May 5, 2024
Ouugh these freakin CORES,,,that I HATE
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Ouugh these freakin CORES,,,that I HATE
ROUND 1
Quest Core vs Legal Core
Quest Core
Legal Core
What's In My Urban Adventure Core Bag?
(because we all don't live in bucolic wilderness)
Look, like many of you, I love good far-over-misty-mountains-cold, but it's just not for everyone. I posit that you can have just as good adventures in the concrete jungle! Think of it as high fantasy vs urban fantasy. And I've seen a lot of posts about what people have packed for hiking or adventures in the wilderness. As someone who was a professional wanderer tour guide, these were the parts of my world I carried on my back when my job was to walk around the city, and how I survived. Consider it an Urban Adventure packing list!
You're going to want either a backpack, or a very large bag. I used to carry big put-your-life-in-here purses, and while that has uses, on most days I carry a small cross body bag. But for work, or if I'm going on a Wander, I will take my small backpack with me.
You're going to want a water bottle, but unlike forest wanderings, in the urban hellscape you'll run into plenty of opportunities to refill. Most cities have drinkable tap water even in bathrooms , and in a pinch a lot of restaurants will refill a water bottle no questions asked. So focus on a light, easy to carry amount
Obviously you'll want money on the transportation card your city uses. Always have more than you think you'll need. BUT also carry change. I try to have one there-and-back-again in quarters at all times.
External phone charger, and plug. Goes without saying.
I like to have a little subway map app on my phone . Helps navigate offline.
A "variety pack" of medicines. I have a small unmarked pill bottle which I fill with Advils, iron pills (I have chronically low iron) antacids, headache pills, and allergy pills. Just know what pill looks like what and you'll be fine. You never know when a headache will strike or some of the wonderful food you tried might disagree with you
That being said, cash. Half the fun of urban Adventure Core is all the cool food and things you can buy. You don't want to miss out on some spectacular street food or roadside artist's painting because they don't accept card.
Hand sanitizer. Because covid. But also because cities are dirty! The only good thing to come from covid is EVERYONE provides hand sanitizer these days, but I still like having my own.
In winter, you'll want a pair of gloves. In summer consider a travel sized bottle of sunscreen and a hat you can fold up. In VERY COLD WEATHER, I also used to have those heating pads you can put in your shoes or gloves. I worked outdoors, you do what you gotta do!
Travel size deodorant. If you're the type who wears skirts, and your thighs touch, a small travel sized deodorant , or better yet a blister block, will make all that go away. Never leave home without it
And then there were things that made it into my bag that I don't remember PACKING per se, but they were in there. You pick up stuff as a guide. Ponytail holders, pens, tampons, a cheap pair of headphones. Things just ...wind up places and never get taken out because they might be useful.
There you have it! A 101 packing list from an Urban Adventurer. Call me the Strider of 42nd Street!
Rick: Craig, I ain’t leavin’.
Craig: Alright. I’ll just go get the quest core.
Rick: Wh- Hold on there a second!
Rick: Y'can’t just grab some random core to replace me!
Craig: Why not? You both like adventure.
Rick: But it ain’t me!
Craig: and that would make a difference because…?
Rick: Because- because we were friends!
Craig:
Rick:
Craig:
Rick: Oh.
Rick: It seems I have surprised myself.
Craig: ta-da.
More Urban Adventure Core Things
Alleyways between buildings. Seeing the underdone backs of buildings no one's really supposed to see
Side streets with God knows what on them
Walking down a street you think is going to go one way but it turns aburptly
Bonus points for that street being a short cut somewhere else
That amazing feeling of saying "I know a short cut!" And dashing down a side street, to the confusion of your companions
Jungles of fire escapes
Steam coming from the streets and gutters for seemingly no reason.
Finding your "north" not from the North Star--who can see stars?-- but from a certain skyscraper that's almost always in view.
Feeling yourself enter a block and the neighborhood suddenly change. You've crossed over an invisible boundary. You're somewhere else.
The random music coming from street musicians. Tossing them a coin.
The oasis of finding a park and dipping your hand in the public fountain to cool off. It's a decorative fountain and you probably shouldn't have. But you did.
Seeing a building with a plaque on it and dashing across the street to read it. Finding out who famous lived there or what happened on that site in 1876.
Wondering what plaques might be added in the future to mark this date and time, and what they will say.