Preparedness for when

fuddle

Lyn we are the type of people who get great pleasure in birds feeding, fallen leaf colours and only ever strive for contentment. The both of us see life and enjoy life at a very basic level. I see where your posts are coming from today and I agree.

Those people who haven't prepared will find it most difficult is a point of view expressed this morning. I don't agree in terms of physical preps. My family are experiencing and going through a very severe SHTF scenario at the moment. No amount of kit in the shed, food in the cupboards, money saved in reserve are getting us through this. What is getting us through this is resolve, holding it together, being realistic, knowing and finding out how to get through it, planning and being proactive.

My tack is always about what is 'up here' in terms of SHTF and always will be... and that is through dealing with more than the average person in terms of world's being turned up side down.

[Deleted User]

Yes FUDDLEY ONE I think attitude and acceptance that things do sometimes go pear shaped and that if the sun is shining it's a good day to make the most of whatever else is going on is likely to make you feel much more positive than thinking 'Oh well, that's it them, might as well give up and not bother trying'!

You, like me don't sit back meekly and accept lifes downs, we both fight back like hell and wrench life back into whatever semblance of normality we can, seek the positive and if there isn't one readily perceivable MAKE one!

Physical prepping is very sensible, having stores, equipment, extras to fix and mend and 'how to do and make' books are sensible items to invest in but prepping is more about state of mind and determination to get through whatever the immediate situation happens to be, survive at any cost and then to make as good a life as you possibly can with what is left in the aftermath. Life needs living, life isn't something to give up on and just let it walk all over you sometimes you have to fight back and not let it have its own way.

As long as there's life and breath there is hope and always something to make you smile, no matter how tiny, this morning it's dew covered spiders webs everywhere which are stunningly beautiful, like EYORE says 'You can't be uncheered with a balloon, rainbow, spiders web (choose your own!)' can you?

mardatha

Thinking about this and I've decided that people are divided into two sorts. One lot think that "they" are in charge and we are helpless and need to do what/go where we're told. The other sort think "I" am in charge and they just do things and go places.

GreyQueen

mardatha wrote: »

Thinking about this and I've decided that people are divided into two sorts. One lot think that "they" are in charge and we are helpless and need to do what/go where we're told. The other sort think "I" am in charge and they just do things and go places.

:T Very true.

And the trouble with being reared to be a follower rather than a free thinker is that the leaders can suddenly abdicate their position, or give malicious or just plain ignorant advice. Bad advice, given by authority figures, can potentially be fatal.

Some poor beggars made it to ground floor lobbies in the 9/11 disaster, only to be sent back into the building. Where they died.:(

[Deleted User]

I think I am in charge of me and will do what I see best for us, I will prep in areas that seem relevant to our needs but I guess that is always a very individual thing and we each one see the world and potential problems with a different set of eyes and from a personal point of view don't we? I think the whole of the content of the thread from whatever perspective it's seen is a very useful tool and it's really interesting to see what other folks feel is important both in terms of 'things' and information. The more diverse we are the more knowledge we have as a conglomerate unit, can only be good.

moneyistooshorttomention

I would definitely agree (big time) about being cynical.

I never forget the thing I read somewhere (Wikipedia???) one time that the American police only want to take on people of average intelligence (around 100 IQ??). They don't want people of lower IQ - in case they don't understand instructions. However - they certainly don't want people of higher IQ either - because they think instructions will be questioned too much:rotfl:.

Motto = seems like being a questioner is a good place to be then:D. Roll on a healthy dose of cynicism then...:rotfl:. Personally - I certainly wouldn't take the "you only have one life and therefore hang on in there/fight/etc" viewpoint. From my own personal standpoint - I'd be much more likely to be cynical and think "Why bother to fight for another x years of this life? I've had loads of lives previously (ie because I believe in reincarnation) - so whats the big deal of fighting for another x years of this particular life? Work out the cost benefit analysis of whether its worth it...." <shrug shoulders smilie>

pineapple

I honestly think oldies like me would deal with hardship/upheaval better than many a 'young un'
My world will not end if I don't have a mobile phone or some monstrous TV. You see I remember life without these things anyway. As for ready meals, what are those?
Having recently moved into a wreck of a cottage, I lived for a couple of months with old curtains, dustsheets and cardboard on the old flagged floors. It's not much better now! Most young people I know wouldn't even consider it.
So I think that just as important as 'how would we cope' is 'how would those around us cope?'. The 'entitled to' lot won't be happy.

GreyQueen

Hear, hear, pineapple.

I have people having forty-fits because the shower is going to be unusable for 48 hours and how will they get clean?! Err, a basin-full of water and a cloth and soap, possibly?

Just think, I'm only 51 and spent my formative years in a cottage without a bathroom. It did have a cold tap, though, which was an improvement on the early 1600s when it was built.:rotfl:

As someone of the pre-mobile generation, I do find myself perplexed by the incessant neediness of folks to be in touch with their whole friendship circle 24/7/365. And gawd help those who used to be able to go to work for 8-10 hours and remain incommunicado the whole time from their significant other.

I really hope S does HTF in a developed nation because almost no one under 30 will know what to do without a social network to tell them.

If anyone's reading this wanting advice - bully beef and bottled water, candles, matches and a jumper will see you through a lot.

[Deleted User]

A whole basin full GQ how decadent, I can manage a hair wash and full all over sponge down with 2 pints in a bowl, I pint if there's a shortage!!!

moneyistooshorttomention

Personally - my own motto is "Warmth, music and a full stomach will see me through a lot" and a comfortable bed to sleep in at night and my own personal silence I need to be able to get to sleep whilst in said comfortable bed.

I don't feel good personally about having such "very elemental" type needs...but it is what it is and I don't think there is a lot of point in "having a mental argument that I personally shouldn't be influenced by things as basic as that". At root - we are animals and we respond to those basic creature comforts.

It is absolutely astonishing JUST how much difference that warmth/full stomach/etc/etc make - but I take the view personally that there is no point in "arguing with myself" about that fact and just accept it and make sure that (at base) I make sure I am provided with at least that level and then my "physical being" will probably feel pretty comfortable and therefore I myself can handle whatever-comes-up.

Yep...I know...I know...and I accept there probably aren't that many people out there that make such a sharp differentiation between what their "body" needs and what they personally need.

It is what it is and, if our bodies are comfortable, then the chances are that we personally will feel at least relatively comfortable imo. <shrug shoulders smilie>:p:undecided:huh::embarasse

....ie ...so...yep...deal with temporary "not as per normal" things and I've got personal recollection recently of total gutting of bathroom on current house = shrug shoulders smilie and wait for the workmen to vanish to find "other means" of going to the loo when there actually wasn't a loo in the place at that point in time. It is what it is....

That's the thing - we can manage - but it does depend on the individual concerned whether its something they can do indefinitely/only for the time being if they MUST/or "No way Hosea". We will all differ on that one...