Journals…more than just notes?

Are journals more than just for jotting down notes and drawings of your adventures?  

Maybe it is the prepper in me, but I augment my kit with redundancies, especially when it comes down to my journal or note taking “gear”.  

I utilize a Rite in the Rain notebook and cover made by tactical tailor.  I have been using Rite in the Rain for years, this is not a product recommendation, just stating that it is my trusted go to.  

Where I may differ from most is, that I choose to use a binder type book.  Meaning I can add, remove pages etc.  I find the versatility of this more beneficial, so I can get rid of scratch notes, scribbles and transfer the full note to a page and replace it in the book.  

Maybe I am an organizational freak, but I have it divided into sections where I or someone else can easily access the information from within.  

What I like about this it allows me to keep information that I find useful, not just what I discover or write down.  For example, I keep temperature conversions from between Fahrenheit and Celsius for both weather and cooking.  I keep food measurement/conversions.  Things I don’t want to try to remember and can easily refer to.  As I research, learn and get more confident in some other skills, I will include more wild edibles information, maybe with pictures for reference, medical remedies from wild edibles, and specifically list some of my medical issues.      

Now for the good stuff, what do I keep in there that is not written down!  

-Various needles for repairs.

-A magnification card (helps me to read small print, and other uses)

-A smaller rite in the rain booklet for navigation points

-Protractor for map navigation and or measurements (there is also a standard 7” ruler on the binder along with a metric ruler on the opposite cover)

-Several small safety pins 

-One 16P nail

-Pencils, Pens, and Marker

-Ready made butterfly bandage

-The zipper pull is an exotac tinderzip, it has a core that is a highly flammable, waterproof, and easy to ignite.

The paper can be used as tinder, or trail markers for travel/rescue, the ideas of how to use a simple journal can probably go on and on.  I have not weighed the journal, but if you are already bringing it and the small very light items added make the very little extra weight negligible.