Preparing for any spontaneous action may sound a little like an oxymoron, but if we have not made the proper preparations we may miss out on opportunities for getting more enjoyment out of life. Here we share our views on how this relates to being prepared for an impromptu picnic.

My wife and I enjoy a good picnic, but now that we are going into that time of year where it may be questionable just how much the weather is going to cooperate with our aspirations for having a great time out in nature, we have come up with plans on how to make the best out of whatever nature gives us.

There are certain things that need to be done in preparation that differ from a warm weather picnic. During summer we are more concerned about heat, bugs and available picnic areas, but once fall sets in, we are more concerned about it being cold, wet and windy. True, I would be the last person to advocate having a picnic during extreme weather conditions, unless you are one who subscribes to having extreme outdoor adventures and that is your path of enjoyment. For those of us who are looking for a more relaxing picnic, there are many days during winter in which we can have a rewarding time if we are properly prepared.

When we go out, we bring extra clothing to match the climate, and picnic supplies that stow easily in the car. A waterproof picnic blanket is a must for this time of the year and works great on wet grass or a damp beach, We personally like a pair of folding camping chairs, which are much more appealing to us than sitting on the blanket, but that is a personal preference and may not relate to everyone. Our favorites have the fold out side table, an insulated cup holder and adequate pouches to store the extra items that I don’t have room for in my pockets. If space in the car is an issue, a pair of beach chairs should suffice, but it would be good to get the type that has a waterproof bottom so that you will not be limited in your choices of where you can sit if space is limited on your waterproof blanket.

An insulated tote with a thermos should be great for hot coffee or tea, and a picnic tote would work for whatever food you would bring. Having the two totes store easily in the car, make it easier to stow that small table you picked up at the garage sale during your weekend drive, and you won’t have to lug a large tote if you plan on taking a hike out to an overlook where you can appreciate that majestic view. But, if you have a larger car where space for added things is not an issue, and you have no desire for that walk, then a larger tote would be fine, and you can put more in them for that late afternoon snack when you are on your way home.

The idea is to be ready for spontaneous fun. One of the more memorable times we spent was several years ago when we took a weekend drive to Bodega Bay. It was a clear day but we were at the end of a storm and had very strong winds, which made it less than desirable to go out on the beach for a picnic. The waves were over thirty feet high, it was quite a spectacular view, and we felt it would be a shame to miss out on this. Then we decided to drive our car onto a small overlook along side Highway One and parked our car so it faced the ocean, which gave us a great view of nature’s activity. We had a simple picnic in our car, but we made the most out of the situation, and it was very enjoyable, watching the waves and the surfers.