By The Maj:
Raise your hand if prepping has not frustrated you over the course of your individual process. Anyone? It does not matter if you are new to prepping or have been doing it for years, there will be those days when you look at all you have accomplished and all that remains to be done – then comes the brick wall of reality. The thoughts of “I need this” or “I forgot that” or “I need this but cannot afford it right now” become almost overwhelming and you find yourself wondering if it is all worth it. It is what it is and the constant challenge of it all is what keeps many preppers going (other than the obvious that you want to survive and thrive post event). Denying that the process is not or cannot be frustrating is to only kid yourself. The trick is to manage that frustration, channel it into a plan to make things come together, and then do it all over again.
One of the biggest areas of frustration for most preppers is when an attempt is made to measure up against other preppers. Now, I am not saying that you should not discuss preps with other preppers, maybe read a book or two on the subject, and pick up some pieces of your puzzle from someone else. Bouncing ideas off of others is a great way to avoid mistakes, learn something new, or consider something that you might not have considered yet. However, in doing so, you need to remember a few simple things that will help to keep the frustration to a minimum.
First and foremost, in the world of prepping, WE ARE NOT ALL CREATED EQUAL. Now, before you tune out and think I might be headed down the wrong road, let that statement sink in. Even though society wants us all on the same, level playing field, it is a pipe dream when it comes to prepping. I am an individual and thereby, I have strengths and weaknesses. I may be better at something than you are and you are probably better at something than I am. Your strength may be my weakness and vice versa. Also, you have to consider outside factors that make us all different in some sense or another including finances, where we live, what our life experiences happen to be, and the stage we happen to find ourselves in along the prepping road. Dismiss the idea that you can measure up to me or any other prepper because the only measurement that will matter in the end is YOU against the event.
Forget the cookie cutter or template approach to prepping. Those that claim to have the “perfect bugout bag” or “perfect bugout plan” or “perfect prepping guide” are generally selling something that works for them. The problem is they may not work or be applicable to your particular situation. Glean what you can from such lists and develop your own personal list that works for you. If something is not applicable to you, then leave it off the list or go with something else. If your current financial situation prevents you from doing something find a substitute item until your financial situation improves. Remember to keep it specific to YOUR plan and YOUR needs.
Simplicity is your friend. Whether it is a simple, easy to follow and accomplish plan or the most simple, most basic prep that satisfies a need, simple is always best. Too many preppers get bogged down in their plans, believe the newest technology is the end all, be all and waste precious resources (mainly time and money) chasing something that does not add true value to their preps. There has been an entire industry created around prepping, slap “survival” on the side of something and folks think that they need it and are willing to pay more for it. Just because it is labeled the “Number 1 Selling” item does not mean that you truly have a need for it or that it even works. Keep your focus on providing for the basics FIRST (water, food, shelter, medical, and security) and build off of the very basics.
You have chosen a long road, a road that will not truly end until the event you have been preparing for occurs (of course that is really the beginning) OR you pass from this earth. It will not always be easy and there will be days you want to quit or give up. It happens to preppers just starting out and those that have been prepping for years alike. Take the time to focus on yourself, accept the fact that you are on your own path, keep things simple, and set your own goals. Doing so will save you some of the frustration along the way.
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In my humble opinion, an excellent article. I would add a couple of comments to yours; things I have learned and try to apply to all areas, not just prepping
1) KISS cancels Mr. Murphy.
As you say, keeping things simple is best. The more parts there are to anything, be it a plan, a gadget or anything else, the more that can (and usually will for me!) go wrong.
2) A rule one of my Drill Sergeants taught me in Boot: “no plan ever survives first contact.” I find that it is indeed rare that anything goes completely according to plan. Anything that promises to be “the Ultimate” or as you ,”the perfect bugout plan”, I tend to view with a bit of cynicism.
Keep up the good work!
Author
J
Definitely agree with your 2nd point, no plan survives first contact. However I’m not sure if there is any way to keep Murphy out of our lives, he can pop up at the most inopportune time(s).
perhaps that should be amended to say “KISS minimizes Murphy”.
Author
No worries man 🙂
So I see you reference “boot.” Jarhead?
Served in both Army and Navy, actually.
Author
Thanks for your service, especially during a time of conflict.
I was fortunate not to end up in any hot spots. I count my blessings in that. As far as Service, it has always been viewed a responsibility in my family….as FUBAR as things might get sometimes, ours is still a great country to live in. I think it a responsibility to stand a watch in exchange for the freedoms we have.
Getting off my soapbox now 🙂
Author
Maj
Wanted to say that we all have strengths and weaknesses, and one of your strengths is definitely a common sense and practical style of writing which can apply to almost anyone. This is seriously one of the best articles I have read in a long time although I fear it won’t get that much circulation because it doesn’t have to do with anything super sensational (e.g. all preppers will die!). You make a great point about focusing on what is within the realm of our control and keeping things simple. Pull from the available resources out there and form something that works for one’s specific circumstances. Just because someone says “do it this way” doesn’t mean it’s the only way.
Like you also stated: it’s you versus the event. If the grid goes down tomorrow (and takes the web with it) all of this virtual world is gone. No more Youtube videos on how to do something, no more searches through other prepper sites for info, no more online forums for discussion on best practices. All of a sudden the most important and relevant things become everything which exists within a 1 block radius.
I’ve come to accept the fact that while I consider myself more prepared for certain scenarios than most, I’m nowhere near where I need to be overall. This is a long journey where I will continue to make many mistakes along the way and if during this journey the balloon goes up…I’m stuck with what I have at that given time and will have to make due.
Thanks for the great post and keep them coming!
May I be so bold as to interject a little talked about factor in prepping: RESOLVE? That simple word has a complex but profound effect on survival, probably more so then even having the “right supplies, equipment or knowledge”. Far too often, in my 65 years, I have seen and heard of people who were well equipped and even knowledgeable about survival, yet they sat down and died. The reason; they had lost their determination to win over the circumstances they found themselves in. This could be due to a number of reasons; an injury, the loss of a loved one, debilitating fear, or even something as simple as confusion. The point is that unless your mind is right and you come to a point of refusing to be overcome by everything that is occurring during a survival event nothing you have will save you. The first order of business in surviving, as in any success story, is rejecting anything but victory regardless of the personal effort required.
Author
Definitely have to agree with that one, resolve is absolutely necessary because adversity is sure to present itself in any SHTF situation. It’s easy to say “I’ll never quit” with a full belly while sitting on the couch, but when one is shivering from the cold/wet/feet blistered AND lost it becomes very easy to entertain simply giving up. Thanks for the response Muleskinner, and I should note that when I think of resolve one image comes to mind:
Click here to view it
Yes sir: that is precisely what I am talking about.
Thanks for your comments Muleskinner. I agree that resolve is a key component to survival and unfortunately, many well prepared preppers (in terms of stocks and training) will fail because of a lack of resolve and the mental aspects that will challenge everyone post SHTF. Training and preps will take you only so far and there are not many ways for anyone to truly test their resolve and thereby develop it short of wandering into the wilderness for months on end. Even then, there will be safety nets available during that wandering that will not be there post SHTF.
Ultimately, resolve for TEOTWAWKI can only be developed for most people through confidence in their preps and skills, as well as repetitive and challenging training. The goal or objective that each person selects for survival provides the drive and will to live – too many define their goal as “survive” but there has to be a definition or point to that survival.