Just an FYI… at the moment, I have 6 5 4 3 2 bundles of AR mags left, and 3 of AK mags.
Still wondering what 2019 holds. Since I’m a firm believer in ‘better safe than at at ballistic disadvantage’ I’m sending a chunk of those recently acquired magazines into the Deep Sleep. At the rate you people are buying them, it appears there’s some groupthink going on.
But, preparedness isn’t all glamour and guns. Being early January, now is the time to start some seeds indoors so theyre ready for the outdoors around May. Nothing fancy, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, that sorta thing. Don’t know why, but its always a bit satisfying.
As I’ve said, I’m going to try like heck to get the house paid off this year, and keep the gun purchases to a minimum (which, ideally, will be one grossly overscoped Ruger .338 Lapua Precision Rifle).
Other unsexy stuff for the year: better radio equipment, update/upgrade the video security, indoor hose bib for indoor firefighting, a big ol IBC in the yard for catching rainwater and a 12v pump to move it around, some solar panels if I can get a deal on them, more shelving for the basement, a couple extra propane tanks, and a few other geegaws.
But, always an eye on those idiots in Washington…theyre as big a potential problem as any supervolcano or EMP.
Are you sure you want to wait until solar panels come down even more? I bought at $1.13 a watt and counted myself lucky. Can’t imagine the prices don’t rise, especially if silver goes up. Or even bunker fuel. Seems they are dumping at these prices. But of course, yeah, nothing is a better peace of mind than no mortgage. Best of luck regardless.
‘Worst case’ (as I see it) is, *total* gridlock in the swamp for the next 2 years, while quietly stacking the federal bench. And that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all
‘Best case’ is, Trumpster knocks it out of the park in 2020, regaining Congress, and completely remaking SCOTUS. Proly’ won’t happen, but I enjoy the fantasy.
Eventually the wheels ARE coming off this crack-mobile we call a country. New coin of the realm will doubtless include full-cap mags, spare parts, tools & silver.
I am a total supporter of gridlock.
Ginsburg, darling of the moment, won’t make it to the end of Trump’s term… that means he’ll have gotten to get, what?, three judges in? That might be a record.
When I retired, eighteen months ago, I pulled money out of deferred compensation and paid off my house and land. Took a big tax hit but I sleep so much better at night. If you can’t pay the whole thing off, make extra payments as often as you can. Be sure to notify the mortgage holder that the extra payments are to be applied to principal. Also, the extra payment needs to be a separate check. You’ll be surprised how quick the principal drops.
I’ll be interested to see what you come up with for the indoor fire hose thing; I’ve got a tankless NG water heater with the flush ports, so that’s a ready-made cold full pressure port on the inlet. Downside is it’s in the garage, but a 100 ft “accordion” hose will reach everywhere inside.
RE: paying off the house: no idea where you are on the amortization chart, but Retired Cop has the right idea – on a 30-year amortization chart, an extra $200/mo toward principal can move you a year down the chart at the very beginning, making a 30-year into an 18-20 year in 12 months. The initial goal is to get to payment= >50%-60% principal ASAP, then either keep chipping at it or negotiate with the lender (assuming you have a large cash stash) for “what’s the least you’ll take if I pay the remaining principal in one payment?” Depends on interest rate whether or not it makes good economic sense to pay it off, but the psychological value of never having to worry about hard times losing the house – which also means losing everything that’s been invested in it – is priceless. But, the @*$% gummint will take it for non-payment of taxes, so there’s that.
One truly unpleasant thing I saw from Washington –
A pardon for some types of drug abuse!
It seems that not only do Americans have a RIGHT to damage themselves, the Political system is going to apologise for trying to stop them…
A really 5crewed-up system….
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Eh. I care less about people doing damage to themselves than I do about them posing a harm to me. So long as the offenders are non-violent, I don’t see the value in giving them long-term taxpayer-funded room and board.
At the same time, I absolutely think that regular random drug testing should be mandated for any person receiving any form of government welfare or subsidy.
as for indoor fire fighting. this is on my short list. https://firesafetyequipmentsupply.com/buckeye-2-5-gallon-water-fire-extinguisher-refillable-schrader-valve/ and see what 2.5 gallons can do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITiZR39Sfeg
Have 4,also good for water fights in the summer,easy to refill and charge(bicycle pump will recharge if power out). For indoor/electric/flammable liquid get CO2 or nitrogen(no clean up)
You can use compressed air to recharge a 2 1/2 gallon PW extinguisher, but it’s better to use nitrogen. Depending upon the temp where the extinguisher is stored then used, the pressure will change. Cold air contracts while hot air expands. This means that when the extinguisher is used the reach of stream may be shorter or longer and the duration may be shorter or longer as well.
You would be better off with a water pump tank like the forestry firefighters use.
On a side note… CO2 extinguishers are also great for cooling beer. A one second shot brings a bottle of beer to just above freezing.
Good recommendation. Just ordered one on your suggestion.
Getting a 2 1/2 gallon pressurized water extinguisher is a great Idea. There is only one issue, if used it will have to be recharged and that costs money. You may want to consider a water pump tank extinguisher. When used all that has to be done afterwords is to fill it up with water. No need to get nitrogen to pressurize it.
https://www.amazon.com/Fedco-FER501-Poly-Tank-5-Gallon/dp/B00FS316VQ/ref=sr_1_1/131-0146832-8494832?ie=UTF8&qid=1547003570&sr=8-1&keywords=Pump+Tank+Fire+Extinguisher
Recharging a water extinguisher is nothing more than unscrewing the cap, adding 2.5 gallons of water (and a shot of dish soap to reduce surface tension and make the water “wetter”), then reinstalling the cap and pressurizing (via the basic Shraeder valve) to 100 psi with any air compressor, bike pump, gas station air hose…
Add some liquid dish detergent to the water can for increase performance. Add after the water. A little messy for small stuff but for the real deal you’ll appreciate it.
Can extinguish or contain a single room, dependent on contents.
Gun parts, still stacking food, money in the bank, continue to gunsmith on the side and prepare my family. My only issue is buying a new house but it must be done and I am in a bit of a less restrictive state where I can own SBRs and suppressors. Household 6 is keeping in shape as is our son and I too. This 11B ain’t going to have my 6 left unprotected. Love the site, my first post here.
Being a Canadian, I have the same feeling as you do about the Feds except it’s the idiots in Ottawa that I worry about.
You will be very smart to pay off the mortgage as quickly as you can even at the risk of paying a penalty. We are heading into an economic downturn which is cyclical in nature. Should things seriously go south, a mortgage will be one less thing to worry about.
What comms gear are you considering? If you are looking for a new HF ham radio I can’t recommend the IC-7300 enough and with recent rebates it can be bought for under $1,000! It came out at around $1,450 and is easily a $3,000 radio in terms of performance and features had it come out 5 or more years ago. As a reminder Winter Field day is in just over 2 weeks. Even if you only listen its a good day to put your ears on, people from all over the globe will be transmitting.
Good time to work on relationships too. Nothing better than strong bonds to your family and friends. Too many deluded “Lone Wolf” wannabe’s out there. Lone Wolves tend to live short exciting lives, burn out quick, and die alone with a shallow grave if they’re lucky in TEOTWAWKI situations (Spent 10 months in Bosnia 95 to 96 – much of it before main U.S. forces crossed the Sava – want to see TEOTWAWKI? that was it). Especially when they’re “Call of Duty” commando types.
IMHO only 1 out of every 1000 “Survivalist” types can actually walk the walk not just the talk anyway. It’s easy to post YouTube videos waving around fancy AR builds in “Tacticool” gear while talking about the “correct” ways to acquire and shoot while you weave through your backyard shoot course. The real thing is quite another situation. You need trusted friends, family, and community to make a go of it. Been that way for thousands of years and it ain’t changing any time soon…
“The only thing you can take with you are your friends and family”
Best Regards