How does preparedness affect your day to day life

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by Imasham, Dec 23, 2016.


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  1. Imasham

    Imasham Monkey

    The intent of this post is more philosophical than I usually write but I got to thinking yesterday...not always a good thing!

    My wife and daughter went on a 500+ kilometre trip yesterday to celebrate Christmas with my in-laws ( a good thing as I have great in-laws!). I had a number of hours to think and ponder my personal universe as I drove and one of the things that came up in my head was what I would do if an EMP hit during my trip. It would take me, who has a lot of hiking experience, about three weeks to hike home but only if I was fully prepared. With my wife and daughter it would probably become six to eight weeks considering my daughter is three and it is winter. My car was filled with presents and supplies such that it was basically full for a five day trip. It just wouldn't have been feasible to carry two months worth of supplies as a backup.

    So, my question for your consideration is, how do you allow preparedness to affect you in your life? Would you go on six hour trip prepared to walk home? If so, how? What about a trip to Europe or Mexico or other faraway place? Does your preparedness restrict your lifestyle?

    During the cold war it was a general point of US doctrine/belief/hope that a nuclear exchange would most likely be preceded by a roughly 30 day general breakdown in relationship with Russia. Seeing as it always better for one to be ahead of the curve rather than behind it, what signs around the globe or in your community do you use as a starting point to initiate your long term SHTF plans?
     
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  2. oil pan 4

    oil pan 4 Monkey+++

    The good thing is you would have to be pretty close to the blast to have EMP high enough to effectively render a vehicle inop.
    50kv/m minimum, which is a lot.
    But that's way over 50x what you would need to completely fry the power grid and scramble all radio communication for a day.

    So the good news is society could devolve into a max max scenario almost over night.
    Or is that bad news?
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2016
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  3. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    That might be an optimistic assumption, given the past history of war declarations in the past 100 years. Japanese diplomats in Washington DC still hadn't finished decoding Japan's official declaration of war when the attack on Pearl harbor had been put into effect.
     
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  4. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    May well be optimistic even now. But that is apples and oranges. WWII was 70ish years ago, the cold war nearly that far back. Even the MAD doctrine/theory has sorta fallen by the wayside.
     
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  5. Ura-Ki

    Ura-Ki Grampa Monkey

    I think a more realistic assessment would be; What could you do to survive while so far away from home/safety. Is it even worth/feasible to hike that kind of distance? and if so, How? I do travel quite a bit, BUT, my normal rig IS EMP proof, has enough fuel in reserve, and several weeks rations onboard ( set as a minimum diet for two) to make my options more reasonable. I would ( and do ) plan your route of travel taking notes of places I could use for shelter, likely places to find food and water, routes and alt routes of travel, and finally the distances involved! All these play into any plan I form for survival. I concentrate my efforts on sheltering in place, finding safety a.s.a.p. and then evaluating the situ as it stands. A see a frantic and immediate response as a very bad idea, instead taking a deep breath, slowing down,taking stock of the situ and then moving forward with SHTF plans.
    Looking at it; if I were to attempt to head home, what am I going to face in that journey, Rivers and bridges, state lines and possible road blocks, roaming hoards of desperate folks who are not prepped for any thing other then theft, impassable roads for what ever reason, a mountain range or two ( In my case) serious altitude, and during winter, very dangerous weather, possibly compounded by an "Event" that would have a major effect on my plan to get home. This is why I have to look for a shelter in place option FIRST, as this gives me a base from which to chill and let every thing settle for a time and the people to become feral and weed them selves out of the picture some what, then I can strike out and work my way home. Keep in mind, any large Diesel Rig can be hotwired, usually has a large "Cash" of fuel, is big enough to force through obstructions man made, can serve as shelter and heat/cooking, and can usually get you where you need or until out of fuel, further along then you would be on foot. If you think about it, you can see other advantages in securing a rig like this! Me, I would be looking for a Dump Truck! AND, I am going to be sourcing fuel along the route to keep it up and running as long as possible. Just some ideas to think about!
     
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  6. oil pan 4

    oil pan 4 Monkey+++

    Also, don't buy an electric vehicle.
    Since a moderate solar storm can knock out power for at least a few days.
     
  7. UncleMorgan

    UncleMorgan I like peeling bananas and (occasionally) people.

    I find it interesting that a "nuclear" war could be fought with EMP strikes, and some humans might actually survive.

    I don't think that changes the liklihood of a global war at all--it just makes the outcome a lot rosier.

    With ordinary nuclear weapons, no one would survive much longer than their hoarded supplies, if any.
     
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  8. Andy the Aussie

    Andy the Aussie Monkey+++ Founding Member

    There is a balance to be struck between being "prepared" and no longer living life to its fullest. Once you start isolating yourself from your family (that you like/care about) and friends and not doing the things you enjoy you have effectively sacrificed "life" for simply "living" and even then on the premise that something *may* happen. I DO NOT consider the impact of EMP/Nukes each time I travel, I consider having at least the basics of surviving with me appropriate to where I am going. If I am heading to a remote area here that may look more like a post apocalyptic "bug-out" but if I am heading to a friends place in the country for the weekend, it will resemble a day hike.
     
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  9. 3M-TA3

    3M-TA3 Cold Wet Monkey

    There are several ways preparedness affects my day to day life:
    • I've always been very observant and had good situational awareness, but I find I move through areas whether in vehicle or on foot more cautiously, focusing on areas where dangers could be located.
    • I see bigger patterns in the world than I did previously due to spending more time analyzing news and learning how the world functions.
    • I tend to spot people that aren't immersed in the dream by observing how they act - where they position themselves, what they are looking at, how they leave themselves options to move if necessary.
    • Greater knowledge of threats and realities tends to ruin entertainment. For example, my wife and I watched a movie recently that featured the US being saved from a nuclear strike by detonating the device high in the atmosphere. I wonder what percentage of people watching that movie realized that it likely did more damage that way than had it hit it's target.
    • I look for threats or precursors to threats in the news before I look at anything else.
    • I'm healthier because having realized how much work it will be to survive even a short while takes a lot of work, I understood the need to get in better shape as of yesterday.
    • I don't spend money on stupid useless crap. Instead I spend it on things I hope I will never use.
    • I have to be a bit secretive around close friends and relatives. To a certain extent that includes my wife, who isn't fully on board. I don't like that.
     
  10. GhostX

    GhostX Monkey

    Well, I usually carry a backpack full of survival gear now, lol, so I think I'd be okay for a while. My backpack is a bit heavy but I've been trying to condition myself to carry it long distances. If SHTF happened right now and we had an EMP strike within 50 miles of my location, I would grab my bag, maybe layer up on a few sets of clothes, mount my tent and bed roll on my bike and I'd be able to ride wherever I needed to get to. Most likely I'd run solo and camp next to a river. I have plenty of fishing tackle in my pack along with rations if I can't catch anything. I have a life straw that I could use for water, much fire redundancy, a folding saw, cooking pot, thermal blanket, rain gear, respirator and a collapsible bucket to list off a few of the items I keep with me. I've tried to think of at least most situations I could run into. Heh, I still need to get myself a gun though.
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2016
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  11. Imasham

    Imasham Monkey

    I enjoyed this point especially 3M. Although, as I think of my stored stuff, if we spend money on things we will never use (hopefully, as you said) then by definition, doesn't that make them useless?!!

    The point you made about entertainment made sense as my wife and I watched the same MacGyver episode last week!

     
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  12. DKR

    DKR Raconteur of the first stripe

    Spending money on stuff you will never use?

    Camping equipment = stuff for loss of utility event
    Education = multiple skills for after a major event.
    EMT training and volunteer work = skills to support family and ability to deal with minor issues rather than pay for a Doc n the Box visit

    Post atomic attack 101 skills (fire starting, shelter building, etc = outdoor fun.

    My 'preparation' has also allowed me to save money. We do menus, plan ahead and know what we eat - so buying in bulk on sale items not only makes sense, it saves money **and** expands the larder. Since the items we buy fit into a larger planning set, nothing goes to waste and we enjoy the feeling of knowing just exactly where our next (several) meals are coming from....

    So, I wouldn't say this affects my day to day life - it has become part of the way I choose to go in my day to day living.....
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2016
  13. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Emphatically no. In the end of times they may not be used. Then again, maybe they will, and you better have than not.
     
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  14. techsar

    techsar Monkey+++

    Perhaps I'm reading the question incorrectly, but our preps allow us a certain level of comfort and relaxation from the possibilities that may come to pass. Are there concerns? Certainly, but most of them are from the unknown that may have slipped through the cracks, not likely events that we can make plans for.
    In response to the part of the inquiry - do your preps restrict your lifestyle - not really. Our lifestyle has developed as we prepared...and it includes enjoying life.
     
  15. Tevin

    Tevin Monkey+++

    This is going to sound counterintuitive, but I've learned to chill out and not obsess constantly over every possible disaster, nor is it a good idea to consider prepping the most (or only) important thing in your life.

    For example: I go out of state to visit my friend a few times a year. This involves air travel and being far from home for a few days at a time. I can't bring weapons or any meaningful survival gear, so I just take my chances.

    What else am I supposed to do? Tell my one of my closest friends of 30 years that I'm not going to come see him any more because I'm afraid the world will implode while I'm away from my preps? No, I go and have a good time.

    The alternative is to hide in the basement with a shotgun and a pallet of freeze dried food and never leave and have no friends. That's not much of a life. There are people out there, probably some members of this forum, who avoid certain social situations and relationships over the possibility that it will compromise their state of readiness in a SHTF event, and I think that is pathetic and sad.

    Yes of course, be prepared and all that. But if you're giving up the joys of life for the sake of survival, then you don't have a life worth saving in the first place.
     
  16. VisuTrac

    VisuTrac Ваша мать носит военные ботинки Site Supporter+++

    MAD may be but Mad as a Hatter (North Korea) hasn't. I think I liked it better with the super powers now just about everyone has the info and potentially access to materials due to the collapse of certain nuclear nations.

    But when I make long distance .. hell even short distance trips.
    I do have potential refuge between Point A - Point B.
    Friends and Good friends scattered across the United States. Typically no more than 100 miles from any during my intended travels.

    Granted, driving to the PNW, I'd be screwed as my network is lacking taking a northern route (US2 / 80 or 90) there is a huge gap between Minnesota and Eastern Washington. In that case I'd take my chances on a plane.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2016
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  17. Gray Wolf

    Gray Wolf Monkey+++

    To answer the original question:
    I don't run our of stuff. When it was 50 miles to the nearest decent sized city, we went once a month. Carpooled with members of two other families in my 4x4 Suburban. did all the shopping while we were in town. Just like the frontier days. Groceries, auto parts, hardware, fuel, everything. you do not forget things, because it is a long expensive way back to town.
    We used a list, and had at least two of everything. When the last one gets opened, two more get put on the list.
    I have lost track of the times my wife used to say "we are out of...." "No we are not. go look in this cupboard, or that cabinet ...."
     
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  18. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    That is one of the things that I struggled with for a period of time. I when my eyes first opened to this way of life, it was scary. Scary in the sense that I realized what could happen and how fast it would get bad. I never really ever went through my life thinking the government would be there to help me so that was not a loss but the though that neighbors could turn on us in a matter of weeks was really alarming. I will say it is/was kind of paralyzing.
     
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  19. Andy the Aussie

    Andy the Aussie Monkey+++ Founding Member

    ....... that was the first post on any forum EVER I have "Liked" (something the trendy young people do to me ;) ). But yes, if you are no also living there is no point i surviving, different if end of days kicks in but in the mean time....live life and enjoy. When you have done to "prepare" for whatever it is you foresee as needing to prepare for allows you to take the time for life with the knowledge that you have bettered your odds. Spending each day snuggled up to a crate of MREs and your water purifier is not living.
     
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  20. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    On the other hand, if communications are still open... you have Monkey's that know safe spots across I-90......from here to there ;)
     
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