I'll take my creature comforts, thanks

About 15 years ago, I got the idea for a time-travel novel. I'm not sure of all that would happen in the story, were I to write it, but the kick off point is this: A heroine is told she is going to be sent back in time for a set period and she can only take with her whatever items she can fit in a large purse/tote. And therein lies the question for you, dear blog readers: What would you take with you if you were being sent back in time?

I must confess that as much as I love reading about the past, I'm very fond of my creature comforts from the modern world. When there was all the talk of possible crises with Y2K, what did I stock up on most? Toilet paper ran a close second to the bottled water!


So what would I take back in time? I would either have to wear it (like good walking shoes) or it would have to fit into a tote bag (similar to the one shown at right). Here's my quick list for the tote bag items:

• Antibiotics (pills and ointment)
• Advil or Aleve
• Two extra pair clean underwear
• Bar of deodorant soap
• Roll on deodorant
• Bandaids (several different sizes)
• Lotion
• Carmex
• a packet of moist wipes
• travel size shampoo
• hair brush
• glasses so I can read and see up close
• sewing needle and threads
• tweezers

Hmm. I think my tote is beginning to fill up. I would have to think some more as I squeeze in the last items.

So there you have it. Now it's your turn. What would you take with you if I were sending you back to, say, 1535 England?

[Update, 8/4/08 4:33 pm: I originally said 1880 on the Oregon Trail, but that was a mistake of a tired brain. Oregon Trail was no longer in use and there were a few more conveniences by then, so I'm sending folks further back in time and to another continent.]

Robin

P.S. Three of my fellow blog writers shared photos of their pets last week, and Poppet has her nose out of joint because I didn't do the same. So here is a picture of Poppet in one of her rare quiet moments.