Posted on 12/21/2011 7:14:44 AM PST by Any Fate But Submission
I've got hand tools, and I know how to use them. IMHO, more valuable than a pile of MRE's ... if we actually get to that point.
Nah, the guys that I was poking are the "Come and Get Some" armchair Rambos. FR is populated with its fair share. The ones with a "Friggin arsenal, and the will to use it", like that will do them any good if they need to bug out...for instance if their house with the arsenal gets burned to the ground.
I especially like the "buy gold" ones, like they're going to wander over to your house and trade a cup of gold for some food. Gimme a break. They'd be better off with a stockpile of toilet paper, or batteries. Cheaper, easier to get (right now), and far, far more desirable if there isn't any.
Until they rat you out to the local “authorities” and then they arrive with SWAT teams to forcefully relocate you and your family to a Government Safe Center and then redistribute your hoarded supplies - “for the greater good”.
I believe in being prepared, but all the stockpile in the world won’t do you much good if you have to head for the hills to avoid being rounded up.
You need water, food, a secure hiding place, weapons/ammo and brains to survive...in that order.
If you have water and food and they know where you are you are finished. You need a secret hiding place to stay that is stocked with your supplies.
It’s interesting how far so many have strayed from the philosophy and practices I grew up with. The growing season was time to “put up” enough until the next growing season rolled around. Self sufficiency didn’t mean anything other than growing your own, preserving it sufficiently to last until at least the next growing season. We still do it. Just don’t forget to save some seeds for next year. BTW Prosciutto costs me less than a dollar a pound.
That being the case, your career will be short, nasty and fatal. A word to the wise - don't try it in my neighborhood.
Says who?
You mentioned a whetstone. Yup. That's a handy thing to have (and know how to use!) too. Never mind in a SHTF scenario. I saw a guy at the mall the other day who was sharpening kitchen knives at $1/inch. I save us a bundle, just with a $10 whetstone and a drop or two of 3-in-1.
Mrs WBill sometimes pokes me about putting a few things away (TP. I'm currently stockpiling lightbulbs, much to her amusement...) but everything that I have can either be used and replaced, or is just around the house for regular use, anyway.
Not too much gold at my place, though. And as for a "friggin arsenal", what I have is eminently useful and completely portable. I'm not planning to fight WW III from the top of my kid's treehouse.
However, doing bad things out of desperation is entirely different, IMO, from planning them because it's less hassle than making alternative arrangements.
Oh no, let's don't fight fire with fire, we don't want the dems to get burned.
If they dare to defend Sheriff Joe, then they are automatically tied to Zippo eligibility to be president.
I understood your response to Wolfman23601. What he, apparently, advocates is what they call criminality. We have an abundance of that already. Someone said that, “the only difference between some people in prison and those without, is that the ones in prison got caught.” Someone else said that, “there are more chains than mad-dogs.” I’m simply suggesting that you don’t know what you’ll do until the time comes.
bump
“...I would get my butt out and FIND some instead of sitting at home...”
Yep, I’m sure I could live on the dandylion greens in our yard & on the deer who wander through.
Yup. We've got two shotguns and plenty of ammo. But one of my fears is a situation like "Fistful of Dollars" with Clint Eastwood, where the attackers set your home on fire to force you out. Oopsie.
City boy! ; - )
That's one of my worries. They can't really loot and pillage after burning a house, but I'm not sure how rational "zombies" will be if we fall into chaos. I'd hope that the military would step in before the riffraff reached that level of organization, where they had both the numbers and the focus to burn a home as a rational decision, but I can see criminals doing it out of spite if they were unable to simply loot.
Also means you have a considerable chance of running into people who are prepared to fight back. That sounds more dangerous to me than hunkering down, keeping a low profile and trying to keep your own stuff.
The best defense is a good offense. I believe to survive long term will require a group of able, willing folk who are not afraid to seek and destroy the bad seed.
Let's say brothers Chuck and Phil are trying to loot your place and you off Phil. Chuck is going to have a lot of spite. He just might try to burn you out to get revenge.
Funny you should mention it, but this is exactly what I am giving some friends and relatives.
Each will get an ice chest with beans, rice, barley, popcorn, rolled oats, powdered cheese, powdered milk, and honey.
If it is not packed in a #10 can already, you need to insure low moisture by drying in the oven overnight. Then pack in the mylar bag with oxygen absorber, vacuum pack using a seal-a-meal or somesuch, and then heat seal the bag.
Try my favorite, www.waltonfeed.com
A pallet load of food will keep your family going for a year or so.
I will share with my imprudent neighbors’ kids. Adults can trade goods or services.
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