Summer Checkups

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

Checkups aren't just for cars, as there are many other things that can use looking after on a regular basis. 

Well... I did happen to start with my car, but that was just the beginning.

Car Checkup

I take my car through the wash at the local station about once a month, which is when the dust starts to show on the white paint. The last time I went, the overhead blower didn't do a very good job of clearing the water from the windshield so I turned on my wipers as I drove out. Bad idea: both arms struggled to move, and when they did, the blades partially tore off the frame. In my defense, I wash the windshield every time I fill up, but I don't necessarily lift the wipers up every time. 

I live close to 3 different parts stores, so the shop with the easy access got my business. I don't have a good picture of the old blades as this was after dark, so just imagine a good half of the rubber edge flopping on each side. I believe the past three weeks being in the high 90s to low100s signed the death warrant on these wiper blades.

Wipers, washer fluid and spare tire pressure check are things I do twice a year, 4th of July-ish and Christmas, so these were due. 

Get Home Bag Checkup

My bag is always being refreshed as I use some of its contents every month. What isn't looked at regularly is the Purple Pack Lady's bag; her schedule is so janky that I'm lucky if I see her car once a week!

The only thing needing to be refreshed was her older model Nitecore P12GT, so I recharged it with the boxy charger. This exact kit appears to be not available through Amazon, but the flashlight is still a current model, just with different charging options.

Available at Amazon for $69 (nice!)

Home Checkup

Since  I live in a rented condo, I don't have to worry about fixing leaks, physical faults or even smoke and CO2 detectors. That being said, there are items I do keep an eye on, and the security lights in the carport are one of the things I don't leave to the maintenance folk. Due to spotty coverage, we've added motion detector lights to ensure the cars and my motorcycle are visible without having extra  spotlights running 8-10 hours a night. 

I try to keep a gas shutoff tool by the meters for our fourplex, but the last one disappeared from where I had it somewhat hidden and hooked to the gas meter. However, our building is having foundation drains installed, and dirt was removed around the meters to the point where I guess the wrench was exposed.

I won't not be trying to replace it at the meter for at least another month, because the situation looks like this:   

Sorry, but I couldn't take a picture that really shows the depth of the trench. You'll have to trust me when I say it is 8' to the bottom of the bracing gear. My front door moat is even deeper, at almost 10' deep.! The plywood shown at the top is the sides of the 'bridge' leading to the front door.

We have another 2-4 weeks of this work before the trenches will be filled, landscaping replaced, irrigation run and the whole house air conditioner replaced. It's been an interesting 5 months, in the Chinese proverb definition of 'interesting'.

Medical Checkups

I have had myself looked at this year as well, and there is nothing major wrong with me: blood pressure is good and cholesterol is a bit high (it's hereditary), but I can't get new glasses until my cataracts are fixed. This isn't a shock; I knew I was due for this surgery two years ago, but now there's no avoiding it. I'm hoping to get everything done this year, as the chance of taking an actual, no-joke vacation early next year is possible! Wish me luck!

Recap and Takeaway

• Regular checkups should be scheduled so that when a disaster hits, everyone is confident in what is packed and ready to use.
• Be certain that bags and kits in your second (or third) vehicle are checked too.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

 

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

A Different* Take on Bags

* Not really that different.  

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

It's time to announce the true identity of the Purple Pack Lady as my lovely and extremely hardworking wife, Ophelia, aka Ophie. She doesn't have any online presence, anywhere, so there is nothing to follow. With that out of the way, on to the real post.

Get Home Bag Preps

Ophie's daughter now lives in a snowy winter area that is also subject to wildfires, which was at first blamed on climate change but in fact has now been shown to be 50% arson at a minimum. The better news is that the closest forested areas are several hours drive away for her town, and there's another saving factor in that  her work is in the entire opposite direction of the forested areas that might possibly burn. While her distance from the fire areas is nice, power lines have been down from fire damage, and the house has been dark for several hours on several different days.

I did send the duplicate bag I made for Ophie to her daughter, but due to slightly different conditions than here, we have modified it quite a bit. This post was what was I did to address the specific differences. Since she is now settled and not going to move any time soon, she needs to start making preps for home and at work.

Stranded at Work

Since her work is in a relatively large city, being without food isn't the issue, but sleeping/staying at work  could be hard if the snow is bad. Her mother and I both have scolded her for trying to get home in bad weather, so her plans are now to stay put, which means either keeping sleeping gear in the car or stowing it at the office. 

My suggestion was to keep it at work, since the decision not to head home will be made there and that slightly more bulky items could be used. Keeping even more preps in her car means buying smaller and lighter, and therefore more expensive  items designed for backpacking. I've sent her links to what I recommend, as the stores I use aren't the same as there and Amazon is different as well.

Stuck at Home

This can get expensive either quickly or slowly, depending on how you want to look at things. As she lives in a rental and not her own place, the recommendation for me is to keep it simple and spend money slowly. Culturally, being prepared for both emergencies as well as hospitality is built into her; I've never gone to visit anyone from her culture without being offered twice the food that I eat for a similar meal and having food to take with me when going home. 

Storing slightly more of the basics in water-resistant containers, like a trash can with a tight-fitting lid, is what I suggested. I can't seem to find an inexpensive source for 5 gallon food-grade pails and lids in her area, so those are something to find later. I did find the local equivalent to these Ozark Trail 6-Gal Water Storage Jugs for her.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-6-Gal-Water-Storage-Jug/16537207

From Walmart's website:

• Traditional jerry can design
• Heavy-duty plastic construction
• BPA-free water jug is safe for storing household water supply
• Ozark Trail 6-gal water jug has a spout system
• Angled handle for 2-handed gripping
• Easy to lift and pour
• 6-gal capacity can keep 1 person hydrated for a week in an emergency situation
• Keep in your vehicle as part of a supply kit
• Ideal for camping and hunting

I have similar jugs purchased form Walmart and other places. I like the fact that they will nest well together, and aren't so heavy at 6 gallons that they can't be lifted by shorter and slightly-built people. My suggestion was to start with buying 1-2 per person for cooking and 1-2 per person for sanitation. The chances for a longer outage are fairly remote, so this should be a decent starting point.

Cooking

This is an easy one, since grilling is a way of life for her and if there isn't a charcoal BBQ close, something is really wrong! There is a Solo Stove in her GHB which I hope will never be needed, but is there just in case. I do recommend keeping an eye on the Solo Stove Home Page for sales, as that is where I made a great buy on 2 Solo Lites several years ago. 

Recap and Takeaway

• Check in with friends and family to see if circumstances have changed, either at home or travel related. That could change what you carry or store.
• Dealing with folks that have a history planning for disaster makes prepping so much easier!
• Nothing was purchased by me for this post.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

An EDC or GHB Find

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

I'm conflicted as to which use might be best for this combo set I found.  I'd really like to put this onto the GHB shopping list that was last week's post, but I have some reservations about that. 

Sku #1005-394-705

Full Disclosure: This Gerber Multi-Tool and Knife Combo is a promotional item found in a local (to me) Home Depot store. The price as found is $19.97, which after I brought it home is less than the retail cost of the Dime multi-tool sold separately at Amazon. Since last week's post was for a young woman needing the basics now and who can, over time, decide how and what will be a priority upgrade, I think this is a great start. 

Unfortunately, I can't find the set anywhere else, so I will be listing info from Amazon for both.

Gerber Dime Mini Multi-Tool 

https://amzn.to/3gDoooW

From the Amazon ad:

• Sturdy stainless steel construction
• Compact, lightweight size fits perfectly in pocket - a daily companion for any task
• 10 tools: Needle nose spring-loaded pliers, Wire cutter, Fine edge blade, Retail package opener, Scissors, Medium flat driver, Crosshead driver, Bottle opener, Tweezers, File
• Convenient, easily accessible butterfly opening
• Overall length: 4.25 inches, Closed Length: 2.75 inches

The idea is simple: always be prepared. The Dime is a mini multi-tool with an impressive list of features, ensuring you are ready for anything. This butterfly open tool fits on your keychain yet has 12 useful tools. Available in multiple colors and a bladeless version as well.

We took the standard keychain multi-tool and made it better. In addition to stainless steel pliers, wire cutters, a fine edge blade, spring-loaded scissors, flathead screwdriver, crosshead driver, tweezers and file, the Dime includes a unique blade designed to safely cut and score plastic packaging and a bottle opener that is exposed even when the tool is closed.

I didn't know there was a bladeless version until I saw the specs on the Amazon page. When I was traveling for business, something like this would have been handy to have in my pocket.

Gerber Ripstop II

https://amzn.to/3Bdu96e

 From the Ripstop II Amazon ad:

• Sturdy pocket clip
• Dual thumb stud for easy one-hand opening
• Super lightweight, streamlined design
• Overall length: 7.4-Inch
• Weight: 3-Ounces

The Ripstop II has a super-lightweight frame lock concept that delivers bold strength and high functionality. The weight of the all stainless steel construction knife is made lighter by the intriguing handle and blade design. There's no bulk in the thin, streamlined handle. Dual thumb studs make opening the blade a snap. Closing it is a simple one-handed step.

The set mentioned above is apparently a promo item, as a black, non-serrated blade is included in it, whereas the regular Ripstop II is serrated and comes only in stainless steel. I like being able to recommend a quality brand, but I don't like to advertise something that may not be in great supply, like the combo set. 

I will pass along the Dime information and hope that is an acceptable pick. While the stainless knife is not a bad choice for something that may not be used or even looked over  regularly, at $32.74 the price may be a bit high  for a beginner. 

Regardless, this set is going into the Purple Pack for the time being.

Recap And Takeaway

• Gerber multi-tool and knife purchased from the Home Depot: $19.97
• I try to tailor suggestions to the user. What I like and might use can be drastically different from the next person I talk with.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

The Under 20 lbs Get Home Bag

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

I've written this post to answer a specific question and to be an example for a friend who asked questions about a bag after my snow post (Hi Jeannie!), so I'll be using The Purple Pack Lady's bag as the starting point. It is a good size at 28L, not expensive, and if ordered correctly will not appear tactical at all. Please see the linked post for more information, but here are the high points on the Mardingtop 28L Molle daypack. 

 

From the Amazon ad:

• 【Durable Material】This military 28-liter backpack is made of 600D polyester, and the buckles and zippers are made of YKK.The tactical backpack is durable and has many functions. The back area and shoulder straps use breathable and comfortable ventilation pads.

• 

  https://amzn.to/3to9pXC

  
  

  【Hydration Compartment】This military backpack with hydration compartment space and can hold a 2 Liter hydration bladder (hydration bladder is not included), the tube is fed through the top of the bag near grab handle.
• 【Consummate Design】This tactical rucksack has molle system,molle webbing throughout for attaching additional tactical pouches or gear. The molle backpack also has bottom compression straps,it can hang your sleeping bag,tripod or tent.There is also a patch area on the top of the camping backpack, which can be used to paste your favorite badges.
• 【Waist belt Design】The waist belt of this tactical backpack is stitched in, but you can slide them into the middle space behind the back padding support.If you need to use the belt, you can slide it out and use it. It's a pretty snuggle fit and won't slide back out on its own. 

I've written several posts covering the setup of a bag for the Purple Pack Lady, and all of them could be used as an introduction to prepping for someone who never thought about it before, or had to actually start planning due to circumstances like weather or natural disasters in the areas where we live.

Cooking & Fire

https://amzn.to/33qjXui

A Solo Stove is in this bag now in place of an Esbit that I first put in because I had one handy. While I've no problem with Esbit, a Solo doesn't need special fuel. Plus, as mentioned in this post from last year, the Solo is liked by the current owner, and gear that will be used and that is familiar to the user is better than highly rated, unfamiliar and difficult to use items.

https://amzn.to/3FultZS

Also going in the bag is a much smaller pot and cup combo, the MSR Alpine Stowaway Pot. From the Amazon ad:

• Versatile: Great for storing gear or supplies when you're not cooking
• Secure: Hinged, easy-lift handle flips over the fitted lid to lock it in place.
• Weight: 9.5 oz./270 g (475ml); 13 oz./365 g (775ml); 15.5 oz./440 g (1100ml); 19.5 oz./550 g (1600ml)

I bought the 775ml version, since the pot is light enough and also large enough to useful, but not take up very much room.

https://amzn.to/3Ka3VW8

I have other Sea To Summit gear, but their X Cups are a hard to beat addition, since they collapse down to nothing. From the Amazon ad:

• Pocket-sized, super lightweight collapsible cup packs that flat for storage or transport
• Food grade silicone is heat resistant, dishwasher safe and ideal for camping, backpacking, or travel
• Rigid Nylon rim holds its shape and provides a comfortable grip for handling hot liquids
• Calibrated internal ridges serve as a measuring cup
• X-Cup capacity one cup (250ml), weight 1.6oz, diameter 3.75-inches

Since the cup collapses to almost nothing, it fits into the MSR pot very easily and with room to spare. At ~3/8" tall when collapsed, there's room for other things in the pot like matches or even flat packets of  oatmeal of cocoa mix.

Still in the bag is a Sawyer Mini Water filter mentioned going into the Purple Pack here,  but on second thought I think having several smaller items carried in a larger, also useful container makes sense, like what was the challenge given us by our Esteemed Editrix early last year. My response on how to answer the Water Bottle/Bag Challenge was shown in this post, and I'm duplicating it in the Purple Pack. I don't want to repeat everything in that post so a fast recap is what I will do:

• The bag has a shoulder strap that will allow separate carry.
• Besides a water bottle, there is more than enough room to carry a small amount of supplies, sufficient to supply one person in an emergency.
• Add-on points allow easy modification of what can be carried.

What's Left

This is the complicated part. In my opinion, the additional items from this point get into Personal Choice territory. Other than possibly one or two liters of water, any new gear needs to be tailored to the owner. Gear such as:

• Clothing. Do you add rain gear, a change of clothes or just a pair of socks?
  
• Food. Do you add a couple cans of chili, or several packs of freeze-dried meals? Depending on where you are and how far you may need to cover, it makes a difference to me.
• Shelter. If you're in a car and not going to be stuck for long (see  my Snow Post), don't worry. If you need to walk out, should you have a tarp or some other way to protect yourself from the elements if stuck over night?
• Tools. Do you need specific tools for what you are doing or the area you're in? At a minimum, there should be a multi-tool of some sort in the bag, which is shown in the Bottle Bag post. Purple Pack Lady has a small folding knife on her key lanyard, along with a very nice Benchmade fixed blade in the bag.
• First Aid. The Purple Pack will have, at the minimum, the same assortment of First Aid gear as in my bag, which is what is shown in the Bottle Bag post. Both vehicles already have larger First Aid kits that will be put into the bags if that time comes.
  

I weighed everything so far and as it sits right now, the Purple Pack is ~4lbs. With 2L of water it's still under 10lbs, so a sub-20 lb Get Home Bag seems more than doable to me, with the extra items (and weight) tailored to the individuals wants and needs.

Have fun!

Recap And Takeaway

• I can't say this enough: search for Get Home Bag or GHB on the blog page and read everyone's posts. Since we all have different needs. there are as many different bags as there are BCP bloggers.
• Have a bag of some kind, with the things you know you may need in an emergency. You never know when you will need it.
• One MSR 775l pot purchased from Amazon: $21.95 with Prime
• One Sea To Summit Silicone X Cup purchased from Amazon,: $17 with Prime

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

 

Storage War

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

Yes, I did say this would be my GHB post. As per usual, my life got in the way.

Stuff

Due to circumstances beyond my control, the Purple Pack Lady and I needed to find a place to keep our excess goods in a relative short period of time -- it was less than a week to have everything situated and moved. Since I didn't have extra space, and frankly I've extra totes of my less-accessed stuff piled up in a corner as it is, the decision was made to rent a locker for us to share. This was a very hard decision for me to make; I've watched those shows of people that can't get around their houses due to too much actual junk, and the one where the rent isn't paid on storage lockers and everything goes up for auction*. In both cases, most of the goods are of very little value.

*It seems that in at least one of those shows, lockers were 'staged' to make everything more interesting.

What's Needed

I have to add that I'm not looking at this as a place to keep the majority of my prepping stores, since a disaster could prevent me from reaching the locker. I am however looking at it as a place for my secondary and extra supplies. 

I don't have massive amounts of items to store, and most of what I need to put into the locker are things that I know will be weeded out and sold once a place is found to take everything. The PPL is close to thinking this way also, but not necessarily 100%. She has her valuable items and thinks there may be a need for a locker much longer than I want (or need) one. That's not my call to make, though,  and I'm okay with that. 

Where Is It?

As the Real Estate folks say, "Location, Location, Location." I'm in Northern California and, while the fires are in the news lately, earthquakes are what will really wreck this state. That's why I started the hunt for places easy to get to, with easy access to the locker, secure and with reasonable rates. 

A place was found close to a major freeway and almost on the way home for both of us. It isn't so close that it might be on the "First To Loot List" if things go bad in a hurry, but not so far away that it's a problem if freeways are damaged. The complex is relatively new with paved access roads and an on-site manager for security. With the management there 24/7, access could be a little later in the evening in my opinion, but that's a minor issue. 

The rates are not necessarily the lowest, but for the location and and condition of the site and facilities, the price is in line with other, similar setups.

Moving everything is a chore, since both of us have sedans. Even with me downsizing to mostly 17 gallon totes (for ease of moving things by PPL), I can only get 2 in the back seat of my car at a time. Her car is much newer and my totes "aren't allowed". The majority is now moved, and my final batch of tools and totes will be out of the closet and corners this weekend.

Recap And Takeaway

• Nothing was purchased this week, prepping-wise, but Christmas gifts are going out very soon!
• The Value-to-Cost-of-Storage needs to be calculated carefully. I read all the time on Social Media sites of folks paying hundreds of dollars every month, for years, to store things that they've never looked through since putting it in storage. Don't be Those Folks. I will not be in that position.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Hidden Treasures

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

My equipment has been moved out of my parents house, gone through, and items I no longer need have been sold, given away or thrown out. I'm trying to organize a small amount of gear to be kept in the care home where my Mom is, but that is still a work in progress. 

When I pulled some of my totes out of where they were stored, 

I came across some of my old Boy Scout equipment! I found my mess kit, authentic Sierra Club cup, utensils, webbing belt and canteen pouch that was (I believe) Korean War surplus, purchased from a real-deal Army Navy store in the middle 60's. 

What's missing is the canteen, the aluminum kind with the nice screw cap and the funky flat link chain retainer. I was using this well into the 1980s and water purification was done with various tablets or boiling. No fancy filters back then! I not-so-fondly remember the taste of those tabs in that metal canteen... I'd like to find it again. It may still be in a corner or a box, but I think it's long gone. I'm keeping the belt and pouch for strictly sentimental reasons, since I've got two newer sets of belts with Nalgene bottles and holders. 

I also found the balance of my fishing tackle in a tote. This will need some work to sort out the tangled mess, because I dropped this tackle box off the tailgate of my truck a long time ago, broke the lid, and instead of buying a new tackle box right away I just put the broken mess in a tote to be fixed later. Much later. Don't ask.

In the bottom of the tote I found a genuine, no-kidding Herter's sheath knife along with an early 70's Buck 110 folder. I didn't have time or a decent place to take some pictures of both knives, but I will post them soon. What's a "Herter", you ask? You could find anything you needed or didn't want in there. Just read the short article linked above to get a taste of what this catalog contained. From bear traps and fly-tying supplies to tents, you could order them from Herter's; think of them as the Sears Catalog of outdoor supplies. 

Also found inside one of my Buckets of Holding was food that I didn't know was there. I dumped everything in the pail that wasn't relatively inert, like salt, black pepper, cinnamon and sugar. Everything which could be considered 'Food' was seriously out of of date by at least 5 years! There weren't any bulged cans, leaking bottles, or obvious spoiled items, but I wasn't taking any chances. I did take the top off a peanut butter jar just to smell, and it was right on the edge of rancid, confirming my avoidance of any trail mixes containing peanuts no matter where they come from. 

I purchased my food safe pails and locking lids from a local company many years ago, but Home Depot has been carrying food grade pails and lids for some time now. However, due to inventory and shipping issues, finding them in your local store might be a problem. I will be using several of the pails to store equipment other than food, since the Purple Pack Lady can handle a fully-loaded five gallon pail weighing 40-50lbs easier than she can handle a 27 gallon tote. Those pails will be hers, with her deciding how to fill them and and where she wants to store everything. Her personal GHB is still a bit thin since she hasn't given much thought to, or gone over, the list of things I put together that are in my bag. She's still taking baby steps on the long road of prepping.

Recap And Takeaway

• I really needed to have better access to my gear before. Now that I've cleaned everything out, all my stuff has been relocated to where it can be gone through much, much easier.
• If you break something, replace or fix it right away if you can. You never know when that gear might be needed.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Fixing A Get-Home-Bag, part the Latest

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

 

We return to the Work In Progress GHB for the Purple Pack Lady. I'm (slowly)getting it filled with useful things, and not just things that I think are useful either. Let's cover the things I want to add. 

  

What's Going In

• Flashlight: I gave her two Nitecore P12GT flashlights similar to what I have in my car and bags. If the need arises to Get Home, the bag has a light and so does the door pocket of my car. There were originally one in each car, but the second car is being sold, freeing up one light to be permanently in the GHB.
• Water Bottle: I added a Nalgene quart bottle with 3 packets of Gatorade mix inside. 
• Snacks: These are still a question. PPL doesn't like granola-type bars, trail mixes and the like, so those items will not be her first choice. Things like canned tuna and crackers are fine, but most people (both of us included) don't think of those as breakfast food. "I like chocolate!" is a common statement, but finding something stable that won't turn into goo in the back of a car is the problem.
• Tools: I'm looking for a small multi-tool in my stored gear to add to this pack, because I've at least three that are in the bottom of a tote. Which tote, however, is the question. I've looked in the ones here, but that leaves two other places with totes to dig through. I know if I order a Leatherman, the weekend after Amazon delivers it I'll find one sitting on the corner of my desk. 

  

Her Choices

I wrote about the EDC knife that lives on a lanyard with keys in this post, and from the results you could reasonably think that knives are a problem. 

Wrong. As the camping gear was being cleaned off in preparation for my short trip, someone said to me, "Ohhh, what is that???", pointing at a sheathed knife. "Can I have this one? It's cute! I like it!!!"

What I just lost is a Benchmade Protagonist. This hurts a bit, since I'm not buying Benchmade any longer and it seems this model, a Tanto point model #167BK, isn't available.

Here is the Amazon ad for the also 'Currently Unavailable' Protagonist Drop Point knife, for comparison:

• 

  Formerly my knife

  
  

  HIGH-QUALITY: The 154CM stainless steel blade is tough, rust resistant, and holds an edge well. The Grivory handle is exceptionally stable and durable.
• WELL-DESIGNED: The Protagonist 169 is a fixed blade, full tang knife, providing greater strength and reliability than a folding knife. The simplicity of the knife also makes it easy to clean.
• ALWAYS READY: The 169 features Versaflex over-mold on the handle, making it easy to grip and use. The injection molded sheath is durable and includes a MOLLE-compatible Malice Clip for ultimate accessibility.
• VERSATILE: The Protagonist 169's drop-point, utility blade style and all-around functionality make it ideal for outdoor activities and tactical applications.
• GUARANTEED FOR LIFE: Benchmade's limited Lifetime Warranty and LifeSharp Service keep your knife in the best condition. If your knife needs repair or sharpening, Benchmade will take care of it. Available for knives purchased from an authorized dealer.

It fits me well and also her much smaller hand just fine, so while I won't have it to use, I do know where it is and that it is appreciated. I now need to find a similar knife to go back into my camping gear.

As an aside, when I find grocery items or even personal care products that do what I want, I've learned to buy several at a time because I seem to be the Anti-Popular shopper in that what I like will soon be discontinued, or changed so much that I don't like it or it doesn't do what I want. This is a very good example. 

Wish me luck.

 

 Recap And Takeaway

• Since the Purple Pack Lady has a 5 mile commute and I take my bag if we drive longer distances, the extra time and care spent in getting everything just right is important. 
• And worth it! Hugs and a heartfelt, "Thank you, Honey" are good to hear.
  
• Nothing was purchased this week, but a replacement knife is on the list. I know several of you will have suitable replacements in mind!

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds. 

Newbie Preps, pt. I Can't Recall

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

In the continuing saga of gearing up Purple Pack Lady, here are a couple of updates on what's been happening. 

Vehicle Safety

In a post several months ago I mentioned buying The Club 3000 for both of her cars after losing a set of keys and having one car go missing overnight only to be found several blocks away in good shape. I thought it was a brilliant choice as the twin hooks make it very difficult to remove in a very short time.

As with most "Good Ideas", there needs to be agreement on the idea used to fix the problem. Both parties need to see the problem in the same light and then agree on the solution, and the user of my Great Idea isn't happy: "I don't like this, it's too heavy." At 4 lbs it's not that heavy (to me at least), but PPL is decidedly petite, so I think it's more a case of "awkward to use" and not "too heavy to lift" in her case. I think the issue is the overall size and how it mounts, and after 8-12 hours running an Assisted Living facility a travel pack of tissues may be heavy and awkward to handle. 

Lesson learned: Ask questions. Talk more. Listen. Buy slowly.

A Successful Addition

In a post just one week before the above, I discussed adding flashlights to Purple Pack Lady's cars. The Nitecore P12GT was much more successful and appreciated than The Club 3000. 

https://amzn.to/36B1ERF

I attached Velcro to the carrying case and then to the driver's door pocket (please read the information in the post for specifications).

While this flashlight isn't the smallest or the brightest or have the best  combination of features, it fits what I need and has been accepted as useful; so useful that the one in my sling bag has been 'acquired' and now sits on a nightstand. "It's bright and I can turn it down for walking around at night." At this point I call it A Win.

Summer Excursions

If things settle down for both our jobs (ha!), there is camping in the future! Or at least car tripping to a campground. Hey, it's a start for an urban dweller that is bothered by the sight of generic fence lizards. 

I may even be able to use a paid reservation from three years ago if the rest of Northern California doesn't burn this summer.

Recap And Takeaway

• Gear for someone else needs to fit not only their size but mindset. A really well designed piece of equipment that I liked certainly didn't fit my friend.
• Nothing was purchased this week.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.