Any "Preppers" Out There?

[ACamp1900]

Y'all's a bunch of amateurs:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/...=test&kwp_0=293020&kwp_4=1124286&kwp_1=519024

 

[SDIrishFan]

So our region (most of Wyoming and a good chunk of western SD) experienced an extended power outage today (up to 100k people for 3-8 hours) and it got my wife and I talking about it.

Then I found this thread. I haven't read all of it but it is interesting.

Obviously there’s levels to all this (a few hours without power to total collapse of the system). Being able to survive a few days/weeks or true fight to survive.

I’m most concerned about the world’s complete dependency on technology and if that system fails (power, banking, communications) how quickly the world would turn into a complete shit show.

I think we’re going to at least start stocking up on some basics. Some water, survival straws, have sleeping bags, need more food. Medications are a must.

I have a few different guns, .22 rifle, .243 rifle and 12 gauge shotgun. I view these mostly for the ability to hunt, not necessarily protection.

Generators, who knows. Don’t really have the ability or want to store large amounts of fuel. Solar, not sure how far they’ve come?

My brother inlaw is pretty redneckish (endless guns, vehicles, supplies, tools, etc. As is my father in law. Would prolly camp out with them.

Crazy stuff to think about honestly .

 

[Bluto]

So our region (most of Wyoming and a good chunk of western SD) experienced an extended power outage today (up to 100k people for 3-8 hours) and it got my wife and I talking about it.

Then I found this thread. I haven't read all of it but it is interesting.

Obviously there’s levels to all this (a few hours without power to total collapse of the system). Being able to survive a few days/weeks or true fight to survive.

I’m most concerned about the world’s complete dependency on technology and if that system fails (power, banking, communications) how quickly the world would turn into a complete shit show.

I think we’re going to at least start stocking up on some basics. Some water, survival straws, have sleeping bags, need more food. Medications are a must.

I have a few different guns, .22 rifle, .243 rifle and 12 gauge shotgun. I view these mostly for the ability to hunt, not necessarily protection.

Generators, who knows. Don’t really have the ability or want to store large amounts of fuel. Solar, not sure how far they’ve come?

My brother inlaw is pretty redneckish (endless guns, vehicles, supplies, tools, etc. As is my father in law. Would prolly camp out with them.

Crazy stuff to think about honestly .

If you are serious about this I would highly recommend looking into solar and or wind as well as improving the overall energy efficiency of your existing home. The technology for all of those things have come a long way in recent years. I would also look into rain capture as well as composting toilets.

I’m going to be doing an ADU at my place that is completely off grid in terms of electrical and it’s actually going to make the build way less complicated in terms of utilities.

Also, there’s a pretty great book out there called the Barefoot Architect that would be worth picking up. I would also recommend looking into some of the architecture and design concepts used in earth ships in New Mexico (particularly those related to food production and water recycling and treatment).

Good luck!

 

[IrishBoognish]

I suggest a ceiling full of rice and a basement full of beans

really lean into it.. get as much ammo as you can


whatever you do, dont organize within your community to get healthcare for all, higher wages, and rules "laws" against gouging prices and rents

good luck!
.

 

[NorthDakota]

If you are serious about prepping the government auctioned off old nuclear missile sites. Infinite storage in remote areas. Basically as much room as you are willing to maintain/renovate

 

[SDIrishFan]

I certainly wouldn’t consider myself serious about prepping.

If there’s true apocalypse for whatever reason, not sure I even want to try to survive that?

I’m sure I’d do my best but I can’t even imagine what that would take.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Making your home(stead) as self-sufficient (not just a large storage container) as possible must be the Base (just as Bluto said.) All intelligent planners know that. THE base is energy sufficiency. So, whether "perfect" or not, the only things that you can count on when the Big System goes down are solar-and-derivative-wind energy systems (including the passive solar designs such as the Earthships), plus moving water, plus geothermal wells. (<--they require some pumping/circulating mechanisms). Old Days it was burning stuff. Energy is the foundation for almost everything. Beat that, then worry about food and water; water first.)

If you have less paranoia than that, then still get "temporarily" energy secure, and buy a truck-full of survivalist food gimmicks. (AND WATER)

 

[Blazers46]

If you are serious about prepping the government auctioned off old nuclear missile sites. Infinite storage in remote areas. Basically as much room as you are willing to maintain/renovate

I’m curious. You have a link?

 

[stlnd01]

So our region (most of Wyoming and a good chunk of western SD) experienced an extended power outage today (up to 100k people for 3-8 hours) and it got my wife and I talking about it.

Then I found this thread. I haven't read all of it but it is interesting.

Obviously there’s levels to all this (a few hours without power to total collapse of the system). Being able to survive a few days/weeks or true fight to survive.

I’m most concerned about the world’s complete dependency on technology and if that system fails (power, banking, communications) how quickly the world would turn into a complete shit show.

I think we’re going to at least start stocking up on some basics. Some water, survival straws, have sleeping bags, need more food. Medications are a must.

I have a few different guns, .22 rifle, .243 rifle and 12 gauge shotgun. I view these mostly for the ability to hunt, not necessarily protection.

Generators, who knows. Don’t really have the ability or want to store large amounts of fuel. Solar, not sure how far they’ve come?

My brother inlaw is pretty redneckish (endless guns, vehicles, supplies, tools, etc. As is my father in law. Would prolly camp out with them.

Crazy stuff to think about honestly .

My wife grew up on a farm in west river South Dakota. If we could get there from the East Coast in such an event, that's probably where we'd head. Maybe we could be prepper neighbors!

 

[NorthDakota]

I’m curious. You have a link?

Siloworld.net !!

Might be able to Google some too. I know all the ones associated with Grand Forks AFB got auctioned off maybe 20 years ago. I would love to buy one for my dad since he was a missile officer there.

 

[SDIrishFan]

My wife grew up on a farm in west river South Dakota. If we could get there from the East Coast in such an event, that's probably where we'd head. Maybe we could be prepper neighbors!

 

[BleedBlueGold]

First rule about prepping....Don't tell people you're prepping.

 

[BleedingGold]

I’ve found elements of the prepper life appealing.

Years ago I started developing a more rustic style of living at some future point. 25 acres in the mountains with an extremely wonderful spring feed water source and fertile ground, with the extra bonus of ample hunting. Having a major fishing area not far away is another bonus.

It’s even amazing how you can use animal preservation and crp government money to develop your retired retreat.

Never focused on surviving nuclear fallout, hell, pretty sure I’d rather not see the day after that, but if the grid goes, my time reading 25+ foxfire books and learning how to be more sustainable won’t go to waste.

 

[NDRock]

Moved on to 11 acres a couple years ago. Most we did was putting a generator hookup into our electrical panel. Had to use it once for a day while the power was out. Worked great. I'm too much of a minimalist to be a good prepper though.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I’ve found elements of the prepper life appealing.

Years ago I started developing a more rustic style of living at some future point. 25 acres in the mountains with an extremely wonderful spring feed water source and fertile ground, with the extra bonus of ample hunting. Having a major fishing area not far away is another bonus.

It’s even amazing how you can use animal preservation and crp government money to develop your retired retreat.

Never focused on surviving nuclear fallout, hell, pretty sure I’d rather not see the day after that, but if the grid goes, my time reading 25+ foxfire books and learning how to be more sustainable won’t go to waste.

To the bolded: This is where I'm at. Give me low key, off-grid, minimalist living all day, any day. But a post-apocalyptic world? No thanks. I prep accordingly.

 

[T-Boone]

Moved on to 11 acres a couple years ago. Most we did was putting a generator hookup into our electrical panel. Had to use it once for a day while the power was out. Worked great. I'm too much of a minimalist to be a good prepper though.

Minimalist lifestyle is very good and is how I am for sure. My only problem with it is all the minimalist youtubers are such wankers.

 

[Ndaccountant]

So our region (most of Wyoming and a good chunk of western SD) experienced an extended power outage today (up to 100k people for 3-8 hours) and it got my wife and I talking about it.

Then I found this thread. I haven't read all of it but it is interesting.

Obviously there’s levels to all this (a few hours without power to total collapse of the system). Being able to survive a few days/weeks or true fight to survive.

I’m most concerned about the world’s complete dependency on technology and if that system fails (power, banking, communications) how quickly the world would turn into a complete shit show.

I think we’re going to at least start stocking up on some basics. Some water, survival straws, have sleeping bags, need more food. Medications are a must.

I have a few different guns, .22 rifle, .243 rifle and 12 gauge shotgun. I view these mostly for the ability to hunt, not necessarily protection.

Generators, who knows. Don’t really have the ability or want to store large amounts of fuel. Solar, not sure how far they’ve come?

My brother inlaw is pretty redneckish (endless guns, vehicles, supplies, tools, etc. As is my father in law. Would prolly camp out with them.

Crazy stuff to think about honestly .

Quantum computing + bad actors = chaos. It's not close to happening today but its also not lifetimes away either.

 

[Old Man Mike]

My take is not the usual prep-popular one, but my feelings were (twenty years ago in my 60s) that the best way to live, period, (catastrophe or not) would be to be part of a small (100 person?) eco-village based upon Gospel of Love and neighborliness type principles. The eco-village would be self-sustaining or very close. All energy concerns would be mitigated by building with wisdom (example: all south-facing housing structures for maximum solar exposure, plus backside/windside winter wind blockage; Earthship design if wanted; farming [we had the acreage picked out for gardening, chicken-raising/eggs, potatoes en masse, fruit and nut trees; etc]; artificial wetland for gray water cleansing; small locally in touch lake; geothermal wells; one windmill; solar cells; plus .. plus ... plus.) All the social/legal/spiritual "paper" and thought was complete BUT it required c.40-50 families to make the cash commitment. (or one really rich benefactor.) None of that happened so a VERY pleasant spiritually-based dream community did not emerge.

We wanted to do it "together" rather than "alone." It's well technologically possible with good location choices, but you need people who have had a modestly successful working life (not uber wealthy) to afford the buy-in to cover the infrastructure (that was for us about twice the cost of a fine, not palatial by any means, house.) As people typically have "one" house worth of equity to shift, but not two, we couldn't get the numbers.

 

[FU BK]

really lean into it.. get as much ammo as you can



.

Hell...im not a prepper, and thats my motto....can never have enough ammo.

 

[calvegas04]

Thanks for all the info guys, my band of raiders will be sure to look for homes with solar and water tanks

 

[BleedBlueGold]

My take is not the usual prep-popular one, but my feelings were (twenty years ago in my 60s) that the best way to live, period, (catastrophe or not) would be to be part of a small (100 person?) eco-village based upon Gospel of Love and neighborliness type principles. The eco-village would be self-sustaining or very close. All energy concerns would be mitigated by building with wisdom (example: all south-facing housing structures for maximum solar exposure, plus backside/windside winter wind blockage; Earthship design if wanted; farming [we had the acreage picked out for gardening, chicken-raising/eggs, potatoes en masse, fruit and nut trees; etc]; artificial wetland for gray water cleansing; small locally in touch lake; geothermal wells; one windmill; solar cells; plus .. plus ... plus.) All the social/legal/spiritual "paper" and thought was complete BUT it required c.40-50 families to make the cash commitment. (or one really rich benefactor.) None of that happened so a VERY pleasant spiritually-based dream community did not emerge.

We wanted to do it "together" rather than "alone." It's well technologically possible with good location choices, but you need people who have had a modestly successful working life (not uber wealthy) to afford the buy-in to cover the infrastructure (that was for us about twice the cost of a fine, not palatial by any means, house.) As people typically have "one" house worth of equity to shift, but not two, we couldn't get the numbers.

Sounds wonderful. You're missing a church and 12-foot cement wall, barbed wire on top, and multiple security check points. Maybe I've seen too many movies, but in a world where those who prepped prosper, it will only be as long as they can protect themselves, their community, and their stash.

First place I'm taking my family is down the road to our local parish campus. 1) For obvious reasons but 2) because there are multiple class rooms that could be converted into living quarters, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and a giant soccer field that could be converted into agriculture plots. It's missing a giant protective wall and fresh water source. But it's a start.

 

[Old Man Mike]

If what you're facing is Mad Max Apocalyptic World, then you're just screwed, especially if you're alone. Go and be well with that future scenario.

Our view was a future with the majority culture stumbling "forward" in its somewhat miserable dollars-focus materialism, while we turn away from that materialistic crap chase and live caring about one another as detached from your self-oriented us-against-the-world me-firster-ism. How anyone can read our hopeful vision for a good and loving life together, and have nothing to say but how much naive crap our hopes were, well, just depresses me.

By the way, we had a resident priest (my best friend) and several Congregation of St. Joseph nuns as residents. My own Doctor asked me if we needed a doctor after he read the plans. But ... shit on the vision. And thanks for the vibes.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

If what you're facing is Mad Max Apocalyptic World, then you're just screwed, especially if you're alone. Go and be well with that future scenario.

Our view was a future with the majority culture stumbling "forward" in its somewhat miserable dollars-focus materialism, while we turn away from that materialistic crap chase and live caring about one another as detached from your self-oriented us-against-the-world me-firster-ism. How anyone can read our hopeful vision for a good and loving life together, and have nothing to say but how much naive crap our hopes were, well, just depresses me.

By the way, we had a resident priest (my best friend) and several Congregation of St. Joseph nuns as residents. My own Doctor asked me if we needed a doctor after he read the plans. But ... shit on the vision. And thanks for the vibes.

An established and smooth functioning commune would serve as a great place of refuge for many people seeking safe havens during any kind of catastrophe. The struggle would be maintaining a common good mindset among residents during said time of crisis. Human nature is a funny thing as individualism kicks in and fight or flight becomes a means towards survival. A so-called self-sustaining eco-village of peace and love is only as good as it's weakest link resident. The idea is wonderful, and in any real world scenario short of a Mad Max event, a community based on love and support for one another by way of sustainability, accountability, etc would prove more beneficial to survival than anyone trying to go it alone. Yet one bad egg could spoil the entire thing. How would you manage that risk?

 

[IrishBryan77]

Being ex military....I always have a backpack ready to grab just in case. It will keep me alive for at least a month. 🤣

 

[Old Man Mike]

We had elaborate social mechanisms well thought through.We were not idealistic children

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Looking down so hard at my posts, they must appear a speck to you.

Just curious if you cared to elaborate is all. But whatever. Cheers.

 

[Old Man Mike]

All your posts did were to disparage. What did you expect in return?

Our spiritual covenant, which we would all sign and occasionally remind ourselves of in community, would however encourage us to welcome you and your family if you needed a good meal and an overnight as you pursued your journey to wherever you were going. We might appear to you as generally OK people even though we were "impractical" and somewhat awkward to be around.

What I have noticed about IE in general (exceptions exist) is that almost never does anyone believe that a person can be a genuinely good soul, and surely no group of persons could be. Well, the folks that I worked ten years with on the eco village project were good people.

 

[SDIrishFan]

Being ex military....I always have a backpack ready to grab just in case. It will keep me alive for at least a month. 🤣

Bug out bags always make me wonder, where is everyone bugging out to??

 

[BleedBlueGold]

All your posts did were to disparage. What did you expect in return?

Our spiritual covenant, which we would all sign and occasionally remind ourselves of in community, would however encourage us to welcome you and your family if you needed a good meal and an overnight as you pursued your journey to wherever you were going. We might appear to you as generally OK people even though we were "impractical" and somewhat awkward to be around.

What I have noticed about IE in general (exceptions exist) is that almost never does anyone believe that a person can be a genuinely good soul, and surely no group of persons could be. Well, the folks that I worked ten years with on the eco village project were good people.

You read disparaging and malicious intent into the posts. Making assumptions that a person can’t be genuinely curious about how your village may defends itself if the situation were to arise. But okay.

 

[pumpdog20]

The only prepping I'm currently doing outside of brass... is $10k in cash in case my wife leaves me. Because she may get half, but she ain't getting that $10k damnit