Are you prepared? Trying to be more self sufficient

I’m actually enjoying all this. I’m no economist just a regular blue collar guy trying to figure life out. The discussions about different scenarios and how to handle them, for me, is great stimulation. Precious metals may or may not be useful but I can’t imagine it hurts to have them and they could prove useful.
What are we prepping for and why?
Loaded questions everybody will be different in their beliefs.
EMP……..why? I think/hope people understand a nuclear conflict is a loose loose for everybody… however I can see them used at high altitude for an emp to cripple infrastructure yet not harm the land as there would be large population losses because, well, most just aren’t ready for that.
#2 financial collapse. As I said I’m no financial person but from a layman’s perspective with our government trying to be the worlds police it seems we are constantly writing checks that our collective asses may not be able to cash

 

I am not arguing just to argue. Preparations for a compete breakdown of society and preps for shortages in stores and milk costing $20 a gallon are very different.

In 5 or 6 years payments on our debt will exceed payments on Social Security, Medicare and Military combined, thanks to the current interest rates.
If we default on our debt, it will bring all of G7 + EU down. Not just US. (The only semi-safe places to be will be the BRICS countries. Russia and China in particular, combination of the two of them being the most aurtarkic combo in the world.)

I do not see US default happening. Interest rates will be lowered, currency press will be turned on and we will have 50%-80% or higher annual inflation. Hyperinflation as in Weimar Germany. Or ancient Rome.

We think that, as a country, we are special, "exceptional". We are not. There are smarter, harder working countries than us. There are developed countries that have almost as much debt as we do and other that have no debt at all.

Every empire went thru the same steps in its downfall. Details, severity, impact were different, but steps were the same. That's why I linked to a review of the Roman empire and US. Rome is the closest historical precedent. History does not repeat, but it does rhyme.

 

good points all. glad I was able to stimulate a discussion on the topic

 

If I had the money, I would be on the private island in subtropics, with a solar farm, 5 stories deep nuclear shelter (and 10 years worth of fuel, food, water and vitamins stored down there), my own desalination plant, farm. And a 5/3 mansion on top. And 20 kilos of gold and 500 kilos of silver in 1 oz coin and bullion.

Alas, I am not Mark Zuck.

 

There's a place like that just north of Baggs Wyoming that is trying to be as unknown as possible... and being sold to rich people as a bug out location. It's pretty impressive with all kinds of off-the-grid capabilities. Greenhouses, livestock, power generation, an airport large enough for private jets, and a shooting range. Something that would fit in well with the Atlas Shrugged ideals.

 

Former ICBM silo?
I do not play well with the rich and famous. I do not mind being the benevolent dictator of Baggs, WY, but I won't take their crap. Shape up or ship out.

 

Well fellers, how's everyone enjoying a very small taste of computer systems being down?

 

I've been told to have some cash on hand...

 

Maybe some coins

 

It was down? Did not notice, honestly.

Can't find my map with all the buried jars with coins. I am screwed.

 

That's what you get for keeping the map in a file on the puter

 

The airlines... Some people are spreading the idea that the grid is threatened and utilities could follow. The only thing I know for sure is a bunch of flights have been cancelled.

 

All that and only 3 bathrooms?

 

In the mansion, yes.
Bunker would be a stand alone thing. A couple of kitchens, bathrooms, wave pool, etc, etc. A man a can dream.
Need an elevator in it too. I am not getting any younger.

 

Quite possible. I need to put in a transfer switch sooner than later.
I heard about the flights this morning, but nothing else.

 

It was on paper. And cat ate it. I wrapped my Arby sandwich in it.

 

I’m a light weight prepper. I have supply’s so I can be fully self contained and self sufficient for 3 or so months. I have sufficient food, water, gas for generators, medications, guns & ammo (and am expert in their use) and dozens of others of supply’s and provisions. I’m a lifetime outdoorsman and could to a certain extent live off the land and nature.
The problem is none of us really knows what we are prepping for. Is it a 2 week interruption of goods and services. Is it a civil war with a break down of government and services , law and order for a couple months. Could it be a plague that wipes out 80% or more of the world’s population? Is it the aftermath of a limited nuclear war with resulting collapse of government, society and all services? There’s a hundred other disasters that could happen affecting us from weeks to generations.
I think the odds of us really needing to be prepped are quite minuscule and I say that even though I am prepped more than many. It’s just difficult to prepare for something when you don’t know what you’re preparing for and you don’t know what to expect. Everyone should be prepared for up to a week’s interruption of power, water, transportation, food, medications etc. etc. Beyond that, I’m not so sure. Just my 2 cents worth.

On a slightly different note. I do see our major cities over time descending into anarchic apocalyptic lawless almost no man’s lands. If you’ve seen the movies Escape from New York or Escape from L.A. , that’s what I’m talking about. If that happens prepping ain’t going to help you. Getting the hell out, escaping is the only thing that will save you. I’m seeing that happen in the city I was born and raised in, Oakland California. Last year when I drove through Oakland it reminded me of the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. If it spreads outside the cities then you’ll want to be prepped to the max.

 

I just prep within my means.

By that I'm saying, what can I afford to buy to just have it sitting around. And what do I have the room for to be just sitting around.

We live in a small house (900sqft) so storage is at a premium. This pretty well limits my prep to being able to handle at most a month of self sufficient operation

 

No effect for me at all