Prepping ?

[Boaz]

Well is anyone going to start prepping before the next election ? If so what are you going to put up ? Ammo , food or ......

[centershot]

Before the next election???? I hope you've been preparing long before this! Food, meds, ammo, commodities of all types.......AND a SAFE place to get you through the coming civil......mmmmm.......disruption!

[dverna]

Prepping is a mindset. It is different than hoarding. Putting up 20,000 rounds of .22 ammo is not prepping unless you have also addressed water, food, medical needs, shelter, heating, security etc etc

Many preppers are in for a shock as they tend to focus too much on water, food, seeds and so on without enough attention to weapons and how to use them effectively. They begin to believe their own BS....like their .22 is the ideal SHTF weapon, Or that they will hunt for food when they have not hunted before.

Then you have the gun nut types who have Lee loaders in their BOB. LOL. Idiots It makes me laugh to see old overweight guys showing off their 75 lb BOBs. I bet they have never walked 5 miles with it.

It is a balance. You need stuff but more importantly the right stuff and the skill, training, and knowledge to use it.

[starmac]

News flash, most of us old farts have no plans to walk anywhere, overweight or not.
Prepping is a relatively a new term, but the concept has been around since the beginning of time, and if you just think about it come election time, your way behind.

[g17]

I gave this some thought about 25 years ago.

[Freightman]

To old to run! to broke to flee very far! to crippled to wrestle! so guess I will just stay and fight!

[lightman]

I probably won't do anything different than what I'm doing now. I keep enough reloading components on hand to do my normal amount of shooting through 2 election cycles. I own most all of the guns that I want to own. I have enough lead to cast for the rest of my life.

I probably will run a quick inventory and maybe order some primers since they are becoming available again and maybe a little powder. I'm always on the lookout for free or cheap lead.

I really expected some rioting and looting after each of the last two Presidential elections. My neighbors and I had a plan, it was not going to happen here! I'm glad it did not come to that.

[Pine Baron]

News flash, most of us old farts have no plans to walk anywhere, overweight or not.
Prepping is a relatively a new term, but the concept has been around since the beginning of time, and if you just think about it come election time, your way behind.
Yeah, we used to call it "be prepared". Became clear to me when Sandy took out the Jersey Shore. No power, no phone, and if you could get on the road, there was no where to go. My home, no hardship, no anxiety. I was prepared. The neighborhood came together. We helped each other and everybody made it through. I developed a whole new positive outlook. It really will be alright. Just BE PREPARED.

[dtknowles]

My normal Hurricane season prep should or will be what I do. I have my regular food and water stash and I lay in extra TP, Canned Food, Batteries, Gas, Propane, run checks on the Generator before Hurricane season. Should be good for the election unless we have a big storm then I might need to restock.

Ammo horde, not so much an issue, I have plenty of what is called for, don't really imagine it will be needed but prepping isn't for what we know will happen but for just in case.

Tim

[Outpost75]

Agree if you don't have your preps squared away for hard times by now, it is a bit late to get started but these links may help.

LDS Food storage calculator: http://lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm
http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/food-storage-calculator-good-reference/#.VNPdKNLF9Ro
Salvaging old dried beans which have turned hard:
http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/old-beans-1970s-made-soft-edible/#.VNPcjNLF9Ro
http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/softening-old-beans-can-simple/#.VNPcrtLF9Ro
http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/saving-old-beans-turned-hard/#.VNPc6dLF9Ro
LDS Food Storage Center info:
http://providentliving.org/self-reliance/food-storage/home-storage-center-locations-map?lang=engDS
http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/lds-home-storage-center-update/#.VNPdfNLF9Ro

[square butte]

I started when I became a Boy Scout. That was a half a hundred years ago now. I'm with starmac - To old to walk or run away from it - But no plans on starving to death either.

[Boaz]

Agree if you don't have your preps squared away for hard times by now, it is a bit late to get started but these links may help.

LDS Food storage calculator: http://lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm
http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/food-storage-calculator-good-reference/#.VNPdKNLF9Ro
Salvaging old dried beans which have turned hard:
http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/old-beans-1970s-made-soft-edible/#.VNPcjNLF9Ro
http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/softening-old-beans-can-simple/#.VNPcrtLF9Ro
http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/saving-old-beans-turned-hard/#.VNPc6dLF9Ro
LDS Food Storage Center info:
http://providentliving.org/self-reliance/food-storage/home-storage-center-locations-map?lang=engDS
http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/lds-home-storage-center-update/#.VNPdfNLF9Ro

Outpost75 I appreciate the info ! We have been cooking 8 year old beans out of our 'inventory' and they taste fine except they take 3 times as long as normal to cook. Bean info will be defiantly used .

[jonp]

My family has been "preppers" for over 200yrs.

[GRUMPA]

The way I view things I kinda see things in a different light. Yes.....for the most part us older and hopefully wiser folks have experienced things in life that taught us the importance of knowing what to do. We all know in this stage of our lives most have learned to grow food, harvest it, store it, and have on hand what it takes to make what you need. It was a part of growing up when things just weren't all that easy to get, and if they were easy to get for the most part were on the expensive side of life.

The newer crop of people seem to be geared on getting what they want from the store, and the main reason I can see is it's just plain easier. And for lack of a better word.....being catered too.

Us older folks just learned while growing up that things like sewing, mending your clothes not only makes things last longer, but it left more money in your pocket. And generally that meant that you could get the things necessary to you at the time you either couldn't do on your own or just didn't have the time for. Let's face it.....things like automobiles just isn't something folks can piece together on there own.

The way I see it, it's the newer generation that's in for a world of hurt, and understandably so when for the most part they just can't do much. Now time is either measured by a clock or what's on TV at the time. They have no concept of how to can there food, mend there own clothing, how to cook in something other than a microwave.....etc.

Around here folks are lazy, and by that I mean they would rather sound like a daytime drama show about how bad life is and want someone else to do what they want. That doesn't set well with the Mrs. and I even after attempting to teach them how they can do it "ON THERE OWN". And we get to hear more reasons why it never got done for the next half hour rather than hearing about how they made the effort to do it in the first place, or.....how for some reason it was someone elses fault that somehow prevented it from getting done. But a lot of them somehow...for some reason....want you to feel somewhat sympathetic to there needs and wants.

Now the prepping part: People will stock what they view as necessities and either do without the frivolities in life to accomplish there goal, or cut back on them considerably in order to get them in the first place. The way I see it the newer generation is going to suffer the hardest, and going to be needing what I was brought up learning...."The School Of Hard Knocks" which really isn't all that easy to learn.

So prepping is 1 thing, you can have all you think you need. Which is understandable since your the person that made the effort in the first place. But trying to get the younger generation, or those that don't know, the values of doing things on there own to get themselves to be more self-sufficient I see as the real problem.

[BUCKEYE BANDIT]

Just put those OLD beans in the pressure cooker/canner,you do can don't you Boaz??

As a side note, are these those same old nasty MAGIC beans you were pawning off on us:bigsmyl2:.
Outpost75 I appreciate the info ! We have been cooking 8 year old beans out of our 'inventory' and they taste fine except they take 3 times as long as normal to cook. Bean info will be defiantly used .

[Ural Driver]

Most everything I need, is right where I'm at........:redneck:

[sparky45]

The real "prepping" will come when you find out if you're tough enough to keep everything you gathered.:holysheep

[Boaz]

Just put those OLD beans in the pressure cooker/canner,you do can don't you Boaz??

As a side note, are these those same old nasty MAGIC beans you were pawning off on us:bigsmyl2:.

Seals gave out on my antique 4 quart pressure cooker years ago . Wish I had another one every so often .

THE MAGIC BEANS !! Heck no ! Those were (I think) 'almost' Possibly pert near new crop beans . I'm fresh out ! But look what I got ! Sorry you missed the boat on that one . BUT ! Hey look what I got !!

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g353/chuckr1952/lamp001.jpg (http://s1097.photobucket.com/user/chuckr1952/media/lamp001.jpg.html)

[Geezer in NH]

I always prep buying beer in the 30 pack and my whiskey in the 1.75 liter :bigsmyl2::drinks:

[Pipefitter]

I always prep buying beer in the 30 pack and my whiskey in the 1.75 liter :bigsmyl2::drinks:


I brew my own beer and years ago my chemistry teacher in high school taught me how to run a still....... (what kind of flack he would catch today for teaching underage students to do that).

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Well is anyone going to start prepping before the next election ? If so what are you going to put up ? Ammo , food or ......

we do have a forum for this.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?104-Prepper-Talk

[Boaz]

Heck just delete it or move it . Just another thread . It will not hurt my feeling at all ....no problem !

[runfiverun]

well if you look at outposts post.
pretty much everybody in town is told to follow something along those lines. [usually more detailed]
and has been for as long as I can remember.
of course we are pretty much Utah-North here [only without the immigrants and califorinains trying to ruin it]
we celebrate 'pioneer day' which is a Utah holiday [the day they became a state] and don't celebrate Idaho's statehood.

[Diver07]

Although I grew up with what some now call a pepper mindset and family (when you live through old time PA winter storms...you tend to have to "be prepared"), some of the above links are helpful when budgeting.

[bayjoe]

I'm with Freightman!!

[trails4u]

Business as usual here.....we always try to be at least a year ahead on everything. We grow, we can, we hunt and preserve. Have three sources of water on property we own, lots of game, a good 'neighborhood' and a defense plan. It's all been in place for quite a while.

[Bullwolf]

I find it amusing that folks who live in big cities aren't prepared for things like the power going out, gas stations being closed, or stores not having food food and supplies on the shelves.

If you have lived anywhere with the potential to get snowed in, this kind of thing won't come as much of a surprise to you. Power has likely been off and on during big storms, and roads not getting plowed means your going to be spending quite some time at home until things get better.

People in rural areas likely keep extra supplies on hand already, like spare food, drinking water, generator fuel/ heating fuel, (like wood, gas, or propane) a way to generate light, like candles, flashlights or lanterns, and keep spare blankets and warm clothing around.

I dislike the term "prepping" as it has a crazy end of the world annotation to it. However being prepared for this sort of thing isn't crazy, it's just common sense.

No amount of 22 LR will help keep you warm if your snowed in, and you can't exactly eat them either. Keeping enough on hand that you won't run out if you can't restock that week, or next month is just common sense.

A pantry with extra canned goods, dry firewood, and some spare fuel will go a long way towards making an extended stay in that much more comfortable.

Those who live in rural areas, or near say hurricane alley likely won't find a disruption to the power grid to be as much of a surprise, and have already been "prepping" long before the term became popular.


- Bullwolf

[gandydancer]

To old to run! to broke to flee very far! to crippled to wrestle! so guess I will just stay and fight!

I'm with Freightman I have done no prepping to speak off. I am to used up to fist fight or to run. so I will stay and fight and take as many of the scum as I can with me.



Quiet time



There is nothing better than other people praying for you. We're not

Getting older, just getting closer to home! Be Still. Please pick four

People you want God to bless

Please pass this to at least four people you want to pray for. This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive.

There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's always pray for one another.

The prayer: Father, Thank You for each and every day You have blessed

Us here on earth. Thank You for Your tender mercies. Thank You for giving us friends and family to share these joys with. I ask You to bless my friends and those I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Where there is joy, give them continued joy, where there is pain; give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence. Where there is need, fulfill their needs. Bless their homestead, families, finances, their going out and their coming in's…In Jesus' name; Amen.

(If you choose to send this to more than four people, you are truly blessed to have such friends)

[Lloyd Smale]

shtf I'm going to park on the front porch with a couple ar15s and a ammo can of ammo and a box of beer. Hopefully I wont last till the beers gone.

[FISH4BUGS]

Enough reloading supplies for tens of thousands of rounds. 2000 lbs ww's. Freezer full of chickens and beef. Another freezer full of veggies from the garden. 50 gallons of backup gas. Generator. Wood stove. 8 cords on the ground stacked.
The power went out here for 11 days in the ice storm of '09. Turned out to be just an inconvenience more than anything.
Prepper? No.....just prepared. Here in rural NH it is just the way it is.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Heck just delete it or move it . Just another thread . It will not hurt my feeling at all ....no problem !
That wasn't my intent. I just wanted those who might want to dig deeper and/or start indepth conversations about it, that we have a forum for that. Just asking who's prepping is fine for "our town".

[Hickok]

I learned my lesson years ago when Bill Klinton was head heathen of the country and a rumor started about primers for reloading, and suddenly they became scarce.

I now keep a good supply of all components.

As the others have said, at 61 years old, I have few options.

I will be like the Cherokee Dog Men.

[Lead Fred]

Started buying firearms starting on Sept. 12th, 2001

[root]

Some of this for the blue helmets.
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q169/armalite_ar50/wolverines.jpg (http://s136.photobucket.com/user/armalite_ar50/media/wolverines.jpg.html)

Some of this for the Zombies.
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q169/armalite_ar50/funny-zombie-pictures-8_zps16f98f67.jpg (http://s136.photobucket.com/user/armalite_ar50/media/funny-zombie-pictures-8_zps16f98f67.jpg.html)

And this for the people next door that called the cops one time when I was loading up the car to go shooting.
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q169/armalite_ar50/armed-house.jpg (http://s136.photobucket.com/user/armalite_ar50/media/armed-house.jpg.html)

Now that I've made my jokes and had my fun.
It's business as always. if you aren't ready now then you won't be later.
By that I mean it's never to late to start but WE ARE AMERICANS.
You should already own a gun, food, meds. and know how to use them.

Americans SHOULD NOT be out trying to buy their 1st gun or bucket of beans when the next "gun ban" is on the horizon.

Those entitlement people are DOOMED, DOOMED I SAY!

Like others I'm bugg'n in not out. I live right in town and am staying put.
Being in NEPA just makes you prepared due to the OLD timey storms we used to get as another poster said.

The new generation is screwed though once the Xbox's, cell phones, and GPS's stop working.
People look at me cross eyed when I tell them I'm a map and compass guy like I am practicing old Druid magic or something.
Rich

[dtknowles]

Just long as you all understand that Prepping is just a kind of insurance, there is not guarantee that the SHTF is going to happen in your lifetime. I have Prepped for Hurricane season every year in the last 20 and have never used the supplies because of a storm. We did evacuate 3 times instead of riding it out. We were prepped but it was a lot smarter to go someplace nice and dry with power and AC until it was all clear. I probably boarded up the windows a dozen times but I can't say that I prevented any damage.

Katrina a neighbors tree came down on and thru the roof of my house, glad we weren't there. No looting, no flooding. It is good to be prepared but if I can outrun the Zombies I will, I am willing and prepared to fight but would prefer to avoid it.

Tim

[KAF]

How does a prepper stock up insulin, biological meds to treat arthritis, and other medications?

[Outpost75]

My observation since I was a kid growing up near Fort Belvoir, Virginia, during the Cuban missile crisis, which is when my family started prepping, has been that those who fixate on firearms and ammo and heading to the hills are the least prepared and their efforts tend to be counter-productive due to inadequate planning and poor opsec. There is better guidance out there if you look.
The best preparedness blog on the net, in my opinion, is the product of Howard Godfrey, an old trusted friend of mine, retired law enforcement, arson investigator and emergency management professional.

Most ‘prepper’ blogs out there, are a haven for fringe characters: conspiracy believers, anti-science people, religious extremists, militia members, and even white supremacists. Howard hosts a prepping blog called Preparedness Advice (http://preparednessadvice.com/), described by Grant Cunningham as 'a breath of fresh air!' They cover all kinds of general preparedness topics but without the political, racial and religious overtones so common in the prepper community. If you’re looking for preparedness information without the craziness, check it out.

I recommend that you load his blog archives onto a thumb drive to use for reference on that dark day that the Internet goes blank. http://preparednessadvice.com/

[Outpost75]

How does a prepper stock up insulin, biological meds to treat arthritis, and other medications?

This can be a tough nut to crack, as drugs have a shelf life.

http://preparednessadvice.com/medical/shelf-life-of-prescription-medications/#.Vw5ehtQrLcs

Insulin requires refrigeration and when the power goes off you need to be resourceful.
http://preparednessadvice.com/medical/keeping-insulin-cool-in-an-emergency/#.Vw5fYtQrLcs

While some herbal and traditional medicines can serve as analgesics, insulin has no primitive substitute.

[Clay M]

Prepping sounds like something you do before a colonoscopy.:shock:

[MUSTANG]

Some observations:

(1) Planning to hunt Game for resupply is not going to work for 99% of the population. The game in areas they are at; or will relocate to will be reduced to practically Non-Existent if a major problem or population relocation occurs. During the Lewis and Clark Expedition they had several occasions where their plan to "Live off the Land" was not working as they experienced a couple of weeks without seeing adequate game to harvest for the Expedition. At the Moapa House our game has been dramatically reduced because of (a) the diversion of thousands of acre feet of water (into the Muddy River) to allow pulling water downstream from Lake Meade for Las Vegas use; and (b) diversion of multiple rivlets/creeks in the Upper Muddy River areas to create "song-bird" habitat by the various "Citified Conservation Groups". In our Kalispell house we see a significant reduction in Deer and Turkey by "Subsistence Hunters" - some would call them Poachers; but I can understand when the jobs are disappearing and the family larder is empty I can understand the Mid-night shots heard from time to time.

(2) Once the pantry is depleted in a "SHTF" scenario there is the need to grow food. Unfortunately, many people think of laying in a supply of seed to plant . Do they know when to plant; will they plant long before the larder is bare to ensure food in the future when needed? Learning to harvest Vegetable seeds is a required skill/art that needs prior development; a skill that would provide a significant "Trade" advantage downstream if a major problem or population relocation occurs.

(3) What to do when the "Redistribution Police" arrive at the door in an emergency. Learn how to grow a garden in small isolated plots much like the early residents did (pre-European Migration to North America); or as the POT GROWERS have done in the US for the last 40 years.

(4) How to Overcome inhospitable growing environments. In Southern Nevada that often means container growing to overcome cliche soils and loss of water from seepage/evaporation - plus shade to protect plants. In North Western Montana, the building of above ground planting beds to overcome the Boulders/ Rock that precludes gardening in many areas off the immediate Valley Floors.

[root]

How does a prepper stock up insulin, biological meds to treat arthritis, and other medications?

I would look to the novalog pen for insulin if it is right for you.
No fridge and dial a dose. The problem with that is being able to get your Doc to write a script for long term put back supplies and shelf life.
Most meds. Far out live the expire dates and even then become 1/2 dose strong when they start to breakdown.
Mind you not all and some meds either won't work or become toxic when expired. So use a good site like the MAYO clinic to verify such things and also the lot number of said meds.
Fish or krill oil for the aches and pains.

tons and tons of research on meds more specific the ones you need.

I work in hemodialysis 3 days a week ( nice bennies) and as most know swing a hammer the other 4 days a a blacksmith and maker & fixer of things my adult life.

So I'm pretty rounded out on the keeping in one piece thing.

As far as playing "batman in the boondocks?" ain't gonna happen not with me.
Another poster mentioned that YES the game will be gone in a few weeks.

The people to worry about other then the redistribution police will be the ones that are around 6 months after there is still no order returned.
Those are the ones that will be the most dangerous.

I plan on doing this to the front of my house ya know the FEMA "X" accept I'm gonna mark it as 2 dead inside.
Most sheeply today don't want to deal with a dead body not all but most.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q169/armalite_ar50/fema_zpsziwzbarx.jpg (http://s136.photobucket.com/user/armalite_ar50/media/fema_zpsziwzbarx.jpg.html)

Rich

[dtknowles]

How does a prepper stock up insulin, biological meds to treat arthritis, and other medications?

My wife was an insulin dependent diabetic and my plan was buy all we could and buy a centrifuge and filters. She has passed so it will not matter now. We always had a good stock of insulin but it is perishable.


Tim

[flyingmonkey35]

well if you look at outposts post.
pretty much everybody in town is told to follow something along those lines. [usually more detailed]
and has been for as long as I can remember.
of course we are pretty much Utah-North here [only without the immigrants and califorinains trying to ruin it]
we celebrate 'pioneer day' which is a Utah holiday [the day they became a state] and don't celebrate Idaho's statehood.
Yup. Utahn here can agree with this.

LDS religion teaches a family should be prepared to feed one selves for two years.

Going on 50+ years

They also teach to use your food storage and turn it over.

Yes the population has gotten so big that a lot of people would starve if the economy collapsed

But it would hit cities first.

Sad truth but I also have a hard time seeing it happen.

Just the opptamist in me I gusse.


Sent from my draconis using Tapatalk

[SSGOldfart]

Then you have the gun nut types who have Lee loaders in their BOB. LOL. Idiots It makes me laugh to see old overweight guys showing off their 75 lb BOBs. I bet they have never walked 5 miles with it.

It is a balance. You need stuff but more importantly the right stuff and the skill, training, and knowledge to use it.
"And that is a fact." Well put

[Tommygun2000]

Was prepping 20 years before the word was even invented.

[root]

Same Tommygun2000 from UZITALK??

[Boaz]

That wasn't my intent. I just wanted those who might want to dig deeper and/or start indepth conversations about it, that we have a forum for that. Just asking who's prepping is fine for "our town".

To be honest I had forgotten there was a board over there . And your right ....would have been a better location for a 'prepping' thread.

[quilbilly]

About a year ago I was at a county emergency management meeting as a trained disaster responder where we were discussing the upcoming "big one" - the 8.5+ subduction quake followed by tsunami. The county presented a list of things we would need to get by for the first five weeks when no help would be coming. The county also presented a survey by neighborhood of who was most prepared. We and my rural neighborhood where I will be responding had pretty much everything on the list (We are Quilbillies after all). On the other hand the "city people" at the county seat on average had less than 10% of the required items. The bottom line is country people are country people and city people are city people used too being cared for by the government. For the record, I think five weeks is optimistic.

[square butte]

When I was a kid on my Uncles ranch at the end of 15 miles of dirt road in Arizona - They used to keep 15 gallons of ice cream in the propane freezer. Now that's what I call prepared.

[Boaz]

True Preppers square butte !

[runfiverun]

15?
that's gonna be a looong second week.

[Houndog]

How does a prepper stock up insulin, biological meds to treat arthritis, and other medications?

I got my Doc to start writing perscriptions for Insulin and my other maintainence drugs in 3 month supply orders. I refill when I'm down to a one month supply. Doing it this way the least amount on hand still gives me a solid 30 day supply. Insulin stores well if you keep it in the refrigerator.

[Abenaki]

What to prepp?

Just pretend that you can not get to a store for a few months.
Now list every thing you need to buy in that few months.

Do not for get things like lamps for when the lights go out.
And first aid supplies. Never ever forget the toilet paper!

Take care
Abenaki

[rancher1913]

the only thing I have been worried about was being able to feed the guns. we have enough human food to last and the ability to grow more, both animal and vegitable. thanks to this site I can say that my guns will be fed for a good long while. the Achilles heel of reloading is the primers--make sure you have plenty stored away.

[victorfox]

I'm doing it for a couple years... In Brazil it's shtf every day... Read about this commie govt of us and you'll never believe it's a very small tip of the iceberg.

[Clay M]

Salt.. most people overlook that, but you can't live without it.

I always keep a few fifty pound bags around.

I also want a deep well hand pump.

[Bonz]

To old to run! to broke to flee very far! to crippled to wrestle! so guess I will just stay and fight!

same thing for my wife and I...

[gilgsn]

Let's not forget communications... I happen to own and run radiopreppers.com - Because information would be of utmost importance to survival.

Gil

[PerpetualStudent]

For people just looking at "prepping" there are good sources out there. Unfortunately in addition to the crazies (and they are out there) it's also suffering from popularity. Last election I saw a "survival pack" at barnes and noble.... I'm not sure it would have been adequate for a 10 year old going on adventure for the afternoon.

My 2 cents:

1. There's a "zero sum" aspect to this. The more prepared you are for the world if it ends, the less well off you are for the world as it is. Really hardcore preppers are already living off their ranch and trying to cut down even more the things they need from town. They're not wasting money on internet access and don't have much time for entertainment. That's fine but it's also very different from the life most of us want to live.

2. If it all seems overwhelming (and it is) look for hobbies that will be useful. No most of us can't live off our land right now, but most of us can start a garden and start learning that skill. Having a chicken or two has gotten popular of late, that's not a bad protein source and it's a good learning place for livestock care. Learn order of needs. Ammo is great but clean water will probably be a more pressing need. You probably can't right now drop the money and time to be "prepped", see what steps you can take. See what skills you can learn. And figure out how you want this as a part of your life.

[lightman]

When I read the title of this thread I thought it was going to be about the gun, ammo and reloading shortages that we had in 2007-2008. In an economic collapse, end of the world, or a SHTF scenario I guess I'll just ride it our where I am.

We have a whole house generator on natural gas (propane is an option), a freezer full of food, a pantry full of food, a closet full of toilet paper and such, a fireplace and a bunch of wood. And enough ammo to reenact the Alamo!

But, my wife and I are both on meds that in her case she can't live without. She's a live transplant recipient and requires anti-rejection meds. Mine are to reduce the attacks that come with MS. I could live without mine and might could die from old age before the lack of those got me. In her case her body would reject the liver and she would suffer a slow death from liver failure. I would be at her side. We buy our meds as much at a time as we can but they have a shelf life. They are also very expensive.

I've worked outdoors my whole life and am resistant to the weather and hardships. I also have the camping and hunting skills to possibly survive outdoors. But I'll not abandon her, so I guess I'll just hunker down as best I can and try to take a bunch of them with me. Like Lloyd Smale, hold my beer and watch this shot!

[Outpost75]

Let's not forget communications... I happen to own and run radiopreppers.com - Because information would be of utmost importance to survival. Gil

A useful link for emergency communications training which we use for our volunteer Auxiliary Communications Service

http://w4ava.org/training.htm

[MaryB]

Store what you eat, eat what you store! Buy double of everything for a few months and you will have a LOT stored back.

I often shop once a month. I buy everything I need and it goes in the pantry rotation. I buy beef once a year, same for pork. I have enough solar and battery to keep the fridge(converted chest freezer) and the fridge going long term. It doesn't hurt to buy a stock of freeze dried veg in #10 cans and just stash it. Stuff will keep 10 years and still be good.

[smokeywolf]

I learned my lesson years ago when Bill Klinton was head heathen of the country and a rumor started about primers for reloading, and suddenly they became scarce.

I now keep a good supply of all components.

As the others have said, at 61 years old, I have few options.

I will be like the Cherokee Dog Men.

Forgive the tardiness of this observation.
The Dog Soldiers were of the Cheyenne tribe.

Back to subject. We started buying the freeze dried meats and vegetables in no. 10 cans of which Mary speaks, some 4 years ago. Mrs. smokeywolf uses them semi regularly and has developed a few dishes which are delicious, satisfying and take 30 minutes give or take to put on the table.

The canned freeze dried foods are quite expensive, but store very well, retain their nutritional values and allow for easy preparation even in less than convenient circumstances. One of my favorites is chicken curry and rice.

[Petrol & Powder]

My plan is to invest heavily in companies that sell Prepping Supplies.......

[Bob in St. Louis]

How does a prepper stock up insulin, biological meds to treat arthritis, and other medications?
I'm a member on a "SHTF" site. I'm not a user of insulin, so I can't directly answer your question, but here's a link that you may find helpful;
http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=33479

[Outpost75]

Also don't forget we have an entire sub-forum on prepping and before this thread gets too far afield, maybe some of this discussion would be better to be moved here:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?104-Prepper-Talk

[Clay M]

My plan is to invest heavily in companies that sell Prepping Supplies.......

Sounds like a winner.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Also don't forget we have an entire sub-forum on prepping and before this thread gets too far afield, maybe some of this discussion would be better to be moved here:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?104-Prepper-Talk
Good to know, thanks!
I don't consider myself an "outdoorsman", so would have NEVER found that. Thanks!

[Clay M]

Just so you have plenty of corn cobs you should be OK.
That is what my granddads generation use for toilet paper.

[Clay M]

I think about my dear old grandfather and how amused he would be with the concept of prepping.
He grew up with nothing. Everything he had or acquired was by his own hands.
He taught me a lot about the old ways when I was younger.
I will always miss him.
When people refer to him it is always as a pioneer of the county.

[tinhorn97062]

Like many, I have no desire to be running all over the place. So I'll just pull up a chair and get comfortable. Jesus will either sustain me through whatever happens to come along, or I go to Heaven....either way, I win.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Amen to that Bother!

[BrassMagnet]

How does a prepper stock up insulin, biological meds to treat arthritis, and other medications?

Sheep and knowledge

or

a BIG refrigerator!

[dtknowles]

Sheep and knowledge

or

a BIG refrigerator!

Pig or Human pancreas work too.

Tim

[Clay M]

My grandfather would have starved to death before he let a neighbor go hungry.
Just the way he was raised. Wesleyan theology.

I always remember him saying, "Love your neighbor as yourself."


He did indeed take care of the widows and orphans.

My grandfather made all the difference in my life.

Prepping ..for what?

If it is not already part of your lifestyle then chances are you won't make it anyway.

[perotter]

the only thing I have been worried about was being able to feed the guns. we have enough human food to last and the ability to grow more, both animal and vegitable. thanks to this site I can say that my guns will be fed for a good long while. the Achilles heel of reloading is the primers--make sure you have plenty stored away.

There is a sticky on how to make primer compound on this very forum. There are various compounds that range from very simple(corrosive) to what is more or less the same as we buy.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?182089-can-you-make-priming-compound

[jonp]

Enough reloading supplies for tens of thousands of rounds. 2000 lbs ww's. Freezer full of chickens and beef. Another freezer full of veggies from the garden. 50 gallons of backup gas. Generator. Wood stove. 8 cords on the ground stacked.
The power went out here for 11 days in the ice storm of '09. Turned out to be just an inconvenience more than anything.
Prepper? No.....just prepared. Here in rural NH it is just the way it is.

lol. I was in camp up in NE Vermont. Gas stove, gas fridge, gas lights, woodstove for heat. I ran out of beer and walked the few miles out to the road and ran into town just to find out the power had been out for 3 days. Who Knew?

[perotter]

Just so you have plenty of corn cobs you should be OK.
That is what my granddads generation use for toilet paper.

I ask an uncle about that years ago. His first reply was 'So you are thinking it would be like using wood rasp to wipe with'. He then said they planted a small patch of a special corn that ripened with a softer cob than normal for this purpose. I have no idea what corn it was or if it can be found now.

[Bob in St. Louis]

I ask an uncle about that years ago. His first reply was 'So you are thinking it would be like using wood rasp to wipe with'. He then said they planted a small patch of a special corn that ripened with a softer cob than normal for this purpose. I have no idea what corn it was or if it can be found now.
I heard the Sears catalog was what they've used in the outhouse for the last hundred plus years.
Before that? I dunno...a swim in the river? I've done that, not too long ago in fact. Rather refreshing if you ask me.
But using an ear of corn, no matter how.... "soft" .... it is, doesn't sound legit. ha ha!!

[Geezer in NH]

Remember the most important part of prepping. OPSEC, OPSEC, OPSEC, OPSEC,

As a diabetic myself I expect to die within 6-12 months later plus being blind. I hope to make a difference for my family before.

[MaryB]

Skills will make a huge difference, what can you offer your community? I am not talking hunting, where I live 90% of the town deer hunts. I can offer communications, food preservation lessons, I am building a picobrewery(I will be able to do 5 gallons at a time to start, I might up it to 10 down the road...) so I will be able to offer fermented beverages...