This came to mind just now because the situation here in CA. I'm in the mountains. I worked from home today because there were some issues on the freeway due to fires. They ended up closing some of the roads and issuing evacuations and the power has been out here for almost four hours (I presume due to the fire, though So Cal Edison hasn't said that is why).

Anyway, the evacuations are small and about 30 miles away, so there's no immediate danger here and I don't expect there to be any danger, but it got me thinking about my book collection and where I'd put them on the list of things to take if I ever had to evacuate my home and were given time to decide such things.

My daughter is grown and I don't have pets currently, so I don't have to think about those things (which would be at the top of the list). I think my list would be something like:

1. Clothes, shoes, things absolutely needed for a few days away
2. Laptop computer and work materials that I have at the house.
3. Passport.
4. Books

and then whatever.

It would pain me greatly to leave any of the books but I think that's where they'd fall out. If time were pressing, I'd at least have to grab some of my favorites, some of my signed books, some older editions etc. It would be hard to drive away from any of the book collection knowing it could be destroyed.

haven’t read any SJM since throne of glass burnt me OUT in 2024, so we’ll see how this one goes 🫪