Packing Out: What Do You Need to Survive?

Plus new prompt and upcoming events.

Hello, pademelon. Kevin Hetebry for Unsplash.

Have you watched Alone Australia? “Survivalists are dropped off alone in separate areas of the Tasmanian wilderness where they must deal with the forces of nature, hunger and loneliness in an attempt to win $250,000.”

It’s tempting. At least I’d be unaware of daily news. But I’m not a survivalist. I get vertigo when I brush my teeth sometimes. (It’s a Sonicare 4100.)

I heard about Alone because a former contestant (from Alone in Saskatchewan) lives nearby in a treehouse (!) and teaches survivalist courses. I haven’t taken them yet, but I should.

“Five minutes?” said my husband, when we found the series on Netflix. Two hours later, we couldn’t turn it off. After that first taste of Alone, I dreamed of eels, like the one caught by an ecstatic contestant named Kate. (Her first protein source after several days of eating grass.)

It’s not like Survivor, where worst instincts shine through. The Aloners (Loners?) are separated by ten miles or more. …