Preparedness for when

moneyistooshorttomention

thriftwizard wrote: »

I worry for my friend in Las Vegas, where the water supply is only "guaranteed" for 4 hours. Not a situation I'd be happy with, but she loves it there & has complete faith that their Government will look after them in a disaster... she is not unintelligent, but I can't help thinking she may be far too trusting. And there's no question of being able to grow things in the garden - it's a desert - but her asthma has been very much better since she moved there, so she's not budging.

That I can understand too. My friend likes Las Vegas and enjoys her visits there I know.

I can understand where your friend is coming from however - particularly in view of her asthma.

I have sometimes pondered how many people were aware during the last days of Pompeii that it WAS the last days of Pompeii and, out of those, how many elected to stay put anyway.

There are people who would "know" a "volcano is about to explode" but decide to stay put and live Life As Normal for as long as they could and bargain on The End being quick. I have wondered what I would have done in those circumstances and can understand that someone might have decided to "take a gamble" and stay with Their Life for as long as possible and then...oh well....c'est la vie.

Very difficult to tell how many people are Aware and (out of those who are Aware) its understandable to take either course of action, be it flee or Carry On As Normal and think "Well...it wont take long to be over...so = so what!". Both reactions are entirely understandable.

In any similar situation one of the things to take into account is how long it will be of wondering (after any Flight) whether you made a correct Judgement Call and knowing full well that society as a whole won't think you have during that time...so you wonder about it yourself and whether you could have kept what you had.

I have been doing some reading on when World War 2 was on the way and I still wonder at what point daylight dawned on people that there was going to be another World War. The Government seemed to be making clear preparations in 1938 from what I can see. People in the street would have had varying rates of comprehension that it was about to happen. I tend to think I would have realised some time in the early to mid 1930s and headed out away from cities accordingly (but, obviously, I cant be sure of that fact). I've only been studying some stuff today re apparently people where I now am barely knew there was a War on in many ways, as they weren't affected much. Now that does not surprise me....as that's pretty much what I would have anticipated would happen I guess....

So - whatever we think will or wont happen in the future (be it climate change/societal change/etc) it could be a long lead time...the question is "How long?".

[Deleted User]

RAS wrote: »

If you remember "Survivors", one of their disasters was storing dry goods in a cellar that floods?

Something similar happened in Passport to Pimlico too.

[Deleted User]

Doveling wrote: »

(Did you think that BB & GQ disappearing offline together might have had a whiff of Gretna Green about it?;) Or are we just a pair of old romantics?

They've rumbled us GQ.

Frugalsod

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I was certainly thinking I would like one of those Tiny Homes on wheels. It would double up as guest bedroom (instead of using my lounge) and emergency "2nd home" if need be. Slight snag to that being I'd need someone plus their car to tow it for me if it had to go "off site".

I was thinking more Tiny Home than caravan because of the custom-designing to maximise use of space and the higher level of insulation etc than caravans have as I understand it. But its true that a cheap secondhand caravan would be WAY cheaper than a Tiny Home and much easier to get hold of one currently...

Yes the tiny home concept is perfect for a guest room or even an office. It is quite possible to actually live well in one though it helps if you are fit to maximise the space, ie the loft area.

thriftwizard

Shepherd's huts are quite a good "tiny home" lookalike - there are quite a few around here - and the sheep to go with them! They cost a fortune if you buy a ready-made new one, even more for a genuine old one, but a number of friends have built their own on sturdy trailers, and a great addition to your outdoor living space they are, too. There are always a few to admire at the rural summer shows.

But I really, really want a teardrop caravan, with polka-dot curtains, for lots of reasons, and have been saving up for one... my grandfather was a great caravanner back in the 20s-30s and took his family all over Europe. It was sometimes the first caravan the locals had ever seen - "ooooh, regardez le petit chateau sur roues!"

GreyQueen

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

They've rumbled us GQ.

Ssshhh! Don't power the rumour mill.

I dunno where people have the idea that I've not been around, anyway, there's seldom a day when I'm not on this site morning and evening. Sometimes I'm posting on other threads instead of SHTF.

Re caravans, what you have to grasp is that you are buying something which will be in process of rapid deterioation into to unusable condition and valueless materials. Have lived in one with the side lashed together with plastic linen line (interesting). Too shabby and, even if you're mobile, you won't be welcome on certain touring sites, if the proprietor doesn't like the look of you. Have had a self-righteous one tell me and my associates that there was no space on his site, despite it being three-quarters empty and clearly visible as such, because he didn't like the look of our rig or the shabby transit van towing it.

I also love the look of the teardrop and Airstream caravans, there's something deeply satisfying about them.

Perhaps people needing a bit of empty space could think about having a garden shed and pimping it into an extra living space? With a bit of cunning and some insulation, you could make it a pretty nice little place to hang out and read or accomodate the occasional overnight guest.

An electrician should be able to run insulated cabling off the house and into the shed, my folks' have a workshop shed nearest the house and it's linked to the house's supply and has light and power outlets. Well, it has a lathe, a band-saw and various other toys in it.

It's also crudely insulated with salvaged sheets of polystrene which are covered with hardboard. There are books in libraries about sheds and doing all kinds of things with them. I'd certainly consider it if I had a small home with a garden; know of one family with several children who couldn't afford a bigger house who created a teenager's bedsit from a back garden shed. He loved it and was the envy of all his friends when they came over to socialise.

thriftwizard

Certainly something I'd do in a future home, GQ, but for now I need something mobile to sleep in when I'm doing the summer shows! The last thing you need after working a 14 hour day is to lie awake wondering if the rain's going to overwhelm the water resistance of your tent. I'm torn between a teardrop & a cheap camper van (i.e. not a VW, probably a Bongo but preferably a Toyota) but the van, though potentially more useful & versatile, comes with associated insurance & tax costs, higher maintenance, and would mean selling my economical little car in order to fit it onto the drive.

Off now to hunt up some more stock - car boot season is upon us, and there's a jumble sale in one of the well-to-do villages this afternoon too! I will be looking out for preptastic things, some of my customers are very much that way inclined.

Karmacat

Karmacat wrote: »

I've got a seminar this evening on what newcomers to elance can do to get their work accepted (as writers)

I completely forgot about my elance seminar, I was so focussed on trying to unplug the dratted dead washing machine, and trying not to exhaust myself

Must try to see if they have a recording of it for people who've registered but not attended.

GreyQueen

Minor SHTF here this morning.

15 mins before my company is due to arrive, I went to get a guest towel from the linen cupboard in the hall and found it wet. Having emptied the linen cupboard, I have a water leak from the CH pipes which go through into the upstairs flat (leak is up there, my airing cupboard's plasterboard ceiling is now mostly slush which is all over my linen).

Fanatbulous. Am in proces of hauling out everything and triaging into sopping wet/ stained/ slightly wet/ dry. Will have to be laundering 80% of my linen in a domestic situation where I can only wash and dry one load at a time, plus have company arriving any moment, plus it's the weekend plus my upstairs neighbour doesn't actually live in her flat plus - ARRGGHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ivyleaf

thriftwizard wrote: »

But I really, really want a teardrop caravan, with polka-dot curtains, for lots of reasons, and have been saving up for one... my grandfather was a great caravanner back in the 20s-30s and took his family all over Europe. It was sometimes the first caravan the locals had ever seen - "ooooh, regardez le petit chateau sur roues!"

I love this! What a lovely mental picture it conjures up I can imagine the people watching in astonishment as it went past.


ETA GQ just seen your post, oh no!!! :eek: What an absolute PITA. Wish I lived near and could shove your linen in my washing machine and dryer. As it is, I can only send you (((HUGS))) and sympathy, and hope the leak can be fixed sooner than you probably fear.