Author Topic: House burning down: What would you save? (Read 18924 times)

CommonCents · « **on:** July 03, 2015, 09:47:48 PM »

Your house is burning down [ETA: or insert other disaster of your choice - an earthquake, tornado, hurricane warning, etc.]. You have time to save ONE item. Your family (people and pets) are all safely out. What do you grab?

[ETA: Added bolding to highlight the point as it seems to be in question by multiple posters below.]

Quinn · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2015, 09:55:24 PM »

Laptop

deborah · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2015, 09:57:06 PM »

Having had all my possessions burnt, and having extended family, friends and workmates who lost their homes in huge bushfires, I would grab the family and try to find my bearings, and get away as safely as possible. In my experience house fires are usually associated with an enormous amount of black smoke which make it difficult to see anything anywhere near you.

lunahsol · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2015, 10:34:26 PM »

a pink stuffed rabbit.

dunhamjr · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2015, 10:53:45 PM »

been thinking about this.
if the family is out, the only thing I can think of that had any value would be my desktop tower... not that the machine matters, but I have a ton of family photos, home videos, and financial docs I would prefer not to lose.

marty998 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2015, 11:15:15 PM »

Quote from: acorn on July 03, 2015, 09:55:24 PM

Laptop

Yes, same. Laptop.

Astatine · « **Reply #6 on:** July 03, 2015, 11:19:16 PM »

My handbag. It has my essential medicines (enough to keep me alive for a few days), wallet with ID and debit card, my phone and reading glasses.

AllieVaulter · « **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2015, 11:27:54 PM »

I was thinking about this the other day, too! (Must be the fireworks). Our passports are in the fireproof safe. My laptop is a chrome book, so it's not really got anything stored on it... I think I would grab a dress my mom sewed for me when I was 14. It still fits me (she's done some alterations).

FIRE me · « **Reply #8 on:** July 04, 2015, 12:15:34 AM »

Myself.

iknowiyam · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2015, 06:09:43 AM »

Burning on the spot? Nothing. Evacuating: I've done this. Meds (his & mine) in the purse. Grab scrapbook (the only scrapbook I have ever worked on).

Wads · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2015, 06:17:36 AM »

The picture I have of my mom

Roland of Gilead · « **Reply #11 on:** July 04, 2015, 06:51:26 AM »

Laptop.

midweststache · « **Reply #12 on:** July 04, 2015, 06:51:33 AM »

Quote from: marty998 on July 03, 2015, 11:15:15 PM

Quote from: acorn on July 03, 2015, 09:55:24 PM
Laptop

Yes, same. Laptop.

+1. Most expensive thing I own, with my whole project for my PhD on it. Assuming DH and Fido are safe, everything else is replaceable.

crispy · « **Reply #13 on:** July 04, 2015, 07:35:58 AM »

I'd probably grab my purse because it has my IDs, keys, and cash in it so it would make life easier to have it.

pbkmaine · « **Reply #14 on:** July 04, 2015, 07:42:25 AM »

DH, cats, handbag

Vilgan · « **Reply #15 on:** July 04, 2015, 08:42:52 AM »

Anyone who would lose valuable data if their laptop burned up should really do some evaluating of what they can do differently...

Zikoris · « **Reply #16 on:** July 04, 2015, 09:43:29 AM »

My retirement journal. I'm ridiculously attached to that thing. It even has a name (very original - RJ). I've been doing monthly entries talking about my finances, philosophy, budget, and general life happenings for about three and a half years now, all written by hand in a pretty notebook with flowers on it. I would be so broken up if anything ever happened to it.

Erica/NWEdible · « **Reply #17 on:** July 04, 2015, 10:07:41 AM »

Purse. Contains phone, wallet, keys, lighter, knife.

And thanks for the inspiration to backup all our digital crap and finally finish those bug-out bags. :D

FIRE Artist · « **Reply #18 on:** July 04, 2015, 10:09:21 AM »

Quote from: Erica/NWEdible on July 04, 2015, 10:07:41 AM

Purse. Contains phone, wallet, keys, lighter, knife.

And thanks for the inspiration to backup all our digital crap and finally finish those bug-out bags. :D

This, it is right next to the exit, and everything else can be replaced in time.

tardis · « **Reply #19 on:** July 04, 2015, 10:22:52 AM »

Teddy bear and sketchbooks. Those sketchbooks are worth a huge amount to me. After that my laptop.

forummm · « **Reply #20 on:** July 04, 2015, 10:45:13 AM »

Quote from: Vilgan on July 04, 2015, 08:42:52 AM

Anyone who would lose valuable data if their laptop burned up should really do some evaluating of what they can do differently...

I would also say laptop. I also have backups elsewhere in the house, but we could only take one item, and the laptop is better than the backups. And nothing that would be devastating to lose on either of them. Just a serious hassle.

Since my wallet and keys are right next to my head sleeping, I would cheat and grab those on the way out the door as well. :)

dachs · « **Reply #21 on:** July 04, 2015, 11:15:21 AM »

Laptop or backup disk, whatever is safer to grab.

Glenstache · « **Reply #22 on:** July 04, 2015, 11:51:30 AM »

Quote from: midweststache on July 04, 2015, 06:51:33 AM

Quote from: marty998 on July 03, 2015, 11:15:15 PM

Yes, same. Laptop.

+1. Most expensive thing I own, with my whole project for my PhD on it. Assuming DH and Fido are safe, everything else is replaceable.

You need to do a secure offsite backup of that PhD work pronto. Put it on a hard drive, a cloud server like dropbox, or something that you keep somewhere else so you have a second copy. Not doing so is insanity. Having done a PhD, concentrating that much in one place without it being replaceable is too big a risk. Laptops get coffee spilled on them, hard drives make chewbacca sounds and then stop working, things get stolen, and all other kinds of mischief can occur.

midweststache · « **Reply #23 on:** July 04, 2015, 12:05:15 PM »

Quote from: Vilgan on July 04, 2015, 08:42:52 AM

Anyone who would lose valuable data if their laptop burned up should really do some evaluating of what they can do differently...

Once I move my external hard drive (currently sitting on a counter) into my purse, that (the purse) would take the #1 spot. You're right; I've had one too many scares about my laptop not turning on to make it the ONLY place my project is located :)

pbkmaine · « **Reply #24 on:** July 04, 2015, 12:07:48 PM »

+ 1 for dissertation backup, preferably in the cloud. Carbonite is easy to use. I can think of at least three friends who lost months of work because of computer crashes and work that was not backed up. At the very least, mail a copy of your files to yourself and a few trusted friends. Keep a USB drive with the data offsite.

MrsPete · « **Reply #25 on:** July 04, 2015, 12:11:23 PM »

Quote from: Vilgan on July 04, 2015, 08:42:52 AM

Anyone who would lose valuable data if their laptop burned up should really do some evaluating of what they can do differently...

Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing.

All my valuable data, photographs, etc. are backed up.

Glenstache · « **Reply #26 on:** July 04, 2015, 12:22:22 PM »

I'm assuming for this thought experiment that health concerns are not the driver and all the pets and people are accounted for and safe.

Noting on my computer is irreplaceable (or would be missed much at a minimum). Everything else including passports, and the like are replaceable. I'd probably grab my guitar since it has been a good companion for 18+ years and has a lot of sentimental value and would help me sing the house burnin' down blues.

Metta · « **Reply #27 on:** July 04, 2015, 12:40:55 PM »

I'd grab my purse (as others have said) since it includes the critical things I need and my iPad or laptop (depending on which is closer). I usually keep these things near me so that I can easily grab them in case of a fire or other emergency. (My purse has a special pocket for my iPad or laptop.) This is all for ease of recovery. I want to have my credit cards, my money, and my phone with me.

If I actually had time for a purely sentimental item, it would be one of the Mac knives my husband gave me.

CommonCents · « **Reply #28 on:** July 04, 2015, 01:33:50 PM »

Quote from: Glenstache on July 04, 2015, 12:22:22 PM

I'm assuming for this thought experiment that health concerns are not the driver and all the pets and people are accounted for and safe.

Yes, it was intended as a thought exercise although a few people responded more literally. It's interesting what commonalities people say - and also what we might do to protect the things that really matter to us (e.g. back things up offsite, make digital copies of photos, etc.)
Pets & and people safe was mentioned in the initial post as being safe, yes.

deborah · « **Reply #29 on:** July 04, 2015, 01:37:19 PM »

A change of clothes. Since I was left with just what I stood up in once, would really value an extra set if it happened again.

okits · « **Reply #30 on:** July 04, 2015, 01:50:36 PM »

My jewellery box. Some sentimental childhood/family pieces, some pieces worth a decent amount. What's in that box is monetarily more valuable than any other item we own (though we don't own any expensive stuff, really.)

Good reminder to back up our photos and videos.

frpeebles · « **Reply #31 on:** July 04, 2015, 03:43:43 PM »

Quote from: dunhamjr on July 03, 2015, 10:53:45 PM

been thinking about this.
if the family is out, the only thing I can think of that had any value would be my desktop tower... not that the machine matters, but I have a ton of family photos, home videos, and financial docs I would prefer not to lose.

Why are they not backed up to a location that isn't your computer?

Astatine · « **Reply #32 on:** July 04, 2015, 03:55:55 PM »

Quote from: Astatine on July 03, 2015, 11:19:16 PM

My handbag. It has my essential medicines (enough to keep me alive for a few days), wallet with ID and debit card, my phone and reading glasses.

Quote from: iknowiyam on July 04, 2015, 06:09:43 AM

Burning on the spot? Nothing. Evacuating: I've done this. Meds (his & mine) in the purse. Grab scrapbook (the only scrapbook I have ever worked on).

Was thinking more about the medicine aspect. Given that it's winter at the moment, I'd forgotten that in summer (bushfire season) I always carry extra spares of insulin pens and a spare blood glucose meter. Enough to last me a week or so beyond what I normally carry. I've seen the aftermath of severe bushfires and while I know emergency services eventually get to people, I'd like to be self-sufficient in meds that keep me alive for at least a week, just in case (other meds, pfft, whatevs. They affect quality of life and reduce the risk of disease later in life but it's not the end of the world if I don't take them for a week. No insulin? I'm dead within days)

Quote from: CommonCents on July 04, 2015, 01:33:50 PM

Quote from: Glenstache on July 04, 2015, 12:22:22 PM
I'm assuming for this thought experiment that health concerns are not the driver and all the pets and people are accounted for and safe.

Yes, it was intended as a thought exercise although a few people responded more literally. It's interesting what commonalities people say - and also what we might do to protect the things that really matter to us (e.g. back things up offsite, make digital copies of photos, etc.)
Pets & and people safe was mentioned in the initial post as being safe, yes.

I responded literally because of where I live. The chance of my house burning down randomly is very low. However, the chance of my house (and neighbourhood) being under attack from a bushfire in summer is much higher. We have evacuation plans and it's something we talk about at the start of each bushfire season (for example, I always keep a 1 litre bottle of water plus a couple of cotton towels in the back seat of the car over summer in case we get caught in a fire and can at least wet the towels and breathe through that til the fire front passs). So for me, medicines that keep me alive, my wallet and my phone are far more important to me than personal belongings, none of which has sentimental value and all of which can be replaced.

mohawkbrah · « **Reply #33 on:** July 05, 2015, 04:53:39 AM »

my protein powder.

gotta protect ma gains!

Squirrel away · « **Reply #34 on:** July 05, 2015, 06:41:03 AM »

I would probably grab my phone as I have photos on there or my wallet as it would be annoying to replace the cards. If my DH and pets were all safe then I wouldn't care about anything else really.

Quote from: JDFW on July 04, 2015, 07:50:08 AM

We had a terrible house fire a few years ago while we were at work. The house didn't "burn up" like you see in the movies, because our neighbors saw smoke and called it in. Unfortunately, all my beloved dogs died. That was by far the hardest hit.

I'm so sorry, how awful.x

Metta · « **Reply #35 on:** July 05, 2015, 06:46:56 AM »

Quote from: deborah on July 04, 2015, 01:37:19 PM

A change of clothes. Since I was left with just what I stood up in once, would really value an extra set if it happened again.

I had thought of responding that I would grab a change of underwear but then I realized that I could buy underwear if I grabbed my purse with my credit cards.

Rubic · « **Reply #36 on:** July 05, 2015, 08:46:58 AM »

Assuming I had my keys, wallet, and credit cards already secured, my choice would also be my laptop. But it wouldn't be a disaster if I left it behind.

It's critical for me to have access to my business data, so I have my entire home directory under version control (currently mercurial, soon switching to git). On any given day I make several commits and push out all changes. I usually have my encrypted data residing in no fewer than two (and usually three) different geographical locations.

The main reason I would grab the laptop would be to avoid the hassle of pulling back in all the remote data, which might require a few hours, depending on the speed of the network connection. All of my configuration files are under version control, so re-establishing my work development environment doesn't take long.

A more likely scenario than a burning building would be a crashed drive, though hard drives (or maybe filesystems?) have become incredibly reliable in recent years.

arebelspy · « **Reply #37 on:** July 05, 2015, 09:36:31 AM »

We've discussed this before, and our answer used to be that if our cats got out okay, nothing else mattered.

Now (no longer having cats), the answer didn't hangs.

There's not really anything we'd miss if our place burned down. It's all just stuff.

Lanthiriel · « **Reply #38 on:** July 05, 2015, 10:51:38 AM »

Quote from: arebelspy on July 05, 2015, 09:36:31 AM

We've discussed this before, and our answer used to be that if our cats got out okay, nothing else mattered.

Now (no longer having cats), the answer didn't hangs.

There's not really anything we'd miss if our place burned down. It's all just stuff.

This is me too, but my dog. Presumably the husband could get out on his own. Everything else in my house is just icing.

oinkette · « **Reply #39 on:** July 05, 2015, 01:50:52 PM »

I have a box specifically for this purpose. It has all my important documents (yeah I know I could scan and back them up but in the meantime, there they are), photo albums, and anything else I'd like to save. Otheriwise my purse.

Kaspian · « **Reply #40 on:** July 05, 2015, 01:53:12 PM »

Photographs, personal letters, and original band recordings. Everything else is probably replaceable.

Davids · « **Reply #41 on:** July 05, 2015, 02:50:17 PM »

If my car is parked in the garage at the time then my car, if it is parked outside then I guess the laptop even though most pics are backed up in the cloud.

deborah · « **Reply #42 on:** July 05, 2015, 03:42:29 PM »

Quote from: Metta on July 05, 2015, 06:46:56 AM

Quote from: deborah on July 04, 2015, 01:37:19 PM
A change of clothes. Since I was left with just what I stood up in once, would really value an extra set if it happened again.

I had thought of responding that I would grab a change of underwear but then I realized that I could buy underwear if I grabbed my purse with my credit cards.

When I lost everything it took SO LONG to replace it, and there was so much stuff I had to do in the first days that a change of clothes would mean I didn't HAVE to go to the shops. I could just concentrate on getting my life back!

Astatine · « **Reply #43 on:** July 06, 2015, 05:53:45 AM »

Quote from: deborah on July 05, 2015, 03:42:29 PM

Quote from: Metta on July 05, 2015, 06:46:56 AM
Quote from: deborah on July 04, 2015, 01:37:19 PM
A change of clothes. Since I was left with just what I stood up in once, would really value an extra set if it happened again.

I had thought of responding that I would grab a change of underwear but then I realized that I could buy underwear if I grabbed my purse with my credit cards.
When I lost everything it took SO LONG to replace it, and there was so much stuff I had to do in the first days that a change of clothes would mean I didn't HAVE to go to the shops. I could just concentrate on getting my life back!

I've never lost everything, but I have a friend who's helped out with disaster relief in Australia (eg people who have lost everything in a fire or cyclone). Which is why (apart from medicines to keep me alive) I think having my wallet with all of my ID would be super useful. Yes, there are systems and processes in place for people to rebuild their identification papers if everything has been destroyed, but it takes so much time and effort. I have 100 points of ID in my wallet and my debit card. That alone would save me weeks of effort, and I would have access to my money immediately so I could buy what I needed (assuming all the shops haven't been destroyed by bushfire too).

I'm a red panda · « **Reply #44 on:** July 06, 2015, 06:38:14 AM »

My wedding album (going with the assumption people and pets are safe and I can take one thing).

Everything in the house can be replaced.

I wouldn't even worry too much about my IDs, because I have copies of my driver's license and passport on file at my parents house.

/In reality- absolutely nothing. I'd get the hell out of the burning house.

StartingEarly · « **Reply #45 on:** July 06, 2015, 11:22:25 AM »

I would save my motorcycle, it's my first motorcycle and I've had it almost six years.

Jeddy · « **Reply #46 on:** July 06, 2015, 01:01:11 PM »

With the wife and the pup safe and sound, my first grab would probably be a pair of pants. I'll cheat a little and say that pair of pants has my wallet in it.

NoraLenderbee · « **Reply #47 on:** July 06, 2015, 01:03:34 PM »

Medication and purse (wallet, phone, etc).
My mother's jewelry. She died in April. As time passes, it will probably feel less important, but right now that has the most emotional meaning to me.

kimmarg · « **Reply #48 on:** July 06, 2015, 01:51:16 PM »

Already have a bag packed for this purpose. It contains:
Water, poncho, emergency blanket, warm jacket
Medications, extra glasses for all family members
Passports, extra credit card, cash
Safe deposit box key, list of all accounts.

If possible I'd throw the wedding album into the pack as well. And hope my fire safe was really fire proof.

MrsStubble · « **Reply #49 on:** July 06, 2015, 09:12:02 PM »

my shoes. You know how hard it is to find cute shoes when you wear a size 10 womens???

Just kidding.. .kind of.

If i can, my car keys, my wallet, and my photo album of pre-cell phone photos. All of which are right by the door anyway. Everything else in our house is replaceable. The family & dog are not.

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Author Topic: House burning down: What would you save? (Read 18924 times)

Quinn

crispy