Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

BOULT I think that's a very good idea and if you all get along well and can share equally the things that need doing there's no earthly reason why it shouldn't work well. I think as long as each family unit has a space that is just 'private' space for them if they want to have a little time out then all in one large home would be very sensible as a way of life. It would be only one place to heat, if you shared communal meals it would be easy to make a cooking rota and if the gardens were managed by everyone you'd be very well set up, sounds sensible to me, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Paul_Varjak

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

I have been playing with my new toy today (Kelly Kettle :D:D) and it is fab! I have managed to boil three kettles full of water and they have filled my four vacuum jugs (Reduced to £4.99 each in Aldi), so I have enough hot water for tea and coffee for 12 hours (That's how long the jugs hold the heat for) just think of all that leccie I have saved with just a couple of handfuls of dried twigs :j

I was looking at Kelly kettles a few weeks ago and still debating whether to get one. There are similar kettles on the market from other manufacturers - one even has a whistle so you know when it is boiling.

Paul_Varjak

I just added a new item to my bug-out bag today - a BLIZZARD BAG. Designed in Wales and available direct from the manufacturer for under £30...

http://www.blizzardsurvival.com/product.php/100/blizzard-survival-bag

It is very compact, coming stored in a vacuum bag, but not as compact as a video cassette (which the makers claim). It is also very light at under 400g. It is based on the space blanket principle but includes three insulating layers of air (when expanded). That means, unlike a space blanket, it provides an insulation layer to prevent loss of heat by conduction. And, like the space blanket, it also insulates against loss of heat by radiation.

Being in a vacuum bag I won't have any temptation to open and use it as, without a vacuum sealer, it cannot be compressed to its original size. But the bag is reusable once opened and is certainly fit for a 72 hour bug-out situation.

The only problem for me would be is if I get a vacuum sealer to prepare my own MREs. I might then be tempted to open the blizzard bag and reseal it!

Butterfly_Brain

Not really SHTF ............Well I suppose it was for the purp. This really made my day
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...e-station.html

modern_millie_2

Really interesting posts about intergenerational house holds and more communal living....I have a dilemma over moving house - our current house is quite large, we're likely to struggle as a couple with the garden, and also financially to heat and maintain the place as we grow older. However - DD is fond of the house, envisages coming back here after uni. We're in a small hamlet in West Wales.

T here is potential to make the house more ecofriendly, garden for veg and even space for a lodger or two if we wanted to go down that route.

But - we don't like our neighbours, shops and facilities are all a car ride away, public transport is poor. We both have insecure pt jobs, if we moved to the nearest town it wouldn't be economic for me to continue with mine. On the upside, one car could go, and transport is only going to get more expensive. We're in our mid-fifties, so finding another job could also be a major issue.

Thoughts, anyone?

I love the idea of a multi generational/co-supporting household, just don't know if it would ever happen, or if I have rose tinted glasses!

[Deleted User]

MILLIE I always had dreams of living in the country and being self sufficient but as we've gotten older we've come to realise that for us, where we live now is definately going to be much more sensible and will give us a much better quality of older age. We live in quite a large village in a 4 bed house with a reasonable garden which we have mainly over to vegetables. We also have an allottment which is just over the road so as long as we stay fit and healthy we will keep occupied. We have a few shops and a small Co-Op, the Doctors surgery is 25 minutes walk and we are also on a bus route, so can use the bus passes and not the car most of the time. We are in reasonably flat country so hopefully that will enable us to stay active for longer as well. You will have to balance staying where you are as you get older and perhaps needing some help (many years off I know, but possible in the long run) and not being able to drive if fuel becomes too expensive against moving to a larger connurbation and having more conveniences within reach and possibly having a bus/train service that will give you some freedom and having to make some compromises in your lives and get used to a bigger population. It's difficult but I am sure we have made the right decision for us, hope you can reach the right decision for you as well, Cheers Lyn xxx.

I should also have said that the downstairs of our house has a room that we could easily use as a bedroom should we not be able to manage stairs and a utility room big enough to take a shower and replace the bathroom, all things to think about!

westcoastscot

Modern Millie it's a difficult decision isn't it? We moved from a very remote area to here and at the time I moved due to circumstances not desire, however as much as I talk about my former life I would find it very difficult as things are now. Also living like this was not particularly intentional more an evolution of circumstances - and it suits us. I do think life is very difficult for young people these days, jobs are hard to come by, supporting benefits are non-existent for low earners and affordable housing is disappearing so the chances of offspring returning from education to live at home are real. I guess you have to be where you want to be though, and if your DD does return home you can make a home together wherever you are - from your post it doesn't sound like you're too attached to where you live now???

BitterAndTwisted

modern_millie wrote: »

I have a dilemma over moving house - our current house is quite large, we're likely to struggle as a couple with the garden, and also financially to heat and maintain the place as we grow older. However - DD is fond of the house, envisages coming back here after uni. We're in a small hamlet in West Wales.

There is potential to make the house more ecofriendly, garden for veg and even space for a lodger or two if we wanted to go down that route.

But - we don't like our neighbours, shops and facilities are all a car ride away, public transport is poor. We both have insecure pt jobs, if we moved to the nearest town it wouldn't be economic for me to continue with mine. On the upside, one car could go, and transport is only going to get more expensive. We're in our mid-fifties, so finding another job could also be a major issue.

Thoughts, anyone?

My thoughts are that you would be sensible to consider downsizing and moving to somewhere less remote as a long-term plan. Maybe not in the next decade, but once you reach your late sixties, once you've both retired. Who knows how expensive fuel is going to become, and it would be hell to not to be able to afford to run a car or to maintain and heat your property easily. There's a huge difference between big city, large town, small town, village and hamlet. My money would be being on the edge of a small town, or maybe in the middle of a village as long as there are decent facilities and a frequent and affordable bus service.

boultdj

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

BOULT I think that's a very good idea and if you all get along well and can share equally the things that need doing there's no earthly reason why it shouldn't work well. I think as long as each family unit has a space that is just 'private' space for them if they want to have a little time out then all in one large home would be very sensible as a way of life. It would be only one place to heat, if you shared communal meals it would be easy to make a cooking rota and if the gardens were managed by everyone you'd be very well set up, sounds sensible to me, Cheers Lyn xxx.

We've only talked about it so far, and yes we did say about private for each family and come together for meal's, all we need now is money to buy such a place.

modern_millie_2

Thanks, Mrs LW, wcs and B&T, really helpful replies.

I think moving is ultimately going to be the way to go - you're right that we're not particularly attached to where we live, though we do like the house.

I am coming round to the idea that DD is quite likely to come back to llive with us , short or long term, the prospects for her age group as you say seem dire.

We have looked at an area on the edge of the nearest town, it's well placed for services and shops, it would be a question of finding the right house, downsizing a bit but not so much we're on top of each other.

Mrs LW, that's a good point about downstairs rooms and facilities - there are bungalows also in the area we like - though I do like an upstairs.

Thanks again, sometimes I think I have this issue quite clear in my mind, but then the doubts creep in! Mr MM has agreed to put the house on the market in the next couple of years - this Summer earliest - just want to be sure we're doing the right thing.