eveglass | A thinking meme (Reply)

From the altfriday5:

1. You have half an hour to leave your home, knowing that you will never be back, and anything you leave behind will be destroyed or gone. What do you take? (assuming all the people are taken care of)

ID (especially my passport), medication (inhalers, advil), my wallet, latest backup of my computer (one CD), two bags of good jewelry (mine and my mom's; both for sentimental and barter purposes), some clothes, a notebook and pens, and my backpack. If I knew I'd be in a "New Orleans" situation, I'd grab as much canned or nonperishable food as I could stuff into a duffle bag, backup toiletries, blankets, and candles (and matches).

2. You have twenty-four hours to leave your home, knowing that you will never be back, and anything you leave behind will be destroyed or gone. What do you take? (assuming all the people are taken care of)

Pretty much same as the first answer. I know where it all is and it's fairly easy for me to get to, even only given a half-hour. The extra time would mostly be spent making sure I had everything I wanted, and then helping my neighbours to do the same. I might take more clothes and my computer as well, a box of pictures, and probably my teddy bear. If I knew I was going to be in a disaster situation, I might grab some more of my camping gear.

3. For those of you that have a car: Now answer 1 & 2 assuming you don't. For those of you that don't, assume you do (just a regular-size car, not a Hummer!).

I have a car, so this is assuming I don't: Number one would remain virutally unchanged. Too much food is a self-correcting problem: I'd grab as much as I could carry. I might not be able to get many blankets, but I'd try for at least one. If it was winter, I might even wear my heavy wool cloak (which can double as a blanket). Number two would be shifted to be the same as number one. Extra time would be spent double-checking and helping my neighbours / family.

4. You have to go at least 100 miles away (and if you're coastal, inland) to be safe. Where would you go? Family? Friends? A shelter? How would you get there?

Probably Toronto. I know people there who would take me in (family and friends of family). Assuming I had my car, I'd take that, and take along with me everyone I could fit. If I didn't, I'd take the train or bus (assuming they were still running). If I couldn't go to Toronto for whatever reason, I'd get as far away as possible by whatever means were available to me, then find an internet cafe and hunt for the local SCA group and try to make a contact who could take me in.

5. How much would losing your home and possessions affect your life? Would you recover faily quickly? Or would it be disastrous for you?

I'd like to think I'm fairly nonmaterialistic. I'd like to think I'd pick myself up, brush myself off, and move on with my life. As long as the people around me are safe, I'd like to think losing the "Stuff" wouldn't affect me too much. However the truth is that I really don't know. I don't think I'll ever know unless the situation comes up, which I hope it doesn't.