I was cleaning out some old gear the other day, in a tub that had deteriorated to the point where something else had to be done with the contents. Most of it had migrated to other places or been used up over the years. What remained had just never proven useful since I moved out here. Including some I once considered very basic…
Load-bearing gear for M14 mags and canteens, an ass-pack and a radio. Stuff I used to keep ready to grab at a moment. Stuff anybody would keep current. I hadn’t looked at mine in nearly ten years, so long the 100mph tape had fallen apart on the clips. Heh. Disgraceful.
There was a little lump at the bottom of the ass-pack…
Debris from a long ago consumed MRE, probably at some FTX, probably with the SC High Desert Militia. Wouldn’t consider using any of it now.
That’s the difference, I suppose, from keeping bug-out gear ready and having already bugged out long ago. 🙂
When I was cleaning out my old field gear 12 years ago before my bug out, I found an old MCI (Meal,Combat,Individual, erroneously called C Rations) in the bottom of my duffel bag. B1 unit, but the can of apricots had ruptured and leaked over the whole box. Threw it out. Now I find that old MCI’s bring good money on E bay. Even pieces of MCI’s.
My last actual use of field gear was Ca 1982 or so, the MCI had been there a long time!
Best part of MCI’s was the cans of fruit, except for the Apricots.
There’s also a little realism that comes into play as you get older. I realized that if I have to evacuate on a moment’s notice, the only things I’ll need are gas in my car, a credit card, cash, ID, and a few documents. Maybe a change of clothes and a couple power bars. I might have to drive a ways, but ultimately I can buy whatever I need along the way, because 99% of emergencies will be localized.
Any kind of TEOTWAWKI situation that takes out all infrastructure, like EMP, massive terror attack or robot uprising? I’ll have time to pack what I need for that specific emergency, so why bother pre-packing everything.
My grab-and-go bag is much smaller now.
While even “seriously experienced” web gear is still quite serviceable, I have always wondered about the purpose of “97% caffeine free coffee” other than as flavoring for questionable water.
Ain’t it the truth… Having moved into the country from the big city around 14 ago I can sympathize with you. There are a few things that, upon reflection, should never have come with me out here when I left the city. Now that I have retired I have finally started going through the various kit items that I could never live without. The grab and go bag has morphed into a get home kit, the SKS-D with the extra mags etc. hasn’t been out of storage in 14 years. Hell, my set of webbing hasn’t seen the light of day in a long time and may be going away this summer in a garage sale. I guess that what I’m trying to say is things like priorities and knowledge change and we just have to role with the punches and learn from our mistakes.
Boy do I get it. We’re planning a move back to town this year before winter. Clearing out junk accumulated over our 20 years here in the forest trying to get the house into saleable condition. I’ve restocked the local Goodwill store, keeping a friend busy doing eBay for us and I’ve almost totally loaded a 30-yard roll out dumpster. Long term storage food and home canned foods are currently taking up about 1/3 of a rented storage unit. etc……
During all this, as I’ve been transporting Jeep loads of stuff all over the place, I had to remove my BO/GH bag(s) from the Jeep to make room. And, amazingly, haven’t had a single occasion of needing anything in them. If they make their way back into the Jeep, they’ll be greatly condensed.