The Bittersweet Passing Of Time-and Being Ready for the Unthinkable

Last week, I boxed up my Christmas tree, stockings, and all the holiday trimmings, tucking them into the attic for another year. While storing them, I thought, “Before you know it, I'll pull it all out again.” The holidays are always a mix of emotions—joy at gathering with family (my husband and I hosted 18 for Christmas dinner!) and a bittersweet awareness of time marching on.

There’s something magical about the holidays and the first days of the New Year. Time seems to slow down just a bit, allowing me to indulge in reading a good book or simply staring into the fire, coffee in hand, with music playing softly in the background.

But this week, my heart feels heavy. The devastating fires in Southern California are a stark reminder of how unpredictable life can be. I can’t imagine how the people who lost their homes must feel. I can picture the scenes before the fires started: clear skies, shimmering ocean views, and the hillsides of Malibu, Altadena, and Pasadena sparkling in the sun. And then, in a heartbeat, everything changed.

Living in the Oakland Hills, I understand that fear all too well. Our home is surrounded by trees, perched on narrow, winding streets that could quickly become impassable in an emergency. Fire season here peaks in the fall, and we breathe a collective sigh of relief when the rains finally come, and the danger recedes.

Because of the increasing fire threat, our homeowner’s insurance has tripled in the past two years. Climate change is undeniable to insurance companies—they’ve seen the data and adjusted their prices accordingly. While it’s too soon to say how the recent Los Angeles fires will impact the insurance market, one can only hope policymakers step up to protect those who simply can’t afford skyrocketing premiums.

The news from Southern California has spurred my husband and me into action. It’s easy to procrastinate on emergency preparation—there’s always something more pressing, and no one enjoys imagining worst-case scenarios. But time moves fast, and I’d much rather be ready than regret being caught unprepared.

Here’s what we’re doing this weekend:

1. Refreshing Our Emergency Backpacks

We have go-bags in our hall closet but haven’t reviewed them in ages. It’s time to restock with essentials:

• Freshwater bottles

• Non-perishable snacks

• Small bills in cash

• An extra pair of glasses or contacts

• Sneakers

• A fleece or windbreaker

• A change of underwear

• Sunglasses and sunscreen

• Necessary medications

2. Discussing Our Evacuation Plan

What if one of us is home and the other isn’t? Where will we meet if it’s unsafe to return home? Do we try to drive down the hill, up the hill, or go on foot? We’re also considering alternatives—heading to a friend’s home or a safe public place out of danger’s way.

3. Getting Our Critical Documents Organized

We use Dropbox and have a fairly good filing system for our critical documents, such as tax returns, insurance information, and property information. We also know we can retrieve most financial information online. However, we made a list of documents that we felt were important, and if we didn’t have them filed, we took photos and uploaded them, such as passports, social security cards, health insurance cards, and marriage and birth certificates.

4. Doing an Inventory of Our Possessions

Our home was robbed a couple of years ago, and to be reimbursed for our losses, we had to provide a detailed account of each item, including a description, date of purchase, and estimated value. If we had invoices or receipts, we were asked to provide them. So, I know that when everything is destroyed in a disaster such as a fire, the insurance companies will want that type of information. We decided to take videos of all the rooms in our house and store them in the cloud. For specific, more valuable items such as artwork, electronics, or furniture, we are doing our best to locate the receipts and upload them to our Dropbox. This task will take more than one weekend to complete.

I feel grateful to live where I do, surrounded by nature, but it comes with risks. Fires, earthquakes, mudslides, and occasional falling trees are real dangers. And the L.A. fires are a reminder to be just a little more prepared.