I did not post a day 6 as following my community notes I put on a baby shower for Mrs. Neighbor. Sometimes you have to put this stuff aside and have some fun. Besides things like showers are traditional ways we take care of one another, honor one another and pull together to see people off to a good start.
This has not been a class, but the way the economy is going at the moment, there may be a final exam. Personally, I'm topping off the gas tanks today and buying a gal of fresh milk and vegies I didn't grow. So, let's review for a moment:
Are you prepared to stay put and ride out anything that may come? If not, have you talked with people where you may be headed? If there were to be a disaster right where you are, do you have an alternative location? (My family is pretty much in a few hundred miles so my answer is, not really). Can you heat your home with alternative means - no, not to to 72 degrees but enough to keep from freezing? If you lose electricity, can you cook food? Do you know how to safely take care of human waste without water? Take a look at the first aid kit, what do you need to beef it up?
Do you know how to get drinking water out of your hot water tank? Do you know where a natural source of water is? Do you have a filtration system? Do you have stored water - a bare minimum of 1 gal. per person per day. (Note this is not much for drinking, cooking dry food and basic hygiene. It doesn't cover things like washing pots and pans).
How about food? If you have any money at all, this is the easiest one to fix, right now. If you were to wait until there was a shortage, maybe not so much. Besides, if you are reading these things, there's no point in being part of the problem, should anything untoward occur. There will be plenty of ostridges needing to be fed. Personally, I'd go for your favorite carbs, canned fruits and vegies, and some canned protein, in that order.
How about garden seed? While I'm out and about today, I'll be looking for garden seed on sale. Yes, I prefer to order heirloom seed, and thanks to a my birthday present from DD17, I have fresh seed, but all seed is important if you get to next spring and need to garden for food. Now might be a time to find garden tools on sale - particularly if there is something you need.
I'd get a little money out of the bank - enough so that if there were a sudden bank holiday, you'd have case in different sizes. Barter items aren't a bad idea either.
Now, on my errands for the day, I'll also be stopping by the thrift store just to see if there is anything good(we don't have a very good one) as well as the antique store to see if there is an analog tool that I don't have.
I'll continue to post on other skills, but right now it seems as though a review of the basic stuff is in order. Remember, should TSHTF, don't isolate. Reach out, make community, be level headed and ask how everyone can pull together.
6 comments:
I love list makers. Went through your post today and made my checkmarks. I'll stop by scratch and dent tomorrow for a few things and fill up the water containers but other than topping off the tank I think we're set for winter and that was always my goal.
Thanks for the reminders!
You people are starting to scare me! I move in 3 weeks!!! Please, give us 3 weeks to close on this house and get out of here.
Hey Christy, I'm still looking for a place quick to buy at all. Bad, bad timing for both of us!
Back to our countdown, we're pretty good on stuff (other than needing a place to move to). I just ordered tick control stuff for the dog and, on Thursday, will go to the cheap clinic to get her heartworm medication refilled. Speaking of medical stuff, I got the first of the First Aid posts up this morning. Look for the First Aid kit and "how to avoid needing this stuff" posts this week, too.
I also went by the Middle Eastern store around the corner and stocked up on some spices and got a bag of whole wheat durum flour for making my own whole grain pasta.
We have a few holes left but are filling them as quickly as we can. Our biggest concern right now is the economy crashing and impacting our ability to find and buy a suitable place for our future. (Oh, and find a cheap vehicle for commuting.)
Why does it feel like the clock is ticking faster and faster?!
Anna, I'm glad the exercise was helpful.
Christy, here's praying that you close and get out! I'd give you three weeks, if it were mine to give. Perhaps throw in a few emergency essentials to the move, too.
Chili - I'll be right over to check out the first aid!
I think we're all set - there won't be enough food, because I just don't have the space or the money to store up EVERYTHING we'll need for the next eight months (which is how long from now until we'll start seeing stuff from local farmers).
But we're good in most other areas.
And Christy, in reality, in the 30s, it took three YEARS from the stock market crash until things got really, REALLY bad here in the US. It didn't happen overnight, then, and while I don't doubt that things are going to get much worse before they get better, my hunch is that you definitely have your three weeks ;).
Are you prepared to stay put and ride out anything that may come? YES
If not, have you talked with people where you may be headed? If there were to be a disaster right where you are, do you have an alternative location? YES.
Can you heat your home with alternative means - no, not to to 72 degrees but enough to keep from freezing? YES
If you lose electricity, can you cook food?YES
Do you know how to safely take care of human waste without water?YES
Take a look at the first aid kit, what do you need to beef it up? i need a few tampads,to use incase anyone gets a big cut- so I will Manly myself up and buy some!
Do you know how to get drinking water out of your hot water tank?YES
Do you know where a natural source of water is?YES
Do you have a filtration system?NO
Do you have stored water - a bare minimum of 1 gal. per person per day. YES
Thank you for these posts they have been very informative and useful!
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