Junk in the trunk.

Gear 2: The slightly less essential.

A Compass – One that indicates direction rather than the kind you use to make circles in Geometry. Though the second might come in handy too. Picture this, Sartre, Master of the Great Wilderness is standing over you and gloating after knocking you down for the third time. “Oh, what's this?” He asks as he points to your compass and laughs. “Looks like we dine on math nerd tonight!” His famous last words as the point enters his brain, after taking a quick detour through his left eye. To hell with it. Take both kinds of Compasses along. They'll come in handy.

Now, you might be asking, why would you need a compass to help navigate? Why not use a gps device? A fair question, at least for a while. About half of the gps satellites that were originally put into orbit have failed within a couple of decades. Unless something changes soon, we're going to have some major infrastructure failures. Failures that will gleefully direct you down that dark dirt road that ends up at the front door of some deranged hillbillies.

Some Sort of Digging Tool – Yessirree Bob, the ability to burrow into the earth is one not to be taken too lightly. And unless you're half grizzly bear, you're going to need an implement to aid in your endeavors. IE a shovel. Having a quick and safe way to dig holes will always be desirable. Whether it is foxholes or treasure pits or shallow graves. Not to mention wells and swimming pools. Everyone should have a shovel at hand. Hell, even one of those plastic beach shovels might do! Not so much for digging though, but more for getting out of unpleasant tasks. Strategic incompetence is the key. El Líder orders you to dig a hole. You whip out a pink, plastic beach shovel. El Líder slaps their forehead and finds someone who isn't an utter moron to do the work. You win. Unless, you then get a couple bullets in the brain pan as a quick way for the group to cut some dead weight. But hey, at least you didn't have to dig your own grave right?

String – that bit of line that we use to tease cats with. It's like rope light. But teasing cats is only one minor application that string can be used for. Certainly the most entertaining. I mean, look how Mister Mittens tries to get it. Soooo cute! Who's a good kitty? Back to... Oh Mister Mittens, you wacky kitty! You sure do love that string. Oh yeah, it can be used for snares and stuff too. Binding small objects. Whatever. Kitties love string, and sometimes that's all that matters!

Whiskey flask – Water is all fine and good, but some might want to opt for something a little stronger while trudging constantly towards the day after tomorrow. The magical bottle of forgetfulness might be a desirable to take the edge off those cold nights.

Tarp – Have you ever been out camping when it started raining? I have, and this is one set of circumstances when having a tarp on hand made my day... less shitty. Basically a tarp is a big, heavy-duty sheet of plastic, a tarp has several uses that can't be ignored. And, get this, most of them are combined with rope. Fuck yeah! Everything from an emergency shelter or rainwater collector, to a makeshift sail. Hell, you might even be able to make a dress out of one, which will totally save the day when your friends/family is caught by some renegade soldiers, and you have to (cross?)dress yourself up in order to get inside their camp and save your people.

A Time Piece – Generally speaking? Next to absolutely useless. Toss your Alarm clock into the garbage, stomp on it, and return to natural time. For now, we only have Morning, Noon and Night. Sleep when you're tired, eat when your hungry and all the rest. For the first time in centuries, freedom! Cheers! The only time a watch might come in handy is during one of those 'synchronize watches' sequences during a rescue scene. But I don't know anyone detail-oriented enough to adhere to such a tight schedule. My people make plans more along the lines of “Go. Shoot Gun.” On the other hand, if you're running one of those I Am Legend type deals where you need to get back inside your fortress before the sun sets, then having a time piece on hand is hella-useful. The same goes for keeping track of the tides if you've taken to clean ocean living.

You can also use a watch as a rather crude form of compass. That's a standard watch with a hour and minute hand. Or you could try it with a digital, I guess. Good luck with that.

I amend my previous statement. Watches do have use. I just don't plan to carry one.

Duct tape - There are no doubt hundreds of tired jokes attempting to dismiss the truly awesome powers of the Duct Tape. Well, there. Haters will hate. And they can goto hell. Duct tape forever!

A Towel – Any really hoopy frood knows the value of always packing a towel. Nuff said.

Cargo Pants – I have a pair. Call em my adventure pants and I include them in my necessary gear when I go out to foreign places like Comic Conventions and Rennfests. Really, who knows when they'll need some pockets for that valuable storage real estate for those very important small items you possess. This extra storage is important because there are numerous situations where you might lose your backpack. Jumping off a cliff into a river. Letting it go when some atomic mutants catch hold of it. Having it stolen while visiting the wasteland town populated fully by thieves and scoundrels. Anything that involves taking your backpack off when you rest at the end of a long hike. Pants? You really have to try hard to lose them. I know. I've tried. Los Pantalones Son El Diablo!

One of those Slavekini wearing Hotties from ComicCon – If possible, I'd rather like to get her before the 'pocalypse happens. If you know one in need of a good home, feel free to let me know.