This got me thinking about what things-- not people or animals, but things-- are most important to me. What items would I be devastated to lose. When I see tragedies like wild fires and hurricanes and the like, I play a game in my head, which I call the Evacuation Game.
The Evacuation Game
You have 15 minutes to load your car & evacuate your home. Everything left behind will be destroyed. What do you take with you? (In the Evacuation Game, it is assumed all people & animals are out of harms way, so they do NOT get counted on the list. Clearly, nothing compares to losing a family member in a tragedy and for me, saving my loved ones would trump saving any and all possessions.)
My list contains only a few items that are of KEY importance. I didn't include clothes and bedding and the like, because I view that as replaceable stuff-- plus, in 15 minutes, I'm pretty sure I could grab the key items and still have time to grab clothes, shoes & what not. Instead, the items on my list are MUST HAVE items for me. I did not include items for other members of the household, because everyone's list will be different. I also didn't include "sensible" stuff like I.D.s and deeds and insurance paperwork, my list focuses on things that would devastate me to lose, not things that would be a pain to replace or to not have.
So without further ado, this is just MY evacuation list.
My Evacuation List:
- Photos in all their forms-- framed, albums, scrapbooks, boxed loose photos
- Memory boxes
- The computer & external hard drive-- our home movies & pictures are on there
- A few key pieces of jewelry
- My white Bible-- because my mom gave it to me & it has a note from her in it
- My blankey-- because, to me, it is extremely valuable and irreplaceable
I think I'm going to keep this list in my head as I continue to purge items from the house. While I don't plan to live a Spartan existence, with only these 6 items to my name, I think I will use the "would I save this in a fire" scenario to help me along and to temper my purchasing.
So, what is on YOUR evacuation list?
Oh, good idea. I have the urge to purge this weekend (along with a million other things.) I'll keep this question in mind.
ReplyDeleteI find doing small purges to be just as satifsying, and less overwhelming, then doing a BIG purge, so maybe just try to squeeze a cupboard in with your million things! :) And then say "would I save this in a fire?" & "does it serve a purpose in my non-burned-down house?" as you purge!
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You know the weird thing... Last night I dreamed that our house caught on fire and we had to get out quick. Now you ready for me to freak your freak? I didn't hear about the San Bruno fires until this morning!
ReplyDeleteIn my dream as I was standing outside my home in my bare feet holding my baby with Guy by my side watching it burn I remember thinking, "Oh shit! I left this... and this... and how am I ever going to replace this?" I woke up with this sense that I needed to consolidate the important "Grab me quick" stuff that I would hate to lose. shiver - god forbid!
That does freak my freak!!! I'm going to try to put all my "save me" stuff together in one place-- and keep it light! I remember Mom had that family living with her after their house had burned down, and the mom had made a save in a fire box, but it was too heavy & she couldn't carry it. That made me so sad.
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