30 Minutes!
My friend recently told me about a family she knows (one of too many, I’m sure) who was given 30 minutes to pack their belongings before evacuating their home amid the California wildfires.
“What would you even take?” she asked. I think her question was rhetorical, but I could not stop thinking about it.
My first thought: Definitely all of our important documents. Our birth certificates, passports, marriage license, etc. This was a much-needed reminder for me to make sure that I round them all up and keep them together.
Another thought: I’ve read that photos of your belongings in your home can go a long way if you ever need to file a home insurance claim. If you’re the pre-planning type, find out how to start a home inventory. Or, worst case scenario, quickly take as many last minute photos as you can.
The more I thought about it…I’ll tell anyone that we’re bursting out of our little home; every room feels full, and I frequently feel suffocated. But, the more I thought about what I’d actually take from our home, the less I wanted and needed to (hypothetically) bring with me.
Some of the things that eventually made my wishlist (in no particular order):
- The USB flash drives from our wedding photographer, because even though we’ve been married 7+ years, I still haven’t made a wedding album.
- Our computers, because they’re where the other 7+ years of photos are currently being stored. I really need to make albums, or print 4×6 prints, or look into cloud storage.
- Our favorite baby blanket that’s monogrammed with my first daughter’s name. We bought the blanket before she was born, and brought her home from the hospital in it. I think she’s used it every day since.
- My daughters’ loveys. Bunny joined our family when my oldest was 6 months old, and Mousey was a gift to my youngest when she was born. I often joke that whenever my daughters outgrow their loveys, I’ll keep them instead.
I can’t begin to imagine what those families experienced, and I hope we never find ourselves in a similar situation. But, just thinking about it put our belongings into perspective for me.
If you only had 30 minutes, what would you take with you?
