Why I Prep: Hope.... Not The Apocalypse!

[Oakheart]

When people hear the term "prepping," their minds often leap straight to doomsday scenarios – zombie apocalypses, nuclear winters, or the collapse of civilisation as we know it. However, prepping isn't just about stockpiling canned goods and building underground bunkers. It's about being ready for life's unexpected twists and turns, the ones that hit closer to home. I know this all too well from personal experience. You see, my journey into prepping wasn't triggered by fear of a global cataclysm, but by a series of personal upheavals that tested my resilience and resourcefulness in ways I could never have anticipated.

From Comfort to Car-Living
A few years back, I found myself in the most unexpected of circumstances: living in my car. I had just left my partner, and with no place to call home, my car became my sanctuary. Now, living in a car isn't exactly the plot twist I had envisioned for my life, but there I was, learning to adapt to my new reality.

Imagine, if you will, trying to make a morning cup of tea with a portable stove perched precariously on the dashboard. Or, trying to maintain some semblance of personal hygiene with a bottle of water and a bar of soap, all while parked discreetly behind a supermarket to avoid the prying eyes of security. It's a humbling experience, to say the least.

The Courtroom Saga
During this period, every penny I had was spent fighting a relentless court battle to gain access to my children . Lawyers' fees, travel expenses, and the sheer emotional toll of the process left me drained in every conceivable way. It's one thing to prepare for the end of the world; it's quite another to prepare for the potential disintegration of your family, (happy to say, in the end i got custody, obviouslyafter getting my life back on track and a new home).

Prepping, in this context, wasn't about survival gear but survival skills. I had to learn to manage my finances meticulously, to find creative solutions to everyday problems, and to stay mentally resilient in the face of ongoing adversity. The skills I honed during this time—resourcefulness, tenacity, and adaptability—are the true essence of what it means to prep.

Everyday Prepping
Prepping isn't confined to the extraordinary; it's deeply rooted in the ordinary. It's about having a plan B (and sometimes a plan C, D, E & F) for when life throws you a curveball. Losing a job, for example, can be just as destabilising as any SHTF scenario. Having a financial buffer, a network of supportive friends and family, and a clear strategy for job hunting can make all the difference. It's not just about hoarding resources; it's about developing a mindset that sees potential in every challenge.

A Comical Take on Car-Living
Of course, my time living in a car wasn't devoid of humour. Picture this: attempting to attend a Zoom meeting for work while parked at a service station, desperately hoping the Wi-Fi signal holds out. Or, the countless times I had to explain to curious strangers why my "flat" had four wheels and a steering wheel. "Oh, it's just a minimalist lifestyle choice," I’d say with a wink, masking the true gravity of my situation with a bit of levity.

Or the time I almost froze one winter night, only to remember I had a stash of hand warmers tucked in the glove compartment. My car became a sort of Swiss Army knife on wheels, with every nook and cranny serving a purpose—food storage, wardrobe, office, and bedroom all rolled into one.

Emotional Resilience
Beyond the laughter, there were moments of profound solitude and reflection. Sitting alone in the dark, with nothing but the stars for company, I found a deeper understanding of what truly matters. Prepping, I realised, wasn't just about preparing for physical survival; it was about cultivating emotional and mental fortitude. It was about finding the strength to keep moving forward, even when the road ahead seemed uncertain.

Conclusion
So, why do I prep? Because life is unpredictable. It's not just the catastrophic events we need to brace for, but the personal upheavals that can shake our world to its core. Prepping, for me, is a way to ensure that no matter what happens—be it losing a job, a home, or even fighting for my children—I am ready. Ready not just to survive, but to thrive in the face of adversity.

In the end, prepping is about hope. Hope that, no matter what life throws our way, we can find a way through. It's about knowing that within us lies the strength and ingenuity to navigate even the most challenging of circumstances. So here's to prepping—not just for the end of the world, but for the beautifully unpredictable journey of life itself.

[Arzosah]

Wow. A very impressive post, Oakheart. I'm so glad you got some stability and then got custody of your children, good for you. There's a lot of lessons in this for the zombie warriors ...

[Frnc]

Yeah, quality post. I prep for the unexpected, but also for the things that could impact me as an individual. I've had a couple of close shaves, bit of bad luck, and some things I could have done better. I was skint during the last few years of being self employed and a couple of years after. If Covid had hit then, or my roof had stated leaking, I'd have been in the proverbial.

I got temporarily disabled and panic attacks, so I couldn't do any work. I didn't know my disabilties were mostly temporary of course. Also had some bad lodgers around this period. I was overdrawn, no savings, still had a mortgage to pay. Atos gave me nil points of course, so I went to court and lost. Also a headcase at the tax office wanted to fine me £ thousands even though I'd paid all by tax, on time.

By this time I could move my left arm, and the anxiety had reduced, so I got a part time job in a call centre (my knees were still wrecked). Found out they hire for the winter and then sack everyone. Was a motor breakdown callout service. Got another part time call centre job. It was a call answering service. I had to pretend to work for whichever company they thought were ringing. Of course they think you work there, so they expect you to know everything about that company. Not easy.

Then I got a letter saying I could take a pension and it wasn't much lower than my wage, and I had better lodgers, so I did. You can take up to 25% as a lump sum tax free, so I got a bit stashed in a savings account, which paid for my leaking roof!

This cost me more than it should, partly my fault, but I was unlucky, and it was unusual circumstances. So I'm trying to get my 'savings' back up to a decent level.

What is a decent level? I would say a minimum of £20,000. This would pay for a few big jobs on the house. Hopefully I won't have anymore for a bit. In the last 2 years I had to replace the roof, shower, kitchen sink and 4 windows. I could have got the windows re-putty'd and painted, but that's not cheap.

I actually took out two loans to pay for the roof, and am still paying some of it off. I did that so as not to clean out all my savings.

[ForgeCorvus]

Hiya Oakheart.
This is what prepping is really about, overcoming 'bumps in the road'*.
Lets face it, anyone can loose their job/home/health/family, theres not many of us who've had to deal with zombies ( 3 am city centre on payday weekends not withstanding).

Keep on keeping on.


* I'll admit your bumps were a bit more like car-killing potholes, but you've come out the other side

[diamond lil]

Great post oakheart. Makes you think and that's good.

[jennyjj01]

When people hear the term "prepping," their minds often leap straight to doomsday scenarios – zombie apocalypses, nuclear winters, or the collapse of civilisation as we know it. However, prepping isn't just about stockpiling canned goods and building underground bunkers. It's about being ready for life's unexpected twists and turns, the ones that hit closer to home.

Great post. And I'm glad you pulled through to a better situation.

[pseudonym]

Thanks for sharing some valuable life lessons.

[Oakheart]

Hi All, thank you for your comments, sorry for so long it replying, I was locked out of system when trying to update my email LoL.

Thank you to thoese that helped me with getting back onto the site.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Hi All, thank you for your comments, sorry for so long it replying, I was locked out of system when trying to update my email LoL.

Thank you to thoese that helped me with getting back onto the site.

Welcome back

[Arzosah]

Hi All, thank you for your comments, sorry for so long it replying, I was locked out of system when trying to update my email LoL.

Thank you to thoese that helped me with getting back onto the site.

Good stuff, glad you're back