Building a B.O.B or a GOOD kit
Hello everyone, over the past year, my seeing the tragedies on tv happening in Chile and Haiti not including those since then and those before(Katrina) I finally decided to build a BOB(Bug out Bag) or a GOOD kit(Get out of Dodge kit) for those of you who dont know what these are here is a little primer
Bug out Bag and Good Kit primer
a bug out bag or a good kit is a kit that in a emergency you would pick up and go, if you had to suddenly leave your home or place of work or even your car this is the kit you could grab and go to another location. Usually it contain supplies including food, water, clothing, and other equipment to keep you moving or to help protect you. Where as a survival kit is long term a B.O.B or a GOOD kit usually on keeps supplies to last about from a minimum of 3 days.
Now that you know let me share with you some of the things I have learned over the past 6 months.
Start small and take your time
first off dont be in a rush to build one, be smart with your purchases for the kit and know what you are going to get, what not to get, and the things you should get first. Don't worry, you have plenty of time so take it slow and be calm about it.
Dont listen to naysayers
I have been told by people that I am wasting my time, that this is all a waste of money and this is something I will never use, dont listen to them. Why, because if the sky started falling, while they are going around trying to find what to bring and what not to bring, you will be prepared and ready what may come, so when someone tells you not to bother with it, remind them about the story with the ant and the squirrel or remind them of this little saying” that it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”
Finally remember this”you are not crazy you are just be prepared”
Survival is not a beauty contest
since I have started making my kit I have gotten many of my items from places you would not expect. Like Military surplus stores, flea markets, and thrift stores. While the clothing and stuff here is not the most glamorous, it is functional, good and most of all, not high in the price department. Example at a local thrift store near my home I found a Vietnam era camouflage cold weather jack with hoody for 10 dollars, while used was still in good condition with only a little weathering. That same style jacket new on the internet at a bare minimum would cost me 70 dollars, used and upwards of 100.00 for the new jackets.
Know before hand what to get and what not to get.
When you start making your kit dont just throw everything in the kit, including the kitchen sink, some of it you might need and some you wont, and since you want to be able to carry you bag, you might want to decide what to put in it before hand. Make a list of items, this list should be determines by two things.
First off location location location
like real estate agents have said location is everything, know where you live, what threats, you will face(fire, tornado nuclear attack, terrorism etc but dont be paranoid about it), know where you are going to go, how long it would take and if you couldn't get there where would the most likely you would be safest, dont go overboard just know the basics of your environment, where the interstates are, where the highways are, alternate routes to your safe place, and how you would get from point A to point Z if you had to. Also make sure other know where you would go if the unthinkable happens, write down on paper and put on a fridge or just tell them every now and then to let them know.
Keep it Simple Stupid
fancy gadgets are great to have but when it comes to living most of the times it aint the fancy high tech thingamajig that get you through it, it is the simple thing that does, so try to keep your bag as tech free as possible. Cell phone ok, flashlight ok, fancy GPS Compass, not ok. When possible keep it simple, it is always the best idea.
Finally nothing is set in stone
there is always room for improvement, just because something aint on you list does not mean it aint a good idea to get it. See a better jacket than the one already in your kit, get it. Did you find a cheaper compass than the one already in there, get it. Use your own common sense, and when in doubt look to people you know or even to websites to help you out.
I hope that someone reads this and it helps them out a little even if it get you thinking about what to do in an emergency, here then it was worth the time to write this. Finally good luck
