A different view of ''survival''

[mymindisamob]

We are currently referred to as "Preppers". I don't care for labels though. Anyhow, I have my wife on board and add a little extra each shopping day. She has a new interest in making soap, in addition to some gardening and my upcoming jump into raising rabbits again. If nothing else, these things get us ready, able and willing to live more frugal.

 

[dougo83]

One guys giggin frogs and another guys got flour. All we need now is a skillet, some oil and beer and there is nothing else to worry about....maybe some hot sauce...anybody got an unarmed neighbor with hot sauce?

I am far from unarmed, but I can make some mean hotsauce.

I knew people for whom that was true. If it didn't come in wrapper, it wasn't food.

That's disgusting.

I used to feel the way you do but I've noticed the more skills I obtain the less anxious I am about things.

This. is. key. As I learn how to survive, whatever the circumstances, the less concerned I am about having to actually do it. Because I know I can if I must.

 

[VTguy17]

I'm not really a "prepper" but I'm more than conscious about having supplies and ammo on hand. The one thing that has made all the difference in the world is a good food dehydrator. Whenever there is leftovers from dinner throw it in the dehydrator put it in a Ziploc bag and it lasts for years and tastes just as fresh re-hydrated as it did when you first made it. I originally got it for backpacking but like everything in my life I went overboard and starting dehydrating EVERYTHING. Soups, stews, meat pasta leftovers, chili, you name it you can dehydrate pretty much anything except milk and raw eggs. I make chicken and beef treats for the dog, jerky for myself. For $80 i spent on the dehydrator it payed for itself in a week. I have buckets full of gourmet dehydrated meals ready for whenever and whatever.

Homemade dehydrated split pea soup

 

[Bubblinwaters]

I've always heard that it's good to stock up on items you can use for barter. Aside from the obvious, it's probably a good idea to buy silver and gold. Having a short stack of those Canadian Maple Leaf coins might not be a bad idea! Get the small 1/20 oz size as they are easier to use for trade. The Maple Leaf coins are also nice since they are .9999.

 

[Edwood7]

I keep a few of these, grate barter items.

 

[Fonly]

I've always been the get up and go, I can't sit in one spot. What can't fit in a multi-day pack, I'm not taking it.

That said, sure I stock up, but its from having a preparedness mind set. I have ammo, food, supplies (FAK's, mechanical parts) What ever I need, but I don't bank on any of it. My wife can shoot and drive better then some of the men I have served with, she would make the perfect partner in any crappy situation.

I have ways of working with my gear,

Needs
wants
assets

My needs: protecting me and my own, that encompasses water, fire, shelter, signal, navigation, First aid and defense.

Wants: I want to stay at home and utilize my stocks, that said, its not a need, I don't account on it, but its nice to have.

My assets: I will get my hands on anything and everything to boost my prior needs. they are not wants, nor needs, just icing on the cake.


I have never feared any of the main topics in any number of the conversations. There are not many situations that a global break down could bring that being a reg force medic has not gone through.

Don't get me wrong, im sure it would be hell, Im sure there would be problems, but the fact that im on here talking about it, and being ready at anytime for it gives me, and the rest of you the upper hand.

 

[Fonly]

I keep a few of these, grate barter items.

Funny you mention that, we (a few friends and I) went in on a few hundred dollars worth of silver coinage, its all ways a good thing to have around. Honestly, the only thing that would be worth anything is ammo, food/water and gold and silver...

 

[jwblack911]

water
canned soup/ veggy
paper towels/ soap/ TP
extra shells
100 gallons of gas
a decent amount of clothing items that are of no value to me any longer, old winter coats, the older set of work boots all saved along with items above.

i don't live life like a nut job, but even in the terrible ice storm a few months ago where we were w/o electric or 11 days i was the guy with gas in my car and food on the table every night.

 

[upnorth]

We are currently referred to as "Preppers". I don't care for labels though. Anyhow, I have my wife on board and add a little extra each shopping day. She has a new interest in making soap, in addition to some gardening and my upcoming jump into raising rabbits again. If nothing else, these things get us ready, able and willing to live more frugal.

This is my comfort level. Keep a good grub stock, know a bit about the local flora and fauna, trust in the basic humanity\decency of the folks around your community. Catastrophes can also bring out the best in us and there are still many good people in this, at times, crazy world.

 

[ROCK6]

A thing I would take issue with is the blanket assertion that independence of technology necessarily makes one better off in a worse case scenario. I don't believe that is true. Sure it can look that way at a glance. My old Singer sewing machine is a far better device in that respect that the one I usually use. In fact there's a roaring trade in rounding those up and exporting them to third world countries for exactly that reason. And a log fire is more free than mains gas that is getting pumped here from Russia and so on. That said, the modern trend toward self sufficiency and getting off the grid uses a hell of a lot of technology. Gone is the sackcloth and ashes “The Good Life” approach to self sufficiency and the failing eyesight and fumes from an inefficient oil lamp. Colonel Dick Strwbridge's place at Newhouse Farm springs to mind for one.

I wouldn’t argue that. I would just submit that the more independent you are the less “need” you’ll have. However, that shouldn’t be a blanket statement as there are some many variables. Even if I had independent power, water and food sources, we still have technological needs be they medical, construction, repair parts, etc. What a little independence gives you is the potential for bargaining power…very few of today’s population (even in the so-called “independent” mindsets), could truly survive like Dick Proenneke. Even though we have a decent sized pond (12 acres) that is stocked well with healthy fish and some edible aquatic plants, my wife doesn’t care for fish…hence her push to consider raising some range-poultry around the house. We’re a little ways out from that, but it’s in our plans; a dozen eggs would go a long way in a bartering community.

i don't live life like a nut job, but even in the terrible ice storm a few months ago where we were w/o electric or 11 days i was the guy with gas in my car and food on the table every night.

I think this is essentially the best frame-of-mind when talking about “being prepared”.:thumbup:

ROCK6

 

[barrows]

water

i don't live life like a nut job, but even in the terrible ice storm a few months ago where we were w/o electric or 11 days i was the guy with gas in my car and food on the table every night.

Yep, we had an ice storm in Ky a few years back that cut off the power and caused the water to become unpotable for about the same length of time. The emergency band was full of reported crashes caused by people trying to make their way to emergency centers that didn't have enough room or food in the first place. Meanwhile we were living like kings on mac&cheese cooked over a fire!

other than the usual supplies, one thing I really do value in my home is the wood burning stove. I live far enough from any gas stations that I don't want to put too much faith in a generator.

I am holding my breath a little, waiting for the earthquake that's overdue in the area. The last quake is still the largest in recorded history by area effected, and the epicenter all of 150 miles from my house. So I do have a bit of a stockpile going on here.

 

[tradestar]

I have a question. If you put tap water into plastic jugs will it stay good enough to drink and for how long? and would boiling it be enough to make it safe? Thank guys, Im just a dumb suburbanite.

 

[barrows]

I have a question. If you put tap water into plastic jugs will it stay good enough to drink and for how long? and would boiling it be enough to make it safe? Thank guys, Im just a dumb suburbanite.

It should stay good for as years as long as the bottle isn't contaminated and has been sterilized. Just squeeze a little so water comes a bit over the top when you cap it so you are keep as much air as possible out. Milk jug looking containers aren't so great because they're weak and start splitting at the seams over time. 2 liter bottles are super sturdy though

Tap water is already treated so theres no need to sterilize it in the future. Storing from other sources like a private well gets trickier because of organisms and natural material in the water that could cause it to go sour.

 

[tradestar]

Thanks Barrows

 

[Alvaro Candanedo]

I think the most probable event where I live would be civil unrest. Just this week occurred a situation, here in my province: the indian communities (think in terms of "native panammenians"), to protest the construction of hydroelectric dams in their tribal lands, decide to close the Panamerican Highway, about an hour of travel time from where I live.
The stalemate with the government lasted for about one week until the riot police where sent; one indian died (gunshot). My point is that many foodstuff spoiled (milk, vegetables, etc.), and the people in Panama City experienced shortages of food; where I live, all the gas station closed because there was no fuel to sell. This just lasted for a couple of days and many public employees could not go to their works, etc., and I'm willing to bet that if it had lasted just a week longer, there would have beeen rioting, sackings of the supermarkets, etc. The police force could not have contained the situation without use of lethal force. Just because a closed highway.

 

[Bo T]

Once the population exceeds the carrying capacity of the land it doesn't take much to trigger a collapse. Depending on the trigger it could go from small area(s) of SHTF with large area(s) of civilization to vice versa. In the bad case scenerios medical supplies could be non-existent. NO antibiotics, little health care. Basic first aid is useless as it stabilizes the patient until they can be taken to the hospital (what hospital? They will be abandoned once the supplies run out). Wilderness first aid, EMT are the minimum requirements. A lot of doctors are not trained in emergency treatment a paramedic is worth more. What types of antibiotics can you make from scratch? Antiseptics? A little medicinal chemistry is helpful. A large proportion of the post trigger deaths will be from injury, infection and disease. This is every bit as important as food, water, shelter, and defense. Consider Haiti and make it worse.

 

[SoldMyHat]

I have a question. If you put tap water into plastic jugs will it stay good enough to drink and for how long? and would boiling it be enough to make it safe? Thank guys, Im just a dumb suburbanite.

Check out ready.gov

They recommend that you DON'T use milk or juice containers. It's way too hard to get the residue out and causes bacteria growth. Plastic soda bottles are best. And replace the water every 6 months to be safe. Water is cheap from the tap. There are other things to do for well water and tap water. They have a lot of useful info on there though regarding basic preperation for disasters.