Do You Know the #1 Rule of Survival?

Jul 13

Written By GoLive

It's a perfect day on the coast of New Zealand, almost too perfect.

Any thoughts or stress left bouncing around my mind from the previous week of gigs and travel have been pulled out with the tide.

Aside from my camp buddy tagging along behind, all I'm left with is glimmering sand, the breeze brushing my hair against my cheek, and a little crab scuttling by. This is what it's all about.

This campground is immaculate and near empty thanks to the time of year, so for a few brief moments I feel like I own the place. I let my mind center itself in my body and go on a wander, a walk navigated solely by intuition. It brings me to a neighboring bay even more dreamy than the one I came from. Saying it's isolated is an understatement. With a mischievous smirk, I toss down my day back, strip off my swim suit, and run cheeks-out into the water. Ahh!

Is there anything as liberating as running butt naked into a beach nobody knows exists? I put my suit back on (so my camp buddy can open his eyes again), then spend the day floating, staring up at clouds, and admiring a particularly handsome island about 50 yards. Everything is perfect. I feel safe down to the core of my being. I find myself in a familiar and magical state of existence in which the only things I'm aware of are the things I notice with my five senses. No thoughts, just presence. Time fades.

“the only things I'm aware of are the things I notice with my five senses. No thoughts, just presence. Time fades.”

My hunger reminds me to head back soon, so I thank the beach, the beautiful island, and pick up my bag. Camp buddy follows along. But then, just as I'm about to head back I feel a strong tug and drop my bag once more! It's that damn island, I just have to explore it. It's so close, and with water this clear I can see exactly how to swim and climb over rocks to get to it. I flip through my experiences as an island girl, a swimmer, a survivalist, and decide it's safe enough.

Let's go! My camp buddy gives it a look over and shows even more enthusiasm than me, which is saying something.

I am delighted!

About 20 feet into my swim I feel another strong tug. This time, it's not metaphorical. As an island girl I know this tug well, it's the tide changing.

A realization hits me. I don't know the water here. Then a load of realizations come in faster than a Japanese bullet train. We're alone! Nobody knows I'm here. I haven't eaten since morning. I ran out of water thirty minutes ago. I'm a way better swimmer than my friend. My camp buddy doesn't really know what he's doing, today was his 2nd time setting up a tent, and he's been very reliant on my expertise since getting here. Our things could get washed away. I could end up stranded on a random little island off the coast of New Zealand overnight, and then I'd have to go all Lord of the Flies and eat my camp buddy. I mean- then I'd have to help him learn survival basics on an empty stomach.