remember:

Plant waste good. Animal waste bad.
If it grows or has been green, it's okay. If it walked, moved, swam, or flew, no. And no, you don't want to put cat litter, dog, cat or human poo into compost. Just no. Cow, horse, rabbit, goat and deer poo is okay. Not pig. Essentially, animal poo is okay if they eat plants only. But otherwise, it introduces what you don't want into your compost.

Oh and egg shells are fine. The worms say they goes well with coffee grinds. Helps add calcium to magic worm poop. It's a total win win there.

We will talk about composting toilets another time, but for now, let's stick to waste from plants and worm poo. That makes the best compost for you!!

And by the way, once you have your compost composted - it makes for some EXCELLENT gardening dirt!! Seriously, some of the best stuff around.

More on that soon.

Now, I need to go empty my compost, and start peeling some vegetables.

HAPPY COMPOSTING!!

# 3 CRITICAL: GET FIT

When talking with folks about adapting to climate change, one question I frequently get is: What is the ONE thing that I can do right now to prepare myself for climate change?

My response: GET FIT!

This often surprises people. Which is okay.

Most people don't see the linkages between climate change and personal fitness, at least until they are climbing a latter, in a wind storm, while hauling a tarp to cover the massive hole in the roof that the neighbors tree gauged during a a storm and there are more storms coming in the next few hours. And doing this in the dark makes it even more challenging. 

Most people don't seem the link between climate change and needing to walk three miles to get food and water because the roads are not passable due to wash outs and flooding. And then trying to haul all that back 3 miles.

And I am guessing most people really don't think about the strain being out of shape puts on their family, friends, and neighbors who will be kind enough to help with a tarp or hauling food and water.

Getting fit does not have to mean going to the gym for hours on end day after day. It does not mean training for a marathon. It means being physically strong enough to haul your own body for a sustained period of time in difficult conditions. 

Think of it this way - you need to have a mix of strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance abilities (cardio-vascular and mental) to adjust to and adapt to rapidly changing situations around you.

Our ancestors 2,000- 3,000 years ago did not have gyms or cross fit. They had everyday life. Our paleo-hunter-gatherer ancestors didn't have much in the way of carbs. In the event of extreme climate events, and rapidly adapting to shifts in environmental conditions, our ancestors would kick our rotund, soft, squishy, couch encumbered butts. 

Getting fit is a journey you can start right now, today. Go for a walk, lift some weights, challenge yourself. Go visit DAREBE.COM for some quick great tips to get started, that focus on getting fit and staying alive longer. 

You'll be glad you did. 

And even if you don't have to haul a tarp up a ladder in a windstorm in the dark, at least you will still be more fit than you are right now. So get to it!

#2 What do you REALLY need?

Simple living, Kyrgyzstan style

Humans like stuff.

We like a lot of stuff.

We currently live in a world when the person who has the most stuff when he dies - wins.
And the funny thing is, we can't take it with us when we die.

But really we spend a fortune to put our stuff someplace else. It has been said that in America self storage rentals make more money than Hollywood. We spend a fortune to keep stuff we don't want in a place we don't want to go.

And what do we do when we need a boost? When we want to show someone we care? When we are bored, or something breaks and we don't want to fix it. We go shopping. To buy more stuff. Stuff we don't need, probably don't really want, and will probably put away where we don't use it or see it in a short period of time.

There is a sweet irony that best selling books instruct us to get rid of our stuff. We buy them with the best intentions, we may even read them, and possibly even let go of some of our stuff. 

Yet we accumulate more stuff once we clear out stuff. 

There are all sorts of reasons for our attachment to our stuff, but when it comes down to it, what do we actually need?

I travel a lot for work. I go long distances, through multiple airports. I have to look like a grown-up within hours of arrival. I can't afford to lose my luggage, So I travel with carry-on luggage only.  I can live for 6 weeks from when I can get in my carry-on bag because I have gotten VERY GOOD at deciding what I need. 

Not what I want, what I need.

And need is the key term here. 

Multi-purpose items, simple color coordinates, more with less.

The funny thing is, until about 100 years ago most of us, most humans on the planet across all of human history lived with less stuff for a lifetime than I carry in my small suitcase for 6 weeks of urban camping. 

Our ancestors could carry their material possessions because they knew what the needed. Sure some very wealthy folks had more than they could carry and had others to carry it for them. The significant majority of humans could carry their own stuff, long distances if needed, on foot, by themselves. (And without a rolling suit case!)

Mass consumption, the industrial revolution, the rise of cheap-throw-away goods, has led us to amass huge quantities of stuff. And when we clean it ends up in landfills.

It's not good for the planet. It's not going to make it easier to adapt to climate change. 

When it comes down to it, we need to think about what we need.

And we need to let go of the rest and share what we have with those who really do need it.

And I swear, really soon I'll get that storage unit cleared out!! 

#1 Preparing your Go Bag - Part 1

The idea behind a "go bag" is to have a bag of personal items that you want to take with you in the event that you need to leave your home in an emergency situation. The military has these, also known as bug out bags. But essentially if you had to leave your home in a matter of moments, what do you need to be able to survive?

First, why would you need to leave your home and what does that have to do with climate change adaptation?

Good question. The impacts of climate change can be disasters that strike suddenly and with little warning. This can include: floods, forest fires, sudden power outages due to storms, infrastructure collapse (more on that to come), sudden contagious illnesses, civil unrest,  Donald Trump actually becoming president. The list goes on. The point is, you need to be prepared to go quickly and it's reassuring knowing you have a "go bag" ready.

So what goes in your "go bag"?

If you google "go bag", you will find a lot of recommendations, some from natural disaster preparedness sites, some from government agencies, some from "preppers"/survivalists, some from people planning to go sight seeing. 

For now, let's assume we are looking at the first two categories. The survivalist go bag is a good idea, depending on the threat level. We can always upscale as needed. The sight seeing go bag is great for sight seeing tourist, but those won't be enough, likely.

For each family member you should pack an individual bag for each person to carry. Assume you may get separated so don't leave everything with one person.

Some key things you need to have in your go bag:

• Copies of your important documents (health, home, care, and life insurance caazrds, house deed, photo IDs, passport, bank information, cell phone number, photo, and descriptions of each family member, including pets, physician contact information, family contact information, list of family member medications, general medical records and vaccination records for all family members) in a waterproof container. This can be a ziplock bag inside another ziplock bag. Do not assume having all these in your email or on your phone will work. You may need hard copies. Go ahead and do that now.
• Cash - up to about $300 in small bills, more or less. Have it in the local currency if you live abroad, or travel abroad. You may want to have more cash on hand, but for the "go bag" this should be enough. (Kids could have less money in their bags, but should have some cash. The amount should be based on age and responsibility.)
• A first aid kit with medicines you (and family members including pets) MUST take regularly. Include pain medicine, both aspirin/NSAIDs and tylenol. Multivitamins and supplements may be nice to have on hand, but in an emergency, you don't want to carry too much. You may want some pro-bitotics if your stomach is sensitive. Also, if you have anyone in the family with serious allergies, please keep an up-to-date epi-pen in your "go bag". 
• Phone charger, including cords, and hand crank or solar powered charger unit, ideally with a radio function.
• A flashlight - high efficiency if possible. 
• Granola bars/power bars/etc. each person should have at least 5-6
• Water bottle - sterilized, full, and refillable. Make the bottle durable - metal or nalgene are good.
• Dry dog/cat food for your pets - depends on size of the animal but enough for 2-3 days, in a sealed ziplock bag. 
• Collapsable water bowl 
• A full change of comfortable clothes, including socks and underwear - focus on durable, and comfortable first. Fashion doesn't matter much in an apocalypse.
• A towel - because the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is right - always take a towel. You can use it for a blanket, a towel, a ground cloth, etc. It doesn't have to be a big fluffy towel - but something with a little heft.
• A plastic poncho to use as a tarp, rain protection, ground cover etc.
• Strong nylon rope - at least 20 feet to use for everything and anything.
• Bungee cords - again 2-3 are useful for everything. 
• A bandana - because you can use them for EVERYTHING also. And they look really cool.
• A can opener - because you may need one. Please, only hand held. NOT electric.
• A full cigarette lighter - because you may want to light something on fire, plus if you cut the nylon rope, it will fray if you don't burn the ends to seal it.
• A swiss army knife - this should be obvious. No really. Please do not ask me to explain this... Unless you really need me to. 
• A deck of cards - because you will get bored at some point. 
• What else? Seriously, please add your suggestions.

No two bags are exactly the same, but:

Just a note on what sort of "go bag" you should use. 

This is good:

This, not so much. Don't be stupid. No one could outrun zombies or hike for 5 miles in this. No. Just  No. 

I don't care how good you look in heels, and love your rolling carry on-bag, we are talking disaster preparedness, not a trip to New York City. No one else should have to carry your bag over ground it won't role over and those shoes...? Lovely, but not practical in an emergency, or for long hikes over uneven ground.

Okay, now to be honest, I do not have a "go bag" prepared for myself, as of 3 February 2016. But, I promise I will do it, and let you know how long it takes.

Do you have one? 

What's in it? Or what will be?