…NO, not one of those pine tree shaped air fresheners! If you’ve ever seen the movie “Repo Man”, you get the joke here. I loved the scene where they had one of those air fresheners hanging on the handbars of a motorcycle!

What I’m speaking of here is a backpack full o’ Emergency Supplies. Summer driving season is coming, and this is good to have if your car breaks down. Or how about if you are a hiker, and somehow get lost?

But here in New England, where the winters can be harsh, it’s still a good thing to have. These backpacks include everything from emergency lighting which requires no batteries, to first aid supplies, to vacuum packed food and water. And much more. There is even a whosit that will recharge your cell phone, with no electrical power needed…it’s one of those things that you manually rotate to give it a charge. Something like this could very well keep you alive, should you find yourself stranded someplace!

I was amazed when I saw the price for one of these backpacks…just under $125.00, and you get SO MUCH. It’s well worth getting, I think. I am going to order one to keep in our car. I hope we’ll never have to use it, but think of the peace of mind we’ll have just knowing that it is there!

Oh, and by the way…I HATE those pine tree shaped air fresheners. They STINK! Really. Not every car has one. The Cat-Mobile does not have one, and it never will!

,,,because if you are driving, you will DEFINITELY need the services of Ace Seguros (Ace Insurance Company).

But, you may say, I’m driving my own car across the border, and I already have a good auto insurance policy. Why would I need to buy more?

Well, the simple fact is this: U.S. auto insurance is NOT honored in Mexico. This, I did not know until now. And if you get into an accident, it’s considered to be a felony, and they will actually throw you in jail until you pay for any damages. Also, American health insurance cards are usually not accepted in Mexico, so if you get hurt and need medical care, you’d better either have enough money to pay up, or purchase a Mexican insurance policy BEFORE you leave for your trip.

A must-read for anyone even thinking of driving to Mexico is this article: The Truth About Mexican Auto Insurance. This goes into a bit more detail than I just did here.

Another good article to read is this one: Mexican Auto Insurance - Problems Experienced By Mexico Motorists. This goes over some of the same information, but will also advise you as to how much insurance to purchase, and for what.

Mexico is a beautiful country, and can be a very affordable place to take a vacation. But it can also be a financial nightmare if something goes wrong, if you are involved in a car accident, or suddenly become ill. Not to mention that whole thing about going to jail! But this can all be avoided if you plan ahead and purchase the insurance you need. It’ll give you peace of mind, and you’ll be able to fully enjoy your trip!