Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Blog

Survival gear.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

All North Dakotans have winter survival gear that they carry around in their vehicles in case they get stranded.

I'm considering a sort of year-round "randomness survival" kit which would include things like a sleeping bag, small cooler, and other items for those times when you found yourself either camping, without plans, not sure if there's a bed waiting for you at your destination, or just needing to pull of and sleep in your vehicle.

The vehicle I drive is a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and I've spent many hours arranging the interior for making it the ultimate "pack light and hit the road random" vehicle. With all seats stowed forward, it would be easy for a short person like me to simple sleep in a sleeping bag with just a light camping mat for cushion. A small cooler next to the sleeping bag would suffice as the "kitchen", and a duffel with my clothes and other travelin' items positioned next to it would be my "dresser."

The front seat would serve as the Operations Center, with my car cell-phone charger, purse, and other items needed while driving, like a map. (And a 20 pound can of mace and ginormous taser). I've considered ways to put something on that front passenger floor that would make a handy holder for books or other items. Maybe even a laptop.

Instead of hauling around some camper monstrosity which was a headache in traffic and required restrictions on where it could be driven or parked or whatnot, it would be lovely if the vehicle you were driving were the camper. And not a huge vehicle, either. So convenient. Sure, you wouldn't have a toilet and an entire set of fake-wood kitchen cupboards, but who cares? Less time would be spent on parking and settling and planning for an acceptable camping site, and more could be done with traveling and seeing with a regular vehicle that immediately serves as a home on wheels by merely parking it and crawling into the back.

I'd probably consider some sort of electrical charges that would immediately vaporize anyone attempting to break in. I'm brutal that way.

Whenever I find myself out of the regular, scheduled rut that life seems to consist of 90 percent of the time, I get the strongest itch to road trip.

I need some serious cortisone right now.