Get Ready, Get Set....Go List

(This was originally posted at: ( https://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/member.php?action=register&referrer=19364 in the Forums under the "Captain Logs" section.

Ok, so for the last few months I have been gathering what I think I will need for camping out of my car.  The last 30 days I have been eating the shelf ready foods and fresh fruits and veggies I plan on eating while camping in the backcountry.  Just in case, ya know?  Not a good time for upset tummies!  So far so good, aside from gaining.6 pounds ugh.

Here is what I have (give or take.). Any suggestions or advice is welcome:

Shelter: Tent & car.  I do need to waterproof the tent, and will do that when I get to my son's house in Michigan. I still need a couple tarps.  I've slept in the tent, raised it and broke it down easily so I'm confident I can Raise and breakdown with relative ease.  It is a little heavy for me, but not unmanageable.  I had the oil changed and bought a new tire.  I also bought a Jump Starter/Aircompressor with inverter - although State Farm's has roadside service, still if I'm off in the woods somewhere and run my battery down I should be good.  

Food: I survived for a month on the fresh fruits/veggies and shelf stable foods so I will continue with those.  The spicy & sweet tuna was soooo delicious.  I don't want to mess around with needing to go into town to get ice, so I'm forgoing that. 

Cooking:  I have a 2 burner propane camp stove that I will also use for heat if I need it, and a 20lb propane tank that I will have topped off when I get to Michigan.  The propane tank hose didn't fit my propane stove so I had to purchase an adapter hose, but it will also work with a Mr. Buddy Heater when I get around to buying one.

Bought me a kettle that whistles so pretty and helps remind me that I have something on the stove.  Yeah, I'm that absent minded.  Gonna need my morning, afternoon tea!

Utensils: Kept a few that I knew I would need, gave the rest away.

Cleaning dishes/surface areas:  I have a spray bottle of vinegar/water and a spray bottle of simply green.

Hygiene:  I have spray bottles with alcohol/water as well as baby wipes.  I also bought a pressure pump 1 gallon spray container for quick showers, spraying off dirty feet etc.  Hand sanitizer, and various other toiletries and lotions for feeling clean and smelling nice.

Going potty:  I have a bucket, pool noodle cushion, funnel and containers - need to get bags.  I want to try the biodegrable bags.  Kinda nervous about those.  I have a good sized folding shovel as well as a small folding spade.  I wonder if a few sprinkles of yeast works as well as the biostarter stuff they sell to help break down waste?  

Water:  I have 6 gallons of drinking water and one gallon of water in the pump spray but I also have a Sawyer Mini water filter and purification tablets.  I'm not worried about finding water in Michigan, but I don't want to have to leave the forest too much, preferably just once or twice a month to go into town and visit grandkids and family.  

Lighting:  I have spare rechargeable batteries for my headlamp, and I have a Luci Light and several flashlights (need spare rechargeable batteries for them). 

Fire:  several refillable lighters and bottle of fluid, I made my own waterproof matches (1,000) and they are vacuum sealed for emergencies. I made way more than I need fire starters (lint, candle wax and cardboard egg containers.  They smell good too, since all I had was scented candle wax lol). 

Personal Protection:  my dog is at least an early warning signal,  I have knives and guns (although I din't know if I'll bring my guns outside of Michigan where they are registered.). I don't know.  I've never felt unsafe in the woods.  Maybe I will pick up some bear spray.  I have pepper spray, I picked that up during my bike rides when I was off on the trails and ran across a stray dog and realized if he'd been unfriendly I didn't have anything but my bike to defend myself with.  Anyway....moving on.  

MedKit/First AId Kit:  Ridiculously overkill here and I'm not even sure I'm taking it with me. I'm talking everything from ankle wraps to tens units and diabetic testers and supplies to blah, way too much to even go into.  It is my SHTF Medical Go Bag.   I may stick with my small first aid kit in my bike bag.

Sleeping:  I have a cot, that once I figured out how to assemble it - don't ask - it is easy to put together and breaks down into a small bag.  I purchased a self-inflating mattress and I have 3 blankets and a sleeping bag.  My dog has his basket, blanket and his sweaters.  He really hates being cold.

I also have a bag that rolls up and zips that keeps things like camp axe, chisels, clamps, hammer, Bowie Knife etc.  Love the bag, it has pockets for everything to slide into and folds up then rolls into an easy to carry/pack out case that straps easy to a backpack.  

Hmm, there's more.  I have a grab and go bag with survival necessities that weighs about 20 pounds I could take if. I need to or when I am hiking away from camp.  

I have a Verizon phone, and a small power bank (I will be getting me solar powered 500,000 mAH power banks very soon.  Probably as soon as I get to Michigan.  2 of them should keep my phone, spare rechargeable batteries charged and my car inverter should be able to keep my laptop battery charged.  I don't really need any other power for now.  

I have 3 duffel bags of clothes (I'm still trying to get rid of more clothes so that I only have 1 or 2 duffel bags.  I'm weirdly attached to my raggedy old clothes.  I may need an intervention.)

Anyway, I've spent the last month testing things out.  Seeing what works for me, making sure what I have works and eating foods that I'm not accustomed to and I think all I need now is to just get' done.

If you powered through this hellishly long post, KUDOS!  If anyone has ideas, advice.  I'm happy to hear it.

ETA: I've done my reserach, and just need to print out the permits I need for dispersed camping in Michigan State Forests. I do need to get some maps of that area.