I was always interested but didnt get hit with a situation where I was unprepared when I was driving the 3.5 hours from VA Beach to my home in NC and I was stuck for about 4 hours 15 miles from home and my infant daughter was in the car and I had no water to mix her formula. 9-11 and Katrina firmed up my interest. My dad has always been a hunter and fisherman and outdoorsman. I joke that if anything ever happens I am heading down to my parents house.

I found this site after a little episode whitewater kayaking, and googled survival kits. My story is here:
http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=57319#Post57319

My interest in being prepared came from many sources and more than likely was stimulated by the desire for adventure. Being in Cub Scouts, reading books such as the Hardy Boys and Tin-Tin, magazines like Boy’s Life, Popular Science, Field and Stream and Argosy, watching TV shows like Johnny Quest and Gilligan’s Island and my love for gadgets from the Bond and In Like Flint movies.
My Dad was pretty much a city boy, but somehow I still developed an interest in hunting, fishing, camping and self-reliance. My hoarding tendencies (to be honest it is far more than just a tendency) came from my Mom, who was mastered the art.

Pete

Pete, me and you are much alike! Mom is almost spot on, but dad was a short lived boonie kid, from 14 to around 18 he lived in BFE Arkansas, and that was a big change for him, I picked up a gradual liking to different things, "I want a flashlight that can do whatever, I want a small but bright flashlight, I want a Mag block, I want to get this kit...'Google', find ETS and then things really started to turn!"

I’d credit my father who grew up in a rural area and then served in WWII. I grew up with horses and you really have to be prepared for emergencies with horses as there is often a wait for a vet in the case of an injury or colic. Once horse vets get to know and trust their clients they usually readily help the client prepare in the event of a delay of getting professional help. So being prepared with supplies and medications became a way of life for me. Then I did a lot of trail riding in the back country and thankfully was never separated from a horse, but that did get me thinking about what I actually had on my person as well as how to carry supplies so they didn’t present a further hazard in the event of a fall.

I don’t do that much back country riding anymore, but do lots of day hikes with my dogs as well as living on acreage and still having a couple of horses. My kits vary but even just out on my own place with my dogs, I always have some first aid supplies in a small pocket kit as well as a cell, bandanna, multi tool, knife, light and in the winter months usually a heat sheet. When I leave the pavement for hikes I always carry a pack with supplies as well as Doug’s kit souped up, a small FAK, and tools in my pockets.

With all that said, it still takes practice and training. So get first aid training, practice fire building in less than desirable conditions, learn reading a map and navigating with a compass. If you have animals get first aid training for them too, dog clubs and horse clubs often offer seminars for a very minimal cost. Camping is a great way to practice and figure out what works or doesn't work for you.

Living in earthquake country I’m in the process of making a small urban kit to keep in my purse sort of Doug’s kit minus some of the wilderness items like the fishing kit, signal mirror, and compass. This site has some great ideas and expertise.

My interest probably came from camping. My visits to the local hardware/camping stores/Canadian Tires, etc while I was outfitting myself for backcountry use. Started out as a car camper and then I ventured further out with less and less of a parachute.

One of the books I read early on was from the old man himself - Lefty Wiseman and started to build my own survival kit. Then I came across Coughlins' joke of a survival kit and I knew there had to be something better out there. I eventually found this website and came to re-evaluate my needs and my kits.

As an Emergency Preparedness Specialist for my church I've always "been prepared", from scouts as a kid to "scout" as an adult and then finding Equipped To Survive was my "ace in the hole"

Been here for a long time though not as long as some, always find new and exciting challenges to try.

Mike