I’ll be the first to admit that prepping hasn’t been at the top of my list in the last few weeks. Winter is losing it’s grip on us and I’ve been planning for Spring and Summer of 2015, and my plans don’t involve anything remotely related to prepping. Family vacations, motorcycle trips, projects around the house and such. Not exactly things that are high on the list when considering what a SHTF event might bring and the need to be ready. Quite frankly all are drains on the money supply with very little tangible prep return, but I say it’s worth it. Hell man, you gotta live a little but it’s all about balance.
Right now we are on the upswing, the economy is supposedly doing well and life is gravy. Those of us with our eyes open realize this can only last for so long and that at some point the music has to stop, in other words take advantage of the good years to prepare for lean times. That in mind I’ll be the first to admit I enjoy taking advantage in other ways which don’t involve prepping and help me to keep balance in my life. Vacations with family, motorcycle trips to various parts of the US, laying a new patio behind my house…because it doesn’t have to be about prepping 24/7/365. If the balloon goes up and the SHTF, of course it will be time to implement the hunker down policy and extreme measures but that time has yet to come (thankfully).
It’s tough to be a dedicated prepper right now because the distractions of life can be all too appealing, I know I face it on a daily basis just like you do! If the economy seems to be good and the job is paying well why not let prepping slide to the back burner and just focus on enjoying the fruits of your labor? Remember it’s all about balance and keeping things in perspective. I’m all for enjoying things and living life a little but as long as the end game is still in mind and not forgotten. Burn out can happen to the best of us and if you have family it can set in even sooner. Live a little but do it smartly, you’ll be glad you did.
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Hey pj
Funny you should mention this. I have to agree with over the last month or so I’ve lost a lot of my prepping zest that I used to have. Maybe the hard winter? Maybe the constant being ready for anything….. Just can’t put my finger on it
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Paul
As with anything I think it ebbs and flows. One cannot be expected to stand guard and remain vigilant / alert without some rest or other distractions.
Sorry pj wrong email!
Paul
Interesting you bring up the thoughts of prepping with burnout fatigue. I guess I sort of look at prepping with a slightly different point of view, for me it’s not always “buy this” or learn that. I have tried to work my “preps” into my life as more of doing stuff I like and ending up with something tangible in the aftermath; IE gardening, Home Brewing, continuing education, shooting, Canning and Cooking, and so on, and yes even working on that fat tire I’m carrying around above my belt HAHAHA.
I guess I’m a little different than the average “dude” when it comes to a lifestyle, I don’t do the “going out on Saturday night to the bar” thing, or hanging around the local VFW for the weekend pool shoot. Honestly I would rather dig into a good info book or work on some odd job around the place than socialize with a bunch of people that are only doing so because they have nothing else to do. Now don’t get me wrong I do present a fine dinner and an evening to a few guest a cpl of times a month, but that’s not the main gist of “life as I know it”. Maybe I feel that way because I spent 80% of my younger days traveling and seeing the world, maybe because I have no interest in seeing the sights of DC or NYC, just another big over crowded city IMHO or maybe because I’m just an old fart? But give me a nice camping spot up in the Rockies or a fishing spot out on Navajo Lake, now you’re talking… HAHAHA
As you stated above PJ, life is NOT all about the dreaded word “prepping” so to speak. But living life as free as you can and doing things that make you happy, if “prepping” is part of that lifestyle so to speak, than 90% of the things you do “may” be in one form or another “prepping”.
Last thought, then I’ll shut the heck up LOLOL, you have GOT to prep your mindset also, vacations with family, a week or two in Hawaii with the wife, a bike ride across country are just as important as buying another 55 gallon drum of diesel, 5000 5.65s or another 50 MREs. You have GOT to keep the mind clear and relaxed, and yes the wife happy, by doing things other than doing inventories, standing guard at the lookout point and polishing up the AR-15. Keeping yourself and family happy is one of the most important “preps” you can do, IMHO.
Thanks for listening to an old fart ramble on.
NRP
Enjoying life is the joy of life. You can quote me on that.
Maybe I’m wrong….. But the responses to this post seem like….. How can I say it……..we know were up shitscreek and the paddle is stuck but…….We,are
Trying to do the best we can?
Exactly…….
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Agree Paul, all we can do is the best we can. We will not win every race, triumph at every challenge (no matter how strong our resolve is) or be 110% engaged on this prepping journey every second of every day. Heck everything needs work, think of a marriage and how much WORK that is to keep vibrant! Prepping is a lifestyle and not a fad (for us anyways) and these challenges are to be expected.
In my opinion, there is dedicated and then there is obsessive. For example, you can be a dedicated fisherman and be quite comfortable with not being on the lake every spare moment of every day; if you were, people would really start to wonder about you.
I think it is the same with prepping.
We can prepare as best we can by laying in supplies or building up our fitness and training in theoretical scenarios until the cows come home but the present is what really matters.
Otherwise, prepping just becomes another bit of cheese in the rat race.
WHAT!!!????? you mean fishing is NOT a 1000% all the time thing??? Ahhhh man, you just popped my bubble. HAHAHAHA
Sorry, dude, I have to work every now and then to buy bait.
Ahhhh man, I hate it when someone becomes “practical” LOL
That’s why I only use a sinker, on my line when I fish, gutting, cleaning and cooking fish is wayyyyyy to much work for a day off fishing. 🙂
Pj
Just notice…our avatar pups look like they could be related lol
Author
What you have going on with your pup Paul? Cute pic though.
Pj
She has a frisbee in her mouth! Loki is a cane corsu- pit mix
I’ve been slacking for many months. I did buy 2 cans of freeze dried food last month, but that’s been it lately. This has to change. Thanks for keeping it real!
I’ve definitely slowed down since the baby. Catching up on work, taking care of the new baby, homeschooling, on top of the previous schedule that had us busy anyways. That’s my list of excuses.
I have bought a few things, done some maintenance, organized some. I guess the point is to do the next step. We live, but constantly do something towards the preps. There has been weeks when nothing has been accomplished, but in the grand scheme we are better off than we were.