Surviving the Crazy Times -- Packing

As Dante & I prepare for our cross-country move, we are finding ourselves overwhelmed. There's so much to do to prepare for this kind of move. I expect that over the next few weeks, as we're trying to maintain sanity and sell our house and find a new house and try to keep up with the miriad of other details involved in the whole thing, our blogging schedule may be a little off.

Sorting and packing boxes has given me a bit of an appreciation for the sheer footloose-edness of my characters. In our campaigns, we frequently take off into the wide blue yonder with only the contents of our backpacks. If we're really on top of things, we sometimes procure horses and other related traveling paraphenalia, but we're not always that prepared.

I have a hard time imagining myself taking off on a great adventure with only the contents of my backpack. I'm a bit of a pack-rat though, so I'm sure things I would consider necessary might be negiotable. Excluding electronics (assuming no way to recharge them) and cash (move all funds to the First National Bank of Bag of Holding), I would probably pack:

1. Basic toiletry kit - 'nuf said.

2. Towel - Gotta stay safe in case I encounter the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal. Also, when I need to replace #1.

3. Hair pin - If Scooby Doo has taught us anything, it's that a hair pin is singularily the most useful hair accessory one can have. But it's not just for picking locks. Use it in place of a cloak pin when you wrap your towel around you for warmth. Plus, it's an easy accessory to make you look fabulous.

4. Notebook (and pen) - I don't travel far without my notebook, mostly because I have a tendency to forget things if I don't write them down. It would be highly useful for keeping track of landmarks to keep from getting lost. Or if you are lost, to make paper airplanes to request help.

5. Bottle of water - even when it's empty, you can use it as a canteen to transport water.

6. Scroll case with lots of useful scrolls - I'm assuming I'm an arcane spell caster. :)