Be honest, can you relate to this: several weeks ago you were focused. You were at CostCo, WalMart, and a few other places making sure you were ‘topped off’ on things. Maybe you finally pulled the trigger on some of those bigger expenditures because ‘now was the time’. You went to bed each night mentally wargaming how things might go and what you might need, and in the morning you resolved to hurry up and get dressed and go get those things. And then…things seemed ‘kinda’ normal. The panic ebbed and receded. Sure the rice and pasta aisles were empty, but there’s plenty of other stuff. And, after a few weeks, that sense of urgency you felt, that pushed you into doing things, started diminishing. Maybe ‘right now’ became ‘later this week’ became ‘next payday’ became ‘when I get around to it’.
Can you relate to that? Because that’s pretty much what I’m fighting against with the guy in the mirror. I’ve got a lovely spreadsheet of goodies (The Preponomicon) and far too many things on that list are at less than “90% complete”. But…but…it’s sunny! Gas is $1.65! The electricity is on! Dairy Queen is open! We can eat out again! So…what’s you hurry, buddy?
Complacency…thats what it looks like, guys. You stop running when you don’t see the bear behind you anymore. ‘Course, looking behind you means you might not see the other bear ahead of you.
I’m trying to be diligent about working my way down my list and, I gotta say, motivation can be lacking at times. But I know that even if there’s no ‘second wave’ of infections, no mutation, no economic Chernobyl from spending, no massive job layoffs, no meat shortages, no drug shortages, no stock market slump, happening right now that doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen tomorrow, or next week, or next month. The tricky part is maintaining that mindset that ‘bad stuff could be right around the corner’ when all your sense are saying ‘things arent so bad right now’.
So…I look at my list and remind myself that I wrote it for a good reason, I thought it over carefully, and made the ffort to put it on paper. I trust the me from two months ago that this was worth following up on. So…off to CostCo.
You guys should do whatever it takes…watch Walking Dead, read One Second After, review some graphic historical accounts of societal disasters…whatever it takes for you to recover your motivation, but stay motivated. Even if we sail through this, and the crappy fallout, there’ll be another one along before you know it.
Good advice. You’re like my preparedness motivational speaker. Thanks.
Still toping off once a week, verses bi-weekly prior to this event. Also pulled the trigger on some new 3rd Gen NV. I can not wait for it to arrive. Plan on picking up next weekend a G44s to use in teaching my youngest to shoot, at least that’s my story.
Commander Zero,
You expressed sentiments that a great many people share. I was well-prepared for the pandemic, yet I found myself following the herd to Costco because, well, more is better and who really knew how long this thing was going to last. The dire predictions of millions of American dead were coming from supposedly reliable sources, and governments were said to be reacting accordingly.
As time went on, the urgency started to wane for me. At this point, I am getting rather bored with the whole thing. I haven’t had to fire even one shot in anger, much less have a pile of hot spent brass at my feet. (Kidding.)
Still, the future is murky. American is ready to open up again, but exactly how that will work out with the so-called Second Wave is speculative.
The problem is that many people will have the wrong takeaway from their experience so far. They may have had trouble finding toilet paper, Lysol and Chlorox, but I have never heard anyone claim to have been completely without toilet paper, and alternatives were available for Lysol and Chlorox. If they had no bread, they could, quite literally, “eat cake” (Aisle 4, Duncan Hines).
People will think that the next disaster will occur in slow motion like this one did, and too many will make no serious plans to do anything differently, much like a military that plans on fighting the next war with the same tactics it used in the last one.
I’m almost exactly where you are Cmdr, emotionally anyway. Pretty well prepped and doing fine, except that another week went by and I still haven’t had the guy come out to take care of the whole house gennie… and I still haven’t serviced the E3000i, and some other things. I have been topping up meds, and doing some re-org and storing and inventory-ing… but no where near the pace I should be on.
Hurricane season is coming for me, and all that entails AND this wuflu thing is still here.
I need to get back on the stick.
n
I am focused on finally getting an orchard in place for food production. The project has gotten sidetracked multiple times. The recent disruptions to the usual routines helped me double down on actually finishing the hardscape and getting trees in the ground. Lots of food stored, but I have had zero production for the past five years. Going with perennials this time.
I suppose that part of the problem is that TPTB are, well, lying liars. That leads to a sort of Chicken Little situation, except I am playing the part of Chicken Little’s interlocutor.
It is seductive to assume that since TPTB lied this time (and, well, in several, mutually contradictory manners, at that), that therefore there’s nothing to see here, just move along, there is no American Tanks in Downtown Baghdad.
Complicating my personal situation is the fact that the clinic that had employed me laid me off due to low (well, actually…NO!) census. Only now, something like 7 weeks later, does it appear that I will have another full time gig in a couple of more weeks. THAT complicates the polish-off-the-preps initiatives. Kind of a triage decision: is it more important to husband the “rainy day fund”, or to buy more beef?
TDW-Mark II and I are keeping a sort of during-the-fact after action report, noting the shortfalls in our planning, and how we might not have THAT problem(s) next time.
For some crisis = opportunity. The health care sector stocks such as Abbot Labs (ABT), Novartis (NVS), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) etc. seem to be currently or have potential to out perform the rest of the market.
https://money.usnews.com/investing/stock-market-news/slideshows/best-health-care-stocks-to-buy-this-year?slide=12
In my continuing love affair with the lever action rifle, picked up a Savage take down model 1899 ( which makes it pre-1922) in 30-30 caliber and pretty good original condition. The young man selling it seemed to be very pleased with the infusion of cash, and even thanked me later with a text, and I was happy to take it off his hands.
The Ruger take down 10/22 stainless is now happy to have company and the Winchester 94 now has a caliber mate.
I recently started two lists: Covid Lessons and Covid Shortages. I added two listings under shortages as Immediate and Longer. I guess you could say I’m starting the after action… while still engaged. While my list will be different from others, one of the top lessons was to glean off the alt-media what you can, but ignore the bulk. I was reading reports of this thing at the end of December and it sounded like something the Chi-Com were not going to handle, esp when it occured during the Lunar New Year (big travel days in China), so that perked my ears up a bit knowing there were travel restrictions in place at that time (in China).
Yes, I pulled out and dusted off the “Pandemic” box (built after H1N1) but there were still some shortcomings, those are placed on my list under Covid Shortages. I’m slowly filling the holes there as supplies become available again, but I’m mostly looking at what runs were made on what items at the stores. This was vastly different and more in-depth that rush panic buying I’ve witnessed during hurricanes. And while the local stores were closed for a week (like EVERYTHING else) after the Super Outbreak of 2011 there was no real “panic buying” when the stores re-opened. It’s more the trickle and down-stream sort of things you have been observing CZ, things are closed and you didn’t think of the consequences at the 3rd and 4th tertiary level from that. Those are the things I’m writing down under Covid Lessons and Shortages.
Keep your heads up and on a swivel, I fear this thing is not behind us and not done by a long shot.
Dried 4 lbs of strawberries, made jerky from 5 lbs of steak, and my freeze-drying rig ( home made, in beta mode) is running a test batch of shredded cheese. This squirrel is gathering nuts like mad.
I was well stocked with the essentials and never had to dip into anything including toilet paper or the portable bide’ (pump garden sprayer) 🙂 . Has been weird to me going into a grocery store with my CCW wearing gloves and a mask… but all on the up and up.. I have continued with payday preps as I could at the feed and restaurant supply added a few more buckets of grans and a hundred pounds of iodized salt. I work at a hospital and was considered essential so never missed a day of work or income but i got super motivated to produce more food and got an orchard I was planning to work on this fall with all the fencing going. I added victory type garden out back and have 13 fruit frees and 6 citrus in and going now. Lots of work the last few months but have not wasted a thing and for me being able to produce more food is becoming important. I always buy garden seeds a year ahead so had most of that. I bought a bunch of fertilizer and bone meal and compost along with fencing. I have also been ordering spare parts for firearms too that I had been putting off a while. Great to read what others are doing and keep motivated to fill it to the top and find a way to refill it. Appreciate your Blog CZ.
Just reviewing data, checking stocking levels, reviewing needs & requirements, filling in some holes, rounding out the odds ‘n’ ends, searching for bargains. Sort of the “administrivia of prepping.” Springs and pins from Brownells and more rehargeable AA batteries isn’t as sexy as two dozen cases from Mountain House or filling a 1,000 gallon diesel tank, but not significantly less important in the long run, and since Brownells has stuff and Mountain House doesn’t (at the moment), it seems a worthwhile endeavor.
Well, Mr. Commander, as always, your wit and wisdom is spot on. I have been filling in some harder to find ammunition. (300WSM is not popular here) The Wife is now a NOOB believer in what I have been saying, with a skeptical eye about going overboard. I believe one of your earlier posts has hit me hard. I have been looking for food grade 5 gallon buckets, with lids, to no avail. I try to shop local and small businesses, but not even the box stores have them. I have two places left to look, will do so after work today. Also looking to set up my reloading bench after moving, and trying to find a local dealer. There appear to be several to choose from. Onward, through the fog….
Lowe’s sells food grade buckets. I seem to recall that a bucket and lid is around $6.00. I last purchased buckets about two weeks ago, so I expect that you will find them in stock.
It also sells Gamma Dids.
Lowes, Home Depot, the local ACE, and some Mercantile stores, all out. I did find one bucket, but no lid. I will keep looking. I have to move my dehydrated food from a box to the bucket, and add to it.
Much like everyone, trying to peek around the corner now. The most worrisome is the boy and girls in DC and at my State (PA) level. God only knows what stuff they have planned. At the end of the day, balancing work and homeschooling is a challenge. We are pretty solid on prep’s but always filling the holes like other folks. Putting cash away and luckily our renters have not lost their jobs so that second house is okay for now. I would love to sell it, but the market in that part of the state is not good at all. I would hate to dip into our savings to pay that mortgage but trying selling a house in NJ right now. We escaped just in time.
If you find yourself getting into savings, could you sell it and take the loss financially? While it does stink, that will be out of your life and less stress.
I wouldn’t mind taking the loss just to be done. We have really good renters who have two high disabled children and they just signed another 2 year lease. It is paying the mortgage and sum so we are where we are. It is a Victorian home in an farm county. Would be great, but over on the NJ side the economy sucks over there. Just tryin to prepare for as many situations as possible.
You can easily get food grade 5 gallon buckets from your local grocery store. Pick a higher volume store and ask at the bakery. They get most of their icing and other sundries in food grade 5 gallon buckets. The residue easily comes out with hot water and soap. My personal store throws out about 5 or more a week into the dumpster.
So two items I found interesting while pondering your writings. The lack of deep freezer post event. I hit up 3 Home Depot locations and 2 Lowe’s in capital region of VA. None to be had and an estimated wait of 30 to 70 days depending on model. Second item I can’t find for for the life of me is bread making yeast.
Already have deep freezer, but yes on the lack of yeast. Still looking for that item as everyone remains out. Yeast is the only thing on my list that I have been unable to check off.
I’m seeing adds for yeast on E-Bay. We’ve been hunting for yeast and doing ok but not great until last week when we found jars of yeast in stock. I’m watching them and still considering getting a brick of it.
FYI, the jars we just got have a listed 2 year shelf life. Plus we’re storing them in the freezer to extend the life a bit.
Freezers, get put on a list and be ready to jump. I’ve heard of people being told months worth of wait then getting a message that the local big box store is getting a truck load in. They’re going immediately, sometimes right off the loading dock. Cash on hand (vs in the bank) along with the ability to haul it might be nice to have.
Steelheart
If you need yeast, check the home brewing supply stores. Yes, it is different than bread yeast, but you can do some substitution. It takes a little experimentation and the flavor may change slightly, but most wouldn’t notice.
I really don’t understand the big push to make yeast bread. Even back when I ate it I would have just switched to quick breads made with baking powder or flat breads that don’t need any leavening. Regular baking powder biscuits are very tasty & versatile. Tho I remember Louise Rich discussing this in “We Took To the Woods”; she described forgetting to put yeast on the big twice-a-year shopping list & said substituting quick breads for regular is fine once in a while, but not for an entire winter. But yeast will be more available soon – no need to wait 6 months.
“Crappy fallout”
You’ve hit the nail on the head there Commander Zero! So much of what we are facing is not really related to Covid19, but rather an overzealous government inflicting draconian rules on society. It is a stark reminder of how authoritarian governments can be. Of course it’s all “for our own good” not that people are able to make decisions for themselves…
It has taken an unfortunate turn of events to show people how fragile society can be when we allow government to tell us what to do. Where is due process? Governors and mayors are making it up as they go along without the proper authority in my opinion. If we allow those that govern to be dictators, that’s what we will get. The sense of urgency needs to extend to those we choose to lead, and get rid of those that think they are meant to rule.