I hope you survivalists are aware of the impact your plans and stockpiles can have on your children. I grew up in the 50's when everybody was terrified of the commies and the bomb. When I was 5 or 6 we got stationed over in Germany near the then E. German border. We had packed suitcases and an emergency escape plan should the commies invade over the border. At school we did all that duck and cover stuff and practiced running home as fast as we could (as if that would make a difference :right:). When I was small, all this stuff terrified me. As I grew older, I became fatalistic since we always lived near a military base that would have been ground zero in the event of a nuclear war. I remain fatalistic to this day. Any kind of catastrophe that you need to store month's worth of food for and ammo to stave off your neighbors probably is going to involve a long term if not permanent break down of society. If you are truely worried, move to the country where there is ample firewood, game, and fresh water. Get off the power grid. Grow a giant vegetable garden and make sure your root cellar is well stocked. Guns and ammo are all very well, but if the scenario is the "end of times," you are probably better off with bow and arrows and such. Above all, don't scare your little ones with all this stuff.

Basic distaste preparation shouldn't be equated doomsday fearmogering of the 50's. This level of preparation is more like buying insurance; just in case something happens or if something much less serious. Instance a strong thunderstorm knocks out power for a day or two, or your between jobs and need to cut cost. That stock pile of food will make sure you have the strength to find more work.

My brother and I are both into survivalism, so he and he wife and I and my wife better prepared than the average people. We both have stocks of food in our houses (enough for several weeks). I have a fire pit out back with a supply of wood so cooking won't be a problem if the power is out. We have some water stored, but can get plenty from a nearby stream and/or river and boil it as needed.

Both he and his wife and I and my wife have GHB (Get Home Bags) in our respective vehicles. These include things like a small amount of food (crackers, granola bars, etc), water, flashlight, chemical light stick, knife, multi-tool, compass, whistle, waterproof matches and petroleum jelly soaked cotton balls for fire starting, emergency thermal blanket, plastic rain poncho, chemical hand warmers, first aid/trauma kit, cordage, a pair of gloves and maybe a few other things...going from memory. The purpose of this is to keep you alive and get you home.

At home, we have a well stocked BoB (Bug out Bag) for use if we need to evacuate and have to be on our own for a few days. It has a lot of the same things as the GHB, only with more food and water, water purification tablets, a better first aid kit, a tarp, tent stakes and military sleeping pads for a makeshift shelter, a non-battery radio, mess kits, personal hygiene products, a hatchet and small folding saw, Leatherman, more fire starting supplies including magnesium flint stick and a few other things.

We have a plan to grab other essentials we will need on the way out the door (cash, 3 firearms and ammo and medications).

I plan to loot Walmart

oh shit. i lolled. do tacos smell like tortillas?

We have a cistern. It's not being used at the moment so it's probably pretty gross in there, but I guess it could be made operational again at least for non-drinking purposes.

We have 2 wells on our property too, also not in operation, but installing a hand pump is part of our "get a round tuit" plans.

I volunteer to help LJ take on Walmart.

I think you'll have more trouble with like minded people, than walmart management. ;)

I'd say he was a big dieter if he got down to 85lbs!

She shoots; SHE SCORES!!!111

Who's scared?

Take your pick:

"Dear Lil Lookout and 2.0, nothing bad will probably ever happen near us so don't worry about what would happen to you if any of the things you hear about on the news were to happen near us."

or

"Dear LL and 2.0, I don't expect anything like what we hear about on the news to happen here, but if it does I want you to know this is what your mom and I have done to prepare for it."

I grew up with plenty of drills underneath my desk and I'm just fine. Having the kids know I've given some thought to contingency plans is not something I'm worried about.

Teaching them to be prepared can ONLY be a good thing.


IMO

There are those here who would disagree.:D

But I agree with your explaining it the the shorties. They mostly want to know that you've got it all covered and you are the one that in control, not them.

I practically live like a survivalist. I guess I would have to learn to butcher my own beef ;)

Wipe it's ass and slap it on a plate. :haha: