How to Survive in Modern Times

We all need a survival kit for modern times. Here are three things in mine:

• A bottle of single malt whisky - something from Islay, salty, smoky, seaweedy and peaty (Lagavulin or Laphroaig).

• A good book - preferably non-fiction, about history, geography, philosophy or war. Something that makes me think. Indispensable if I'm on a bus or train or stuck in a queue.

• A pebble - of hard grey sandstone, laid down in sea floor sediments off ancient Gondwanaland, 200 million years ago. A reminder of deep time, the transience of life, and the futility of worrying about daily trials.

I'd be interested to hear what others have in their survival kits.

Comments

[Armin]

Good choice for the first one. I'd take the same.

I'd have one of these travel eye cover blindfold thingies (forget what they're called), so that I can sleep. I can sleep almost everywhere as long as I can get it dark.

A leatherman multitool, can be used to repair, use, open, cut, whatever, almost everything.

[deichmans]

Personally I prefer Highland malts; could never get used to the peat of Islay spirits.

Since I used to live in "hurricane country", my survival kit is a Survive-All Vest III, with a Gerber multitool and additional first-aid supplies (gloves, sunscreen, etc.)

Looking at your kit, mine is far too droll -- and lacks a connection to history. Maybe I'll add one of the nail-magnets (made from nails pulled from post-Hurricane KATRINA debris by teens from our old church) to remind me of the resilience of our communities.

[strategist]

I've always liked the rough taste of the Islay malts, but am also partial to Irish whiskys.

I've got a day pack which I take to work - it's got things like a strong pair of shoes, parka and jersey, snack bars, small first aid kit and so on. Just in case the power fails, and we have to walk home. I like the idea of a multi-tool - will have to look at that.

[Ortho]

I agree with your first suggestion. An Islay single-malt is my idea of paradise. I'm partial to 20-year-old Caol Ila. I also enjoy the relatively inexpensive Bowmore Legend.

In regard to your second suggestion, I read too much non-fiction. If I'm to survive modern times with my Islay single-malt, I need a fiction book. Something from Charles Brockden Brown.

That's about all I would need besides an occasional meal.

[strategist]

I've been drinking a bottle of Langs Supreme (a Scotch whisky) recently. Very pleasant and reasonably priced.

[Don]

Kidnapped by RLS
Wet Weather Gear
Fire

...and that's just to get to the bus stop in Wellington.

[strategist]

I know what you mean about the weather - I left for the bus stop this morning, got half way down the street, and realized that I'd been foolish to leave without a woollen hat and gloves.

[Jeff]

I absolutely love this post. Funny, but true.

[strategist]

What's in your 'survival kit', Jeff?

[Jeff]

Hmmm. A good chilled Reisling wine, a copy of Tacitus's Annals of Imperial Rome, and a lovely lady to share the wine with, of course.

[Jeff]

And if the above kit isn't roughing it enough then:

1. A Bottle of Jack Daniels (and some chaser).
2. Will Durant's Story of Civilization--all volumes.
3. A telescope. Because like Kant, two things fill my mind with ever-increasing wonder and awe, the more often and the more intensely my mind contemplates them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.

[Peter]

That's starting to look like a pretty hefty survival kit.

I like your thought about star gazing. We saw a spectacular eclipse of the moon by the earth's shadow a month or so ago. The face of the full moon turned deep rose. At the moment Scorpio is high in the western sky, and I'm waiting for Orion to rise in the early night sky.

[John]

Here I go, churning up the ancient archives of your blog again.

So if the pebble takes care of "the futility of worrying about daily trials", and a fine whisky is in your system, I can only imagine your tranquility. You could probably laugh your way through the darkest non-fiction in your library.

Assuming I have companionship, which is vital, my kit would consist of:
The Bible
.375 H&H
Versace sunglasses

[Strat]

Churn away.

The Bible's a great choice - religion, poetry, philosophy, history, politics and so on all rolled into one.