I was reading a blog today that had a link to this article. I took an anthropology class in college about the Mayans. It was a really interesting class, and you may or may not know that the Mayans predict(ed?) the world will end Dec 12, 2012. On the one hand, pffft. On the other hand, for a group of people that existed over 2000 years ago, they had an advanced system of writing, mathmatics and astronomy, they developed their own calendar, and were able to construct amazing temples and pyramids without the use of any ‘real tools’. The point is, for their time, they were some smart cookies. And then they disappeared. But, you know, maybe, is it worth considering they may know (have known?) something we don’t?

Just the other night as we were going to bed I asked PC if he thought we should all have gas masks. Oh I know, you’d love to be a fly on the wall to hear the conversations we have before we fall asleep. We have one (military issued) and Im fairly sure four people couldn’t survive on one gas mask. PC told me that if we were in a situation requiring a gas mask, “It’d be all over. Go to sleep Lise.”

I have a friend who no longer lives here but she was, hmm, how to say…..she was all about a plan to get off this island should the need arise. She told me she had enough cash on hand to buy full fare tickets back to the US. I asked why cash and she always figured that if the world was going to hell, money talks louder than a credit card. I suppose thats true….but, I don’t know, if the credit card system is down Im thinking $ for plane tickets will be the least of my worries. We all know that there are missiles pointed right at this little island. If one is headed towards us Im not heading for the airport- Im heading for the marina and getting in a row-boat or a canoe or kayak or whatever I can get. There are plenty of little islands around here, I figure my chances of survival if I start rowing are better than those who are standing in line at security having their shoes X-rayed with a missile headed this way. There was a day awhile back that this same friend was on heightened alert and suggested maybe I should have a backpack packed. As I packed fancy backpack with a few essential items I was sort of like, “well shit, what do I pack? diapers? Nana? movies? A deck of cards?” I mean, if we’re going into LOST type survival mode I need more than a backpack. Im not waiting for any darma initiative to bail me out with their white boxed food- Im going to be pre.pared. dammit.

I dont know, maybe Im foolish but Im not conspiracy theory enough to have anything stockpiled. Though, living over here knowing that we run out of stuff all the time, I estimate we have enough food in the pantry for at least a month if not longer. I keep a couple of gallons of water in the pantry because of typhoons (we’ve never lost water or power though). As I mentioned we have a lot of camping gear so we have flashlights and batteries and a propane stove and whatnot. But that is about as far as our emergency preparedness goes.

Is that foolish? Should I for a moment consider doomsday and, I don’t know, buy a couple cans of spam or something? Do any of you have fallout shelters because I might want to share one with you if the need arises. I hope you are close enough that I can get to you in a rowboat though.

Filed under: This Is My Life, fancy backpack