I did it without thinking about it!

**klkak** · 10-31-2008, 04:23 PM

The morning I took my wife to the hospital to have the brain tumor removed I did something without even realizing it. I grabbed my “go bag”.

This bag is a “Camelback” rucksack. In it I have a complete change of clothes, a latrine kit and a one week supply of my meds. It also contains a fleece sleeping bag and camping pillow as well as an assortment of other survival essentials. It has enough extra room that I was able to add some snacks in it along with some reading material.

I kept this rucksack with me the whole time she was in the hospital. I would lean it against a wall and use it as a back rest. I used the pillow and fleece bag every night. It was easy to remember to take my meds because they were already laid out it the container by day of the week.

When I’m working I carry a pack all day every day so it is not something I had to get used to. It is as natural for me to have a pack on as it is to have my gun on. Because weapons are not allowed in the hospital I had to leave the Glock in the truck. No biggie.

I think the reason I am telling you this is: Because I have my gear with me all the time it was natural for me to take it when I took Debra to the hospital. Because I had it with me I didn’t have to go home every day. I had every thing I needed right there. I could put all my attention into helping my wife.

Being prepared is more then having the skill and the equipment to survive in the wilderness. One never knows when or where they will be when a survival situation arises. I’m not suggesting that I was in a survival situation. Could I have done without my “go bag”? Yes I could have. It was just less complicated having it with me.

**Sourdough** · 10-31-2008, 04:41 PM

Good Point.......

**pgvoutdoors** · 10-31-2008, 04:57 PM

Being "Prepared"... You just never know what may come up. Good Job!

**Fletcher** · 10-31-2008, 05:11 PM

You are conditioned its reflex............

**crashdive123** · 10-31-2008, 05:11 PM

Absolutely correct Kevin, thanks for sharing the story.

**Rick** · 10-31-2008, 06:39 PM

That's exactly what it's for. The name is self explanatory. It's not a grab it and go because it's a disaster bag. It's a go bag.

**Sarge47** · 10-31-2008, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

That's exactly what it's for. The name is self explanatory. It's not a grab it and go because it's a disaster bag. It's a go bag.

Call it BOB, call it a "go-bag", whatever; I call mine a "War Bag". It's always made up with what I might need, depending on what I'm doing. If I'm driving a "charter", for example, it would be different than what I'd take on a hike, which would be a bit different than if I were on a camping trip. Survival skills are not a seperate part of our lives, it's an extension of them. When we need something, & we thought to bring it along, we don't think about survival. If we need it & don't have it then we're anywhere from mild discomfort, to being neck-deep in some serious Kim-Chee!

Klkak was not on a wilderness trip; but he was ready, however, & if something bad would have happened, he was ready!

**klkak** · 11-01-2008, 07:13 PM

Remy, thank you for that analogy.

**Sarge47** · 11-01-2008, 10:02 PM

I must be getting senile, Remy's last post actually made sense to me!

Right on! I think also that the bag becomes a sort of "security blanket" which gives us comfort & the feeling of protection from the really nasty part of the world. Remy explained that more eloquently; but I don't view that as a "bad" thing.

**klkak** · 11-02-2008, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by Sarge47

Klkak was not on a wilderness trip; but he was ready, however, & if something bad would have happened, he was ready!

It's funny looking back at it now. While my wife was in the Adult Critical Care Unit. I was digging in my pack for something (I don't remember what). The nurse was also in the room. As I was digging around in the pack a flashlight fell out. The nurse asked why I had a flashlight in my pack. I told her with all seriousness "In case the lights go out". She then said to me "The hospital has a generator back up system, so the lights don't go out".

She has complete faith in the system.........I didn't care whether they did or not, I had a flashlight.