Floods

[susandennis]

Our news is full of floods. The TV version is frame after frame of slushy muddy living rooms and kitchens. Sad people interviewed talk about how they have lost everything. I feel guilty living on the 4th floor in a block that has excellent drainage anyway and is not near a river.

But, it has prompted me to think about what would it be like if I lost everything and what would be a good way to organize myself to deal with that should it ever happen.

I remember a half dozen years ago a friend of mine lost everything in a house fire. He said that the one thing that really crippled him more than anything was having no backup of his Quicken info. So I always think of that first. Today, all of my financial information is on line somewhere. All my records and stuff are stashed behind one URL or another.

It would be inconvenient to lose all my file drawers but, honestly, except for my passport (which is replaceable and where am I going anyway???) nothing in there is really critical. I should go through my file drawers and toss everything that I don't really need. And then toss most of what's left.

My computer and TiVo and TV would need to be replaced pretty quickly and my ToBeRead next books. But, at least I have a list of all the books I've read in the past 8 or so years online and a database of authors and details to recreate the reading fodder.

I have lots of other books which are just really collecting dust. Sentimental stuff like a couple of old text books, a couple of business books I'm mentioned in, a photography book dedicated to me, etc. In fact, I have a fair amount of sentimental shit that is just taking up space and should just be junked. I'm not that sentimental a person.

I could buy all the clothes I need with about $300 at Target or Walmart and about $100 at Zappos (shoes). I could get enough yarn at Michaels or Walmart to get me buy until I could order more online.

I'd love to redo the whole place - paint, carpet, furniture, look - everything. When I win the lottery, I'll find a decorator, carve out a little space for me, my computer, my TV and my bed, gut the rest and start from scratch. I'll bet I could gather all my 'necessities' into one hotel room and live from there for months.

This entry was going to be organized and thoughtful and make an incredibly insightful point. But, instead, it's my usual ramble. So, the surcharge will be waived. Carry on...