Prepper FAIL

Forgot My Wallet

I usually fill up every other day.  I use almost a third of a tank a day and just can't make myself fill up every day.  Yesterday I got to work as usual, planning to fill up before I left for home in the afternoon.  I realized about halfway through the morning that I had left my wallet at home.  But, I'd be OK, I could make it home on what I had in the tank.  A little later, I took a drive out to a couple of spots in the city, completely forgetting I had to conserve my gas.  I drove past a restaurant that had a sign out front claiming the best fish sandwich in town. 

As I contemplated a tasty fish sandwich I remembered that I had no wallet and whoops, I need to save my gas.  But then I thought, no, I'll be fine, I'll just use my debit card... no, that is in my wallet.  I started heading back to the office and as I passed a credit union, I thought, oh, here's my solution, I'll write a check for cash at the CU to buy gas... nope, I keep my extra check in my wallet.  Oh, good!  Here comes one of the pawn shops that are all over town.  I always carry a Silver Eagle coin, I'll just pawn it for $15 or so, and come back Tuesday and get it out of pawn.  Durn it, I carry my Silver Eagle in my wallet.  I used to carry $100 cash in my BOB in the back of the Element.  Unfortunately, at some point I had dug into it but never replaced it.

As I pulled back in the office parking lot, I realized that at the end of the day I had to go to the far eastern end of the city for meeting before heading home (adding about 30 miles to my already 56 mile trip home).  I would "probably" have enough gas to get home.  Leaving my meeting and heading west on the interstate, I ran into the worst westbound traffic I had seen in several years.  I was at a complete stop in about a 6 mile backup.  After about 20 minutes of creeping along, I was able to take an exit and get back in town.

Back on the city streets, traffic was still horrible.  It was taking 5 to 6  cycles to get through each stop light.  Time and gas were both slipping away.  I was able to take some side streets and save about 15 minutes.  As I finally made it out of town and hit the interstate where I normally get on, I had been on the road for an hour already and my low fuel light came on.  I was pretty doubtful of making it home.

I got off about 20 miles from my exit at a 7-11 right off the interstate.  I knew I had some change stashed in my ashtray, but didn't know how much.  I was hoping for about $3.50 so I could get a full gallon, and it would more than likely get me home.  I was going to count of karma and the kindness of strangers if I didn't have enough. 

Turns out I had $5.42 and was able to get 1.505 gallons.  Hooray!  I could make it all the way home without panhandling!

So, how do I keep this from happening again?  First thing, put some cash back in the BOB.  Next, replenish my spare change ashtray.  Finally, stick an extra Silver Eagle or two in the Element, hidden somewhere that I won't forget.