Thinking Man's Corner

Article By: William G.

As is not uncommon, I am at the range. We spend a lot of time on planning for uncommon events, working hard at trying to avoid danger, but preparing for the worst nonetheless. How often do we plan for common events? I travel a lot, and sometimes, life gets very hectic. So hectic, that I sometimes forget mundane things. Just last week, I stopped at home for the night, after having driven about thirty hours already in three days. The next day I was going to an agency to take some classroom training, then off to north of Atlanta. I left that morning with everything I needed in case of an emergency, everything but a suitcase. Around 11 PM that night, at a gas station off the interstate, I realized I had no change of clothes, or toiletries, or anything for the next day. At least I was armed, and had medical supplies.

Just the day before, I was stuck on the interstate for several hours due to a completely overturned log truck. No big deal. I had my computer bag, suitcase, and everything else I needed. I spent the time working on the computer until the interstate was cleared, and I could continue on. However, a day later found myself without many of the essentials I take for granted. Which got me to thinking about the last shotgun instructor class I taught. Yes, my mind works differently, as I am sure you have realized by now. In the shotgun instructor class I was explaining why we do things the same way over and over. Why we load the way we do. Why we have a system in place that is repeatable. If we are under duress, we will default to what has been ingrained. Any little hiccup can cause a ripple effect.

Most are probably aware of the concept of a get home bag, bail out bag, whatever flavor and definition you want to label it. I had several variants years ago, when I traveled greater distances than I do now. With everything that is going on in the world today, having a bag in the vehicle is not a bad idea. It also comes in handy when you forget your suitcase. I am not talking about some elaborate kit containing everything for every kind of emergency. I am talking about a basic bag that covers for some eventualities.

Start with a backpack or sling bag that doesn’t look tactical. Have a pair of pants or two, a couple of T-shirts, some underwear, a couple of pair of socks. I like a pair of jeans and a pair of lightweight pants to cover different seasons. Have a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, shaving cream, soap, shampoo, and alcohol hand wipes. A couple of 1 liter bottles of water, an empty aluminum water bottle, some hydration packets, small bottle of Advil and Tylenol, a lighter, some matches, a small bottle of isopropyl alcohol, 2-4 airplane size bottles of plain vodka or whiskey, and a small hand towel. If you do not wear closed toed, lace up shoes everyday (or if they are not comfortable to walk several miles in) add a pair of worn in tennis shoes or boots. If you take prescription medication, add a 3-5 day supply. You may also consider, a solar powered external battery pack, some spare batteries for your flashlight, and a small folding knife (CRKT has a lot of great, inexpensive folding knives).

The goal of this bag is not to wage a clandestine action, not to live off the land for weeks, and not as some sort of survivalist fantasy. It is for you to have things that make your life easier, always in a fixed location, when you travel. It is in case you rip your pants and are an hour away from the house. In case your car breaks down, miles from town, at night, on a sparsely traveled road. It is for when you forget your suitcase on an overnight trip……….

It will also serve you well, if there is an event that strands you away from home. It gives you extra comfort and peace of mind that you will not know you need, until you need it. The rubbing alcohol and hand towel can work for cleaning of minor wounds, or sanitization. The drinking alcohol has plenty of uses as well, your imagination is your limit. The solar charging battery pack gives you power when there is no other way to get power. The small folding knife is there for chores, and also as a defensive weapon if needed. You probably have most of this stuff already, and if not, it won’t break the banks. While we are looking for quality and comfort, this bag is not the place to go into debt. You want everything in it to be easily replaceable, or at least not so expensive that it will hurt you if it is stolen. Pack it, and forget it until you need it. 

Adjust the contents to cover your geographical location. Keep it minimalist, light weight, maneuverable, and covert. This is just like having a backup gun, AAA, or a spare mag. Hopefully, the only reason you will ever need it is because you forgot your suitcase on an overnight trip, but at least it will be there for you if t is something more serious.