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I've been working on a survival kit. I've inaccurately been using the term BoB which means bug out bag. A bug out bag implies the s**t has hit the fan and you have to get out of the area ASAP. While it's a good idea to have one of those that is not my purpose. I just want a kit of supplies and tools I can use if I'm out camping or on a hunting trip or if I'm just spending the night out on the road.

A big thing about bug out bags is that they practically demand you have a gun in your kit. I don't feel comfortable with the thought of leaving a gun locked in my truck even if it's hidden. If someone breaks in to steal stuff then they just got a new gun. Instead I keep my guns in the safe. If I'm out on a hunting trip I'll have my guns with me anyway.

When the term began in college I got a backpack to keep my books in. Unfortunately the backpack is too small to hold my books and binder. I decided to just use my laptop in class so I have a free backpack.

For tools I have a butane lighter and a waterproof canister of matches in case something happens to the lighter. A few weeks ago I got a zippo lighter but I keep that in my pocket so I won't put that in the backpack. I also have a large pocket knife in the backpack. I used to carry it as a pocket knife till someone told me butterfly knives are illegal without a concealed weapon permit. I don't plan on using it for a weapon though. To me it's just a utility blade. Anyway that's in the backpack and I just carry a regular pocket knife. Today grandpa decided to give me my Christmas present early because he couldn't wait. I got a really nice hunting knife set. It looks pretty expensive and I kinda feel bad about some of the things I've said in previous entries about him. Anyway there's a hatchet in the set and a hunting knife with a gutting hook behind the blade tip. The two blades fit into a single sheath. The sheath itself has a loop on the back for running a belt through but most people would be really uncomfortable with me walking around with two large blades on my hip. Also I couldn't find a position on the belt where it felt comfortable when I sit. There are various straps across the backpack so I just attached it to a strap instead.

For supplies I only have my backup inhaler and a bottle of allergy medicine. I should get some dried goods to stash in the kit and make a first aid kit. The first aid kit needs an antiseptic and I'm stuck between rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. The alcohol can double as extra fuel for the zippo in a pinch, but if I recall it's more toxic. The peroxide doubles as mouth wash for me, but it only has a shelf life of about 6 months though that can be helped with rotating stock.

I'm thinking of packing a clean change of clothes in the backpack, but I haven't made up my mind yet. I will definitely keep some clean changes of socks in there though. I hear constantly hiking in wet socks is a bad idea. Look up some pictures of trench foot from WWI. For other medical supplies I should probably get some antibiotic ointment, maybe some hand sanitizer, a roll of ductape, clean cotton for bandages, and maybe some tylenol for fever and pain. For food beef jerky is a great idea. That stuff lasts for ages and is high protein. Actually depending on what I pack for food I may want to consider vitamin supplements in the med kit. I also want to get some water purification tablets.

I recently got a sleeping bag for the obvious reasons. It's a "tall person" bag but because of my height it only comes up to my chest. It's good enough though. I want to get a spare pillow and blanket as well for my bed roll. Maybe a tent would be a good idea too.

I also want to get a 5 gallon water tank. I was talking to Fresnel about this and he suggested I get a Jerry Can. Those are those big metal cans you see. I was thinking about it but there's no room in the cab for one. Even worse there if I left it in my cab someone might mistake it for a gas can and steal it. The more I think about it though if someone steals it and uses it to fill the gas tank on their car the joke is on them. The final deal breaker was the price. At over $50 for a can I'm not shelling that kind of money out. Walmart has 5 gallon cans for about $10-15. Those are shorter and fatter though so they don't fit in the cab as nicely. I'll look around for a cheap can with similar dimensions to the Jerry. I need to get a decent sized canteen or something though for when I get separated from the truck. I have a quart tea bottle I use, but the clip I had to attach it fell off. There are some pouches on the backpack for water bottles, but they are small ones.