Today I’m going to attempt to answer an email that I got from a reader a few weeks ago, the best I can. All I can share with certainty is the things that I’ve done. Beyond that we all have to find our own way! Yes, we lean on each other but talk is cheap and each of us has to individually achieve the things most important to them…

 

The following is the text of the email, my response will follow at the bottom!

 

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“I’m freakin’ out, I’m freakin’ out, I’m freakin’ out!”

 

I admit I’m a bit late to the game. Maybe I’m a slow learner or was indoctrinated extremely well. At any rate, my problem is keeping focused. I’ve started prepping in earnest in the past 6 months and I have a huge hill to climb. To make matters worse I have no idea how much time we have (personally I’m praying for at least until the end of this year).

 

As a result, I constantly go back and forth about what my priorities are. I’m no dummy. I get water, food, shelter, security, but it is a complex problem.

 

So, why am I freakin’ out now? Well, on a business trip last week I read One Second After. What really struck me is that a former Speaker of the House of Representatives wrote the Fore-ward to a fictional post-apocalyptic novel. Then I coupled that thought with the fact that we currently have Marxists and Maoists in the White House! Who would’ve thunk it? Seriously, it’s like we’re living in a cartoon.

 

I need food, but if I have food somebody will try to take it. Thus, I need guns! However, I’m not a millionaire and will need ammo. What about water? Oh crap, I forgot to pay off my debt, etc…

 

For us newbies, could you offer some advice about how to stay on track and not lose focus? I’ve read about the “lists of lists” on another site. It’s probably a good idea, but I have A.D.D. when it comes to that stuff.

 

It’s possible I’m a nut, but I would think others are feeling the stress of playing catch up.

 

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

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   Well, who hasn’t felt this way – just as I thought, no hands in the air. I would even venture to say that if these thoughts haven’t plagued you at some point than you aren’t a serious prepper, much less a devoted DOOMER.

 

  Simply put the trick that I have found to getting these items stored and projects completed is the same old ”How do you eat an elephant?” question… Right, one bite at a time. So many catchy little ditties have been coined on this type of question that it’s almost cliche… Just take it one step at a time and you’d be surprised how much you can get done!

 

   All of the areas that were sighted in the email are important – food, water, shelter and security… Which is the most important, only you can decide for sure. Obviously, water is paramount, since we can’t live long without it but after you have one barrel of the stuff stored in the basement, what’s next?

 

   In my experience many preppers happen into this journey as a spin off from their gun-nut tendencies. Coming from that part of the population myself, it’s tempting to buy lots of guns and ammo and I did! I see more of these preps mentioned on the internet than just about anything else. It is a personal choice but I think that it’s the point in time that a prepper decides to act on their compunction to store additional items for the future that separates the men from the boys.

 

   Since the emailer brought up the term “Newbie”, I will concede that there are probably folks out there that don’t have enough armament (Security) yet. If this is you, than by all means get out and acquire the basic arsenal of weapons to provide for security and hunting. Let me encourage you though, if you’re a newbie – fight the urge to overdo the guns and ammo purchases. This equipment is expensive and probably is the least likely to be used of all the preps that should be on your list.

 

   Not only should a prepper fight the temptation to over stock in this area but also DON’T STOP prepping after you have the guns and ammo. In a future post we will discuss the very unfortunate position you would be putting your family in by neglecting the other prepping areas. A shootout with the neighbors is far more likely if you’re limited to a few cans of chili and several dozen firearms.

 

  There was a mention of the “List of lists”, while I can’t remember where I actually saw this list – survivalblog.com I think? It doesn’t matter, the important thing is the list YOU make. I would say that other than a great deal of time being required, the magic will happen only after the prepper creates a list. It can be called anything you want – goal list, to-do list or whatever but make a list of EVERYTHING you would like to get accomplished. Your list might be completely different than mine so don’t worry about what I still need to get done, focus on your personal list.

 

   I see these lists as a central part of staying organised but even more than that they are a road map to wherever it is that you are intending to go. If I’m happy with a 1 month food supply and a few back-up reserves for heat, cooking, etc. and you are taking a more broad approach to be self-sufficient for a year or more… See, we aren’t even going to the same place so my list would be completely wrong for you!

 

  If for no other reason than to get yourself organised, take an inventory of everything you already have that’s remotely related to your preps and use this as the basis for developing a starter to-do list. This exercise will help you determine the FACTS of where you are now. Only then will you have the initial information to get started on the rest of your journey.

 

   To the point of “I’m freakin’ out”, stay calm! Yes, I think we are in or very close to game over but what does that mean – practically? Game over is subjective as it all depends on exactly what events happen first in the string of dominoes. The most likely scenario would be that we see the .gov continue doing anything and everything to keep us from falling off a cliff. Will they succeed? I don’t see how but their long term self-destructive actions will buy you and I more time to work on our lists. Of course there are things that could change our world overnight and they are closer now than ever before, in my opinion. Still, we should have more time to get organised, don’t fritter it away but acting rash won’t help either. Make the list and set yourself on prioritising what your next steps need to be.

 

   I believe that once you can clearly see where you are now, it will be relatively easy to start balancing out all the columns. If you have 30 days food but only a week worth of water… See what I’m going for here? If you have the guns covered (we both know you do), than start getting the food, water and shelter up to that level.

 

   Inevitably, you’ll have a number of big ticket items – generator, solar panels, water well, RV or whatever, this list could go on for a long time. Take these items in stride! Schedule there purchases out over a number of months or years, don’t let them get you discouraged or make your whole plan come out of balance. We all have budget constraints that will keep us in line but with some good focused thought we can identify where our weak links are and go about shoring up those areas first.

 

   None of us knows with all certainty how much time we may have to get things in order… However, I do know that a year from now that fruit tree that takes 3 years to begin bearing fruit, will still be three years away if you don’t plant it this year… Get out there and do something, don’t allow yourself to go in to the analysis paralysis mode. Everything that you get done now is a check mark on the list, the list will grow and change but it will never get completed unless you keep going!

 

 

Prepper