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#1 – You Lack The Support of Your Spouse.
We’ve covered this here and here and it is a big deal. Without support from your spouse and family it’s difficult to stay focused on what needs to be done and to make matters worse some will be down right hostile toward the idea of prepping. Preppers who fail to get family support, usually give up on the idea of prepping altogether.
#2 – You don’t really believe a collapse will happen.
Surprisingly, many calling themselves preppers or survivalist’s don’t think that a collapse will really ever happen. They look at survivalism as a “hobby” or as an excuse to buy more guns or build that super-duper bug out vehicle with camo paint job, run-flat tires and machine-gun port in back and armor plating.
They prep because they think it is cool but will ultimately fail, because of a lack of motivation, usable skills, planning or means of sustainable self-reliance.
#3 – You fail to execute.
OK, this sounds obvious. Surely we all know that we have to take action to get somewhere or get anything done… You can read all the survival blogs and prepping books seeking advice and knowledge, but Knowing is not enough. Having ability is not enough. You have to take action with what you learn.
Thinking about it doesn’t get it done, you have to execute, even when it is uncomfortable.
#4 – You have no plan.
Without a well thought out plan (just don’t plan so much that you never take action) you get nothing done. You run around, like a chicken with its head cut off, you make a lot of noise and stir up dust but accomplish nothing for your effort.
First you need to look at your location, skills, current supplies and threats then mind map solutions. Make a list of thing you need and things you need to do and do it.
#5 – You try to do it all at once.
When you actually sit down and start making a list of the things that you need to get done, you’ll probably end up with a long list.
Decide what is most important to your survival and move these items to the top of your list. These are the goals to start working on first. Keep your list of the remaining goals on a separate ”to get back to later” list. Trying to do too much at the same time can be discouraging and self-defeating.
What do you think?
What did I miss? Agree, disagree? Have something to add…Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments …
118 comments… read them below or add one
Because I feel like I have an understanding of the big political picture,I began to prepare for what I thought the likelihood of a monetary and societal collapse would be. I’ve all but ceased having communication with my daughter ( a left leaning,pro gay marriage/abortion democrat) as well as my two older sisters who are of the same opinions of my daughter. Now I’m concerned that because of my efforts to get them to at least buy one gun and store some food and water, that they ,in the interest of being good little subjects, would turn me in as an ammo/food/gun/water hoarder. Sometimes I think it’s best to go about the business of being ready for what cometh,in a far more secretive fashion.
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Of all the things that I consider sad it is when family does not see the need to even keep basic supplies around.
You don’t need to be a prepper to have a well supplied pantry. I do not get the thinking pattern of those that think we are dullards.
I remember that when things got tight at our house that the food budget was the first to be mutilated. I never could understand that and why it was considered the eimergency fund.
If I were you I would hide as much as I could and not mention exactly how much you do have ever again. In fact I would tell them some silly thinkg like I gave up prepping for Lint. Or I gave most of my food stores to the food bank.
From now on keep them guessing. As far as livestock, chickens etc. Just say you haven’t found anyone to buy them yet.
Nothing irritates me more than those that don’t prep and think we are stupid for doing so.
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As for the chickens, it is now in vogue to raise your own chickens in order to avoid the chemicals the large corporation force into their birds. I was shocked to find that even Williams-Sonoma now even has an “agrarian” section where they sell raised garden beds and chicken coops.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/shop/agrarian-garden/?cm_type=gnav
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Please allow me to impart my thoughts on one subject. You have ceased having communication with your daughter ( a left leaning,pro gay marriage/abortion democrat)… Maybe there are other factors at work here that we don’t know about… so I’m just gonna toss this out there.
I’m pro freedom and that means that I also have to support others right to have the freedom to choose. It might not align with my values, but I can’t say you shouldn’t be doing that. That would make me a hyprocrite… and I definitely ain’t one of those.
So your gay and want to marry the person that makes you happy. Go for it. It doesn’t effect me. So your stupid and didn’t use protection and now want to have an abortion. That is a decision you have to live with for the rest of your life. Once again… doesn’t effect me.
As for my political stance… the govt needs to keep their nose out of our business when it comes to these and other topics. As for my personal stance. I could care less if gay’s want to marry, and IMO the only time you should even consider an abortion is in the case of rape. Other than that… give the kid up for adoption or raise it yourself.
I however am not one to try and force my personal beliefs on someone else via political ways.
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SW,
I really agree with you re: freedom and being flexible enough to let others make their own choices. Trying to control others just does not work. The only one we can control is OURSELVES and for me that is a big enough job alone. Everyone does need to take the consequences of their own choices though. Who knows enough to say what is “right” for the other person? I sure don’t. I appreciated your well stated input.
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I could care less what gay people do behind closed doors. Just as I do not care what straight people do behind closed doors. I am just against gays having the right to get married by religions who biblically oppose the gay lifestyle.And they will sue for it since the are the most litigous group in society.
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Dorris and SW – well said. No one knows what is right for someone else. I don’t always know what is right for me, so why should I decide that for someone else?
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And I’m perfectly ok with your right to your opinion as my daughter should be with mine. I don’t know why you felt the need to tell me how you feel about homosexuals marrying. I don’t know you nor do I care how you feel about these subjects. My daughter has ceased communicating with me because of my views,that’s why I mentioned it.
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Bctruck:
I have a family member with which I don’t communicate, her choice not mine. But I’m quite sure it has to do with how she feels I would react to her personal choices. I have told her, her choices are her’s, whether or not I agree is not important. I don’t agree with her choices so I don’t finance them or incorporate them into my life.
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It’s also obvious that you don’t care how your own flesh and blood feels either. I mentioned it because you said this….
I’ve all but ceased having communication with my daughter ( a left leaning,pro gay marriage/abortion democrat)
I made my post because I was trying to give you another perspective. However with your reply to me it’s obvious that you only care about yourself. So be it… it’s your loss.
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SW,
His response doesn’t fit in your relativism model. How sad for you.
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Not sad for me at all. I was trying to relay my thoughts on maybe why his daughter supported the things she does.
He made it seem like it was evil, but it could have also just been that she was supporting the freedom of choice. Last time I checked that wasn’t an evil thing and probably why most of us are here on this site.
We want the freedom of choice to persue the lifestyle that makes us happy.
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rel·a·tiv·ism
[rel-uh-tuh-viz-uhm]
noun Philosophy .
any theory holding that criteria of judgment are relative, varying with individuals and their environments.
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SW and the rest who want to do the “I’m O.K. – You’re O.K.” New Age thing: it doesn’t matter what you think or even what you feel. Nor does it matter what I think or feel. What matters is what Holy G-d has to say about it, whether you like the idea, or not. You are not G-d; neither am I; we can not mock Him, nor can we supplant what He says, “IS”. It will come back to judge us. Holy G-d has said that relations with same gender is an “abomination” to Him, and those who practice such, like many sins (for people who do not seek forgiveness through the blood of Y’eshua/Jesus Christ, the Lamb) will never see the Kingdom of Heaven. I did not say it. G-d said it. You can pretend to know more than G-d the Creator of all things if you want; I know better. So do some other folks here. And I really don’t care what you think of my opinion, either. Before you play the “judgemental” card, know that true Believers understand the eternal implications of dying in a state of sin. It’s all over then. The fat lady done sung. We will all have a day of judgement before Holy G-d; Hebrews 9:27 and there’s no way out of that. I love my Heavenly Father G-d, Yahweh, I love my Lord and Savior, Yahushua/Y’eshua/Jesus Christ, and long to serve Him well. Whether you know it, or not, whether you appreciate it, or not, that’s exactly what some of us do. We do not wish anyone to spend eternity in hell. No apologies.
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So because we would rather respect another persons right to choose and their right to happiness we are “new age”.
See this is the problem I have with religion. They preach to treat others the way they want to be treated, but then they condem them becuase other peoples happiness doesn’t conform to their religion. Case in point… I’m wrong just because I don’t agree with what your religion preaches.
I have no desire to be a part of that crowd. I will respect anothers right to choose to live their life in a way they see fit… even if I don’t agree with that choice.
If it appeared that I was trying to bash BC that wasn’t my intentions and I have no problems apologizing if he took it that way. I was just trying to offer up another perspective of why maybe his daughter and sisters support what they do. Just like I’m not willing to bash you for your beliefs. I will support your right to chose what you believe even if I don’t agree with everything.
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SW, I agree with your declaration and you sound like a more decent person than I.
I declare myself agnostic but will bare my teeth internally at someone who passes my arbitrary religious level.
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HomeINsteader,
There are another group of people who claim to believe in the same God of Abraham that you do, and sound as intolerant as you are sounding right now, and would kill you in a heartbeat, all in the name of God, who they, under threat of death, insist must be called Allah. I don’t consider myself New Age; although when I started heavy duty prepping in the mid-70’s after college many thought of me as a “hippy”, but I do tend to judge people by their attitudes, skills, actions and deeds, and generally leave religion to be a personal thing between a person and their version of the creator. What I believe I pretty much keep to myself unless asked by someone in person, and I find it has served me well for 6+ decades. If anyone’s faith gets them through the bad times, then I don’t see a need to tear apart what works for them. Do what you will, but harm none is not a bad way to live.
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There are another group of people who claim to believe in the same God of Abraham that you do, and sound as intolerant as you are sounding right now
And here I was thinking it was just my perception of their post cause I was kinda getting that same vibe. I actually re-wrote my response three times so I wouldn’t ruffle any more feathers. I guess it’s nice to know that I wasn’t the only one getting that vibe.
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SW,
I generally try to stay out of religious conflicts, be it your god vs. mine, or 9mm vs. 45 ACP. People believe what they believe for a reason, and I at least try to accept or reject people for their behaviors and actions, asking only that they do the same for me.
From a couple of sentences, you’re satisfied that you know enough about someone in cyberspace to say ‘it’s obvious you only care about yourself’?
BC says he’s been trying to get his daughter and sisters to prepare for hard times ahead. That sounds like he cares about them–no matter who stopped talking to whom over what.
I don’t mean to be harsh with you, SW. But, watching parents in Moore run to the elementary schools and dig through the rubble with their bare hands. . . . well, I think it’s a mighty rare thing for a father to care only about himself.
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Lantana… I based my response on the following.
BC said… I’ve all but ceased having communication with my daughter ( a left leaning,pro gay marriage/abortion democrat) as well as my two older sisters who are of the same opinions of my daughter.
He made it sound like the reason he ceased having communications is because they are open minded about gays and abortion.
When I tried to give a different perspective or point of view I got “I don’t know you nor do I care how you feel about these subjects” from BC.
So yeah… I think I am entitled to my opinion on what I said about someone in cyber space. That is the way it appears to me.
Maybe I’m wrong about the situation, but it sure seemed to me the reason for the non communication was because of their views. If that is truly the case then it seems to reason that he doesn’t care about them because of the views or otherwise there would still be communication.
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SW dear, of course you are entitled to your opinion, which you may form on whatever basis you wish.
But “it’s obvious you only care about yourself” is an assertion, not an opinion. To say that to a father is, in essence, accusing him of not caring about his daughter.
Your interpreted BC to say *he* decided not to communicate with his daughter *because* of her views.
I thought he was just saying he and his daughter–who has different views (so talking is often kinda tough)–aren’t talking at all now, for reasons unspecified. (And from his second post, it looks like it’s his daughter who cut off communication.)
In any event, parents and kids get crossways more often than anyone wants. But it is unnatural for a father not to care about his child.
So please reconsider whether what you thought you heard was not actually what he was trying to say.
These are challenging times, and I think it’d be a true kindness to extend each other the benefit of the doubt whenever we can.
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SW, what you said was plain to me. It is a shame all these people are twisting your words! Judgmental people who try to throw god into every conversation in order to win irritate me to no end!
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Very well stated. If you believe in the 1st amendment, then you have to live and let live, even though you may not like or agree with other people’s thoughts or politics. They have a right to their opinons, that is what freedom of speech is about. I get very upset with people who will fight for their right to own a gun (which I would) but don’t think people have the right to choose their own sexual preference or whatever. If you support the 2nd amendment, and not the first, you are in my opinion very hypocritical.
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Patric, to be clear, the First Amendment prohibits the *government* from abridging an individual’s freedom of speech.
It does not deem the content of all speech to be equal, nor does it require an individual to agree with, accept or even listen to the speech of another individual.
Vigorous debate of ideas is fundamental to our system of government. If one of the debators starts shouting, that may well be rude or unpleasant (by today’s standards)–and is probably not persuasive. But that’s not an infringement of the other debator’s rights under the First Amendment.
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The idea of worrying that a relative might turn you in either because it is the law or “for your own good” hits me a little too close to home. I have a very Liberal cousin that I see quite often and joke around with in regards to our differences in political belief. I have had to scale back on what I say to her for worry that she might turn me in, if it ever got that bad, to the powers that be because of my children and “for my own good”. It shocks me that the self-reliance values of the Depression Era and Greatest Generation has given way to this belief in the Nanny State.
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Conflicts will always come in families. Try your best to change what you can and accept you can’t change what you can’t. I leave it in God’s hands when their emotion/hate tries to poison me when common sense hits their walls. I have a family member who would turn me in as a terrorist if she knew I have food storage, so I don’t tell her of my personal life. Find commonallity for beliefs in friends, church and community and make them your family. There may be the day your relatives will open their eyes and come to you. But I believe in tough love…People will have to lay in the bed they make no matter how much it hurts me, I have to let them go….
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Having read all the conversation here…I have 2 things.
1. It is nice to see there is diversity on this site and it is being shared. Prepping is not a Rebuplican/Democrat/Liberal/Conservative/Christian/Athiest thing. It is a person/individual/instinct thing.
2. I am a left leaning, pro marriage equality, pro-choice (not pro abortion) democrat who is a prepper. The former descriptions make no statement about me being “a good little subject” as implied. It seems there were 2 completely different lines of thought. Father/Daughter/Family strain because of political views. Father concerned about daughter/family turning on him because of bad relationship. I would like to believe there is no correlation between those 2 lines of thought…even though it is written as seemingly intertwined.
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Right on, FemaleUrbanPrepper !
Preparedness is not about politics/religion/economics/education or any of the “labels” of society. The prepared mindset is about loving life & doing every necessary thing to preserve it, for those who have the ears to hear & the will to act. I am personally an apolitical person of faith who wants for my family (& other families) the opportunity to live well. Thanks for commenting on this board & look forward to reading your future comments!
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Female Urban Prepper,
I concur with your assessment that there were two lines of thoughts here, and that there *should* be no correlation between the two.
Unfortunately, history (e.g., Maoist China and Nazi Germany) shows that it’s not unprecedented for family members to turn on kin over political/philosophical differences.
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Also, FWIW, I did not take BC’s concern that his kin would act as ‘good little subjects’ to imply he thinks that everyone–or even anyone–who holds the same viewpoint will do so.
As you pointed out, being prepared is a decision, not a demographic. So is being a ‘good little subject’.
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I agree on both accounts.
Written communication is such a difficult medium to portray intent. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt even if my initial response is the ever common defensive one.
I believe we all have the instinct to protect whatever safe environment we have created for ourselves and we get defensive/scared (fear exists in all humans even if not defined or accepted) when we realize we can’t control everything.
Result: Message boards like this which allow us to see we are not alone. We are all different. We are all human. We have the same basic need to survive even against the odds.
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hey BC,
as a person who has experienced being incommunicado w/a sibling due to life choices, I would urge you to reach out to your daughter/siblings & try to mend those relationships. if they reject your attempts, you have “…done all you can.” some people we love up close & some people we have to love from a distance. life is finite & I wouldn’t want anyone to live in regret due to non-communication. the death of the person you’re not speaking to before repairing the relationship is a bitter pill to swallow. fix what you can & pray much. Peace, BC!
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Q., you have a good heart, to encourage reconciliation. I hope there is another kind, wise soul giving that counsel to the other family members. At times of loss, there is a lot of comfort in knowing you did your best to do right by your late loved one.
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I appreciate your concern. I have done everything I can except change how I feel about such things as abused social programs,abortion,homosexuals marrying or being scoutmasters,my faith in Jesus Christ. I come from a family of militant atheists and agnostics that thinking they disconnect from me,I’ll change my beliefs. I’m quite happy and confident that I’m on the correct side of these issues and I won’t sacrifice those beliefs for any reason,ever. That is also why I don’t feel the need to defend myself from sw or any of the others who feel like the “I’m ok your ok” attitude is acceptable. I’m perfectly willing to accept the choices others make for their lives,or the end of it. I expect others to feel the same way about my choices and I refuse to argue or discuss it with those that don’t feel the way I do. Life is to short and time is to precious.
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Let me add two more:
6# Lack of realistic training. Have you actually turned off the electric power at the breaker box and shut off the valve for the water service to your house and lived that way for at least a week? If not, you have no idea of the hidden flaws in your preparedness plans. And what you don’t know really could cause failure to survive.
7# Lack of networking/social support with your nearest neighbors. In the 1700s and 1800s if your barn caught fire or there was an Indian raid on your farmstead, neighbors saw the smoke or heard the shots and came running to your aid. No so today. Many of us don’t know the names of our nearest neighbors, much less have any sort of mutual aid arrangement. Who will come to your aid in a grid-down situation if a small band of armed home invaders tries to break down your door? Or if that oil lamp gets knocked over and your house catches fire?
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Linda, I really agree with you about the neighbors. When something happens you will need help. While I cant claim to know all the people on my street we know the people around us pretty well and try to make nice, even with the ones we dont like. Thats mot to say we trust a couple of them, but that we do what we can to make sure there isnt any ‘bad blood’ between us.
Also, while my family is my main focus for prepping, I am also trying to put food and other supplies up for the neighbors as well. At least to the point of getting them set up with a garden. I feel my family has a better chance of survival if we can at least work with, rather then against, the people who live closest to us.
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LInda…one of the ladies I watch on youtube currently has this challenge going on. It’s a 48 hour challenge to do just what you mentioned in #6 and there are prizes up for grabs. I think it ends at the end of this month. I’m sure it would be a huge eye opener for most of us.
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Oddly enough,I’m one of the sponsors of that challenge.
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I just stumbled across the challenge. I had been taking a break from youtube because I wasn’t getting anything else done. Glad you were willing to sponser it… it looks like a pretty cool challenge… I wish I would have found it back when I was on vacation last week. I would have tried to participate
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A 48 hour challenge to live with no grid electricity, community water or sewer? Jeez, except for a few years of working for the military, I’ve lived my entire 63 year life that way. How do I sign up for the prizes?
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So lets see. I need enough fuel on hand to run the genset for a few days and the rest is already a non-issue. Hmmm, sounds like a bit of a PIA but not a real challenge.
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It would be a challenge for me because I am still all electric with no genset. I just recently started on this journey and still have a ways to go.
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OhioPrepper, using the generator is cheating.
I would do a version of this challenge where I keep the fridge and freezer live and forbid myself from opening them.
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k. fields,
You stated, “A 48 hour challenge to live with no grid electricity, community water or sewer?” and my solution fits your criteria.
Also, the times we’ve “had” to do this, we don’t run the genset 24/7. You plan a few hours a day to do laundry, showers, etc while you charge batteries and fill buckets for flush water.
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OP,
You’ve got no complaints from me on your plan – I’d be running my propane fridge as usual which amounts to the same thing.
Could we disconnect completely and return to the 19th century? I’m sure both of us could if it was necessary without too much disruption of our lives.
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k. fields,
My bad. This was meant in response to Kelekona’s post but I was basing my response on your criteria. Got my wires crossed.
As for living permanently in the 19th century, I and most of us could do it if we had to, and I do have several Amish communities in the local area to consult with if need be, but I would not be looking forward to it. In my case the problem would be when I ran out of maintenance medications. I might find herbal substitutes, and I don’t take anything completely critical like insulin, but there could be unknown issues arrive in that case.
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Using the generator during a real emergency is fine, but during a drill, I’d want to take it down to the worst possible level.
The generator might break down or something.
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Kelekona,
So I plan, I save my money, and I prep and now I’, not supposed to use those preps? OK, I’ll make you a deal. I won’t use the genset for the 48 hours and you can’t use any of your preps planned to provide you with water. Bad idea in both cases. As for the genset breaking, that’s why we have more than one of anything, so unless all of my fuel magically disappears, I’ll be running gensets a few hours a day as part of the plan.
OhioPrepper, How far down the line are you talking for water preps? I have some “wild” water spots memorized, and my cooking pot collection is more “random hoarder” than preparation. And my bleach is probably too dead for water purification purposes. Would the fishtank be above threshold for not a real prep?
This was a valuable argument anyway. Ideally my ice bottles would be in the freezer and not only unreachable in the first 3 days of an emergency, but off-limits for the drill. I’d have to drink noncarbonated beer and fish-water in a real emergency.
Kelekona,
My point here was that we need to drill with the preparations we have. Anything else would be unrealistic. If I decide to not use my genset, and it actually fails when I need it for real, then the excercise didn’t do me any good. In my opinion, the key to making any excercise useful, is to utilize all of the preparations, equipment, knowledge, and skills that you have available, and then see what fails you or doesn’t work as planned, allowing you to correct that hole in your plan. Not using my genset would be as bad as running “some” of my equipment off of the grid.
I would also add “Informing Neighbors in hopes that they act for themselves”. I sent to all the houses on my street (over 40) a well worded and fairly long letter asking them to prepare. I asked them to imagine how they would survive if the world they know of today stopped working. How would they get the food, water, medical needs, basic living needs, and self-defense items/services if the world suddenly changed? I, of course, sent the letters anonymously.
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If someone denies the money problems of the future they are also denying claim to Christian faith.It is written how some day that people will be throwing there money into the streets because it has no value. Reports of wars, earthquakes in one place and another.Strong men will in fear not knowing the way out.Food shortages and pandemics.False religion will be also pandemic.
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I agree, my husband has slowly been coming around. He thought I was nuts but know is ok with it. He is starting to contribute ideas and helps some. Frankly, I don’t have a bug out location. There are places we could go but I don’t have a set location.
Useful , practical skill are extremely important. We have both been working on them.
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JL, about that bug out location.
It doesn’t have to be a cabin in the woods.
What we did is just have a conversation with some friends that live a couple towns away, yet within an hour or so drive. Came to the idea that, in the event of a Tornado, Power Outage, Flood, etc, that we would just move in with them for a week or two, or them with us if they got hit.
Not much help in an economic collapse, but for “everyday” emergencies, it works for us.
Just my thoughts. Hope this helps.
D
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I can not even say how much I agree with number 1. The dh is a reasonable guy, smart, and yet I swear talking to him about prepping is like pounding your head against a brick wall. One conversation will go ok where I think maybe this is it, the next conversation and I am back to square one. He has the mentality that nothing bad can/will happen.
The plan is what I am working with now. Up until recently I have just been running circles around myself, trying to do everything. I wasnt getting much done, so I am hoping now I will get further.
I will admit that I am no where near ready for the lights to go out or the food trucks to stop running. But every week I get a little closer, in a huge part because of this blog, and the support and ideas I find here.
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TG,
Does he not watch the evening news or studied events in recent history? Disasters happen all of the time. Even the federal governments suggests everyone be better prepared for a disaster…
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I’m right there with TG…my dh watches the news and came from a background which one would think would help make him want to prepare. He doesn’t think it could ever get that bad! I would trade him in but he can do anything so he’s invaluable should something happen. I’ve tried many times but he prefers his head in the sand. Unfortunately he makes the money between us, so I buy what I can and am making a lot of my own food.
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MD, I do have to wonder about him sometimes. He does watch the news, but we have gotten seriously lucky. My thoughts, luck will only last so long.
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MD,
I write this Monday evening at 8:00 PM EDT and the news is showing TWOTWAWKI in Oklahoma, where a huge tornado system just utterly destroyed a huge area. As I watch the news, local citizens (not first responders) are digging folks out of the debris. Communications are limited to very sporadic text messaging.
So for TG’s DH, he should turn off the news, place fingers in his ears, hum his favorite song, and think nice thoughts; and finally, watch out for that wall falling on him.
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OhioPrepper,
It is amazing… I can’t figure out how some people think or reason.
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They don’t think or reason–that is the problem. Many people are frightened by the idea of prepping (by the idea that something bad could happen), and so choose to put blinders on and ignore potential threats.
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Bam Bam,
However, I would bet good money that they carry insurance on their car, their house, and probably their life; so, at least in some instances they see the world realistically, knowing that at least some threats are real.
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OP & BamBam;
You are both right on the “thinking” part. Car, Home, Life insurance have something in common..someone else takes care of it for them. Most policies are paid directly to the company so out of sight– out of mind.
If they close their eyes, minds it will go away, and they do not have to worry, it will happen to someone else. In my opinion that is why the country is in a mess and those of us who are eyes wide open and looking are trying to be prepared.
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Thinking about an issue as grave as what we prepare for forces one to face the possibility that something could happen. That’s out of almost everyone’s comfort zone.
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Ohio, I watched that tornado today from when it began. The guy on Fox decided to just let it go and watch it and they did……and then it took out the town and that was another story. I sat there and watched it thinking only about dividing up supplies……………if you had all your eggs in one of those baskets inside one of those houses, all the prepping in the world was going to do you no good.
Prayers to all those in pain, sorrow and trouble there tonight. I was extremely impressed watching people crawling out of their fallen over houses, turning around and beginning to help others almost immediately. Pretty impressive neighborhood in that sense. Bless them all.
Bottom line? Lately, all I seem to do is look at whatever the latest disaster is and wonder what one could do to make things better if it happened to me and mine. Tornadoes and Earthquakes, the most unpredictable of tragedies……. So back to the drawing board, have to find some places between here and the BOL to split out some of the supplies………..Sigh.
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worrisome,
I live at my BOL at the edge of Tornado Alley, and if I have one weakness, it’s the all my eggs in one basket problem, and that is on the list to be fixed, unfortunately along with many other things on the list.
Back more than a dozen years ago I watched a small (F1/F2) tornado heading northeast about 3 miles from my house. It’s something I’ll never forget, but something I can only do some limited things to prepare for. I will however take tornados over earthquakes and hurricanes, every day of the week.
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Earthquakes are very scary, when they are big ones. I have been near the epicenters of 4 rather large ones. Loma Prieta, 2 in Southern California and 1 when I was a little girl in Tehachipi. They give zero warning, so you don’t even get the 16 minutes that Oklahoma got. The only advantage you have with earthquakes is that most of the time, if you have lived here for a long time you get to know when to get excited and take cover, ha. So many are smallish and at this point, If it is under 5.5 or so I don’t even move from where ever I am.
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Op, there are times when I wish I could push that wall on him. Lol. Not really but still. If the worst were to happen, I would want him by my side, but getting ready for the worst with him is impossible.
I dont understand how he doesnt feel the need either. Our area got hit by hurricane Ike. We got lucky in that our house only had a few shingles needing to be replaced, a tree that fell inches from our front door a nd a fence post that got bent. We also had power back by the time we came home (we bugged out) the rest of the block was out for a little over a week. My friend on the other hand lost everything. Her entire neighborhood got hit with the storm surge. I remember driving over to see her to see if I could help out in any way, people were carting all their belongings out to the curb for the trash truck. All the doors had red “x”s painted on them, when I asked what it meant I was told that it meant the houses were clear and there were no bodies. That hit home in a way I cant even describe.
After getting hit by Rita completely unprepared, I started making sure I had some food and water put up. But Ike scared the daylights out of me. The dh on the other hand, well I just dont know. He actually seen more of the damage then I did from his work, so I dont understand how he doesnt feel that need.
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TG;
Your dh appears to have become desensitized to disaster. I do know if it work related or related where you live. The way you describe his attitude, is what brings me to this conclusion. It is something I have seen it in my dh and myself after two major fires, one taking our home and all that we had worked for–including our survival equipment & food storage.
If it were not for that inner feeling, I could be like those who think we had misplaced our brains cells for being prepared.
I do not know if this will work for you, but instead of going straight at the problem, going around it to see what caused it to occur in the first place. There usually is a reason somewhere buried deep in the non prepared person. Good luck to you, an know you have the us.
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Becky, sorry to hear about losing everything in a fire. That is my concern where we live. The whole idea of losing all the preps and keepsakes is beginning to dawn on me in a big way! My biggest risk if forest fire, followed by earthquake……….at the lake house, flooding is first….but I haven’t got much there anymore.
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worrisome;
We are looking at putting in a cargo container one of the hillsides, covering it with dirt which is mostly rock for our area. The container has to be prepared to keep out water, snow, and anyone or thing that would walk across the top. It still an item on our wish list.
I know you are concern because of where your new home to be is in a possible fire zone area. Caught that on a previous posting, an I do not blame you for being concerned.
That is why I mention the container, it might work where you live. I have seen where people turn them into wine cellars, you can put two of them together underground welded and with an opening from one to the other, with steps going down or if you have a hillside can place it there for you wine cellar and storage. This idea was on the internet when started looking at using one for our place.
Before I forget, saw the magnetic screen doors on H*N, and thought those might work better for your baby Hope, so she can go in and out of the house. Give that lucky puppy a hug from me.
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Becky,
Keep in mind that cargo containers need some pretty solid reinforcement if you’re going to pile any substantial amount of dirt on top of them. You can stack those about 6 containers high, bit all of the weight is supported on the corners, and the roof is actually pretty weak. The Conex containers are still a good starting point, but make sure you get all of the details and do the proper additions before you use them, to make sure you have no future disasters or problems.
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OP;
Where we are at I have to buy dirt. Stop laugh, I can here you all the way out here, at least we do grow great rocks! Can I sell you a few for your rock garden??Noooooo, you can’t blame me for trying. How am I going to buy the extra dirt I need?!
Yes, about the extra support for the roof, at this time the container would be the least expensive way to go for storage from a fire and other necessities. I need a wine cellar even though I do not drink the stuff, I might need it for visitors.
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Becky, you and OP have some valid good points and concerns. The boys are gonna love it when I tell them I want them to dig me a big hole up there…….wink. But with the back hoe there, now is the time………….I am really liking the whole concept!
Becky & Worrisome,
Please take head to OP’s warning on burying a sea container. A lot of folks around here use them for grow rooms and I have seen 2 collapse after being dug into hillsides – luckily no one was injured either time.
You basically need to construct a complete load-bearing roof over them (the container roof will bend inward simply from the weight of a person walking across it) as well as provide additional support to keep the sides from bending inwards when you back-fill around them.
With all the work that’s needed, I’d suggest simply building a “root cellar” using concrete block walls and a concrete slab “roof” instead.
To add to what k. fields said, you might even price a pored concrete floor and walls. Around here, the difference in cost isn’t all that much, and you get a much more stirdy product when completed. Also, don’t forget to provide the proper drainage or you can have not only leaks, but hydrostatic pressure problems that are hard to fix after the fact.
OP and K.Fields. BIL is a contractor and a very good one, whatever he decides after I tell him I want a big hole in the ground will come out well. It will probably handle a bunker buster before he is done with it……….:)
OP,k.fields & worrisome;
I will tell dh about the cement construction, instead of container. I was worried about it’s roof not supporting our rock dirt, and knew we would have to build a roof over it. It would be cheaper to do brick and pour concrete into the blocks. Now I just have to (sneak)borrow the keys to the backhoe and how does thing start? Actually he has offered to dig the platform for the cellar we would like to put in, just ask him to make it a “little bit bigger”, for all the wine barrels we need to store.
Then they want to take your stuff for being a hoarder if you have over a weeks worth of food. lol our government sometimes.
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axelsteve,
My stuff? Whatt stuff? I ain’t got no stuff?
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He has the mentality that nothing bad can/will happen
My folks have the same mentality. I finally gave up trying to convience them otherwise and just hope things last until I can get enough acomplished to support both me and them. I promise you though… I will say “I told you so!” when that day comes. Then we will make a plan to protect what I’ve acomplished.
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Sw, lol my parents dont have that mentality, they have been thru their fair share of disasters. But, they do nothing to prepare for one. I dont know which is worse. Ugh. And to make things worse (in my opinion at least) is they are over the road truck drivers, so they probably wouldnt even be close to home if something happens.
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one of the driving factors that made my wife and i come off the road after 30 years is that we didnt want to get stuck away from our home if something bad happened. i was carrying a gun and ammo in my truck and some of the places we went,that would have sent us to jail if caught. december 13th 2011 was our last day of long haul trucking ater 33 years for me and 20 for her. i thought i would miss it but i havent for one second. im working harder for far less,but im far happier and never more than 75 miles from home should anything “bad” happen.(cme,emp,financial collapse,societal upheaval)
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i thought i would miss it but i havent for one second
Gotta agree with ya on that one. I only did it for around 9 years then I came to the conclusion that I really ddin’t like the lifestyle. Didn’t help that it seemed they were training the dispatchers to believe you were a robot and should be ready to do their bidding at any time. I don’t know how many times I spent 2 or 3 days down in Larado waiting for a load and then they expected you to be ready to run all night after you’d be up all day waiting on them to give you a load. They wanted you watching the board to see when your name hit the top.
When I left the govt was talking about changing the number of hours we could drive and that would have cut into our paychecks. I don’t know if it ever passed or not… .I walked away and never looked back.
I was trying to hit all 48 but I never was able to get up to the Dakotas or Montana. Been everywhere else including Ontario and Quebec.
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#1 It took me awhile to get the DH on board but now he is starting to think like a prepper. Actually that show Doomsday Preppers had a lot to do with it, even though we made fun of most of them.
#2 I do believe that something will happen and I am afraid it will be too soon.
#3,4&5 I tend to be a procrastinator in most things but this blog has helped me to get moving. I realized that there is no way I can get it all done right away, that it will take awhile. I had to see what needs to be done first. I now keep a list in my purse of purchases that need to be made. Because of that list I am able to look for sales. I have set goals in place to work toward.
Linda’s suggestion of #6 and 7.
#6 DH was just saying yesterday that we needed to do a test of going without power for a few days to see what changes we need to make.
#7 I have been working on a plan to get to know the neighbors and how to get them interested in at least gardening. Some of them do slow down to check out what we are doing in our garden and a couple have asked questions about it.
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#1. Has never really been a problem, I just started. She quickly saw my side of the argument, and that it did not drastically affect our lifestyle. Now, we actively look for prepper items when we are together. It’s really fun.
#2 & 3. Just got started and learned as we went. We’re still growing into this.
#4. If your plan is “set in stone” then it will probably have problems. Ours has evolved over time, and is still changing.
#5. Yep, it will drive you crazy and you’ll end up with a bunch of some things and nothing in a lot of other areas. Go with a plan.
P.S.: I don’t think you can plan for every possible event. Pick the most likely, then adapt or expand as you get your 1st finished.
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I agree with your assessment of #4. The only thing constant should be the rate of change.
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JP,
On your #4, that’s pretty much the way any good plan works. Keep your eyes open and keep things fluid.
On your P.S., always build your threat matrix first and work down the list. You’ll be surprised how many things on down the list get covered while you’re actively thinking about and covering the items higher on the list.
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OP:
Yep, and you said it better.
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If you can’t get your spouse on board, try and do as much as humanly possible without them finding out. That’s what I did for the first year. Stockpiled food, water, ammunition, etc. Afterall, if you can hide it from your spouse, you can probably hide it from other prying eyes. Nice op-sec practice. She is more on board now, last winter we had bad snowstorms/ice storms and went without powerfor three days and even water for day+. With a 8 month old, that would have been really bad. But guess who came to the rescue with his “camping supplies”, generator for tailgating/camping, space heater because the basement (man-cave) gets cold, candles I kept from our wedding 7 years ago, etc, etc…
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MD:
I am going to print this out this article, not the comments. There is grp of us who get together before/after my dh’s meeting with his buddies. Many are just starting and my df and I are training them on how to get started. While the guys meeting is going on we discuss(in another room) what you need to have on hand. Where to go for information and yes, some have spouses who think we are nuts for being self reliant. We just work around them when asked what we are doing, the usual answer is what wheat makes the best bread, gardening, sewing. Subject is dropped since they are not the wiser. We have gossips in the group who would say “I know these people who have all this food”! OPSEC, is a must, and many are ex military who love to gossip. You would think they would be zipped lipped.
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I started about a year ago and was panicked that everything would fall apart before I could get much accomplished. At first I was guilty of #5 and could not sleep or carry on a decent conversation with any nonprepper because all I could think about was not being ready. I was also doing damage to the credit cards that I had worked so hard to pay off. That is when I started praying really hard, and guess what? A logger called me and asked if he could cut a piece of land that I own that had just been growing up for the last 22 years in what I thought was scrap. Well, I was shortly the recipient of some nice checks. Seems that they wanted hardwood, and that’s what had grown there. I couldn’t believe that it was big enough to use after just 22 years. I managed to repay all the credit cards and buy some of the things that I really wanted like a Big Berky, a handcranked steripen, security doors and windows for my house, and a really nice woodstove,etc. So, I think that one of the things that can cause you many problems is a lack of faith. I really believe that, when you are so down because you just can’t do it all yourself, you need to remember that you don’t have to do it alone, and that your helper is capable of a lot more than you are.
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Prepping and being prepared and aware vs staying in a state of “fight or flight.” It is sensible and logical to review the possibilities and to prepare for all you can and to stock up. It is NOT sensible nor healthy to rev oneself up into an obsession to the point that we see disaster around every corner and “enemies” everywhere we look. Any medical person will tell you that produces heart attacks, strokes, anxiety and many unhealthy results. One cannot STAY in a “flight or fight” mode at all times. During that state we produce heavy duty chemicals and hormones that deplete us. A heightened state is only for emergencies, not for every day living. We need balance, fun, laughter and a sense of confidence in ourselves and often much of that comes through our faith and confidence in our belief system.
I am a person who does not live in fear. Much of this is due to a lesson I learned from my Mom–an EXTREMELY fearful and imaginative person. We were actually poor but Mom imagined “burglers” were coming in every night. During hot summers (back when there were no air conditioners and we did not even have fans back then) she would shut up all the windows tightly, every little sound convinced her “people were breaking in” (for what I do not know!) I cannot count the times that Mom would rouse us out of a sound sleep during the night, make us run through fields to a neighbor’s house when my Dad was away.
We had to sit on beds and be still during storms because “the lightening would get us”. After all those years–and never any REAL
burglers(nor lightening strikes either) –I thought to myself “I would rather have an actual break in than live my life in fear”. The saying of “A brave man dies but once and a coward dies a thousand times.” is
an important thought. How true. I think of all the hours, days and years my Mom spent living in fear and anticipation of “the worst” which never arrived. What a waste!
I made a plan when I was small to live life differently and I have. Fear is not my motivator and it is most often misplaced. Being sensible and prepared is fine–worrying oneself to death about things over which we have little or no control is a useless exercise. Do your best and relax!
I have lived long enough to find out for sure–Most of the disasters we anticipate never happen and the problems we end up having are often situations we never would have dreamed possible. To make life worth living we need to LIVE and to ENJOY TODAY. Living only for tomorrow and preparing ONLY for tomorrow makes today pretty unimportant.
Don’t get “ready” to live. Live NOW. Today may well be your last one.
We never know. Striking the balance between using some time and income to prepare and using a large portion of our time to actually enjoy our lives, our families and friends NOW seems much more sensible to me.
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I am sure that most of you have seen the news about the devastating tornado that hit OK today. Not much you can do about that kind of destruction. Prayers going out to all affected.
On a less devastating note, roads were washed out here in the Atlanta area this weekend and some of those subdivisons only have one road in/out of there and of course it is gone. If a person is prepared, no problem but if not you are dependant on someone else getting supplies to you.
When a tornado hit our area several years ago it knocked down 4 trees on our house, 12 more in the yard and more in the road. We have 2 ways out but on both sides had trees down. It took several hours for us to just get out to the main road (we were just trying to get gas for the chain saws). There was a great deal more damage on the other side of town to get the main attention plus at that time we did not have many people living in our area (mostly wooded). It could have been several days before anyone realized there was a problem.
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I’m OK with 1 and 2; for the rest…..I flunk.
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I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately and I’ve realized that my biggest flaw is along the lines of Linda’s #6 above. Lack of realistic training, and honestly, my lack of ability to deal with things out of the ordinary. I believe something can/will happen, I have all the survival toys, the food and water supplies, the PMs (gold, silver, brass & lead), the get home bag…but when it comes down to it I’m going to have a really hard time facing a day without my Keurig coffee, iphone, ipad and gas guzzling SUV. I don’t hunt, in fact I don’t even eat meat. I hate being outside, camping, gardening, fishing, I guess I fit the true profile of “sheeple.” I try to prepare the best I can, but I’m going be a basket case when you take away my modern conveniences.
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Survivialista,
You are actually better off than most! You don’t eat meat and can get food easier than many others. Enjoy what you have every minute you have it. I am betting you will NOT be a “sheepie”. Just because you like the good stuff does NOT mean you cannot adjust. Often people do not know just what they are capable of.
I would bet on you in a minute–mostly because you are thinking and facing up to what COULD happen. Most people won’t even admit they could have a problem. You do so you will be fine!
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Survivialista,
Sheeple hide their heads in the sand, watch the mainstream news and the reality shows, and think nothing bad can happen, even as they watch the devastation in Missourri on the news right now.
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Clicked the darn button by accident
Survivialista,
Sheeple hide their heads in the sand, watch the mainstream news and the reality shows, and think nothing bad can happen, even as they watch the devastation in Missouri on the news right now, and I suspect that rules you out.
Sheeple are not prepared for any long term event and it sounds like you are.
I never got that don’t eat meat thing myself; however, if it works for you, then so be it, as long as you realize that in a post SHTF scenario, you are ruling out a highly dense form of calories and protein.
Finally, when it comes to missing the accoutrements of a modern lifestyle, I can assure you that most of us are not looking forward to it, but are prepared to “rough it” if the only other choice is watching grass grow from the underside.
In the end it will be a PIA, but you’ll get through it, because you really have no other viable choice, and the fact that you’re preparing and posting here, tells me at least that much about you.
The only thing I would add it to be honest with yourself, finding your weak spots, and get some skills training in those areas and you’ll do fine.
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We’re ok except with #5. Have to balance prepping with building a farm. Concerns here are getting physically fit (have begun, but as I do more physically I have to monitor my sugar more), and I have realized that I need more information on feeding my dog properly without dog food (if we have an interruption in supply).
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You forgot the sixth way to fail.
Documenting your preps on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc..
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I’m a hobbiest.
I believe something can go wrong, but simply having the right atitude can make something outside of your preps merely uncomfortable. I think that civilization will recolese in a more primitive form pretty quickly.
Spouse is okay with me prepping as a hobby. I have my budget and there are stupider things I could be doing to kill time. It’s really hard to get worked-up about some paranoias when so many sound ridiculous to us.
Lack of plan and lack of execute are probably the biggest problems.
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To all the Midwest folks here, especially in Oklahoma, please know that we are praying for the safety and wellbeing of your families and friends.
As to the reasons one might fail as a survivalist, for me I agree with the ones that Linda added: (1) lack of realistic training; (2) lack of networking with neighbors.
Realistic training occurred for me years ago, so I am rusty. But the knowledge of that training is still there. I need to do is practice what I know, and keep learning what I don’t know.
Networking. Where I live, most folks keep to themselves (which is good because a few of them you don’t want to know). However, last year everyone came out and helped when a big accident happened on the road we all share. I need to network with others nearby of similar mindset. Don’t know exactly how to go about that, but I will ponder it harder. :)
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I pray that people in Oklahoma will be ok.
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My top five reasons you could fail at prepping (survivalist).
#1. You find your wife digging up your cashed selling your stuff on eBay.
#2. When you are reloading in the basement cops come by because of a noise complaint on your shell cleaner. (Hint its your wife calling the Cops.)
#3. Your neighbors don’t invite you to their cook outs because they think it would become a kook out.
#4. The politicians never stop by your house. When they see you they say
oh no its him.
#5. You have all the army navy surplus catalogs and you don’t see
anything you need.
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That tornado was a bugger, for sure! My nephew and his wife live in Moore. It missed his house by 2 blocks. One of the schools that got tore up so bad butted up to the back of his property. They are good to go. As soon as the wife knew it was going to hit the school she took off running to get her little girl who is in 2nd grade, but didn’t grab her cell. High winds and debris forced her back. The neighbors grabbed her and dragged her into a storm shelter. As soon as the wind died the wife hit the ground running as fast as she could. My nephew had already collected her, but couldn’t get home nor could he call to let her know the kid was ok. I don’t know where they went. I don’t know how they met, but found each other and many tears of joy were had by all. My nephew went to help dig people out.
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Survivor, please let your nephew know that your friends are relieved to hear that he and his family are safe, and that their community is in our thoughts and prayers.
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:) Already did and thanks all!
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Survivor,
Thankful that your family is safe and will be praying for them and the people of OK.
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Stopped by a neighbors house the other day and what do I see in the garage? A whole pile of emergency food buckets. This of course lead to an interesting conversation about being ready. I already liked these people and now I really do. Like myself they raise chickens and goats and are talking about getting a couple of cows. Both raised in the country and know how to do lots of stuff. Good neighbors to have.
I think I have most of the points covered, the test will be when I actually need to implement the plan. During Rita when I was without power everything worked well but it was only a few days. My confidence level in being ready is high.
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I think that all 5 points are spot on. My hubby is not on board, and while he “puts up” with my insistence on having a well-stocked pantry, and he likes me buying “him” fishing gear and camping gear, his attitude is still that if things go “tits-up”, he just figures on dying so why worry. However, I believe that when the SHTF, he will change his tune.
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Hi – first time I have ever left a comment but I seem to be stuck on #2 and would like some thoughts from the Pack.
Might get long winded – warning in advance – sorry :)
We started prepping early 2011, started slowly but that nasty little feeling in the pit of my stomach just kept getting worse so we increased the pace a little. I’m lucky, dh is on the same page, more so now actually – I seem to be the problem – but that was no problem. His early years were rough so he has always been in survival mode. I literally had the silver spoon and have had alot to learn. Thank God I woke up in time.
Being from Tampa Florida, the first big purchase HAD to be a BOL. I am not judging at all – but I can’t fathom living in a city when you honestly believe that the crap is going to hit the fan. Odds are BAD for a prepared, strong guy on his own. Odds get much worse for women. And children in tow? Odds drop to about zero.
Anyway – We got very lucky, found the perfect location and got ready to move. It wasn’t easy at all – not a bit. His children think we’re insane and my Mom, although she is in agreement that something is seriously wrong, won’t leave. All live in about the worst place possible, in between Tampa and Orlando FL. There’s no way out. But we left, hopefully they will smarten up and come. This is the only way we can assure some sort of future for us and them. I’m working on my Mom still and we have good friends that will come when SHTF – They know to get her – or don’t come at all.
Told you I would get long winded!! LOL Getting to the point I promise!
So we moved – 2000 miles away.
It is beautiful, we have 40 acres, a well, tons of wildlife, VERY few people live in the area (and the ones that are there are extremely like minded) and dh is building a small cabin right now.
We’ve got all of the ammo, non-GMO seeds, solar/wind generators, food staples, medicinal stuff and I am learning how to garden and can. Ready to go.
It is very remote and is not a daily drive to anywhere, 20 miles to nearest town and that’s after you get down the mountain so …… and now comes the problem…. we ended renting a little place about 50 miles away from the BOL.
SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?? Moving out of town!! Go figure!
I immediately started setting up house and now can’t seem to implement the last part of the plan, which is to move totally off-grid and become completely self-sufficient. We have ZERO bills, our taxes are $10.00 a year (zoned agricultural) and we’re basically ready.
I just can’t seem to get my brain to go the rest of the way. I watch the news and the internet and look for something – anything! – that will tell me I AM insane, this is how every generation felt and I am just doing the “doom and gloom” thing but deep down I know better. We ALL know our way of life is ending, whether it is by way of losing our freedom at a time or a quick crash and burn. It is just how we choose to react.
I know there are no quick and easy pat-answers but maybe some comments from like-minded people will get me moving.
Being a “prepper” also isolates you – there are actually very few of us. And it’s not something you can REALLY share with someone who’s not.
We’re doing a trial run in July. 10 days. Hoping that will help. Might be an article!
MD, I would really love your thoughts on this too. You actually did it.
Thanks :)
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Gone West, I think I keep missing what your last part of the problem is, even though you seem to point right at it.
There’s going off-grid when the grid (and the internet) still exists, and there’s living after the grid goes away.
I’m going to miss my computers and internet-based boob-tube if they go away, but I’m trying to phrase my post-ragnarok plan around mediocre power availability and no internet.
(I really want to get gas for a stove soon. Hubby has a turkey fryer for his beer, but I’m not sure about canning when the canners specifically say not to use an outdoor-rated heat source, or something to that language. Canning and perpetual stew is the only way I’m going to save any of my freezer.)
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Kelekona,
“post-ragnarok plan” – I love it.
As for canning I see two options. The first is Propane, which we use to cook, heat domestic hot water, and heat the house, and all of this will work with no electricity (assuming we can still pump the water.
A wood cook stove. Canning was done long before electric and gas was available and the Amish still do canning on wood cook stoves. Her is a brief article on cooking with one: http://woodcookstovecooking.blogspot.com/2011/07/pressure-canning-on-wood-cookstove.html
Good luck.
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Gone West,
Treat your trial run as just that, a trial. You have ten days to go whole hog on the off grid, and then you can decompress for a while back in the modern world. I do a lot of primitive camping; however, knowing that there’s eventually a hot shower and a comfy bed waiting at the end of it helps the bad nasty wet days go better. Baby steps . . . baby steps . . . and soon you’ll have a functioning BOL in case you really need to BO.
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I know what is bugging you. It is fear of change. We get so used to a lifestyle that is comfortable and we don’t want to budge from it. You are not alone. people have moved unwillfully throughout history because of many changes. When I feel this way I look back at my ancestors who came here from other countries and prospered here. They prospered after a tough introduction but eventually had freedom, their own outhouse, and their own sense of independence from the countries they came from which were opppressive.
You will learn to appreciate what you may have taken for granted. I learned that from growing up at our family’s primitive cabin. I learned a lot of skills there. It will be a challenging moment for you but count your blessings….when SHTF you will be the fortunate one.
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I think you nailed several key points. A lot of preppers I see use it, like you mentioned, as an excuse to be a consumer – buy gadgets and gizmos. When they could probably get by with half the junk and more tangible skills – first aid, bushcraft, etc.
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