Usually when we prepare for emergencies or even longer duration evacuations, it’s the physical things we take care of first: shelter, water, first-aid supplies, ready-to-eat meals, tools and other necessities, many of which come in smaller and smaller survival kits.
But how often have you thought about the personal and psychological aspects of evacuation, migration, or long-term stay away from home? If you don’t already live alone, I’d suggest that you might want to try a solo hike and camping experience to find out how well you can get along with yourself.
Does loneliness bother you, for example? If you already know the answer to that question and it’s “yes,” you have something you can work on. Because one of the unfortunate possibilities we need to plan for, of course, is being alone. And it’s not always easy. You can try it right where you’re living now. What if you weren’t able to see any friends or family for a week or more? What’s your comfort zone? And what happens if you can’t go home for a visit? These are all questions we need to do more than think about – we need to put them into practice so as to be prepared in case it happens to us.
Some suggestions for battling loneliness in an escape or evacuation situation that lasts beyond your comfort zone might include: having one of your favorite books, a letter your partner or friend wrote you, sentimental items (that don’t take up much weight or space), or even a recording of a conversation or phone message with a loved one.
Another suggestion would be to write frequently in a journal. The downside is that the journal takes up space and weight, but it might help keep you sane.
What are your thoughts? Have psychological factors of solo survival been an item in your own preparedness? We’d love to know below in the comments.
