Are you prepared? Trying to be more self sufficient

Fair point. I am known in the neighborhood as a flashlight guy, and the camping family, and the solar panels are on the front porch, so the locals who are paying attention already know.

OTOH, I am perfectly happy functioning by moon light as well. Lots of years playing hide and seek and tag in the woods by moonlight. If you don't ruin your night vision, or at least wait long enough for it to adjust, you can see remarkably well if you just pay attention. Wife hates it when we camp and I don't take a light on bathroom runs.

 

Canned ricotta and pasta? Hard nope. I don't think I will be able to sleep thinking about what that turns into after 90 minutes in a pressure canner.

 

I havent tried it but might be good

 

Eh the disaster plan is going to be gather up the folks on my street. We're all on at least speaking terms, someone else has a giant array that's (unfortunately) grid tied microinverters, but between the folks we're on decent terms with, we can have a good 24h watch and a QRF spun up right quick, as well as medics and the like. I mean we could isolate too and be okay, but tbh you're better off getting through it all together. Power's gonna need to be prioritized to the one neighbor with medical conditions, but that's going to be good to get buy in if we help them.

Assuming it's not all end of the world and stuff - if you could have helped a neighbor but didn't, after the power comes back in .. oh, 30 days, how would you feel about yourself? Also, when the entire neighborhood is lit up, you're not any more a target. And obviously the idea is even if you have some amount of power, share what ya got. IMHO, at least. "The nice family with the camping gear that helps us" is gonna be a lot better for you than "those people who disappeared"

 

Tbh... yeah. I like going with NV alone too, vs flashlights everywhere. But years of practice. That said, sometimes it's a lot quicker with a light.

 

Who knows ,with a lot of this , until it happens. It’s why I appreciate these discussions they help you think about all the possibilities.

 

This thread is like a First Aid kit, glad I have a good one, sure as hell never want to use it.

 

You’re right nor do I. As the saying goes better to have and not need…….
In some cases better to pose the question and discuss possibilities than walking through life with blinders on

 

Everyone should be on some type of terms with their immediate neighbors. If nothing else for situational awareness for your own safety. We have a good network of neighbors where I live. Unfortunately mostly because we also have a nightmare neighbor who most have had to talk to the police about.

Most real issues are not the stuff of TV shows, but more local and temporary. For us the power issue was the worst ice storm in modern history that took out the whole power grid for a large area. Several counties. Most people were 1-2 weeks without power and many went 4 weeks. We were lucky as we had power up in a few hours. We did help the neighbors and have two families staying with us for a week. Problem is not the immediate neighbors though. When people can drive by and see that you have something they don't, they sometimes start thinking irrationally and make bad decisions. Especially when days become weeks.
On this day: The historic ice storm of 2009 (kark.com)

Our neighborhood is all 3.5-5 acre lots on the edge of city limits. Almost everyone has chickens and a garden. Our street is a dead end. We are all on speaking terms, except the one neighbor, and know what cars do and do not belong. Most of us have military experience and some rural living experience. We look after each others pets and livestock when we are out of town.

I have many plans for many scenarios. Some good, some bad. People like to laugh about some of the stuff I've already thought out, but when you need a plan is not the time to start one. One of my best plans that I hope to use soon is the money laundering of the abandoned truck full of cash that you come across in the middle of nowhere. I've got a few ideas ready to go...

 

LOL... me too.

 

We had one of those last year, our place just flickered a bit but some folks lost it for weeks.

 

We are all on 1-3 acre lots. About 3 miles outside of town. We do help each other as we need to but only one tries to garden and another has sheep. They’re both somewhat on board as is the neighbor on the other side although no idea what kinda preps or plan he has. The rest…. Who knows? I find it difficult to just broach the subject with them. Most of these people stay inside like their idea of work is just mowing their grass if they have to. I’d say these people today are just different but most are more our age so I have no idea

 

Wife canned some pinto beans today, not much prep, about 50/50 beans and water about 1" from the top and teaspoon kosher salt. 90 min

 

We did chick peas and black beans last year. We didn’t pre soak the black beans and they’re good but was told we are supposed to presoak so we’ll try again

 

I dunno, wife didnt presoak these

 

Popped open one jar and they tasted great

 

A couple tablespoons of diced cubanelle or pablano peppers and red onions makes them really good. I put some cubed ham into a batch too.

 

We planted a few banana peppers I want to try making the pickled pepper rings.

 

Despite being in the north-west part of jersey where the Appalachians start, hurricane Sandy was pretty bad here because of all the trees. Most people went 2-3 weeks without power some 5-6 even. Lots of people with major damage like roofs missing or trees smashing cars to bits. Honestly i was really surprised how cool and helpful everyone was. Like a big party and group cleanup for a couple weeks for everyone that didn't work construction because most businesses were closed. Made me rethink a lot of my thoughts on apocalyptic scenarios. BUT electricity was really the only thing missing - roads were fine after a couple days, food and water were available like normal except a lil price gauging (which was helpful imo), gas was difficult to get but people were mostly cool about getting what they needed and not trying to hoard it.
Though i still had a strong feeling that if any of those things were even a little bit more scarce, or the power outages were over a broader area than just NJ/NY, then it would have been an entirely different scenario. Definitely a bit of a blood bath if things like gas and food were any worse. People were cool about letting those in serious need cut in lines or get the food and help they needed, not much fighting about it, but a little less stuff and nooo wayy it would have stayed like that