Newbie - am i crazy ?

[jeandoris]

Hello Everyone,

So here's the thing I don't think i'm going to be your typical prepper, I mean I'm embarrassed to talk to any of my friends about this as our normal topic of conversation is Hair, Nails, Boys etc but in the (not so much) words of the Black Eyed Peas "Iv'e got a Feeling !" that tonight may in fact turn out to be not such a good night. It's coming it really is, I mean how can it not be, with the way our society is heading ! without giving to much away I live in Essex, I have blonde hair and love a spray tan however what none of my friends do know is that I have a bug out bag under my bed ready to go, I have no idea where id go, or what I'd do and that's my reason for joining this site ! am I crazy ???

thanks JD x

[Arzosah]

Hello JD, welcome to the forum.

You might just be the sane one, you never know! Though setting out not knowing where you'd go, even if you do have a bug out bag, might not be the best course of action.

What are you prepping for? What might make you bug out? Check out around the forum, and see what appeals.

[nickdutch]

IMHO, it depends what you are concerned about and how your preparedness leeches into other areas of life. For Example, when I first started looking into all this stuff I am embarrassed to say that i was influenced by conspiracy mill content that may have actually been funded by or in cahoots with the far right lunatics whose goal is to turn the western world into a right wing region.
With the passage of time, I stopped being worried about chemtrails, the illuminati and all sorts, and started to turn my attention to things that I might actually need to be prepared for, but wasn't.
Periods of unemployment (basic food storage and having dry goods and tinned food in store), times of ill health (and in this recent cold that i have my stash of pre stocked beechams pills have been a god send I can tell you!), accidents (first aid kit), issues with the power supply (candles, LED lanterns and olive oil lamps), issues with the boiler breaking down and how I would cook in a power cut (briefcase stoves, ethanol stoves and folding hexi stoves), issues with the water supply (water purification tablets, distillation technology and the like), problems with the heating (flower pot heaters and bioethanol fireplace). Food security (learn gardening, own a canner and a dehydrator)
Sure, fun things like learning how to use a catapult is a step further, but its much more likely that i might have to undergo some basic financial hardship than it is that I will have to kill to eat.
My next stage in self education will probably be moving more towards wild edibles and plant medicines.

But even if there was a major massive terrorist attack and the world went shot out of luck, I would be more likely to survive if I can deal with the short term issues first.

Being "prepared" doesn't necessarily mean turning yourself into a camouflage wearing gun toting militia member, but it mean just what it says on the tin, being prepared.

Most of this thing is a hobby (yes, even buying the fire blanket and smoke alarm! Fire extinguisher will be coming soon I am sure!) and therefore fun, but the fun aspect is important because through fun we can learn on the way and refine our skills.

If you are concerned about major social decline, then maybe you are a bit crazy,but so was I a few years back, so I can't really tell you off for that.

Having a Bug Out Bag incase you have to get to a hotel in case of a house fire makes sense, but having a Bug Out Bag so that you can live in a tree, black up your face and defend yourself with a slingshot and a few stones might be a little left field.

maybe start thinking about how to cope with 6 months worth of unemployment and making sure you have enough tesco value tins of potatoes, kidney beans and garden peas plus a few 5Kg bags of rice, a few 2 Kg bags of mung beans (learn how to cook them first!) and 2Kg bags of lentils plus some tubes of tomato puree and some spices and curry powder to make the sh*t taste nice. Learn how to make "Congee" for breakfasts, make sure you know how to make a basic pancake or flatbread, do container gardening, start reading books on herbs and the like. Do some basic stuff to help with general all around fitness, stockpile a few cheap vitamins and minerals etc.

One step at a time.

TIP: Winter is coming. Do you have any longjohns and hot water bottles?



Also learn how to sprout your mung beans and brown lentils. That can be very beneficial! Search for "sprouting" on youtube!

[Decaff]

Welcome I don't think you're mad at all, agree with what Nick said and being prepared is a good thing. Small steps is the best way and everyone starts with that first step. Its good that you don't discuss with others as you don't want everyone and their gran making a beeline for you should anything happen, not saying it will happen but life has a funny way of throwing spanners in the works when you don't expect it.

If you lost your job tomorrow, how much food do you have to last you? How would you pay your bills? All good things to think about. Take your time and read through the posts on here, take notes of things as you see them, it can be hard to find information and tips when there is so much here! So make a cup of tea, sit yourself down and.... Breathe

[Wulfshead]

Nope, you're not crazy.

I have a son, 2 daughters and a son-in-law around your age I am guessing.
All do their crazy stuff together with their friends, the same as my generation did back in our day.
They all prep but it is only when we come together for a dinner at my house that we talk about prepping and the things we need/should be getting and doing.
We are also in Essex and there are one or two other youngsters around our location I know of that prep whilst not yet being members of this forum.
Prepping is an organic thing which can and does run along side your normal everyday life.
Keep coming on this forum and see where it takes you.

Welcome to the forum and I hope you enjoy the info and kindredness that is shared here.

Wulfshead

[tigs]

welcome to the forum

crazy that depends on here nope most of the others here are as you will find out! (im the only sane one ) but to non preppers you will be but thats not bad thing, if and when it happens you will get the last laugh so dont think about it , most of us dont talk about prepping to family or friends any way due to operational security (ofspec)

[CynicalSurvival]

Welcome

I see where you are coming from. If it feels crazy to prep for a massive worldwide apocolypse, then start by prepping for more mundane (and more likely) events like medical emergency, local floods, unemployment, banks crashing... Stock up on medical supplies, a bit of cash and food supplies for a few weeks.

In most situations I would 'bug in' and I expect you are the same, so focus on getting your home secure and stocked up. This will help in all kinds of situations, while also putting you in a better position if you do need to leave.

Longer term you can research options of where you would 'bug out' to if necessary, and develop skills that would help.

Hope you learn a lot here - i have already and I am pretty new too

[jeandoris]

Thank you all so much for your responses my bug out bag is purely for the first 24hrs in which I would need to hike to my BUG IN location. (My current location would be classed as high risk I would guess)

My Main reason for prepping is against an economic collapse caused by major unemployment, Hyperinflation or deflation and also events like a Solar Flare or EMP

But more likely in my mind is a Cyber Threat or Major Pandemic Event.

(like i said Crazy)

Without over sharing only a major event would impact my situation and I believe I have the startings of what could be a very good base of which once there I would BUG IN and DEFEND!

Obviously I need help knowing what is needed to make that possible.

After reading your comments I don't think it’s a question any more I AM Crazy as I intend to make all these preparations without any of my family knowing, I’m sure they would commit me otherwise!

Thanks
JD x

[janso]

Well done on waking up! As everyone has said, remember the mantra:

'How do you eat an elephant?'

It's a normality to panic a little, trying to plan for everything and get flustered. The answer to the mantra is:

'One piece at a time.'

Plan about your reality and not alternate ones on a huge scale. With regard to telling others, use the mantra. Bring up a topic in conversation and leave it hanging. You may be surprised that you could inspire others to at least think about what they would do in a situation.

Best of luck; a huge amount of advice and experience can be found by these guys


Sent from my hidey hole using Tapatalk... sssh!

[tyr1986]

Your not crazy, maybe its your friends who are the crazy ones? Lol jkjk.

Having a bug out bag is a good idea, its a good first step but as people have said it shouldn't be the only thing you think about. Bugging out might not be the best or first option.
Read through the site to get some great ideas, build up your knowledge and have an open mind with regards to ideas etc.
If you fancy chatting your more than welcome to drop me a message