Thought I might write in length about something that privately has concerned me …concerned not in an alarming or frantic way but more as in a ‘be prepared’ type of way…..yes I’m talking about “Prepping” and working on living a more self-sufficient way of life.
My recent Facebook “Page Likes” and my own postings lean towards what some might call “Doomsday Prepping” … well I just want to say I’m not quite at “Doomsday” level but I am concerned with being prepared for the “what if’s?” and in today, those “what if’s?” are becoming more of a reality than not… so much so I decide to speak up and share some of the knowledge I’ve obtained and still am acquiring.
I’ve kept private about this (up till now) as it’s something that most don't talk about openly because some people are either ok with it, curious or think ..."Oh, you’re one of those crazy people...."
I remember I thought that too ~ i.e. When I was little and went over to a friend’s house, and their religion had them storing food; and how I thought it silly that they kept a year supply of grains, sugars, flour etc., when we so easily can get that from the store. But things that have happened in my adult years, shows that it’s not always good to rely on things always being available in the stores (or being cheap enough to always buy when you need it etc.)
Actually, I’m surprised I didn’t become concerned about this in my 20’s... for a couple big eye openers for me should've been when I was living in So.Calif. and we had a 6.5 earthquake, which was a roller, but had it been a shaker, could’ve been a major issue. People flooded the grocery stores and bought up all the water and food in case we had another worse one...and that also made me aware how isolated So Calif. was; for evacuation would be almost impossible if everyone tried to leave at once.
Also at that time the “Rodney King Riots” happened, which shut down So Calif., there were curfews at dust and people buying out the grocery stores again. (Plus the looting and fires in the Crenshaw-Rosecrans areas) We had friends, who lived on Prairie in those areas, come to our house in Redondo Beach till it was safe again.
And then when I was living in Lake Tahoe ...we had a major 4 day snow storm... I happened to be stocked up enough for that week, and water from tap was still available so it didn’t really affect me ~ but people again bought out the stores...And because trucks couldn’t get to us for a week...the shelves really did become empty and gas stations were running out of gas to sell. (Oh I remember, I had run out of milk, and thought “Darn, if I had a box of instant that would’ve been nice to fill in till I could get some real milk.”)
So really ~ things can go crazy out there in just 4 days!
So a good question to ask oneself… Is your home prepared for a week or two if a major storm hit here, or our surrounding towns or a forest fire cuts us off etc…; which makes it impossible for trucks to bring in food, supplies or gas?
Or even just a loss of income, a job layoff? Or what I feel is coming …a massive economical inflation of goods; how long can you and your families survive ~ if say today, one of those situations above happened?
I’ve been a silent prepper for a few years now; actually so silent it was even unbeknownst to ME LOL …Well what I mean is I didn’t know it was called “Prepping”. I’ve always purchased in bulk and separated product out to store in single size portions, usually enough to last me a few weeks and mainly because I’m not one who likes to go to the grocery store…so my laziness made me a silent prepper LOL …And I’ve always been interested in and am in the process of making my life more self-sufficient with gardening, and learning more home skills, like canning, dehydrating and sewing.
The long term food storing, became more in depth when I had a loss of a job and I started thinking "if only I was better prepared...". Unfortunately I focused on freezing instead of learning canning and lost a good amount of food and money when the fridge /freezer died a weekend I was away. Emphasis now on how important learning canning is!
Did you know you can pressure can meat? Even bacon? And it’ll store for years…along with your sauces, soups, vegetables, fruits etc…..
But my point is, one doesn’t have to rely on just dehydrated foods for survival these days, and even the dehydrated foods have come a long way from your Campfire Girls and Boy Scout days. (more on that to come in another post)
Yep ~ There’s so much more I want to share on this subject of preparing and how it’s not just the fanatics doing it but more and more regular people (just like you) who are concerned about their loved ones and themselves; it’s not being crazy but being smart and having a simple back up plan. You purchase insurance for your home, car and health; home storage is insurance that you will be prepared in a life emergency.
Well that’s enough for now ~ and now you know I’m a secret “Prepper”. Funny it’s when I recently started speaking up about this, how many other people I found are secretly the same … so if more secret “Prepper’s” get on board, then there will be less “Zombies” running around in daze when /if the ”S” does hit the fan.
(FYI:. Zombies represent the people who did not prepare, walking around in a daze, don’t know what to do now and turning to taking it from others by maiming, looting and becoming inhuman … “Brainzzzz being our stored food and goods”.)
~ I’m not an expert ~ just your friend who wants you also to be prepared. ♥
A.F. OR
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Comments
Good points with examples of why you should do prepping and common sense reasons, very sincere.
So often we get so caught up in the urgent that we forget the most important. I have been married for 44 years to a contractor. In our part of the country it is cold in the winters and jobs are not always available and with 3 kids to raise, I always stored up for those winter months. I remember my sisters laughing and saying 'no one cans anymore' but I knew I had to. And I still do---and even more so. Read the bible--- even the ant knows to store up. We think we are so smart sometimes and in reality it is really foolish not to plan and to look to a government to take care of us---they won't, and in fact are the problem. I believe things are far worse than we can imagine. People need to do their own research and learn about 'interment camps' aready for the masses right here in the good ole USA. But most important get your relationship with the Lord right. He ultimately controls all and He cares about YOU!!
Hi ~ author of above here ~ thank you for your comments. I agree with Vickie about first being right with your Lord. First and foremost living a Christian life is important to me and my family. But I do have to add one thing that bothers me about some of my family ~ they are not preparing (for emerg, disaster or the unknown) because they believe our Lord will come and take us Christians home before we are subjected to such terrible happenings. I tell them ~ look around the world, the US ~ disasters are happening right now that are affecting good Christian people (hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, flu’s)
~ Being prepared isn’t saying you don’t believe in your religion and the day of Lord coming ~ it’s being smart to be able to thrive and survive til he does come. I’ll be trying to add to my cache for family members I love and friends who live like there are no worries of tomorrow. I’m only one salary and have myself to also take care of ~ so it’s a slow collection but every lil’ bit adds to it
You are choice withe.
I am sarcastic and humorous. So when people who are negative ask me about my prepping, I simply say it is for the "Zombie Apocalypse." And you are right. People will act mindless, go crazy and do anything to feed themselves and their family. Simply, it is the mob mentality. Luckily, I won't be "infected," because I have prepared and we will be safe and fed in our little home in the woods. Good luck, I hope to hear more from you! (Vote #1)