Jeremy Taylor and his dog Ally got stuck in deep snow on a back forest service road a couple of weeks ago when Oregon was hammered by devastating winter storms. It was five days before a snowmobiler happened upon them and brought rescuers. Five days the pair survived on nothing but Taco Bell fire sauce packets. Exactly how many packets did Jeremy and Ally have stashed? And the bigger question is, in the same situation, how long could I survive in my car?

These questions sent me to the garage to double check my own provisions. Honestly, I don’t think I’m going to make it five days on three stale peppermints, a cleansing hand wipe, and a granola bar that may have been in the glove compartment since the vehicle’s manufacture date in 2013. Since I am uncertain of the nutritional value of a charger cord, a paper copy of my proof of insurance, or the rubber floor mats, I’m putting the duration of my survival at somewhere under four hours max. Although there was something that may or may not have been a small lettuce fragment before it’s mummification under the driver’s seat, but that wouldn’t really be enough to change my calculations.

I, therefore, feel that my options as a responsible motorist are to install a small pantry unit in the trunk to store suitable provisions. It’s a small trunk, so this may not be the top choice. And other than Taco Bell fire sauce packets, what would I put in there? Oreos? Knowing me, I’d likely raid the Oreos at the first red light and I’m more of a mild hot sauce packet girl. So that’s, for sure, no good.

I could refuse to drive outside a three mile radius of a Chick-fil-A, sushi bar, or grocery store that sells wine on Sundays. I could walk that distance in any amount of rain, snow, sleet, and dark of night. But it does limit my movements, so maybe I’ll make this a backup plan.

I could just never be in my car anywhere that the temperatures are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. YES! There’s the answer! This, naturally, eliminates places like Oregon obviously, as well as mountainous regions, Canada, Siberia, the Arctic Circle, and, oh hey, Michigan. Nothing personal to those snow-riddled locals, it’s just me being cautious.