Robin
.475 A&M Magnum
Me, I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree, so to those that monitor the site, leave me alone.
Robin
Robin
Interested in a serious discussion. (Survival/Prepping)The time may be upon us, are you ready?
- Thread starter GOPerfect
- Start date
Thanks to GOP for starting this thread. It's a topic well worth the time. I think a scenario like Argentina is possible. I've recommended the book by ferfal in the past and continue to do so.
I think something significant is on the horizon. Our weakness and pending political crisis is going to be taken advantage of by one or more of our adversaries. I'm not sure how it will be manifested but I am 95% certain something big is coming.
I think something significant is on the horizon. Our weakness and pending political crisis is going to be taken advantage of by one or more of our adversaries. I'm not sure how it will be manifested but I am 95% certain something big is coming.
I went to a somewhat local VA clinic this morning. I was in no mood to join the conversation, horrible allergy attack....
Anyway, I was listening in to the talk, about 10 guys, all vets were talking about how horrible things are these past few years. They all began telling each other how they are preparing if real bad things occur. Lots of talk about canned goods, canning supplies and filling the cellars. One guy claimed to have over 1000 canned jars of food. About half of which is meats. Deer, turkey, chicken and pork. Says he spends all of his free time canning these days.
Another fella stated, with huge pride, that he amassed well over 2000 rounds of ammo for his two guns. Better something than nothing. They are all convinced that terrible things are on the horizon. Again, just a bunch of fellas talking, but it was good to hear these conversations happening.
Anyway, I was listening in to the talk, about 10 guys, all vets were talking about how horrible things are these past few years. They all began telling each other how they are preparing if real bad things occur. Lots of talk about canned goods, canning supplies and filling the cellars. One guy claimed to have over 1000 canned jars of food. About half of which is meats. Deer, turkey, chicken and pork. Says he spends all of his free time canning these days.
Another fella stated, with huge pride, that he amassed well over 2000 rounds of ammo for his two guns. Better something than nothing. They are all convinced that terrible things are on the horizon. Again, just a bunch of fellas talking, but it was good to hear these conversations happening.
JaguarJaguarGolf
6.5 Creedmoor
Get refills of medication you need, a multiple month stash.
Get all dental work you were considering done soon
Get all dental work you were considering done soon
pshift
.338 Win Mag
I have nothing. Look elsewhere... 
Well, being still in the transition phase of our relocation with so much in boxes, I feel a bit exposed, unprepared, and vulnerable!
I don't like it! Not one bit!
We are set up down there, but not set up like our house (was). But I'll soon make sure to rotate our some of the zombie food stuffs, and make sure we have a bunch of life straws and med kits. Plenty of ammo and soon some fun stuff to be added to the collection. Again, in a transitory stage, it's unnerving! The old "moving Target" thing doesn't take into account that when moving you're exposed, when moving you can only take with you limited resources, when moving your defenses are circumstantial. I always felt my pool with 22k gals of water would be a great resource... Will be at least a year until I build a new one, lol.
I don't like it! Not one bit!
We are set up down there, but not set up like our house (was). But I'll soon make sure to rotate our some of the zombie food stuffs, and make sure we have a bunch of life straws and med kits. Plenty of ammo and soon some fun stuff to be added to the collection. Again, in a transitory stage, it's unnerving! The old "moving Target" thing doesn't take into account that when moving you're exposed, when moving you can only take with you limited resources, when moving your defenses are circumstantial. I always felt my pool with 22k gals of water would be a great resource... Will be at least a year until I build a new one, lol.
Driving/Traveling long distances makes my mind wander into that "what if something happens" while I'm this far out, now WFT am I going to do?
At least you have a little time to think about it and at least have some sort of plan B tucked back in the sub-conscious...no matter what it's going to be a long hard ride to get back home, IF you ever do, if those left behind ever know what happened to you.
Bicycles and GOOD Kids/Garden Wagon are simple and viable if powered vehicles aren't an option...beats LPC's.
We are still in a bit of the same situation. We have the majority unpacked, still going through stuff.
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
has anyone thought on saving water not for just drinking
but for cooking , washing the dishes and bathing needs too
good thing there is a creek close by here
but for cooking , washing the dishes and bathing needs too
good thing there is a creek close by here
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
Canning Water
While on the topic @GOPerfect what potential near future scenario are you referring to? Imminent ww3 with Russia and or china? The collapse of USD as global reserve currency and hyper inflation and economic collapse? A real pandemic? Massive coordinated terrorist attacks and/or the grid being taken down? In general we'll call them "election centered shenanigans" to preserve power.
Just curious what you are alluding to in your post.
Personally I'm probably ok for a few months. If it goes longer than that shit is going to get hard really fast. I'm certainly better prepared than most of my normie neighbors but no where as prepared as I know i should be. I've made peace with the fact that until I move out rural somehow and get a real garden, Chickens etc my most likely outcome is to try to outlast my neighbors in suburbs and bug in and then hope to band together with others for a community. I need to outlast the first major die off in a major SHTF scenario and then hopefully when less people around can take over more land and build a bigger garden, go fishing more etc... it's not a good plan. But I'm trying to be realistic and not sugar coat pie in the sky unrealistic expectations of hopes and dreams. What I absolutely need to get is more dog food.
I've come to the conclusion being an urban or suburban prepper is fine for short term but it's not sustainable long term. I can handle short term it's ill just starve later than the others did. If you want a chance of surviving a full out shtf you have to be rural in a low population density area with people who will behave and have morals. On that note I watched a very thought provoking YouTube video. This is a purely hypothetical for discussion and entertainment purposes example, but what would you do if you live in an area and the grid is down and it appears ww3 has started and is been a few days and things are continuing to get worse And there is no news. You have a few "undesirable" neighbors somewhere nearby that in good times are meth heads, crackheads, tweakers, etc and can't stay out of trouble under the rule of law, you know these people are going to come out of the wood work looking to exploit the situation for their own benefits through violence and theft, do you pre-empt them or hope they leave you alone. These are the things many good honest people have the luxury of not having to consider in good times of plenty under rule of law.
Ironically just today I was told I have to attend a work conference in Florida in September. Not a fan. At all. Contemplating how to weasel out of this and keep my job because I really don't want to go, I have an ominous feeling and I don't want to be 1000 miles from home away from family with 0 supplies. So my anxiety is kicking in. Not thrilled.
Just curious what you are alluding to in your post.
Personally I'm probably ok for a few months. If it goes longer than that shit is going to get hard really fast. I'm certainly better prepared than most of my normie neighbors but no where as prepared as I know i should be. I've made peace with the fact that until I move out rural somehow and get a real garden, Chickens etc my most likely outcome is to try to outlast my neighbors in suburbs and bug in and then hope to band together with others for a community. I need to outlast the first major die off in a major SHTF scenario and then hopefully when less people around can take over more land and build a bigger garden, go fishing more etc... it's not a good plan. But I'm trying to be realistic and not sugar coat pie in the sky unrealistic expectations of hopes and dreams. What I absolutely need to get is more dog food.
I've come to the conclusion being an urban or suburban prepper is fine for short term but it's not sustainable long term. I can handle short term it's ill just starve later than the others did. If you want a chance of surviving a full out shtf you have to be rural in a low population density area with people who will behave and have morals. On that note I watched a very thought provoking YouTube video. This is a purely hypothetical for discussion and entertainment purposes example, but what would you do if you live in an area and the grid is down and it appears ww3 has started and is been a few days and things are continuing to get worse And there is no news. You have a few "undesirable" neighbors somewhere nearby that in good times are meth heads, crackheads, tweakers, etc and can't stay out of trouble under the rule of law, you know these people are going to come out of the wood work looking to exploit the situation for their own benefits through violence and theft, do you pre-empt them or hope they leave you alone. These are the things many good honest people have the luxury of not having to consider in good times of plenty under rule of law.
Ironically just today I was told I have to attend a work conference in Florida in September. Not a fan. At all. Contemplating how to weasel out of this and keep my job because I really don't want to go, I have an ominous feeling and I don't want to be 1000 miles from home away from family with 0 supplies. So my anxiety is kicking in. Not thrilled.
stokes
.338 Win Mag
Sounds to me that you are in a panic over something that hasnt happened and may not happen any time soon. I would calm down go to Fla and enjoy time away as best you can. Pretty sure no job is going to excuse you from your duties because there "might" be a SHTF situation. Its one thing to be vigilant and prepared but its no reason to stop living.
thisIslandEarth
.357 mag
100% great assessment. Yep, we can prep and hunker down but IMHO any extended chaos ( > 1 week ) unless you are some part of an organized group ( neighbors ) the chance for survival deteriorates rapidly. I'm in the same boat as you and I understand completely.
No I actually hate traveling without my family regardless of where/why. And traveling to a conference is a complete waste of my time as it's all bullshit and I don't actually have time to accomplish my primary duties and end up working double the time to catch back up. I have zero desire to socialize with people trying to sell me services and equipment. I miss out on all of my home responsibilities I need to be completing. But that's just me and my .02 cents.
Nothing at all specific. Just overall tensions in the US. The anger, the paranoid attitudes and the overall propaganda being pushed.
The economy, political tensions. The killing of millions of chickens and cows....
Hochulsucks1234
.357 mag
We had a 4 day outage over the winter. Put frozen stuff outside on porch. Didn't need to run generator much (a few hours a day to charge stuff, run fridge, etc). Ran woodstove for heat. Didn't break into any emergency food or supplies at all...simply ate what we normally do. By the fourth day the kids were going a little stir crazy, but we were doing just fine.
Longer outages, especially those that bring on chaos, would be a different experience. But we can hunker down no problem (4 of us). We always have around 2 weeks of everyday food on hand, not including what is stored in freezers. The emergency food is also not factored in. We wouldn't touch that for at least a few weeks.
If it were a SHTF situation there would be a concern with security. We live in a rural area and you can bet everyone around me owns a firearm and would be in protection mode. A few would probably up and leave. I imagine there would be a period of time where OPSEC is vital. Last thing anyone wants is a rove of bandits coming on your property and bum rushing ya. I do have the advantage of one direction of entry that is up a long driveway. A good shot solves a lot of problems!
Longer outages, especially those that bring on chaos, would be a different experience. But we can hunker down no problem (4 of us). We always have around 2 weeks of everyday food on hand, not including what is stored in freezers. The emergency food is also not factored in. We wouldn't touch that for at least a few weeks.
If it were a SHTF situation there would be a concern with security. We live in a rural area and you can bet everyone around me owns a firearm and would be in protection mode. A few would probably up and leave. I imagine there would be a period of time where OPSEC is vital. Last thing anyone wants is a rove of bandits coming on your property and bum rushing ya. I do have the advantage of one direction of entry that is up a long driveway. A good shot solves a lot of problems!
Actually there is something to this: It has been suggested that your yard be strewn with things such as old clothes, busted furniture, empty food packages, dead animals, anything to look like the place has been ransacked already.I have nothing. Look elsewhere...
thisIslandEarth
.357 mag
My place always looks like that...
BLUF: You've got two weeks past the point of failure before things really go to shit.
In the case of "Natural Emergencies" where utilities are shut down (Electricity is out, resupplies aren't coming through, generally things are inconvenient and out for a little while) we have about two weeks before things get really shitty, maybe a little more if it's not dead of Winter Cold...of course there are the local scum bags that will sneak about and exploit the situation, but they know the Cops are patrolling and WILL take their ass in.
In the case of sever disaster (EMP, Coronal Mass Ejection, huge fire or flood, etc.) most everything in the area will be out of commission, and it'll take folks a few days to come to terms IF they haven't bugged out. those that stay behind for whatever reason have already decided they can ride things out or back to the shit-bags, who will exploit the situation for personal gain in the name of survival...again, Society and/or Law Enforcement should sort things out. In Florida, the Sheriff's recommend SHOOTING Looters; that's right, they encourage it! try that shit in New York.
Armed Invasion, Nuclear attack and the like: Gubberment isn't going to help YOU; they'll be too busy securing their selves and Families into DUMB's, in which case The Shit HAS Hit the Fan, and you're about to undergo the ultimate tests of your Life, and the ROE's are off the Table.
I've put a lot of thought into this. A lot.
I've made my opinion as simple as possible. People will behave and follow customs, laws, accepted behavior for as long as they believe "things will go back to normal".
Once people reach their own conclusions that "this is different, things aren't going back" that's when really bad things happen.
How long that happens is up for debate. There are certain things which will speed that timeline up or slow it down. For example if the Internet, cell networks, and the grid all go down and no one has any news available that will speed the collapse up.
If there is a slow cascading failure where some systems are working and others are not and they slowly continue getting worse, that scenario people will take longer to decide things will not get better and return to normal and will behave longer.
Situations known to be local will almost always stay under control and situations that are known or thought to be national are much more likely to spiral out of control because this will play into the information processing of whether things will return to normal or not. In a weather disaster everyone knows things will return to normal sooner or later and they think their situation is merely localized or perhaps regional. Katrina unruly behavior is the outlier in this scenario but I chalk that up to demographics, geography and statistics.
It all comes down to the single question, do people still think things will return to normal?
Once things get out of jack, they will never go back.
At least, this is what I hope for.
spat
.700 Nitro Express
The distilled version of what you are saying is.
"Will there be a court of law I will have to answer for my actions in".
Once that answer becomes "probably not", then the rules change drastically.
I'm in a spot where I can maintain my morals regarding being a thief. I'm also in a spot where I can adjust my morals against those thay would try to thieve from me, not that there are many people where I'd be going. I'll leave it at that.
pjzwtl
.308 Win
we can hang on for quite a while. To be honest it’s the things I know I’ve yet to consider that scare me. Food water and security are pretty solid also medical supplies including RX for numerous medical and traumatic emergencies. A fringe benefit of the job.
I think the potential for more BLM like bull shit on steroids will be unleashed right on que come January
I think the potential for more BLM like bull shit on steroids will be unleashed right on que come January
Vapor
.308 Win
Beerman
6.5 Creedmoor
Done, done, and done. Our airplane is 450’ off the back deck. (Could be closer but I love trees.). Ammo cached in several handy places. Tons of fresh water all around, portable water filtration systems operational. Lots of food, dry goods, clothing, firewood. Plenty of coffee, beer and whisky to last a while…. When the coffee, beer and whisky run out, though, *THAT* is when the poop hits the wind slinger.
spat
.700 Nitro Express
Wonder what it would take to add coffee to the garden plan...
Might be able to get away with it here.
Could save my life one day with Mrs. Spat.
Edit:
Found these guys:
Coffee (Cà Phê) - GreenLife by Shamus O'Leary
Growing in Arizona: Coffee plants have small white, fragrant, star-shaped flowers that are clustered in the leaf axils. They resemble gardenias to which they are related.
greenlifebyshamusoleary.com
How to Grow a Coffee Plant at Home
This guide will outline how to grow your own coffee plant, how to care for the plant, tips for growth, and common questions.
realgoodcoffeeco.com
That would be me. Actually sold it last year.
I'll try to answer this question best I can.
As I age, I realize how little time I have left. 10 years more till retirement, so I've been on my last spending spree before I need everything paid off. Want to enjoy things in my last last hopefully 30 years.
I have not saved, and I have not stockpiled for any doomsday type events. In reality, if shtf for over a 2 month period (probably less) I'd be in trouble. The one thing I do have is a stockpile of guns and ammo, some short range coms, and would be looking to immediately hook up with people that are better prepared than myself for a longer term situation.
Not a pretty scenario, and I suppose if things didn't go as planned, I'd do whatever is necessary to keep my family alive in the short term. I don't pretend I can go off grid, fish, hunt, and farm. That might work for a few weeks.
Anything more than several months, and I'd suspect most of us would need some type of coordinated community to keep going.