I've really enjoyed reading all the information in this forum, but thinking about the whole "stay calm" and "will to survive" philosophy, I wondered if anyone packs any kind of entertainment in with survival gear (where space and weight aren't an issue). A small paperback book seems perfect (for reading or tinder). I know this comes after water, food, shelter, fire, and medical care, etc., but it might be good when help is a long way off (or just to keep your mind occupied).

Heck, the survival pack is the entertainment!

Unless I am immobilized, in which case any activity could be a challenge, I will look to keeping myself busy enough that my focus is on doing something rather than the situation I am in.

I don't think entertainment in a kit is off topic at all. We prepare a kit to give us every advantage possible in a survival situation. That's why Doug suggests photos of family and friends. It lends to the psychological aspect of survival...just like entertainment does. Though it defies logic, sometimes the psychological edge that you keep in a survival situation could be the one thing that makes the difference between life and death. The show "I shouldn't be alive" is an example of the psychological edge making a difference.

Learn some Solitaire games, which I personally don't care for <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
But, a mini deck of cards, not much bigger than a small box of matches will take up very little room in a variety of different sized kits.

I would be more inclined to pack a book myself.

I think Monopoly is out of the question though... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I keep a deck of cards and a paperback book in my BOB. My lady has a small magnetic chess and checkers set and a paperback book in her car kit. True, you might be busy surviving, or you might just be sitting around waiting for the all clear so that you can return home. I find this especially true for "small" emergencies, like a gas leak or police action that causes an evacuation of a neighborhood. Grab your BOB, bug-out to a coffee shop outside the danger zone, and relax.

Good thinking!

( I'm going to add moe mini decks and books to kits now...)

Teacher ro

Mini playing cards at EMS
http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detai...D=1138811045405

Hmm, that reminds me of when we did a bunker call during mortar attacks, if it wasn't a true "run for your life" kinda event (which many were unfortunately), I would have the sense to grab the Nintendo DS pack on the way out the door. It hung on a nail by the shoulder strap right by the doorway, right next to the body armor and the BOB. I'd say about 1 in three events I took the DS to the bunker with me. The battery pack in that thing lasted a good 40 hours between charges. It is too bulky, though, for packing along into the wilderness. Besides, it kinda defeats the point of being out there.

I agree that it's not off-topic at all. If you have kids, you know that entertainment is priceless. In a PSK, I would think a family photo (maybe on waterproof paper?), mini-religious books/artifacts, and some mental puzzles/riddles would be good. In a BOB, a paperback, magnetic travel-sized games (not near the compass!), small puzzles, and anything else you and the kids might like that takes up little space or weight. I recommend against battery operated items. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I was dropped off with my .375 H&H to secure a crash site until more resources ( read bigger aircraft) could arrive to remove the victims. I always had a book in my parka. In this case it was Beowulf. I was so engrossed I never heard the helicopter arrive until it was landing. Old Grendle could have walked up and do me in. Later at my Lifeboat station I went to see JAWS on a friday afternoon. I returned to base in time for a capsizing and got underway as a rescue swimmer. I'm holding onto a kid, treading water until the boat or helo came back around.The salmon were running, and every now and then I'd feel a sharp bump on my feet <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Point 1- stay aware. Point 2- choose your entertainment carefully <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

Keeping your cool in a stressful situation is the absolute Number One issue, more important than anything else.

A paperback and chocolate... Defense Against the Dark... even when the sun is shining.

Sue

This is not at all off topic. My custom BOBs include a deck of "survival-tips" playing cards, Survival Instruction Playing Cards paper and pencils. This way my wife can continue to beat me up at progressive rummy, (and keep score to prove it). There are mini scrabble, cribbage and other games available for travel too. Travel Games

For the longest time I carried a SAS survival guide in my BOB for the purpose of entertainment, then in a fit of "load lightening" frenzy during a repack at home, I discarded it.

I may have to rethink that option. Entertainment is valuable for morale and as my old age creeps up <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> it wouldn't be a bad idea to have the info contained in such a book at my fingertips.

Scott

That seems a prudent addition even without the entertainment factor. It could help a companion if you are incapacitated.

If you are with kids, entertainment is survival equipment.

I keep a copy of Lucifer's Hammer in my car kit.

And I can always sketch a go or checker board from memory, if I can find a bunch of light and dark pebbles.

And I have some 5mm dice. Toss in three of those for a group BOB...

After the recent hurricanes, we can tell you that entertainment IS part of a kit.......don't believe me.....you sit with 2 kids and no power.......

I tend to get "antsy" when I'm bored. So, in my 72 hr kit, I have the usual things. But, I do have a few non usual things for my wife and I (and yes, I am a gaming geek)

A cigar box with:
1) a mini set (really small print) of 1st edition AD&D books with mini dice
2) deck of regular cards
3) 3 Magic Decks (mostly commons)
4) Mini magnetic chess/checker/backgammon set (pieces are in a altoids gum tin)

I also have 2 or 3 paperbacks (from when I worked at TSR) that I haven't read, a transistor radio, and a travel version of Settlers of Catan in the BOB.

So, my wife and I are set for entertainment should we have to bug out.

Man, that reminds me, I got about $4k worth of magic cards sitting around and haven't played in lik 5 years. I think it's time to sell (and get some survival stuff?). Nah... probably blow it on computer gear.

Nothing wrong with entetainment in the kit.

You might even thing of some of the smaller musical insterments. A Harmonica springs to mind at the top of the list. What you don't play? You can always learn. It might drive others crazy but learning to play would kill a lot of time. Playing a tune might pass a lot of waiting time. It might even get you found by the sound.

The old joke with a deck of cards is if you get lost. Sit down a start playing solitair. Soon someone will show up and tell you to play the black ten on the red jack.

Thanks. I was just about to impulse buy them. $2.50 for the cards (no problem), shipping $5.50.

I'll have to look for them at an actual EMS store.

I've seen decks like that in Dollar stores.

sold/gave away almost all of my magic cards when WOTC started doing the 3-month per set frenzy. now that i think about it, probably should have saved some lands and commons for the bob. still have decks of plain playing cards though.

(still have the real arabian nigh Ernham Djinn somewhere in my closet)

Oh, the old pocket books! I haven't seen those in years. Arent those collector's items?

I've thought about making myself a copy of GURPSLite using FinePrint, but I can't find a paper thick enough to not have print through, but light enough to not be in the way. .

I took a deck of cards and cut out the corner with the number and suit to make a mini deck of cards for my PSK Altoids tin. I think they are about 1/2" X 5/8". They are great for playing solitaire or rummy when there is nothing to do. I wish I could post pics right but I don't have a camera.

so your deck is a cube? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I would like to see you shuffle <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

A musical insturment might be a problem for me. I only know how to play a piano. Unless I'm Schroeder from Peanuts, that would put a big damper on the ol' weight limit of the BOB. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I believe they make a roll-up piano that's surprisingly compact and from what I read has decent sound if not exactly authentic keying. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

A radio is good anyway, for keeping up with news reports, and can be a source of entertainment also.

For me a paperback book wouldn't last long enough to be really useful. I read quickly. I try to carry a smart phone with several e-books in it, which I'll read if I have to wait anywhere. The battery won't last forever so in a crisis I'd have to judge whether to use it.

Playing cards are a good idea. I need to check my BoB has a set.

Now that you mention this, I realize that I *do* carry entertainment gear in my "kit"! My "around town" bag - although I've never considered this as survival gear. It's the junk I carry around if I'm going to one of the kid's events and may be stufck there for a while waiting for it to start (or end!) Or waiting out a friend's surgery in the hospital waiting room.

I carry a deck of cards, a mini cribbage board, a few paperbacks, an iPod and large studio headphones, a few 5-6 foot lengths of 7-9mm rope for knot typing practice, an old Palm IIIx PDA with some games on it, spare batteries for that (of course!), some photocopied Soduku puzzles out of the newspaper, a small parafoil kite, LED flashlight, Leatherman P4 Squirt, a USB Flashdrive (What for? I don't take my computer!) Usually you'll find a Snickers Marathon Bar shoved in there too. Man, I carry alot of entertainment crap! And to think ... this ALL fits into an Altoids tin (yeah, right!) Actually, it's a 9"diax12" duffle. Never thought of it as "survival gear", but that's exactly what it is! (I don't take this when I'm hiking however.)