"I Used To Know That"

Saying "I used to know that" seems less embarrassing than admitting I forgot something. Forgetfulness isn't a condition limited to those suffering from Alzheimer's or senior dementia.  From time to time everyone loses track of something they once knew.  Mostly it is trivial and slightly annoying; sometimes it is embarrassing; occasionally it may be downright disruptive.  We've all forgotten where we left our keys or glasses -- probably more than once.   But what can we do about it?   Not sure about the keys or glasses unless we just get better at always putting them where they belong.  But some of our camping skills can benefit from deliberate review and frequent practice and it is imperative to keep first aid training up to date.

Reviewing our training and the things we've read is one way to fight forgetfulness.  One of the reasons that first aid and CPR certifications need to be renewed every couple of years is to force people to review.  Another reason is that procedures evolve over time and you always want to be operating with the latest and best information available.  I have a collection of RV magazines going back several years and I've read every one of them cover to cover several times.  Even now though, I still have that feeling that "I used to know that" when I re-read some of the articles.  Bits and pieces of what I've learned before have gotten lost.   Even though you may review certain things until they become second nature, chances are the knowledge will start slipping away if you don't continue to use or review them regularly.  I even re-read my own blog articles frequently.  Another reason for re-reading articles is that our life experiences have usually evolved between readings and we may interpret things differently.   Things that might have gone unnoticed before may stand out as important upon a second -- or third -- or n-th re-reading.  In many ways, you are a different person each time you re-read something.  You will have had additional experiences and been exposed to additional information that may allow you to recognize and appreciate things you glossed over before.

Age and the passage of time isn't the only reason we forget things.   Often there is just too much going on in our busy day-to-day lives to remember everything.  And things we don't use very often are the easiest for our brains to tuck away somewhere it is difficult to retrieve.   Most of us don't get nearly as many opportunities for camping or other recreational activities as we would like to have so all the other stuff going on tends to crowd out our camping knowledge and we have to dig it out again for each trip.  Survival training gets even less regular use.   That said, those of us who have logged a few more miles and a few more years should recognize that age does demand its toll.   We may have to work extra hard to keep our minds fresh.

Lacking the time or sometimes other resources necessary for frequent camping trips, we should train ourselves to do mental exercises to help us remember important skills and information.   Spend some time walking around your RV or inspecting your camping equipment between trips.   It will help you remember things needed fixing or things you wanted to add or change.   It also helps your brain keep the information readily accessible instead of pushing it deeper and deeper until it is essentially forgotten.  It is also a good way to refresh good practices you've developed on previous trips. Imagine yourself setting up camp and using your equipment.  Studies have shown that mentally doing physical tasks (imagine doing them), even things like playing basketball, can improve performance even without physical practice. 

Sometimes we get accused of being obsessive if we make lists, but making lists can be a good way to remember things.  On each trip I make a written list of things I need to do when I get home including equipment repairs and maintenance, updating provisions, any special cleaning, and things I'd like to add to my equipment.   I use written checklists to assist me in preparing my RV, camping equipment, OHVs, and riding gear for each trip.  At home I make shopping lists for each project and sometimes create lists of each step in completing a project.  It has been said that the palest ink is better than the best memory.   Sometimes the very act of writing something down makes it easier to remember, but by writing it down we don't HAVE to remember.   I recall the comment by Henry Jones Sr. in the Indiana Jones movie The Last Crusade when he said "I wrote it in my diary so I wouldn't have to remember."

Checklists aren't just for the feeble minded.   Some prominent professions where checklists are critical and are followed exactly include surgeons, air line pilots, and astronauts.

Written lists are good for shopping and mundane tasks we need to remember, but critical first aid knowledge and skills need to be constantly refreshed.  You don't want to find your self in an emergency situation and be searching your cluttered memory or your notebooks to be able to use your knowledge of medical ABCs to save a life.  That would be a particularly bad time to suffer a bout of "I Used To Know That".

You may see ads for memory enhancing drugs or supplements.  Be wary of such claims.  While there may be benefits to certain treatments, most will probably not live up to your expectations.  Like so many things which seem too good to true -- and indeed are not true -- getting a good memory in pill form is one.  Exercising your mind and reinforcing what you've learned by repetition are safe and proven ways to improve memory.

Don't forget!