Why do you want to survive

[the-gnole]

I think it depends on the nature of the catastrophic event that took place.

"IF" there was a rapid die off of the population then all the stores you have might not save you, remember the three rules

Survive the event

Survive the aftermath

Re-start living

If you are "Joe Bloggs" and didn't do any prepping then in a rapid die off you could just "Womble" everything you needed, in a slow decline your stores will last a while, but not indefinately, so you will resort to Wombling when they have gone, either way you WILL become a scavenger at some point.

[Carrot Cruncher]

To want to be comfortable when everyone else is just getting by is a bit crass really imho

.

I'm not so sure.

As an example, amongst othr things I have tools, wet weather gear, and food in my car. If I break down then at least I can try and fix the car, stay dry at the same time, and if I cant fix it I can have a cup of tea and a bite to eat while waiting for the RAC to arrive.

It's not crass, it's about being prepared. I don't need to have the above in the car, I could just be cold, wet, and hungry....i would still probably survive but I prefer to be comfortable while i'm doing so

[itsybitsy]

That's why I'm here, to learn from those who are prepping and have been doing so for a long time and to offer any experience I may have on a practical/theoretical level in return. To want to be comfortable when everyone else is just getting by is a bit crass really imho.

C

Why? Folk who are just 'getting by' should have woken up and done something about it so that when their personal SHTF they are prepared for it. If you want to share whatever you have with those who are 'just getting by' then that's your perogative, but I won't be. I prep so that I can be as comfortable as possible when SHTF, and have a 'buffer', to see me through when times are tough. I don't want to be the person running to Tesco for bread and milk in a panic at the first sign of snow, which is what 99% of the population do. If I have a month with lots of unexpected financial outgoings, I like to know that my cupboards are well stocked and I could get by without doing a shop if I needed to. I would call that being sensible, not crass.

[bulldogeagle]

If you are "Joe Bloggs" and didn't do any prepping then in a rapid die off you could just "Womble" everything you needed, in a slow decline your stores will last a while, but not indefinately, so you will resort to Wombling when they have gone, either way you WILL become a scavenger at some point.

that was my point Gnoley, there is a difference between scavenging and thieving, at some point i will have to be a scavenger, but i do not intend to just TAKE off other families just trying to survive, this could put me into a serious fire fight which could result in me being seriously injured.

[metatron]

I think the average person could go two to three weeks eating stuff from their freezer, cupboards and fridge, even if that meal is just ketchup and crackers.

The number one thing every prepper should do imo is not talk to anyone that know's where you live or the area where you live about stocking extra things and making sure anyone that does have to know such as your immediate family/the people you live with that its something you don't talk about. If you don't look like you have a pot to piss in, people leave you alone.

Its hard to hide some things such as green houses and poli tunnels, leylandii trees grow like weeds and if you manage them they can look quite nice.

[bulldogeagle]

I think the average person could go two to three weeks eating stuff from their freezer, cupboards and fridge, even if that meal is just ketchup and crackers.

The number one thing every prepper should do imo is not talk to anyone that know's where you live or the area where you live about stocking extra things and making sure anyone that does have to know such as your immediate family/the people you live with that its something you don't talk about. If you don't look like you have a pot to piss in, people leave you alone.

Its hard to hide some things such as green houses and poli tunnels, leylandii trees grow like weeds and if you manage them they can look quite nice.

Thats what being a "grey man " is all about, they used to have a saying in the war"walls have ears", none of my neighbours know we prep, and only immediate family know- and even there its a case of " in one ear and out the other"