Great article! You had me laughing my butt off! I’m single and can’t afford any kind of security but at least I do have personal protection ( we might say ).
I started stocking up because things were going to get expensive and talked my sister into it too. So glad it pays to be paranoid!
The "new normal" brought us many "new definitions". Paranoid is one of them. It's no longer people who like to be self-sufficient and not rely on government to keep them fed and dry, it's now people like my neighbour who wear a ******* MASK to mow their ******* LAWN in the beautiful sunshine!!! I mean, like, RIGHT NOW! I am looking at him as I type!
Yet WE are 'tin-foil hat' wearers?! Clown world indeed!
Damn! Yes, you're right. I will add that to the article, thanks very much for commenting. I had a drone myself but had to sell a few years ago. They are tricky things sometimes (were then anyway!) but definitely a huge advantage for those who can afford them. Taking a peek inside an area could be very useful, as well as seeing who's entering yours!
Great article! I may have missed it, but did you mention everyone should have a camp stove and fuel such as propane? Can’t rely on gas or electricity. Ive invested in freeze dried meals that last 25 years and only require boiling water. Don’t forget pet food and to stock up on any meds you take. Tell the pharmacist you need extra for a trip, or just buy for cash if insurance won’t allow extra. Have a plan to keep meds (like insulin) cool if required in case refrigerator is out. Your swimming pool or a local pond will keep meds cool if you submerge them in a weighted, waterproof container. Ideally in the shade. Just a few extra tips from California earthquake country! Many of us here already prepare for two weeks with no supplies but now I’m adding more to my pantry!
Yep those were mentioned in some form, but appreciate the heads up. I think we should name our elite's "San Andreas Fault" now, they will beat it to the punch I think.
We are armed with Smith & Wesson but for countries that ban hand guns, I like a tactical flashlight with at least 1000 lumens. Temporarily blinds the bad guy so you can get away. Not sure I saw one in your great article!
Thanks, and I agree. I did briefly allude to that but probably didn't give it enough emphasis as I have seen that work extremely well in practice. In fact I am so light sensitive that a 300 lumen flashlight in my eyes and you'll send me to bed for a few days :D. I will edit the article, thanks again for the comment.
Edit: Just got the joke. Yes, Fauci's Fault. Nice ring to that. Now all we need for it is a long rope and a good strong tree!
I bought a small tac flashlight on line. 1000 lumens. I take it backpacking since I don’t have a concealed carry permit. Clips on to my pack’s shoulder strap so it’s handy. Good for bears and two legged predators, even during daylight!
I do understand your sentiments, extremely well in fact. A close female relative of mine is in central London feeling much the same, and the area she is in puts her at particularly heightened risk. BUT...
- Don't be down about it. I know it's complicated, it is for EVERYONE, especially at the start when you try to see through the haze and wonder how your currently normality can somehow morph into a SHTF-safe life. It seems insurmountable, but it isn't.
- Consider your apparent weaknesses as strengths, they really can be. For example your being single and 'alone'. That's as much as strength as a weakness, trust me on that. I am slightly envious in some ways. I have a large family and (disabled) dependent relatives I can't leave behind. This is a huge source of pressure. I can't just escape if i need to, I HAVE to stay put. Your solitude brings you as much advantage as it does disadvantage. Since the actual physical stuff is the last resort, and MOVEMENT can be by far the best source of security, you're extremely mobile. And in your shoes I would sharpen that spear, focussing on making your mobility your strongest advantage. Transport provisions, go-bag, plans to get to certain places (make a list) depending on what happens, maybe people you can meet with even if you have to trek for days (or cycle, or even drive, it may be possible).
- I know what a blow it is to have had hopes, dreams and plans (art/comics) only to now see them as futile or impossible in the bleak future ahead. I do believe there will be a world after this. I don't foresee a "Mad Max" scenario. Many preppers jump to that instantly when they think about thinks deteriorating, but humans are extremely resourceful and we have been in very hard times before (globally, many examples). When has it ever turned to Mad Max?! Could it? Yes. Will it? The odds are very low in my opinion. So focus on keeping on those dreams but placing them on the back-burner for a while.
- Listen carefully to the end of the article, especially the "3 months" section. You don't need to be ready to live forever in a world without electricity, filled with zombie and roaming gangs of rapists and murderers. I DO think that COULD happen during that 3 months, but they won't last long. There are far too many GOOD people out there in my view, people who will take you in, provide a shelter for people in your situation, etc. Just focus on being able to survive the breakdown for 2-3 months, even if that means you have a plan to head to family or friends or survive on your own for it. It will be difficult, but that's not the same as being impossible, far from it. Moreover, if you have supplies and can just scrape though (hungry, thirsty, tired and bruised, BUT alive), there will be a drastic improvement after the initial crunch takes out all those who, unlike you, made no provisions whatsoever and thus panicked/fought for their survival like 90% of other people. Just being ahead of them, that's all you need. And I think you're well on your way to that now if you 'woke up' a year ago. Just do what you can, it will probably be enough to be way ahead of the herd.
- Finally the FEMA camps, govt rounding up masses etc - I get the point, and I know about the camps and provisions made by governments. Here in the UK I know a lot more than I can say about this publicly, suffice to say I know police officers who were 'assigned' a SOLDIER at the START of Covid, the govt/authorities were expecting major civil unrest and are prepared for it. But there's a big problem, and this is why I think you needn't be concerned at all with this fear. NUMBERS. The govt can tackle a minor civil unrest, by that I mean 0.1% of the population rioting etc etc. If 10% of the population went off the rails, Govts have nothing like the numbers or resources to "round up" that lot. If the SHTF, it will be 90% of the public having disregard for laws and going 'wild'. Govt elites will be long gone, hunkered down with their families and PRAYING that the masses don't FIND THEM! They won't becoming to stick 'anti-vaxxers' (and other dehumanised free-thinking individuals) in camps where they have to watch over them, keep them secure, control them, etc. That is something they only plan for in times of normality but with a small uprising to put down. And I honestly suspect now (Truckers etc) that they are getting the (right) idea that even that would be beyond the pale and impossible to manage as that small uprising would explode into a much bigger one if they started filling internment camps with people without trial.
Take heart, this isn't positive thinking or smoke-blowing, I think you're in a much better position than you realise. Mentality is the BIGGEST component here, being mentally prepared and geared up, so you're not in shock when it happens, but are instead moving fast and efficiently, doing the right things, and understanding what the risks are (which most people won't find out until it hits them in the face, probably literally.
See, you're already way ahead of all your neighbours! Just keep going like that, one or two things a week, as and when you can. Plumbing, just like electricity and other similar trades, are much simpler than people think. Ok, to get a nice bathroom designed and built, you need a skilled tradesperson. But to fix a leak, you need VERY little of both knowledge and equipment. (In fact I will add leak repair kit to the article, thanks!)
For subjects you worry about (say Plumbing) - just get a book, Plumbing for Dummies or DIY handbook or similar. In the unlikely event you get a problem, you can read up then. But really, for the 3 months minimum, even leaks are not a life and death thing usually (if you have bottled water).
Single disabled female here too. Not much $$$ and three rescues ( dogs ) to feed. I started stocking up on water, canned goods, dog food, charcoal, you name it! I could last three months but not much longer. So I was feeling blessed.
You can do it! Like he said, it’s never too late to start. You can’t eat $$$ so consider it an investment!
Well put! Those $$$ are not totally useless, you can light fires with em and keep your shoes a nice shape while they're in the cupboard. Pretty soon that may be their only uses!
I would listen to farmers, no agenda, no corruption, no reason to lie, unlike everyone else we've been listening to for decades! Farmers here in UK say exactly the same. They are not the smartest people I know, but among the most honest, which counts for more right now in my book.
If you know ANYONE where you live, that must be considered, as moving to a new 'strange' place even if it feels safer, may not be. Cities are NOT the worst place to be in a collapse, suburbs often are. Cities have mass numbers, and small densely populated come together much quicker than wealthier suburban types. That's certainly what happened in Argentina. There's a lot to be said for cities, obviously there are extra dangers too, but it's not a one way street by any means.
Great article! You had me laughing my butt off! I’m single and can’t afford any kind of security but at least I do have personal protection ( we might say ).
I started stocking up because things were going to get expensive and talked my sister into it too. So glad it pays to be paranoid!
ha, thank you!
But please don't use that nasty P word again!
The "new normal" brought us many "new definitions". Paranoid is one of them. It's no longer people who like to be self-sufficient and not rely on government to keep them fed and dry, it's now people like my neighbour who wear a ******* MASK to mow their ******* LAWN in the beautiful sunshine!!! I mean, like, RIGHT NOW! I am looking at him as I type!
Yet WE are 'tin-foil hat' wearers?! Clown world indeed!
Just wanted to say Thank You for putting this together in one place.
Thanks Mark, I would say it was a pleasure, but I'd be lying. :-)
Instead of security cameras an alternative would be a drone.
Damn! Yes, you're right. I will add that to the article, thanks very much for commenting. I had a drone myself but had to sell a few years ago. They are tricky things sometimes (were then anyway!) but definitely a huge advantage for those who can afford them. Taking a peek inside an area could be very useful, as well as seeing who's entering yours!
Great article! I may have missed it, but did you mention everyone should have a camp stove and fuel such as propane? Can’t rely on gas or electricity. Ive invested in freeze dried meals that last 25 years and only require boiling water. Don’t forget pet food and to stock up on any meds you take. Tell the pharmacist you need extra for a trip, or just buy for cash if insurance won’t allow extra. Have a plan to keep meds (like insulin) cool if required in case refrigerator is out. Your swimming pool or a local pond will keep meds cool if you submerge them in a weighted, waterproof container. Ideally in the shade. Just a few extra tips from California earthquake country! Many of us here already prepare for two weeks with no supplies but now I’m adding more to my pantry!
Yep those were mentioned in some form, but appreciate the heads up. I think we should name our elite's "San Andreas Fault" now, they will beat it to the punch I think.
“Fauci’s Fault”?
We are armed with Smith & Wesson but for countries that ban hand guns, I like a tactical flashlight with at least 1000 lumens. Temporarily blinds the bad guy so you can get away. Not sure I saw one in your great article!
Thanks, and I agree. I did briefly allude to that but probably didn't give it enough emphasis as I have seen that work extremely well in practice. In fact I am so light sensitive that a 300 lumen flashlight in my eyes and you'll send me to bed for a few days :D. I will edit the article, thanks again for the comment.
Edit: Just got the joke. Yes, Fauci's Fault. Nice ring to that. Now all we need for it is a long rope and a good strong tree!
I bought a small tac flashlight on line. 1000 lumens. I take it backpacking since I don’t have a concealed carry permit. Clips on to my pack’s shoulder strap so it’s handy. Good for bears and two legged predators, even during daylight!
I would be interested in a link to that, either here or by email (freespeechstudio * protonmail.com)
It's at Amazon: Streamlight Pro Tac 90X Right Angle. The 90X is 1000 lumens and I think the 90 is 300 lumens.
“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.” -1984
Prepping is a good idea in our era of manufactured pandemics, famines, and wars.
It is also vital that we take economic, political, and community action to delay the arrival of 1984.
I do understand your sentiments, extremely well in fact. A close female relative of mine is in central London feeling much the same, and the area she is in puts her at particularly heightened risk. BUT...
- Don't be down about it. I know it's complicated, it is for EVERYONE, especially at the start when you try to see through the haze and wonder how your currently normality can somehow morph into a SHTF-safe life. It seems insurmountable, but it isn't.
- Consider your apparent weaknesses as strengths, they really can be. For example your being single and 'alone'. That's as much as strength as a weakness, trust me on that. I am slightly envious in some ways. I have a large family and (disabled) dependent relatives I can't leave behind. This is a huge source of pressure. I can't just escape if i need to, I HAVE to stay put. Your solitude brings you as much advantage as it does disadvantage. Since the actual physical stuff is the last resort, and MOVEMENT can be by far the best source of security, you're extremely mobile. And in your shoes I would sharpen that spear, focussing on making your mobility your strongest advantage. Transport provisions, go-bag, plans to get to certain places (make a list) depending on what happens, maybe people you can meet with even if you have to trek for days (or cycle, or even drive, it may be possible).
- I know what a blow it is to have had hopes, dreams and plans (art/comics) only to now see them as futile or impossible in the bleak future ahead. I do believe there will be a world after this. I don't foresee a "Mad Max" scenario. Many preppers jump to that instantly when they think about thinks deteriorating, but humans are extremely resourceful and we have been in very hard times before (globally, many examples). When has it ever turned to Mad Max?! Could it? Yes. Will it? The odds are very low in my opinion. So focus on keeping on those dreams but placing them on the back-burner for a while.
- Listen carefully to the end of the article, especially the "3 months" section. You don't need to be ready to live forever in a world without electricity, filled with zombie and roaming gangs of rapists and murderers. I DO think that COULD happen during that 3 months, but they won't last long. There are far too many GOOD people out there in my view, people who will take you in, provide a shelter for people in your situation, etc. Just focus on being able to survive the breakdown for 2-3 months, even if that means you have a plan to head to family or friends or survive on your own for it. It will be difficult, but that's not the same as being impossible, far from it. Moreover, if you have supplies and can just scrape though (hungry, thirsty, tired and bruised, BUT alive), there will be a drastic improvement after the initial crunch takes out all those who, unlike you, made no provisions whatsoever and thus panicked/fought for their survival like 90% of other people. Just being ahead of them, that's all you need. And I think you're well on your way to that now if you 'woke up' a year ago. Just do what you can, it will probably be enough to be way ahead of the herd.
- Finally the FEMA camps, govt rounding up masses etc - I get the point, and I know about the camps and provisions made by governments. Here in the UK I know a lot more than I can say about this publicly, suffice to say I know police officers who were 'assigned' a SOLDIER at the START of Covid, the govt/authorities were expecting major civil unrest and are prepared for it. But there's a big problem, and this is why I think you needn't be concerned at all with this fear. NUMBERS. The govt can tackle a minor civil unrest, by that I mean 0.1% of the population rioting etc etc. If 10% of the population went off the rails, Govts have nothing like the numbers or resources to "round up" that lot. If the SHTF, it will be 90% of the public having disregard for laws and going 'wild'. Govt elites will be long gone, hunkered down with their families and PRAYING that the masses don't FIND THEM! They won't becoming to stick 'anti-vaxxers' (and other dehumanised free-thinking individuals) in camps where they have to watch over them, keep them secure, control them, etc. That is something they only plan for in times of normality but with a small uprising to put down. And I honestly suspect now (Truckers etc) that they are getting the (right) idea that even that would be beyond the pale and impossible to manage as that small uprising would explode into a much bigger one if they started filling internment camps with people without trial.
Take heart, this isn't positive thinking or smoke-blowing, I think you're in a much better position than you realise. Mentality is the BIGGEST component here, being mentally prepared and geared up, so you're not in shock when it happens, but are instead moving fast and efficiently, doing the right things, and understanding what the risks are (which most people won't find out until it hits them in the face, probably literally.
:)
See, you're already way ahead of all your neighbours! Just keep going like that, one or two things a week, as and when you can. Plumbing, just like electricity and other similar trades, are much simpler than people think. Ok, to get a nice bathroom designed and built, you need a skilled tradesperson. But to fix a leak, you need VERY little of both knowledge and equipment. (In fact I will add leak repair kit to the article, thanks!)
For subjects you worry about (say Plumbing) - just get a book, Plumbing for Dummies or DIY handbook or similar. In the unlikely event you get a problem, you can read up then. But really, for the 3 months minimum, even leaks are not a life and death thing usually (if you have bottled water).
Single disabled female here too. Not much $$$ and three rescues ( dogs ) to feed. I started stocking up on water, canned goods, dog food, charcoal, you name it! I could last three months but not much longer. So I was feeling blessed.
You can do it! Like he said, it’s never too late to start. You can’t eat $$$ so consider it an investment!
Well put! Those $$$ are not totally useless, you can light fires with em and keep your shoes a nice shape while they're in the cupboard. Pretty soon that may be their only uses!
You’ll need it. I don’t know where you live but here in the states, farmers are speculating our groceries will go up $1000 per month!
I would listen to farmers, no agenda, no corruption, no reason to lie, unlike everyone else we've been listening to for decades! Farmers here in UK say exactly the same. They are not the smartest people I know, but among the most honest, which counts for more right now in my book.
If you know ANYONE where you live, that must be considered, as moving to a new 'strange' place even if it feels safer, may not be. Cities are NOT the worst place to be in a collapse, suburbs often are. Cities have mass numbers, and small densely populated come together much quicker than wealthier suburban types. That's certainly what happened in Argentina. There's a lot to be said for cities, obviously there are extra dangers too, but it's not a one way street by any means.