Being Prepared

When I lost contact with Internet, blogging, forums, from a down PC I also lost that urgent feeling of being prepared. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. My body rested from all the news , I even got away from the news. I did hide in the woods so to speak.

Thoreau said something like this, if you heard bad news once why do you need to hear more of it again. There maybe some truth in that but most people can't do without hearing the news. It does keep us informed plus back then Thoreau probably didn't have the worry of a nuke dropping on his head from a crazy. So knowing what's happening around you is to our best well being. We can plan and use the best resources we have. Unless one is at ground zero you got a good chance to make it. And even then there's hope always.

Being prepared: Oh how I was into that. From the time we moved to the sticks in the early seventies to now even. I still have Y2K beans and wheat in sealed glass jars. Beans may not be good but the wheat will be and if your hungry a 20, 30 year old dry bean may taste pretty good.
I collected buckets from bakeries, close to 200. You ever clean the frosting out of one of those? You don't want cake for a very long time. I stored water and food. I planted big gardens , canned and dehydrated . Collected many books for the prepared movement I was in. I lived and even dreamed of being prepared.

I made up a BOB "bug out bag" one for the auto and one for footing it. Last year without having a PC I used that time on another adventure of hiking. It turned out to be part of my "being prepared". Thoughts of hiking the Appalachian Trails, items that you took along on a 6 month hike. Ounces counted on such a hike.Altho at this time of my life knocking off 6 to 7 months for a hike just would not work. First I would miss my family, wouldn't do well for income, (it cost average $6000 just to go hiking) I sure wouldn't be making any money on the way. Plus the garden. A section hike of a week or two would work for me.

But the real part was preparing , I did some shake down hiking to get the body prepared. What if one had to evaluate ones home. Grab the BOB and head out on foot. What if you had elderly that needed help out and there was no way out using an auto.

Oh I even thought of pack mules and dogs for protections carrying there own vittles on a pack. I was in a heading into the woods movement for sure. But enjoying it along the way. Camping out in my Outpost for 11 weekends in a row and cooking outdoors. Making a debris hut in 14* weather. Plans for a sleep out in it , but I did not do well. To close to home and the fireplace going sounded a lot better. I just lived to close to the project. I chicken out : (Learning how to make fire without a match. Sis and I had a contest on this one, who could make a fire faster. We searched the woods for dry tinder and went to work. We had coffee after we got the fire started, hubby came up with a match :/

But the thing is we tried and we still work at it. Even though I live in the woods I'm not going to stop being prepared. My energy is to be more prepared . Back using the computer I am still reading preparedness more then ever. The movement is growing.

I found this list on a forum I belong to and they copied from another, so I'm going to copy. I wouldn't think the orginal writer would mind sharing. The more people that prepare the less burden it will be on supplies for those that did not.

Copy " If you think an economic total collapse is coming then this little lists of ' to do 'things is about right.

Step 1Only buy what you need. Don't spend a penny more than what you must, and befrugal in what you buy. Buy used whenever possible, and go for quality overquantity. Save, re-use, and do without when you have to. Remember all thosestories about your grandmother walking 10 miles daily barefoot in the snow? Weneed to do the economic equivalent. Get some mettle and use the wisdom of ourelders to learn to be frugal and spend wisely.

Step 2Get out of debt and start saving money. The dollar is sure to plummet evenmore in the face of world economy collapse, and evidence shows that gold pricesrise when the dollar decreases in value. Investing in gold may be the way to gorather than cash savings. Gold coin investing can help you preserve the value ofyour money if the dollar sharply plummets. Gold retains its value, and can betraded for stronger currencies or used to purchase good and services. If thereis no extra money to pay down debt or start saving, focus on necessities likehousing, food, and supplies.

Step 3Be creative about sources of income. As more large corporations go underand thousands of jobs are lost, think outside the box for ways to bring inadditional income. Examples of ways to earn extra money include direct sales,online writing for upfront or residual pay, selling high-demand items online,and selling items on consignment.

Step 4Consider a career switch, and get the necessary training while you can.Jobs in health care and energy conservation are expected to thrive even withglobal economic collapse.

Step 5Stockpile food, water, and emergency supplies. Dry goods like grains andlegumes, along with canned goods, bottled water, water purification tablets, andfirst aid supplies should be kept on hand in case of emergency.

Step 6Learn to be resourceful and do things yourself. From home plumbing togrowing your own food, learn to provide for your own needs as much as possible.Start now to learn how to create and tend a food garden, and consider spendingtime studying up on home repair and other useful skills.

Step 7Network with friends, family, and neighbors. Build relationships withinthe local community so that you can rely on them - and they on you - in case ofworld economy collapse.

Step 8Learn to barter. Have on hand important goods like personal care items(soaps, razors, deodorant), non-perishable food items, tools, first aidsupplies, and other necessary supplies. Consider what you know. Do you know howto garden? Are you skilled in holistic health techniques? Do you know a lotabout home repair? These skills are not only valuable for you, but you can usethem to barter and help others in case of world economic collapse." end of copy

I would like to add is to have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. God would not have put us here for nothing, there is a plan. Pray for guidance, collect knowledge and resourses. Know there is a Great Hope that is bigger then anything we have to face.

Many Blessings
linda