Being a Prepper has little to do with being some paranoid, anti-government bush-hiding, ammo-burying nutcase :o). Not that there aren't those sorts, mind you, but seriously, it's about way more than that.
Most folks right now are starting to see some wisdom in prepping, at least to some extent. Some were forced into the mindset by job loss, financial losses in retirement funds and savings and stocks, as well as the natural disasters of the past several years, like the mass floodings, Hurricane Katrina, and the wildfires.
Being 'Prepared' isn't necessarily going off-the-grid and retreating to a secluded property to hunker down (though is things continue to fall apart, you couldn't pay me to be in a town personally -- folks get ugly when they feel pressured).
It means more simple things in the everyday lives of folks.
Like planning more than just a week of meals because the unemployment check only comes every other week.
It may be a garden spot in the corner of the backyard where you thought of putting in a pool.
It's getting your medicines in 3 and 6 month supplies instead of just filling them as needed.
It's cutting back on the cable or satellite programming.
It's planning trips to town for errands instead of flying by the seat of your pants and running wherever-whenever.
There are a lot of folks that are starting to see the road ahead more clearly, and they are realizing that things happen -- economic hardships as well as natural disasters -- and can catch most folks out of the blue. Nothing is secure anymore really. Things have changed for just about everyone in one way or another. It's not a doomsday remark. It simply is what it is. Life doesn't flow the way it did a year or so ago. The clouds have cleared away and our vision is better of the road ahead, and unless your head is too deeply buried in the sand, it's obvious that it's not paved with sunshine and rose petals. .
Of course there are still some who don't get it. Some never will. They live in a tower without a view. They blame this or that if the news is bad, and they wait for someone else to come and fix things. If you mention prepping they start in about how that will never happen, the country isn't some 3rd world disaster area, do you really think they will close everything, what about all of us...and the blinders go on and on.
These folks still do as they always have. They still buy and spend as though their pockets are bottomless and there will always be a tomorrow. They still refuse to see where anything is different, on any level.
But, I digress...terribly...as usual. You can lead a horse to water but no amount of pulling its head down is going to make it drink. Its going to survive or suffer based on its own obstinence. I don't know what's down the road, but I know enough to feel far more comfort with my rural land, an opportunity to produce my food needs, and the knowledge that I can survive some bumps and mountains for a while.
I pass along the things that have an interest for me. If nothing comes from the "swine flu" as we head into winter, that's great. If we get folks in charge who actually have a clear vision as to turning the economy around in our favor again, that's wonderful. If the wheat fungus dies out and Monsanto doesn't jump on that nervous nelly wagon and force more GMO's down our tables, woo hoo and pass the sweet corn. I will save money because I have 50 #10 cans of fruits and veggies and more TP than the UN has resolutions. It isn't as though it will go to waste, you know.
But, if we continue to spend money building countries who couldn't care less about the US...if our foods continue to be tainted and mutated and unfit for our consumption...if the war just keeps going and we keep spending money we don't have in places we don't belong...if we keep walking toward total collapse of our way of life here...if utilities become beyond the average person's ability to pay...
If we keep heading the direction we are right now, I want to feel at least a little ease knowing I've stocked some basics and have the supplies as well as the skills to keep my own little corner of the world alive at least for a while. And I won't be scouring the mountainside looking for soft leaves...I'll have a ton of TP :o)
I just don't see a down side to prepping, no matter what your mindset is.
2 comments:
Well, we call it prepping now, but used to it was just plain common sense. It was the normal thing to do because you never knew what was around the bend. We have become accustomed to the convenience of the WalMarts, etc. where we can get just about anything we want at any time. Season means virtually nothing anymore. We barely prepare a week at a time. But one of the good things about prepping is we lock in a price, so to speak. We don't have to pay for every price hike week to week. We really can save our savings. And bad things do happen. Lots of people are getting nervous now. We need wisdom to know how to prepare. Fear is a bad motivator. But I figure that anything you can afford to set aside (no debt) just puts you that much further ahead even if nothing out of the ordinary happens. . . . . . . . . .IF there is such a thing as "ordinary" anymore. These are crazy times. Never seen anything like this before - not in this country.
The comment above is so true....plain old common sense! :)
We garden and I do canning. It's one of the best ways I have found to keep food good for a long period of time and have it when we need it! (Fresh tasting green beans in the winter are sooo yummy!)
I love the part in your post about the TP...hehe...made me smile!
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