Always have a backup

 

So, let me ask you: What items in your house are so important or valuable that you must always be in possession of at least two?

As a surface scratcher, I’ll direct your attention to batteries and orange juice, sweatshirts and flash drives. None of those are going to make a list of the top five most important items in every house. (At least not if someone is taking such a list seriously, and not looking to earn points for creativity or being influenced because the smoke alarm is beeping.) But no one likes being forced to go to the store because they ran out of orange juice… no one likes reaching for a sweatshirt only to find it’s still with the dirty laundry.

When it comes to some things, really simple, it’s always wise to have a spare.

And yet, what strikes me as wise and obvious is likely not going to be the same as your wise and obvious.

My thoughts on the subject began floating around a few months ago. I was opening a can of beets so I could add them to a salad. Reached into the drawer, grabbed a can opener, and it was broken. That discovery was quickly followed by another moment of awareness, which was that there was not a second can opener nearby.

As I began opening drawers and cabinets, and then continuing while I walked around the house to search all sorts of possible kitchen gadget storage places, I was muttering to myself. Basically—curse words removed—I was trying to figure out how it could be possible that I didn’t have a second can opener in the house. I would have accepted even some cheap one that everyone hates but you decide not to throw away and toss in a junk drawer.

Nope. Nothing.

So, I ordered one. And, I ordered a second. I was not going to be caught without a backup again. While it’s the thing fresh on my mind, it isn’t the only thing around this house in pairs. I imagine there are a few at your house as well.

Some people have multiple refrigerators.

Part of it is necessity, and I get that. Storage.

But some folks have two to support extreme situations. They don’t run it all the time. But if a special event is coming up, and they need a place to store additional beverages, a few side dishes and a couple of desserts, that backup fridge comes in handy.

I keep a backup lawn mower.

Every place Terry and I have ever resided at with a lawn has involved some interesting challenges. Used to be dirt and rocks. Now it’s drainage ditches. Bent blades and other assorted issues are the norm, and often have led to significant downtime for a mower. So, if the old one needs replacing but could still be used if needed… you get it… find some space and hold on to it.

Woman I know has a backup bottle of chardonnay. She brings it into the rotation, but always replaces it. Keeps it off to the side and out of sight. So, when she glances over and knows she needs to pick some up, if she forgets or can’t get to it, she’s ok for a day or two. It’s always there, but not there.

Another person I know keeps a spare container of gas. Story here involves his kids getting their driver’s licenses. He got up one morning, went to the driveway running late and needing to drive about fifty miles, and found both his car and his wife’s with the lights and the gauges reading below empty. That was not how he or his wife left them the evening before. Not sure if he’d make it even a few miles to the gas station, he was saved by three gallons off to the side for the mower. But, since he was still late for his meeting, and the kids left the tanks empty again a week later, he decided having a bit more gas in the garage was a wise idea.

Lawn mower.

Chardonnay.

Gas.

To help out. To entertain. To avoid kicking the children out of the house. There are plenty of reasons why having something in reserve is a great decision to make.

(And a can opener. Seriously, it’s not even a buck for a cheap one. Don’t get caught without a spare can opener.)

 

If you have any comments or questions, please e-mail me at Bob@inmybackpack.com