A friend of mind just brought up an idea of keeping a deck of cards in the BOB for the purposes of entertainment during "slow" times. I know, most (including me) would think "who the hell has time to play cards when zombies are walking / running around killing everyone?" But, especially for me considering my BOB is also my camping bag, I could easily see a deck of cards keeping me sane and calm while I am out in the woods (or in a locked warehouse or whatever).
Does anyone else think it might be important? If so, what do you keep around?
Other ideas would include something like a book or a yo-yo. But, obviously, a book small enough to allow the space for might easily be read in several hours to a day (perhaps in a situation where you are stuck in a house for several days, or whatever), and a yo-yo might also get boring after several hours.
Of course, though, there are also millions of things one could do to keep entertained, so perhaps it isn't necessary to bother packing something specifically entertained?
Just like EVERYTHING else we talk about, and all the stuff we put in our bags, it would be there simply "just in case" we need it. I can imagine plausible scenarios which require me to sit idly for long periods of time, and I can imagine that, during such a critical situation, doing so would likely cause me to go crazy from paranoia. Thus, I could safely conclude that it would be justifyable to keep a deck of cards in the BOB, just in case I end up in a situation where those cards might allow me to keep my cool.
I have thought of this. I agree it does sound silly, but ask old soldiers, boredom is hell! I have 2 decks of Aviators in my BOB. I also have (double-sealed in freezer bags) my beloved copy of the Boy Scouts Handbook, 2nd edition, printed in 1982. This book is highly entertaining, plus its informative. I also have a copy of the most "supremely viable" book ever, the Holy Bible KJV. A little soul food if ya will.
__________________ I'm here for a good time, to h*ll with the red wine, pour me some moonshine!
I have a set of "Survival Playing Cards" in my bag. Each suit covers different kinds of survival information: medical, edible, pathfinding and camping. As space ina survival bag is your sole wealth, anything that does multiple jobs is a big plus.
I also carry Robert Pelton's Official Survival Manual. It packs more information into a smaller space than any survival manual I've yet seen.
I touch on this topic in the series I wrote on personal survival kits that I sent to Chris when he requested articles for the G&G newsletter. I suppose they'll see print sooner or later.
I would be too busy manufacturing primitive outdoor survival gear to play cards. The only book I'd take is a Bible. Playing cards/games would bring down the "alertness" factor and be counter-productive to survival.
One thing I thought of, if you have more than one person (preferrably at least 3 total) is playing dungeons and dragons (or any sort of old-school text-based game). I know it's nerdy, but if you sit down and get down to it, it is easy to go for hours at a time with these things.
Hell, just sitting here talking about survival is, in a sense, a "text-based" game! Imagine continuing on and on with a zombie survival scenario! Think of "ok, so you decide to open the door. You see three zombies walking toward you from the other side of a small room, what do you do."
Granted, it might not necessarily be appropriate if you are actually trying to survive zombies, haha, but even something much less intense (like, for the ladies, putting together a wardrobe for a week, or planning a wedding, or whatever they like to think about, haha) or very unrelated (like dungeons and dragons).
All that would be required is a pencil / pen and perhaps a small notebook, which I'd imagine everyone would want to have anyways, no?
And Hi, Larmus .
Well. Just finished one of the two papers due in.. 18 hours. Gotta get back to it...
I would be too busy manufacturing primitive outdoor survival gear to play cards. The only book I'd take is a Bible. Playing cards/games would bring down the "alertness" factor and be counter-productive to survival.
ALWAYS STAY ALERT!!!!
yes you must stay alert but one can not mantain it with out some sort of distraction now and then or you will risk ptsd.
I would be too busy manufacturing primitive outdoor survival gear to play cards. The only book I'd take is a Bible. Playing cards/games would bring down the "alertness" factor and be counter-productive to survival.
ALWAYS STAY ALERT!!!!
All work and no play makes Jack a Dull Boy!!!!
__________________ USAF SSgt 80-86 IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER
yes you must stay alert but one can not mantain it with out some sort of distraction now and then or you will risk ptsd.
Agreed! For me, that would be working on that serviceberry bow until it was just right, working on that basalt axe head, perfecting a digging stick, knapping arrowheads, etc. Games involve too much noise and that may attract attention, at least in my opinion.
But again.... I entertain very easily.
Small lasso made of cotton clothes line, practice lassoing everything head ropeing, heeling, hulahan, also keeps your mind alert, ropers have a keen scence of timing and the knack of when to bust a move when required, a good skill honeing activity.
Small Bolo
Heavy string with a 3/8 Nut tied to the end, amazeing what you can do with that.
Do math in your head, multiplication and division
all these activities can take place while youe being watchfull.
My guess music is out due to sound, smokeing due to the pipe smell, Disco due to flashing lights, tree climbing due to you getting stuck up the tree, Gigging frogs due to lack of noise (ya spook frogs they quiet up on ya) nothing more spookie than it being quiet somthing made the critters shut up!
If zombies were a foot I would be doing push ups and stretching and not playing cards. Gotta make sure I can out run, out power, and avoid the zombies at all costs.
If zombies were a foot I would be doing push ups and stretching and not playing cards. Gotta make sure I can out run, out power, and avoid the zombies at all costs.
If you are stuck in your house for perhaps weeks at a time, only occasionally creeping into the backyard to pee / poo and look around, you would have a lot more time on your hands than one could spend working out.
don't underestimate books, if you find one or two that are really good that you can read over and over it is a plus, not only that but i met this guy once who was camping for about 2 weeks strait and he brought 7 hardback big books, nothing i would like but just something to read, he said that when he was done reading one it went into the flames, thus freeing up the weight of it, this while being a preatty good idea is not what i would do, i may carry one book that i can destroy in order to make a fire but i don't think i would burn a big book after i read it onceg
Just read the zombie survival guide for the sixth time last weekend when I was sick... Freaking great book, hah. Learned me everything I need to know about fightin zombies!
Today Im gonna go get a new, smaller pack...ssshhh don't tell the other half... (I elected to no longer keep my take-down rifle in there, thus freeing up a good 7-8 clumsy pounds), and will probably pick up a deck of cards to go with it.
If you are stuck in your house for perhaps weeks at a time, only occasionally creeping into the backyard to pee / poo and look around, you would have a lot more time on your hands than one could spend working out.
I would perfect my taichi forms and other forms of kung fu I trained over the years, and I would finally finish writing that novel, LOL.
