Nature Survival Kit

Somehow in the last six years I have completely lost my country girl upbringing. Last week I found myself in the middle of nowhere, with a cell phone that didn't work, no tv or internet access, and woods and silence all around. To make things worse, I couldn't get my bedroom windows shut. Here are a few words of advice for any of your city dwellers that might be planning to head out to the country soon: take a Nature Survival Kit. A Nature Survival Kit might include:

- Earplugs - crickets and other nature sounds can keep a city girl up all night long
- A relaxing CD, like "Truck Sounds" or "Highway Traffic," to bring you back to a familiar place
- Books, music and magazines for entertainment (you can find these at a LIBRARY, which is easily accessible back home in the city).
- bug spray and a bug-proof screen that you can wrap around yourself at all times
- all things you may need any time you are there - toothpaste, cotton balls, food, directions, important phone numbers, cash and good walking shoes - because acquiring such things may be a big pain or even impossible, and it's good to have all of these things when you are stranded at a train station in the middle of nowhere with no idea where you are.
- A PHONE CARD - these are useful for when you don't have access to a cell phone. Not sure where to get one? I found out recently that airports often have them and also train stations.
- A map
- An address, explanation, or idea of where you are trying to get to if you are travelling to some naturous destination. One major and unexpected hazard of naturous destinations are that they are not near anything helpful when one realizes suddenly that they are lost.
- flares or some sort of distress signal. Sometimes a PHONE CARD is also equally helpful.
- Useful PHONE NUMBERS, especially of co-workers with immediate internet access. Local taxi cab companies, transit, and the phone number for your destination might also be useful.
- Some luck, some patience, and a lot of bravery