Any Sense of Urgency for You?

[da_wanderer]

Greetings,

Any of you have a sense of urgency?

Here is my story.

For about the last 5 years, I have been in the grip of a compulsion. It started when my wife and I got married. I converted as much as possible of the landscape around the home into something edible. (I have done fairly well with perennial type plants, but my vegetable growing still needs work.) I have purchased as many books as I could get my hands on about gardening and country skills. I grew up in the country (woods), but had never tried my hand at growing anything until I got married.

Recently, I have begun to build a battery(sp). I have purchased a 30-06 and am looking at purchasing a handgun soon. I have never felt the need or had much of an opportunity to shoot guns. My Dad has passed guns down to me and then taken them back. I had never even shot them. Now, I am actively learning how to shoot. I am familiar with most types of firearms from my youth, except for black powder, but I have never had any particular fascination with owning them.

I am a fairly religious person. About 6 years ago, I started to pray that my eyes would be opened, and I would see the truth about the world around me. I had hoped that I could make better decisions or become better at listening to what God had to tell me. You can see where that prayer has led me.

I keep wondering if I am not in some way deluding myself, but I look around and read as deeply as I can into events in this country and around the world, and I cannot help but be feel fear. Our central government has been ignoring the Constitution for the last 70 years, the Fed is printing money as fast as it can. I wonder what it will be like for us, if we experience hyper-inflation like that of Germany in 1923? Oil trades in dollars, currently. What happens if the dollar crashes?

I want my fears to be groundless. I want to bury my head in the sand and be blissfully ignorant like most people, but there is no going back. We are overdue for an economic "correction".

I have 8 recently purchased acres, half woods and half pasture (no fence of course). I have started my garden and orchard. What should I build or focus on next? What will I need if the SHTF in a major way?

Thank you,

Wanderer

[NCLee]

Welcome!

I suspect that most of us here have a sense of unease. In some cases it's been tempered by having gone through what happened in the 70's, prepping for Y2K, and the nose dive the economy took when the dot com bubble burst. In my case, it's also tempered by having parents who lived through the 30's depression and didn't have much money when I was growing up. Learned from them to live frugally and to make-do with what you have.

Before trying to answer your question, I have one. Do you have a place to live on your property? Are you actually living on your property now? IMHO, that'll determine what's best to do next.

Again, welcome.

Lee

[Mom5farmboys]

Wanderer,

Welcome to the forum! I just wanted to comment on what you said about your fear. If you prayed to God for your eyes to be opened he wouldn't show you things to make you afraid. God is not the author of fear.......how many times in the bible does it say to fear not? I have never personally counted but I've been told 365 one for each day of the year.

My advice is to pray about the things that make you fearful, trust in God to take care of you and your family and to lead your actions. I'm not saying you shouldn't be prepared, we try to be. Just don't do things out of fear. I'm sure you will be ready if anything ever happens.

[CanNerd]

I don't have a sense of urgency yet. By all reports I have about a month more before things begin to get REALLY stressful. That's plenty of time to enjoy myself and continue my canning and other efforts.

[CapeCMom]

Wanderer,

Welcome to the BWH forum! Although we have our differences all who frequent this site are friends and we are ready to lend you a hand, and hopefully offer you a bit of advice that you can use. Ask us anything any time!

Seeing where you are from, I hope you and your family were not affected by the terrible flooding recently. Congrats on the purchase of your new homestead! It sounds like you are on the right track with all that you have done so far! Prepping with supplies only gets you so far, and by the sounds of your new orchard, you are doing things the right way by growing your own food. All takes time, and I know you have a sense of urgency right now-heck, I have felt that for the past six months now. Steady as you go! You have done well by purchasing your growing library. The internet also offers many good sites as well to help you a long the way- You are not alone! Like minded people are growing in numbers every day! I don't know if you have been lurking for a while or you just joined and haven't looked around old threads, but there's a lot of good info! Don't feel shy about reviving old threads if you have a question or want further input.

[marnee]

But I do feel a sense of urgency in terms of being prepared for personal and local shtf situations. I know that it's important for us to have a year's worth of supplies and resources in case we lose a job or the area is hit by some type of disaster, or if we have to change jobs and move and have a delay in paychecks or get snowed in during the winter. I know it's important for us to have some transportation (extra gas for the car, snowmobile, or even bicycles) so that we can bug out for a short time if needed or so we could take care of/pick up my mom who lives about 15 miles away. I feel like it's urgent that we can be prepared for some of those personal shtf situations.

I don't feel a sense of urgency in terms of a teotwawki situation though. Because of my religious veiws I believe that if we had a teotwawki situation, it really would be the end of the world as we know it and we won't be soley responsible for it's rebuilding. I believe that coincides with the second coming and that it won't be quite as bad as some make it out to be.

Regardless, though, I do feel a sense of urgency to make sure that we're doing everything we possibly can and having faith. I know that as long as we are working and taking care of as much as we can to prepare, and have and exercise our faith, God will help us the rest of the way, whether it be a shtf situation or a total collapse.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Yes. I don't expect an end of the world type scenario, but I really feel that the economy is going into a sharp downward spiral. And the world food shortage will hit every nation to a certain extent. It's just an inner sense of dread and unease that I have had for the last few years, even before the dubya housing crash.

[Anon001]

The economy is already showing signs of healing.... little but some.

The only sense of urgency I feel is when I know it's getting near the end of the summer, and I'm wondering if I really have enough food for a year. I usually do, but I still wonder. That is the only sense of urgency I have.

Paul

[randallhilton]

Fear is a big motivator. The CDC is trying to scare everybody about the swine flu. The lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are trying to leverage fear in the health care debate, global warming, finances and just about anything else because fear motivates. But fear of man is a snare. Don't make decisions based upon fear because they won't make sense.

My prep philosophy is to adjust our lifestyle now so that when the contraction comes, or TSHTF, or whatever else comes along we won't be impacted as hard as others might.

My prediction is that, barring natural disasters, our society's lifestyle will continue our slide into the doldrums. It won't happen on a date that we can pin down. We'll just have an epiphany one day that wow, things are really bad!

Adjust your lifestyle to enjoy life without so much of the fluff we have come to depend on. Then, if things don't get so bad, you're still better off. The more you depend upon the system, the less freedom you have.

[NCLee]

Well said!!!

The only thing I could add to your post is to try to stay out of debt, especially with credit cards. Those pieces of plastic can be their own SHTF. Especially when there's no more credit available and true emergency use arises.

Lee

[Laura]

Any Sense of Urgency for You?


Good Day!

I do not have the urgency insomuch that I am 'nervous, anxious, or manic'.
I do have a new sense of priorities.

I can see things in the world today, lining up with Scripture, so I am preparing.
I cannot stop what is happening, I cannot change what is happening, but I can be prepared. The Lord said "what is man, but breath in My nostrils" and "fear God, not man".

I am more saddened than I am fearful. So many who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms......and now, the way things look, it was for naught. That is sad. Sad that so many chose to worship a man, and not the Lord. Sad that so many are more preoccupied with themselves to reach out to others.......
But 2 Timothy 3 speaks to all of this. Sad, but true.

Day by day, I when I make decisions I am now looking at "what effect will this have in 1, 2, 3 or 5 years". If it's positive, I follow through. If it is negative or neutral, I reconsider. Ultimately, I am preparing for the worst, but I am fully trusting The Lord, to carry us through!

Laura

[flatwater]

I agree with MoM5farmboys , don't let your feeling guide your actions but be concerned because we are also to be wise. We can't carry on the way this country is heading. I personaly think America needs to repent and seek the kingdom of God. As Christians we need to come out of the closet and be recognized for what we stand for and recognize how God has blessed us when we follow his way. Some will ridicule me for saying this but that's O. K. God does not expect us to be perfect just to seek Him and His wisdom. For those that believe , he will see us though this. After all it's not the first time He has helped us out.

[firegirl969]

I had a sense of urgency this past year, but now I find comfort that we are just about as prepared as we can be. We continue to pick up items as they go on a loss leader or B1G1F sale and they are items that we normally use, but there are weeks that I don't even visit the grocery store as they have nothing on sale that we really need. That is very comforting, and those are the weeks that I may stock up on cleaning supplies, bleach, vinegar, canning lids, lamp oil, etc. There is also the weeks that we just don't have the extra funds due to insurance being due or something, so we just don't shop that week and we eat what we already have. DH and I also have done a great deal of canning, so we feel secure in those preps as well. We have faith that God will pull us through whatever we may face, so there is no need to have fear. Blessings, firegirl

[bantyhen]

Well said Flatwater! I totally agree!

[sonshine]

I had a sense of urgency this past year, but now I find comfort that we are just about as prepared as we can be. We continue to pick up items as they go on a loss leader or B1G1F sale and they are items that we normally use, but there are weeks that I don't even visit the grocery store as they have nothing on sale that we really need. That is very comforting, and those are the weeks that I may stock up on cleaning supplies, bleach, vinegar, canning lids, lamp oil, etc. There is also the weeks that we just don't have the extra funds due to insurance being due or something, so we just don't shop that week and we eat what we already have. DH and I also have done a great deal of canning, so we feel secure in those preps as well. We have faith that God will pull us through whatever we may face, so there is no need to have fear. Blessings, firegirl

This is pretty much how things are for me, only I haven't done canning. But I do have a good bit stored and we are eating beans more now than we did in the past. Its great because we both really like beans. I prep when I can and live in the moment the best I can. We have many blessings and trust in the good Lord.

Judy

[momma_to_seven_chi]

I think there are a lot of members of the general public who are concerned about the future too. I was at WM today, and for the 3rd time there were no big 25lb bags of flour or sugar. I did get a 20lb bag of rice, and got one last Thursday too. But they seem to be sold out more often too. It's unusual to see more than one on the shelves any more. Somebody is buying them up (besides me).

We are heading to the Amish Store Thursday to buy up some wheat and 50lbs of oatmeal. I will ask her if they have seen higher sales in bulk grains too. I always buy brn sugar from them, so we will see if it is available there.

[NCLee]

I think there are a lot of members of the general public who are concerned about the future too. I was at WM today, and for the 3rd time there were no big 25lb bags of flour or sugar. I did get a 20lb bag of rice, and got one last Thursday too. But they seem to be sold out more often too. It's unusual to see more than one on the shelves any more. Somebody is buying them up (besides me).


Mom, I have a little different view on this subject. I've been grumbling about it for several years now. While I could easily be wrong, my feeling is that this is just another symptom of the trend, especially by chain stores, to put more "convenience" food on the shelves. Perhaps, there is some uptick in the sales of things like 25 lbs of flour, so it's making the transistion more noticable with the empty slots.

I've been fuming about the shrinking stock of plain frozen foods and the ever expanding choices of frozen heat and eat. Same for the shrinking meat counter. Fewer and fewer choices for plain cuts of meat while more and more "seasoned and ready to cook" stuff takes their place.

Same thing for everywhere else in the store. Less and less natural produce, more and more already prepped items. Basic laundry supplies have almost disappeared while the shelves are loaded with the latest and greatest whatever. Took me about 2 years to finally find a local source for Arm & Hammer washing soda and blueing. Liquid starch is almost gone in favor of those dryer sheets.

Back to the flour -- wasn't long ago that several brands of flour were on the shelf in 25 lb bags. Today, if I'm lucky there'll be a spot designated for one brand in the 25 lb size. Same with self-rising cornmeal, especially if it doesn't have MSG in it. The largest size I could find the other day was a little 1 lb bag.

A few miles from us a new Food Lion went into a new strip mall. It's in an area that's seen thousands (yes thousands) of McMansion homes that have been built over the last few years. After they opened, stopped by to check it out, as it's in a fairly convenient location for us. Haven't been back since. Along with higher prices almost everything in that store was geared to the microwave using residents of those subdivisons. Very little cook from scratch was on the shelves and in the produce bins and meat counters.

There's one small independent grocery store about 10 miles from us, where, for example, in season, they sell whole locally grown heads of collards. Their merchandise today is much like it was in most goceries 20-25 years ago. Their store stays packed with customers. However, a super Wal-Mart will be opening soon within sight of their store. So, I don't know what the future will bring for them.

So, in closing, is it really a good up serge in people prepping and getting back to the basics or an increasing trend towards the opposite?

Just my 2-cents this morn.
Lee

[CapeCMom]

Lee and Mom- No one here-even BJ's carries 25Lbs of flour. Your can find 25 Lb bags of sugar at Wally World if you are lucky. The highest weight of flour I can buy in one container is 10 Lbs. So I have to buy several at once instead of a more convenient bigger bag. I have also noticed the trend towards convenience foods. No regular bags of rice at WM-just those rice pouches with seasonings. No basic rice! I am so aggrivated. Basic things at Walmart have gone up 40-50 cents for each item-I have been surprised since the trend according to the news has been a deflation of prices.All I have seen around here is inflation-on just about everything! OK I've ranted enough this am.

[Michael32170]

Lee and Mom- No one here-even BJ's carries 25Lbs of flour. Your can find 25 Lb bags of sugar at Wally World if you are lucky. The highest weight of flour I can buy in one container is 10 Lbs. So I have to buy several at once instead of a more convenient bigger bag. I have also noticed the trend towards convenience foods. No regular bags of rice at WM-just those rice pouches with seasonings. No basic rice! I am so aggrivated. Basic things at Walmart have gone up 40-50 cents for each item-I have been surprised since the trend according to the news has been a deflation of prices.All I have seen around here is inflation-on just about everything! OK I've ranted enough this am.

Try Asian markets. You can find 25# bags of rice, and other staples, there.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Try Asian markets. You can find 25# bags of rice, and other staples, there.

Good idea, but the nearest Asian market to me is over an hour's drive away. I just keep going the thirty miles to WM once or twice a week to buy rice. I get good deals from the Amish on oats, wheat berries, and brown sugar. You can also buy twenty pound jars of honey for about twenty dollars from them. Is that a good price compared to what everyone else is paying around the nation? That's not quite a full gallon jar.

[Pokeberry Mary]

I do have to admit that things seem wierdish to me.
This week my daughter told me two of her co-worker's paychecks bounced and our young house guest's job seems to be going well but we've heard rumors the whole chain of stores he is at may be going under.

You just can't really know.

I'm glad I have a pantry and I admit I'm leaning toward doing more and more to prepare for something.. not sure what though. Hopefully just a nice retirement--but-- then again...??:meeting:

[CanNerd]

I guess I am about 2,000 miles away from any Amish community, but my WM is less than a mile away.

[docsoos]

Greetings,

Any of you have a sense of urgency?

No more so now than during the early Klinton Years. :)

After having been into "self-sufficiency" for close to 25 years now, we have amassed a fair stockpile of all of the necessarys and "creature comforts". We survived the bad economy/job market Reagan years, Y2K (non-event), and will hopefully survive if things get as bad as they seem to be getting.

Sounds like you are on the right track so far; my suggestion would be to purchase (when it can be afforded) "dual-purpose" items (such as Coleman stoves and lanterns), that can be used for weekend camping at your new retreat, but are durable enough to be used daily when TSHTF. Rifles, handguns and shotguns can provide many hours of entertainment, as well as the all-important function of keeping all of the OTHER things to help you survive in times of social turmoil, when no other law may exist. A genset would be a good investment, for light and power should infrastructure collapse; a few batteries and inverters; maybe a gently-used garden tiller for the retreat; the possibilities are only limited by money.

The trick is, start NOW, buy something EVERY payday (even if just an extra box or two of ammo, or a case of canned green beans), and squirrel it away. Three years from now, it will literally AMAZE you how much you have amassed. Just think about 10-20 years from now.;)

Keep at it, you'll get there; and Good Luck.

DocSoos