Many of the things have been covered so I'll try to avoid duplicates. But another caution: $20 will buy jumper cables good for Texas or Arizona, but not for Minnesota or North Dakota. You'll spend 2-3 times that for a decent set worthy of carrying around here. Check the gauge of the wire and the clamps. Buy from a reputable place, not a discount department store, if you want a good set. Another caution is a cell phone is a good idea but will do you no good without power. Always buy a car adapter and keep it in the vehicle. "Emergency" cell phones, won't be maintained so they won't be charged. Without a charger you stand no chance of using it. Also, be sure to check coverage. Why get one that won't have coverage when you need it? Also, if you need to repair a hose, don't go for the duct tape right away. Electrical tape will seal the hole better. Duct tape won't. Wrap it well with electrical tape and *then* give a wrap of the silver miracle. The grey gold will keep the electrical tape in place better and seal itself better. I always used a coffee can and put a roll of toilet paper in a plastic bag, double bagged, actually. Also had some matches and some large heavy duty garbage bags. A garbage bag will be a one-size-fits-most for a rain poncho, and have numerous other uses. People who use eyeglasses should keep an extra pair in the vehicle, especially if your license requires you to wear them while driving. I always keep water in the vehicle. Sure it freezes in the winter but the small bottles thaw quickly. I also keep aspirin, antacids and the like so I don't have to buy them at outrageous prices if needed. I just take a small bottle and keep a few in there. A roll of paper towels cut in half fits nicely in a coffee can and gives you an alternative to the toilet paper and gives you some ready napkins and something to use to clean up those accidents. Put the garbage bags in there and I like a few wet wipes. Tow chain or a tow strap. Takes little room. Oh, I use the crank flashlights. No need to worry about batteries. I usually like to carry a gallon of window wash fluid (de-icer in the winter) and a gallon of antifreeze. If you break a hose you can get the radiator filled. Dump in the antifreeze and it can get you going to a place to add some water. Or if your near a water source, even a lake, stream or ditch, you have a container for the water. Clothes appropriate for the climate. And a comealong winch is a good idea too. Can extend the reach of the tow strap and you can winch yourself out of a bad spot. And I believe in keeping some cash, including change, in the vehicle. Pay phones used to be a big reason but that's more obsolete now but if you have to buy some gas, or bandages or something, you might find a few dollars handy. Nobody's saying you should carry everything everyone has suggested. Very few people would find a gas wrench useful - most wouldn't know how to use it. So you use it for ideas. Modify it. There is no all-inclusive list that will work for everyone. Some things you would take on a trip but not leave in there all the time. Some things should be in there. Minnesota requires you to carry proof of insurance. I keep one card in my wallet and one in the vehicle. Belt and suspenders I suppose. I still haven't gotten around to stocking my "new" vehicle yet. But probably have most of it in there. When the weather gets nicer I'll clean it out and check inventory against my checklist.

For visibility on the road and ease of entering and exiting the car, my mother drives a Ford Escape, one of the smaller SUVs. It has the advantage too of allowing her to place her groceries, packages, at a good height in back for removing those once she's pulled into her garage to not bend then lift. She's had both hips replaced and has osteoporosis at 86, is 5'2" and about 125 pounds. Like all SUVs, it does have a bit of a blind spot to the rear right so looking over one's shoulder is always a good idea before making lane changes. I've had hip surgery myself and have driven an Explorer for the last 30+ years - not the same one, I've had three now :) DH, who drives a Ford 250, and I both find it easier to get up into a larger or taller vehicle than down into a smaller one. The deal breaker for me any more is heated seats. We don't operate at the same temperature and I was always too cool driving with DH, and if I was comfortable he was too warm. The electronically adjustable (lumbar too) individually heated seats have solved that, but I have to say its so nice for an achy back (and mine hurts a lot of days) I am warming my backside when driving alone too. Most makes of cars offer them, although not always in the base models, you have to go up a little in the extras.

Funny this just came up. DH just bought a 2009 Miata with only 42k miles last week. He's been looking for one for a while and managed to find out about this one thru a friend. The guy was downsizing vehicles and decided to sell it. It's just to have for quick errands into town and fun day trips with some friends in the local Miata club. It didn't replace either of our current vehicles. I've only had family cars to drive and driven boyfriend's sports cars or muscle cars. Have owned everything from VW beetles to big Buick 425s. More recently I've bought German (BMW) and DH keeps us provided with a truck of some sort. He had a Shelby Camaro at one point years ago, BK (before kids). He wishes he still had it.

Did they know before boarding took place that they needed those "reserved" seats? If so, announce to the pre-boarding gathering that you need to have four folks agree to stay off this flight and go later ... who's willing to do that? Probably no one ... so you offer an incentive ... if still no takers, up the offer, until you get four to agree. If already boarded, same announcement ...and increased incentives, until four agree. Didn't someone say that this fellow had agreed to not go ... but then found no flight available that day, so boarded anyway ... which makes him the miscreant, in my view ... but, even so, no reason to treat him as they did. And whatever other parts of his lifestyle there may be aren't part of this equation, in my view. In the States, they have a Passenger Bill of Rights, I hear, and also in other countries ... but Canada has none, it appears ... (so reported by some who've been claiming such in the past few days ... and that it's time that we get one!!)! Hey, Canadians ... look up your M. P.'s phone number, O.K.? ole joyful ... who doesn't fly often