You can learn a lot about a person by what they pack during an evacuation!

With all that's going on hurricane-wise lately... first Charley (which hit hardest just south of Tampa, Fla.), then Frances, most recently Ivan (which destroyed the city we used to live in - Pensacola, Fla.), and up-and-coming Jeanne (who knows where that one's headed!) - I've done a lot of reflecting lately about my time spent in Florida and a couple close calls with Hurricanes while I was living there.

In March of 1998, the part of Orlando that I lived in was just a few miles from a wildfire that was burning out of control. (To this day, there's still evidence of the widespread fire damage -- all the way from Cocoa Beach to Orlando!)

For days, it was touch and go whether we'd have to evacuate or not. Since my little apartment in Orlando was a bit to close for comfort, here's what I packed for the impending evacuation: