I took a friend to the grocery store today because her car is in the shop, while loading her groceries into my trunk she noticed my totes and asked what they were. I told her they are filled with things in case of emergency.

I have 2 gallons of water, a big box of MREs, 3 blankets, a winter coat and boots, 2 changes of clothes, an emergency kit with flairs and a plethora of first aid equipment, a 5 gallon of gasoline. Most of this is packed in a rucksack ready to go. I even have a device that cleans dirty water and fishing equipment. And a ridiculous amount of extra socks and those hand and foot heating pads.

She looked at me like I was nuts. And laughed a lot.

To my defense, we live in the UP of Michigan USA and things can get dangerous quickly. I've been in more than one situation where my car broke down and I was alone. I have always been lucky enough to have phone service and could call for help, but what if that's not the case?

Am I doing a bit much? Do any of you have emergency equipment in your vehicles? I feel as though its especially necessary when you're a mother, you can never be too prepared.

Maybe I'm a bit extreme.

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Edit:

I switch out the gasoline and water once a month.

To answer the question someone had about where this comes from, I live in a seriously rural area. Mountains, forests, and lakes everywhere. We have bear, wolf, coyote, bobcat. It's not uncommon to have these preparations where I live, I just suppose I may take it a bit farther than some.

I have also lost two good friends to the terrain. A close childhood friend went out for a day hike and we never saw her again. We assume she got lost, unprepared and unable to find her way back to safety. That search party lasted 16 days before the weather became too unsafe for us to continue. Another friend was out backpacking the mountains and fell off a small cliff, he broke his leg and could not make it back. It took search parties 5 days to find his body. He had dragged himself more than 7 miles.

These things aren't uncommon where I live. I sometimes think I'm not prepared enough. Can we ever be?