Sometimes I think that, at it's very core, preparedness is driven by some ancient memory of hunting mastadon while wearing a loin cloth and carrying a spear. As the mother of a nine year old boy, I can attest to the fact that there is something very primal about carrying a spear. Whether for protection, balance or hunting, a good spear often seems like an instinctual thing to have when we're getting our Jungle Book on.

A good spear can also be used as a walking stick, bear scarer, frog gigger, throwing stick, snake basher, light sabre, shelter pole, water level tester, drowning victim teacher, fire poker...

Santa left a stone arrowhead in my son's stocking this year, and he's itching to get down to the creek, lash it to a branch and try some spear fishing with it. (Check your local fishing and hunting rules and regs... yada yada...)