Survival Kits

Most of our vacations in the past have been to places that offer good photography opportunities for H.  But this trip was going to be our first “retirement” trip, and I had a request. 

About a week before we left, and as we were planning our route for the first part of the trip, I said to H, “This is my trip too, and I’d like to be able to see some shops, museums, and/or galleries; and I’d like NOT to be made to feel bad about how much time I spend doing it. So maybe you should think about putting together your own survival kit.”

“What’s a survival kit,” you ask?

As H was getting deep into his photography, he was spending more and more time in one place trying to get just the right shot.  And he should have been able to do that.  Because that’s how you hone your craft.

I always enjoyed being with him while he was shooting photos.  But it also became apparent to me that I was going to need something to do in order for him to get to freely spend the time he needed.   So I put together what I called the Photographer’s Wife Survival Kit.

This is what my kit can look like.  Depending on the time or year, time of day, and where we are, the quilt and headlamp may or may not be included.  It’s not unusual for me to take enough to keep myself busy for two weeks.  It’s also not unusual for me to never open the kit because I’m enjoying the scenery as much as H is.  But I have it with me, and he has the freedom to do what he wants until he’s ready to move on.

But back to our conversation.  Until now, we’ve never been able to take more than two consecutive weeks off.  Most of the time, it was less. Photography was the main reason for our expeditions.  And since I knew I was getting back to my own creative space in a matter of days, I was okay with that.  So you can imagine H’s surprise at my request and understand why he was not all that receptive to the idea of having to wait for me sometimes.  This was something new.

However, once I explained that all quilt shops are NOT alike, that museums are a great way to learn about the culture of the place, and that art galleries can provide wonderful inspiration for my own creativity, he came around and agreed to put together his own kit.

This is what might be included in his Sewist’s Husband Survival Kit.