posted on Mar, 6 2009 @ 03:53 PM
Well today I have been dealing with the Office of Unemployment and their red tape...long story.
On a daily basis I patrol various sites including the ATS Survival Forum and look for ideas and judge for myself their practicality and occasionally
add an idea or two of my own, if the mood hits. Rather than go through the merits and flaws of common gear that are brought up I'll throw out some
uncommon ones.
A survival journal. Liked by some and chided by others. I have a small book about 4 inches by 6 inches by 1/2 inch that I have personally filled with
various notes, descriptions and crude drawings of various snares, knots, material and tool crafting and other vital bits of info for reference. Most I
have done (and made revisions) some I have not but seemed logical and practical enough to be included. I might not make it in the end, but the guy
that runs across this book may find it valuable enough to bury me out of respect.
A fishing vest. This is my BOB. Light, easily covered or explained and most of all sufficient to carry the majority of what I need.
A small files. Yep, a standard wood/metal file and a small triangular file. It saves the edge of my good knives and last way longer than sandpaper for
detail work. Not everyone can make an effective crossbow out a short 2 X 4, some Spiderwire fishing line, scavenged metal, and time. A 50lbs. pull
might seem weak for my first one but I honestly doubt I could have spent less for an equal one. And yes, plans are in the journal.
Magnifying glasses. I have a cheap plastic one that is 3X, a jeweler's that is 17x10mm and a frenzel lens. They all have their uses and except for
the jeweler's the weight is nil.
I do have a couple of "doctor bag" type of tool bags. Nice to have if I can manage it. I won't cry too bad if I can not keep them.
One other personal item is a small pocket sized hardbound book. It contains The Analects of Confucius and Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching. Yes, it is a luxury
item and has little to do with survival. But in the event that society can be reformed in my lifetime, it would be good to have some people that were
not guided by animalistic principles alone. Those two works have the foundations of a very humane morality and philosophy.