What if you couldn't return home?

Tell me what you'd consider essential if you got stuck in a country that wasn't your own?

What if there was another pandemic, with travel restrictions, or a war we haven't started yet, or a climate emergency that was unpredicted before I travelled?

Photo is a layout of 3 screenshots of the book Station Eleven and the TV series' Paradise and The Last of Us.

I love a post apocalyptic story; Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel is one of my favourite books, I'm enjoying Paradise with Sterling K Brown on Disney plus, and I eagerly await the next series of The Last of Us).

Photo is a selfie of me, a blonde woman in her 50s wearing sunglasses, standing in front of an abandoned building with barbed wire in Mtarfa in Malta.

This is me on holiday in Malta last year, outside the (now abandoned) hospital I was born in. Getting stuck in Malta would be awesome I reckon, I could survive there for quite some time. I'm also able to apply for citizenship which would no doubt make things easier too.

My Sunday musings have demonstrated my privilege. I decided that if I had my passport, healthcare card, my phone, my Kindle and a couple of knitting projects I'd probably be ok for quite a while 🙄🤔.

But I was assuming too that I'd have Wi-Fi access, I'd have a way to get to money (and that I'd have said money). I'm assuming too that I'd have the ability to work (although in a global crisis I'm not entirely sure being good at 'doing research and asking insightful questions' would be very useful).

What would matter most to me, what would I need? It's hard for me to even work out, let alone think I'd ever need to.

My friend has an emergency box of stuff. She started it at the beginning of the pandemic when the toilet roll shortage situation demonstrated that humans lose all sense of perspective when they panic.

It made me think about what I could do without (not toilet roll obviously) and what I'd need if things took a turn.

I'm not a disaster planner (my hero Lucy Easthope is though and her level headedness and practical advice has got me through many a catastrophising moment...*), but I do often wonder how I'd manage if everything went tits up.

The recent storms in the UK had the lights flickering at home and I realised I don't have a torch 🙃 (I'm well equipped with beautiful smelling candles though so fear not...). But I also have no alternative heating or cooking options if I have no gas or electricity (which then sets me away thinking about the UK prepayment meter customers my employer helps on a daily basis; they have to think about doing without energy and the consequences of that ALL the time).

Let's think about this more carefully. If I was displaced for some reason what would I need?

• Somewhere to stay, a roof over my head.

• Water.

• Money, or a way to make money.

• Food.

• Clothing for all seasons (this could be a long stay).

• Other people (I'm fairly sure I'd struggle alone).

• Fresh air (see Paradise, yikes).

• Humility.

• Resourcefulness.

What have I forgotten?

What do we consider essential for survival?

I always assumed that my education, my experience, my books and knitting would see me through (and my friendly disposition, obviously), but I appreciate my naivety would probably have me surviving for a very short time!

I'd love to know whether this kind of musing fascinates you too, and if you read or watch similar things without them scaring you beyond acceptable levels (suggestions welcome).

What would you prioritise for your holiday packing if you knew there was a chance you might not get home? I think the Kindle is high on my list just because I think being stranded without some access to knowledge would kill me.

* Lucy Easthope's book When The Dust Settles is a sobering but illuminating read. Highly recommend.