Prep Genrl Any one else ramping up their preps as the war news gets worse?

[Meemur]

As we keep telling newbies: prepping is a lifestyle, just like watching for sales or shopping for used items is second nature for those who are frugal.

That said, if crap happens, and I can safely go to the store and buy fresh produce before the garden starts producing, I will. If not, I have items in the pantry I can fix. What I want to avoid is being at the end of a long line with a basket full of groceries and be surrounded by thugs who are almost ready to riot.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Over the past couple of months, we've been eating heavily out of our stored foods. Several items have gotten low. On my next shopping trip, I'll be buying to replenish the pantry of all the low stuff. I had rather be overstocked than not have enough when SHTF. Replenishing the pantry will cost us, but I don't think we can afford to wait about doing it.

I have plenty of clothing put back for the both of us, including underwear and socks. Plenty of new bedsheet sets, drying towels, brooms, mops, lamp oil, etc. I only have to concentrate on food. Cary makes sure he keeps a good stock of all his stuff, including making sure the generator works with plenty of gas stored for it. Spare parts for everything.

Things are getting so bad that Cary is strapping on again where he has been lax lately about doing so. He's been leaving it in the vehicle when we go in somewhere. I think those days are over.

 

[nomifyle]

As we keep telling newbies: prepping is a lifestyle, just like watching for sales or shopping for used items is second nature for those who are frugal.

That said, if crap happens, and I can safely go to the store and buy fresh produce before the garden starts producing, I will. If not, I have items in the pantry I can fix. What I want to avoid is being at the end of a long line with a basket full of groceries and be surrounded by thugs who are almost ready to riot.

It may be impossible to shop safely at that point. Personally, I rely on frozen or canned foods than fresh. I've dehydrated a lot of fresh food and I have some commerically dehydrated and freeze dried foods.

 

[nomifyle]

When ever I do a pick up order I buy a can or two of the things I use the most.

Lately when I've made chili for the two of us I've used the one Dh likes and another one to use it up. The other one seems to be too spicy for DH, so I may gather all that up and share it with my friend. I think they like a bit of spice in their food. They use shrimp boil for dry seasoning on foods.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

It may be impossible to shop safely at that point. Personally, I rely on frozen or canned foods than fresh. I've dehydrated a lot of fresh food and I have some commerically dehydrated and freeze dried foods.

Cary and I have sorta joked around with each other about what we would do right at the moment SHTF. In our minds, we would hitch the trailer to the SUV and head straight to Sam's. Load up the trailer and back of the SUV and make a mad dash back home and lock the doors and gate. In reality, it might be too dangerous to be out at all if we wait for SHTF to happen. If there is time, and it's not too dangerous, we might do that, but it will all depend on the circumstances and situation at that time.

 

[nomifyle]

Cary and I have sorta joked around with each other about what we would do right at the moment SHTF. In our minds, we would hitch the trailer to the SUV and head straight to Sam's. Load up the trailer and back of the SUV and make a mad dash back home and lock the doors and gate. In reality, it might be too dangerous to be out at all if we wait for SHTF to happen. If there is time, and it's not too dangerous, we might do that, but it will all depend on the circumstances and situation at that time.

I've never considered doing that. Its already getting dangerous at grocery stores, it would be a killing field if things hit the fan.

 

[Meemur]

There are several stores nearby in a 99.5% white, law-abiding area well outside of Ames and the Des Moines metro area. I think I might be okay for a quick produce run. That's also why I carry some cash. I think I could get gas at the last minute, too.

Were I still in Des Moines, no. But I know a lot of the locals by sight and vice-versa. We're not thugs . . .

 

[SouthernBreeze]

There are several stores nearby in a 99.5% white, law-abiding area well outside of Ames and the Des Moines metro area. I think I might be okay for a quick produce run. That's also why I carry some cash. I think I could get gas at the last minute, too.

Were I still in Des Moines, no. But I know a lot of the locals by sight and vice-versa. We're not thugs . . .

Yeah. Your area is probably a lot safer than in a city like Tupelo. Lots of blacks there doing lots of crime already. I've seen more than my fair share of sheboon chimp outs while shopping. The men are even more dangerous.

 

[moldy]

Sad to say, but it has been going thru my mind for a while: When shopping, I often think, "If this was the last time I could get here, do I have what I need?" The answer of course is always 'no', but it causes me to pause just a second and think if there is something else I need to pick up that would make a huge difference.

 

[John Deere Girl]

Cary and I have sorta joked around with each other about what we would do right at the moment SHTF. In our minds, we would hitch the trailer to the SUV and head straight to Sam's. Load up the trailer and back of the SUV and make a mad dash back home and lock the doors and gate. In reality, it might be too dangerous to be out at all if we wait for SHTF to happen. If there is time, and it's not too dangerous, we might do that, but it will all depend on the circumstances and situation at that time.

Depending on what kind of excrement is hitting the fan, I would most likely be safe in our area if I wanted/needed to top everything off. On 9/11, the streets and stores were deserted for the first hour or two. After that the stores and gas stations were extremely crowded.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Depending on what kind of excrement is hitting the fan, I would most likely be safe in our area if I wanted/needed to top everything off. On 9/11, the streets and stores were deserted for the first hour or two. After that the stores and gas stations were extremely crowded.

Yeah. It would depend on the situation. If we could not make it safely to Sam's or Walmart, we would resort to going to the nearest Dollar General and getting whatever we could get there. There is a Dollar General within 2-5 miles of our house going in just about any direction. I always think of Sam's, because of the bulk buys.

 

[nomifyle]

Well, when I was scheduling my wm pick up it crossed my mind "what if this is the last time I could get to the store" I scheduled 2 of some things. When I was mentioning what fresh things would you have to run to the store for I didn't think of what fresh things I actually get. Its cottage cheese, avacados and Dave's bread, and sliced cheddar cheese. I could make cottage cheese from my dried milk and shelf stable milk stash, I'd have to live without avaccados and sliced cheese. As for bread I do know how to make tortillas from scratch, which I do hope I never have to do, but I know how.

I try to keep a good stock on allergy/sinus otc meds. Sometimes I have to take that two or three times a day.

Maybe I'm a little anxious, just need to pray about it and know Jesus is in control.

 

[Marseydoats]

Some of my friends have been war gaming "It's your last trip to the store." Most of them are still concentrating on food, a lot of it refrigerated. I've tried to impress that if the grid goes down, most of them won't have any way to keep things cool.
What I bought --- step in fence posts. I live on solid granite and I can't drive normal t posts in the ground. The step in posts are great for a temporary (or not) fence. I've got some that have been in use for almost 2 years. The black ones are more UV resistant than the white ones, and I thought about buying some of the dark purple ones just to hear dh fuss...
Next up --- security bars for the windows. At this point they're more to keep my cats in than anybody out.

 

[nomifyle]

While I did spend much more than usual at wm yesterday, my main concern was getting cash back. I don't like to get cash at the bank because its tracked. At wm it just looks like I'm buying something, at least to the bank.

 

[Meemur]

I have a list of priority items that changes, but if it really were a "last trip," it would depend on the type of disaster. If I could get to the farm store and work my way back home, I'd do that. Otherwise, I might just run down the road to the Fareway and buy another bag of apples and . . .