Alright Friday again, as usual the week has flown by, at least for me… I don’t know if that’s good or not – I think not? We’ve covered a lot of ground this week though… We’ve started building a financial pyramid that won’t soon be knocked down, not with our foundation…

   We have a solid structure that’s founded on the 3 necessities any family has to have to survive. A shelter, a food production system and a water production system, all completely paid for. I know, I know, paid for is the ideal and I suggest that is the only worthy goal for a free man. I do realize it will all take time!

   Have you asked yourself why this is so important? You already have running water, food on the table and a roof over your head, well don’t you? If you don’t I’m sorry for making you feel bad but I think that most of us are in similar circumstances, we have these bases covered – why rock the boat?

   How long will any of us be able to keep that water running, food in our mouths and a warm bed? I propose that it will all vanish shortly after we receive our last paycheck… Care to guess why? We own none of these things, the very things that we all agreed were the things that keep us alive are merely rented at great expense from someone else. Something doesn’t sound right about this… It doesn’t sound right, because it isn’t right.

   “Ownership” of all of these things is within our grasp! There’s a saying that I think I heard Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, say – “Live like no one else does today, so you can live like no else does tomorrow!” I think that this is pretty good advice. When we own and control these systems, we will really be living like no one else! Some folks have achieved parts of this plan but it will take some concerted and thoughtful effort to put all these systems together in a way that will provide our long term goals…

   It seems a little redundant to harp on the reasons why we have to own the these systems rather than just go with the flow. I have felt for a long time and only recently determined that the flow isn’t going to take me where I want to go. A water well, fruit trees and an old mobile home will. How can it be so simple? “Ownership!”

   What gets you up out of bed each morning, nearly everyday, of every year and will for as far into the future as you dare look? I think it’s fear, at least that’s what it is for me… If I stop doing what I’ve been doing for the last 20 years, I’ll stop reaping the benefits I’ve come to enjoy… I like that warm bed and tasty food, warm showers are fine things as well!

   Fear or not, we are all only doing the same things as everyone else. The very thing that our society has determined was the norm… As a society we like to know what to expect from our friends and neighbors. We expect them to be doing the same things we do or we see them as weird or different. Dare we risk the criticisms of our peers?

   The financial foundation that I’ve spent the last five days describing will require things from us to get started that will fly in the face of everything we’ve been taught or “conventional wisdom”. If we aren’t taking full advantage of our company’s 401K retirement plan, we’re making a dreadful mistake – “What about your retirement?”, they all cry? ”It’s not a good idea to payoff your mortgage and lose the tax write-off!”. I don’t know about you but I think I can withstand this peer scrutiny!

   We say that in America our differences are embraced. I don’t think thats true… I think when someone is acting in any way different than what we expect we need to classify them as crazy, even put them away someplace out of sight. When we start to make choices that go a little against the grain, we need to be prepared for some resistance. This resistance will even probably start at home!

   My propositions this week are going to be hard to sell to your spouse and children… Most of us are barely keeping our own heads above the clouds that society floats across the horizon to distract us. We act in ways that are not in out own best interest -why? We don’t want to be seen as different or appear to be less prosperous than our brother or the neighbor up the street.   

   Are the McMansions that went up across the land what is really best for a family of 2? What about a family of even 5-6? Do we really need a giant house to sleep in? I recall these now – “NORMAL”, 3-4,000 square foot houses when I was growing up… They usually sat on a LARGE piece of land and were occupied by an older established doctor and his family. They weren’t the “Norm” by any means… We’ve now set the bar so high, that the standard 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with a 2 car garage is below much of our working brethren… Daycare is the rule rather than the exception. Stay-at-home Mom’s are looked at as some sort of second class citizens? What about that Grandma and Grandpa that were around in the old days… Not anymore, they’re still working full-time to pay their own mortgages these days too!

   Are we better for these, supposed advances in society! Many families aren’t even composed of 2 parents anymore. When there are 2 parents in the home, it’s rare to find that one or the other is home with the children, they both have to work to keep ahead of the bills. I remember a slogan from television back in the early 90’s – “STOP THE INSANITY”. I think it was from a diet guru of sorts but it is even more applicable to what we’ve been discussing!

   We can have our cake and eat it to! We’ll be breaking the rules though to get it… Not the law, just the rules! Are there any rebels reading this? Stupid question, most of you are rebels! Rebels without a cause, until now. Your cause, oh its real and its personal and I believe something you can get passionate about! YOUR OWN FREEDOM!

   I can’t do any of this foundation laying for you, I have more than enough to do myself! I will stand by you and encourage you regularly with my words and even photo’s of what myself and others among us are getting done! Hopefully you’ll join in and share your encouragement with others around you and even others here at “Prepper” Nation!

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   This Friday, right before Christmas 2009, I’m going to offer you my standard – “Get Out and Do Something!” I hope that this week has been thoughtful, if not inspiring… We’re in a difficult time economically right now and some of you have seen this economic situation first hand in decades past… This to, like everything will come to an end. It is my sincere hope that as preppers, next time we won’t be in the same place as so many of us find ourselves currently, in debt and hoping to make it through this down turn… With this foresight and the systems I’m encouraging us all to acquire, we will have a bright future, regardless what come down the lane next…

Prepper