The most recent examples: the Motorola Talkabout 2-Way Radios, and the Leatherman Core & Crater c33Lx.

The little walkie talkies almost make sense. We don’t have European-friendly cell phones so how do we stay in contact with each other if we stray while shopping or walking around the campgrounds? This pair  has 22 channels, 121 privacy codes and 2,620 combinations. Combinations of what, I don’t know.  But it’s got a range of up to 35 miles! (There’s an asterisk next to that in the packaging: turns out that range is for ideal conditions.)

Most heartening is this line on the package: "An essential part of any survival kit." Is that the end-game of our vacation? Surviving?

As for the Leatherman Core & Crater: It’s basically a Boy Scout knife on steroids. "19 Tools in 1." Looks like it had a role in a Transformer movie. The diagram shows that it is a pair of pliers that turn into a fully-armed F-22. It features "all-locking blades." Goodness knows, you don’t want a blade slipping on you. And the Crater tool, I’m not even sure what it’s for. But how can you not buy something that has "Blade Launcher Technology"?

It also has, in addition to a very very sharp edge, a bottle opener. That, I get.

I’m guessing this baby won’t get past airport security so I’ll have to pack it in my suitcase, with the 2-way radios.

I got so distracted at Costco, I forgot to buy the milk.