Being self sufficient, to the greatest extent practical, is a good idea if for no other reason than to sleep better and not pay too much attention to this kind of flap.

At the same time, it isn’t worth going completely nuts and going to extremes far beyond practicality.

I’m alarmed, but I’ve been feeling this way for years. However, different factors, including my age and having my 90 year old mother-in-law living with us now, is pushing me more to act upon that alarm.

Recently, I got a dual fuel inverter generator, and I’m in the market for a portable power station. The generator will run only to recharge the power station when drained for less noise and fuel savings.

I’m going to get water storage, a crapper, an LP grill(left mine at recently sold house), more canned food, TP and paper towels, body wipes, and a few other her things.

I have no idea how long off grid we could last in our gated community, but I’m hoping for at least a good week. My mother-in-law has seen hardship at an earlier age, but we don’t need to go back to that level in her golden years if we don’t have to.

quote:

Originally posted by ftttu:
I’m alarmed, but I’ve been feeling this way for years. <snip>

I am in a similar boat. My parents are quickly aging, and I am trying to be sure they are covered as well. Fortunately, we live on adjacent acreage.

Although both are retired now, Mom recently had a pacemaker installed and Dad is currently down in his back.

Dad has been the hardest physically working man I have ever known. I have not seen him down this badly in over 40 years since he had Sciatica. A hip replacement was a walk in the park for him last year. I have seen him walking sideways during back episodes many days over the years, but this is a bit different. His entire life, his motto has always been "I will be in pain whether at work or at home laying around, so why not go to work?". He is an avid hunter, with plenty of trophy mounts in their log cabin that we built from trees off the land when I was in school following instructions from the Foxfire books back in the late 70's and early 80's. With a deer plot I have tilled and sowed for him each fall over the past decade, it broke my heart a couple days ago when he said hunting is the last thing on his mind right now. He has consistently harvested winter deer and spring turkey right here at home every year. Hopefully, the medical professionals around here can get him back on his feet.

Mom has experienced multiple ambulance trips and even a helicopter transport within the past month in near death heart episodes. Although she is still recovering, she is suddenly reciprocating care for Dad. She is also a hard worker, having proven reliable over 30 years for a single large corporate employer. Best I can figure, is that Dad ALWAYS got her to work even with 2-3 feet of snow on the ground here in WNC. Most others would call in and take the day off.

Tough situation, but I am so very proud of them for sticking it out through the hard times of a 60 year marriage.

While I am adding to my preps, I am also attempting to suddenly be sure they have what they need. It nearly doubles my concerns.

I appreciate your comments, ftttu.

Joe

I just dropped $700 this week on food water and supplies. I fully expect turmoil to break out in the next few months; I am built for a bug in situation.

Alarmed? Not yet but I think feeling anxiety at some level is perfectly natural. Money, health, government stability, the future for your kids weighed against the self destructive habits of the left, etc.

I’ll say that with recent electoral events, my anxiety has gone up a blip or two. We all saw the kind of damage the democrats were capable of in a few short years, relatively speaking. The next two years running up to the combined 2028 elections are going to be… interesting. I’m lucky to live in a very red state even if the eastern panhandle is about the bluest part of it. I don’t envy those trapped behind enemy lines one bit.

Alarmed? No not really, especially after I filter out all the conspiracy bullshit. Statistically, Maine is a blue state but that's driven by the population centers in the southern half of the state. Out here in the willy-wags, most people are a lot more conservative. Well, except for some of the from-aways from the usual liberal enclaves. We pretty much ignore them while fighting the urge to laugh in their face.

That said, if the Republicans sit on their hands (as usual) for the next couple of months and passive/aggressively block the President, things could get ugly after the first of the year.