My Car Kit - Downsized

Hubby had been doing a LOT of complaining about my Car Kit. It was originally contained within an under-the-bed plastic storage box. Admittedly, that thing was pretty darn big. The cargo space of our mid-size SUV was packed with the Car Kit, the stroller, and a plastic box of everyday things I keep on hand (extra diapers/clothes for the kids, blanket for the park, child carriers, etc.). There was barely enough room for the grocery bags whenever I went shopping.

So, to make him happy, I downsized my Car Kit until it fit into a plastic box about half the size of the under-the-bed box. I lost a few luxuries and a few redundancies, but I think I still managed to get the essentials packed away. Here's what I've got in my Car Kit:

• A change of clothes for everyone in the family (pants, shirt and socks)
• Plastic water bottle
• Water purification tablets
• Two small disposable aluminum pans
• Matches
• Waterproof matches
• Swiss firestarter
• Bic lighter
• Fleece blanket
• Tube tent
• Contractor's trashbags
• Gallon ziplock baggies
• First-Aid Kit (bandages, OTC medications, latex gloves, etc.)
• Sunscreen
• Bug repellent
• Paracord
• Nylon string
• Duck tape
• Battery-operated LED flashlights
• Battery-operated LED headlamps
• Battery-operated LED touch lights
• Batteries
• Hand-crank flashlight/cell phone charger
• Two kid's chapter books
• New Testament
• Prayer book
• Big knife
• Fishing line
• Fishing tackle
• Toilet paper
• Disposable ponchos
• Mini sewing kit
• 2 nylon backpacks
• MREs
• Sharpie/Small notepad
• Hand sanitizer
• Antibacterial wipes
• 3 cloth diapers and diaper pins
• Safety pins
• Rubber bands
• N-95 masks
• Hand/body warmers
  

With a little innovative packing, I was able to cram this all into a moderately-sized plastic box (although I did have to tape down the lid to keep it from popping off). Hubby is now happy that there's room in the SUV, and I am, too.

In addition, I keep a few other things stored in the SUV (our main vehicle), including:

• A pretty extensive first aid kit
• A pair of sneakers for me
• Some pouches/bottles of water
  
• Emergency food bars
• An extra fleece blanket
• A hatchet
• A few hand-crank flashlights
• Lightsticks
• More fishing gear

If my family ever gets stuck somewhere in our car for a day or three, we should definitely be able to survive without too much problem... unless we're surrounded by a gang of zombies trying to break through the windows.