If you haven’t yet listened to this month’s episode of Whine & Wine, you haven’t heard the melodic tones of our guest, Rich–who is also my husband. This was the topic of his dreams and a topic which my co-host, Kathy also shares a deep love for. Therefore, when we decided to dig into the why’s, what’s, and, well, why’s about Zombie Closets, I knew immediately that Rich just had to join us. That choice was confirmed correct right out of the gate when I learned that “Zombie Closet” is not even the right term for these pantries of prepping.
Actually, I’m still not sure what the correct term is. If I’m being honest, I zoned out quite often during this episode.
What I did pay attention to? Our nonsor, Stealth Angel Survival’s Bug Out Bags. As soon as Kathy said “Bag,” I said, “Sign me up!”
Look, if the zombies come, I will be happy to supply them with all the soaps, lotions, and hair ties that they can carry away in a cute bag of their choosing.
The Bug Out Bag, as it turns out is not a Zombie peace offering, but instead a way to leave one’s house at a moment’s notice should that need pop up. Inside its plethora of pockets? Soaps, lotions, essential medicines, first aid supplies, water filtration options, solar thingies, etc. Okay, maybe I also zoned out when we talked about Bug Out Bag inventory.
I really was trying my very best to pay attention. It’s just that in the first five minutes of recording, I realized that I actually do have endless stashes of sundries essential to leaving my home at a moment’s notice. I realized this with swelling pride which then turned into a mental identification of each and every purpose I was prepared to flee for, should the call come. I knew I was supposed to be fully involved in the recording of the podcast but, well, once my Bug Out Brain left the tracks…it was over as I thought of my own essential inventory:
Weekend Runaway Rollaway:
Children aren’t the only beings that need a time-out on occasion. Sometimes a quick retreat from daily life is the exact thing that can keep a grown-up person mentally healthy. Back in my younger days, I would scurry to my parent’s home when I needed to check out. Now, my scurries are a bit closer to my own home and may or may not include a tagalong (husband, friend, etc.).
- Hotel wine
- Ride or Die
- Bubly, because it’s too complicated to pack my Ninja.
- Snacks (typically popcorn, nuts, Sour Patch Kids)
- People magazine (or something similar that requires no brain cells)
- Louis Vuitton Crossbody. Why this particular one? Because if I’m checking out I probably need a reminder that I’m worth it.
- Slippers
The Sea You Later Bag:
My ocean-ready bug-out bag springs to attention if one of those last-minute cannot-pass-this-up cruises crosses my radar. A few years ago, this may have occurred when a friend dropped a text asking if I might want to go here or there via the crystal waters of the Caribbean. Today I am even more at the ready as I have first access to last-minute deals across every cruise line imaginable:
- Swimsuit
- Flip-flops
- Sandals
- Sunscreen and Aloe
- Collapsible backpack (or cute crossbody)
- Water bottle
- Door magnet (look, sometimes it’s hard to identify which door is the correct door)
- Lanyard to keep track of my room key
- Wristlet phone case to prevent my phone from slipping overboard while taking pictures from the balcony
- Nightlight (a must-have in cruise cabins to avoid waking up everyone else in the room during those 3:00 am nature calls)
War Belt:
This is imperative for surviving any and all visit to the DMV.
- Snickers
- Migraine medicine
- Phone Charger
- Seventy-two types of identification
- iPad (plus charger)
- Valium (if available)
- Twelve-pack of water
Gym Bag:
My gym bag is not like the others. I plan for any and all needs because I often (never) do not plan my workouts ahead of time.
- Tablet (to watch my stories while doing cardio
- Terry Cloth Towel (I am not a fan of the paper towel wipe-down)
- Swimsuit (in case all I opt to do is hit the tanning bed for some light therapy)
- Eye covers (for that light therapy)
- Sneakers
- A whole workout outfit in case I feel spontaneous at the same moment I realize my gym bag is still in the car from the last visit
- Socks
- Lock
- Wrist braces (times two, my wrists are questionable)
- Knee braces (actually, those can be removed as they are no longer needed)
- Notebook and pen
- Water bottle.
Body Bag:
Never mind, it’s not important and has nothing to do the the War Belt or the need for an occasional time-out.
The Disney Duffel:
This bug-out bag is critical for those times when I am summoned to Orlando with little or no notice. It is not specific to Walt Disney World as I can go either way: WDW or Universal Orlando. Therefore, the inventory of my Disney Duffel here covers items for both parks:
- Custom T-shirts (Mickey Mouse, Baby Yoda, Hogwarts Alumni, Duff, etc.)
- Magic Bands (WDW)
- Wands (UO)
- Hand Sanitizer
- Ears (WDW)
- Hufflepuff attire (UO)
- Water Bottle
- Biofreeze (so much Biofreeze)
- Park Bags (one for each, can’t cross streams now, can we?)
- Sneakers (at least two pairs)
I suppose at some point, I really will have to dig into an actual Bug Out Bag. For me, that will mean asking my beloved husband if he’s already prepared a Bug Out Bag for me, to which he will undoubtedly answer “Yes, dear.” That’s the glory of living with someone who takes preparation seriously. When we first moved in together, I thought my husband was a lunatic with all those stashes of beans and bandages. The pandemic changed my opinion as it offered my first real feeling of “but…what if…?” and then a feeling of comfort as I knew we were in good shape thanks to my husband’s forethought.
What will you put in your Bug Out Bag?
Listen to this month’s episode of Whine & Wine for some words of wisdom: