Posted: 9/19/2014 1:12:53 PM EDT
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Okay. I'll admit it.
I'm scared shitless of a real SHTF scenario where society breaks down, even if only for a few days. I have a wife who is 47, burdened with a million medical issues including allergies, asthma, hypothyroidism, celiac, and useless hands from carpal tunnel. She can't run, lift, or push. She's a great shot, but only a few rounds and her hands give out. She needs a number of medicines. She is physically unable to endure severe cold (remember where we live...) Me? I'm 46, overweight and out of shape, but otherwise healthy. However, I'm nowhere near in condition enough to run and gun, or even to hold my own house against a mob. I don't know how I would react to needing to shoot someone, or how on earth I'd survive a hand-to-hand encounter. There's no point in bugging out with these restrictions, so we will bug in as best we can. So there it is. Sure, with the modest preps I've been making lately, plus a few more, I hope to be able to keep her warm, safe, and dry for 3-6 months, assuming no hoard of ghetto goblins comes through. I'm not real keen on living the 1800's lifestyle. Not sure why I'm writing this. Just thinking in print. Sometimes I wonder why bother prepping at all. Most likely nothing will happen, and if something big does happen it won't matter anyway... I'll be working on my basement storage all weekend... 
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From a fellow ARFCOMer from the frozen North, unless you are in Murderopolis/St Paul metroplex, St Cloud, or Willmar, you are in a decent area. Have you considered seeking out a good naturalpathic doctor? PM me if you want more info on this. Do remember that you have a 90% chance of nothing THAT bad happening in your lifetime. Try to live life, enjoy your family. Move out to the boonies or a small town when you can if you aren't already.
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It sounds like most of your hangup is with your wife having special medical needs, and you feel like the weight of your house is on your shoulders. Just remember, there are people that are a lot worse off than you brother. At least you're thinking about it now. If I were in your position, I would be researching different natural and homeopathic remedies for her needs. Things that don't require a pharmacy. Get your wife involved too. If you don't already have friends and neighbors thinking like you do, maybe its time to start putting the bug in their ears. Friends and neighbors will be invaluable in a really bad situation. And go get your ass back in shape. There's not a single reason not to.
Just don't give up because you feel like you're fighting a losing battle. Giving up is always an option, but it's always a choice. |
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We live in Maple Grove. Believe me, it could be MUCH worse...
My wife has had every surgery known to man for her hands. One of them almost ended up costing her a hand. She's hosed in that regard, unfortunately. I'm in the process of losing weight (again). Getting in shape is something entirely in my control. Not sure how to raise this with the neighbors. We're not close to any of them, and my wife takes OPSEC to a new level. She doesn't even want me on here talking about stuff... I haven't given up, else I'd not be prepping in a hurry. I'm just afraid of how it would all go down... |
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I would say don't give up, I'm 46 also and hitting the treadmill 4-5 days a week but still weight too much but I eat good. I take meds and have one kid with some serious allergies but I will do my best. I take my wife and oldest kid shooting. We all get older and slower etc but also we get smarter so with a little preparing you should be able to out think/rationalize more people.
Get it on man 
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Quoted:
Okay. I'll admit it. I'm scared shitless of a real SHTF scenario where society breaks down, even if only for a few days. I have a wife who is 47, burdened with a million medical issues including allergies, asthma, hypothyroidism, celiac, and useless hands from carpal tunnel. She can't run, lift, or push. She's a great shot, but only a few rounds and her hands give out. She needs a number of medicines. She is physically unable to endure severe cold (remember where we live...) Me? I'm 46, overweight and out of shape, but otherwise healthy. However, I'm nowhere near in condition enough to run and gun, or even to hold my own house against a mob. I don't know how I would react to needing to shoot someone, or how on earth I'd survive a hand-to-hand encounter. There's no point in bugging out with these restrictions, so we will bug in as best we can. So there it is. Sure, with the modest preps I've been making lately, plus a few more, I hope to be able to keep her warm, safe, and dry for 3-6 months, assuming no hoard of ghetto goblins comes through. I'm not real keen on living the 1800's lifestyle. Not sure why I'm writing this. Just thinking in print. Sometimes I wonder why bother prepping at all. Most likely nothing will happen, and if something big does happen it won't matter anyway... I'll be working on my basement storage all weekend... You worry to much. Make a 14 day plan for bugging in. Concentrate on maintaining the Wifes health during those days... Assume 'hurricane' or 'total power failure'; plan for survival w/o attack. Increase plans form there. |
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Quoted:
Okay. I'll admit it. I'm scared shitless of a real SHTF scenario where society breaks down, even if only for a few days. I have a wife who is 47, burdened with a million medical issues including allergies, asthma, hypothyroidism, celiac, and useless hands from carpal tunnel. She can't run, lift, or push. She's a great shot, but only a few rounds and her hands give out. She needs a number of medicines. She is physically unable to endure severe cold (remember where we live...) Me? I'm 46, overweight and out of shape, but otherwise healthy. However, I'm nowhere near in condition enough to run and gun, or even to hold my own house against a mob. I don't know how I would react to needing to shoot someone, or how on earth I'd survive a hand-to-hand encounter. There's no point in bugging out with these restrictions, so we will bug in as best we can. So there it is. Sure, with the modest preps I've been making lately, plus a few more, I hope to be able to keep her warm, safe, and dry for 3-6 months, assuming no hoard of ghetto goblins comes through. I'm not real keen on living the 1800's lifestyle. Not sure why I'm writing this. Just thinking in print. Sometimes I wonder why bother prepping at all. Most likely nothing will happen, and if something big does happen it won't matter anyway... I'll be working on my basement storage all weekend... train with what you have. you cant be prepared for everything, but you can do what you can with what you have. im young in good shape, i can run and gun, my work moves me around a lot, my best plan had me held up where im at for few days, then a slow paced return back to home where hopefully family and a friend will be safe. you cant have the best of every scenario, just prepare and train. there is no guarantee for your outcome, but you can always increase your odds. |
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Zaphod, while fear can hold you back, it can also be a great motivator.
From your post, you are working on having 3-6 months of preps for your family. At least you have started a process and have a goal in mind. While it may seem daunting right now, the small steps you are taking will help you deal with whatever happens. That is more than can be said by a lot of people in this country. The same thing goes for fitness. Small steps over time will make a difference. While your wife may not be very active, try to get her out once in a while just to walk and move. The other suggestions for alternative medicines and therapies could be beneficial too. If you are able, get out a few times a week and walk. Do that for a couple of weeks and work in a short run or some stair work somewhere, when you feel comfortable doing so. I see the fear of a shtf collapse to be a great motivator for me, but I have to temper that fear with my lifestyle, my family, my finances, and all the other things going on in my world. Would I like to be better prepared? Sure, who wouldn't. The reality is that I cant have it al at once. I have to prepare incrementally. Should shtf tomorrow, so be it. I have done what I can for my family. If it doesn't, well that's one more day I have to do something. Don't get down man. Keep your head up and keep your feet moving forward. |
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"bugging out" isn't the be all end all of plans. Anyone can and should be able to plan for a few days of unrest or emergency. I made a bedroom into a storeroom and now have quite a bit of food stored. Plus my other stuff is organized so I can find things. You know what your limitations are so you can plan for that. Have extra medicine and comfort items. I will never run out of coffee, meat, and other everyday food items. Or soap. Being able to be comfortable during an extended power outage can be planned for in steps. I don't have a generator because I find it easier to learn to do without it with my camping stuff. I have quite a few rechargeable batteries, fans that operate on batteries, ways to entertain myself for days on end in the house, friendly terms with neighbors. . . ect. UPS for computers might be a good investment, I don't have those but they will probably be my next investment. Could be used for more fans as well. In real emergencies, people don't "bug out" like in red dawn. Ferfal has lived through it and even he didn't "bug out". |
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Your wife at least is willing to use a gun, so that's a plus. The basement storage thing sounds like a good plan, at least you have a basement. I have a spare room but I'm managed to put some food in it. This has proven helpful even in non-shtf situations. I have plenty of entertainment, distractions, and other things to do as well. When I say that I'm a homebody, it's not because I am "stuck" at home trembling in my panic room, it's more like I have things here to do and no reason to go looking for outside entertainment. Or maybe I'm a bore. Here's a pic of my newly straightened out store room. I stamped expiration dates in nice visible places which really helps!  Even if you don't hunt you can still can meat. That's fun and kind of useful. You're not as doomed as you think you are. |
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Zaphod, while fear can hold you back, it can also be a great motivator. From your post, you are working on having 3-6 months of preps for your family. At least you have started a process and have a goal in mind. While it may seem daunting right now, the small steps you are taking will help you deal with whatever happens. That is more than can be said by a lot of people in this country. The same thing goes for fitness. Small steps over time will make a difference. While your wife may not be very active, try to get her out once in a while just to walk and move. The other suggestions for alternative medicines and therapies could be beneficial too. If you are able, get out a few times a week and walk. Do that for a couple of weeks and work in a short run or some stair work somewhere, when you feel comfortable doing so. I see the fear of a shtf collapse to be a great motivator for me, but I have to temper that fear with my lifestyle, my family, my finances, and all the other things going on in my world. Would I like to be better prepared? Sure, who wouldn't. The reality is that I cant have it al at once. I have to prepare incrementally. Should shtf tomorrow, so be it. I have done what I can for my family. If it doesn't, well that's one more day I have to do something. Don't get down man. Keep your head up and keep your feet moving forward. This^^^ If you "fear" it, it becomes stress which isn't useful for anything. If you consider "risk" you apply steps to mitigate or manage risk. Do I walk into homedepot/Costco/gunshop and try and pick up at least one thing every trip that I don't "need" right now but is/mightbe useful? Yep Do I stay at home with an electric drill and boards for the windows at the ready? No Prepping/considering SHTF should be an exercise for stress relief not stress inducing. |
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Sorry to hear about your troubles but fear alone will kill you. Just read an article about fear in a SHTF scenario. If you do not control your fears, you will give up and die. If you do not change the things you CAN your already dead. Sorry but true! Good morning everyone. What article was that? Link ? |
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community: friends and family.....stock pile them more than canned goods. You'll feel better, and you'll be better.
We've been in Savannah for about 3 years now. First year we knew only 2 other couples. Now we know 20+ couples and families and are having half of them over tomorrow for a pot luck for the kids to play with each other and the adults of socialize. Half the guys are engineers, construction foremen, guys with blue collar skills but white collar attitudes... guys who can 'git er done' in so many ways beyond my own skills..... their wives are nurses or emts, or teachers.... they've helped us in tough times and we've helped them. In SHTF this informal community of friends whom we can trust will be worth more than gold bars. |
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community: friends and family.....stock pile them more than canned goods. You'll feel better, and you'll be better. We've been in Savannah for about 3 years now. First year we knew only 2 other couples. Now we know 20+ couples and families and are having half of them over tomorrow for a pot luck for the kids to play with each other and the adults of socialize. Half the guys are engineers, construction foremen, guys with blue collar skills but white collar attitudes... guys who can 'git er done' in so many ways beyond my own skills..... their wives are nurses or emts, or teachers.... they've helped us in tough times and we've helped them. In SHTF this informal community of friends whom we can trust will be worth more than gold bars. (where is the 'Like' button???) |
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community: friends and family.....stock pile them more than canned goods. You'll feel better, and you'll be better. We've been in Savannah for about 3 years now. First year we knew only 2 other couples. Now we know 20+ couples and families and are having half of them over tomorrow for a pot luck for the kids to play with each other and the adults of socialize. Half the guys are engineers, construction foremen, guys with blue collar skills but white collar attitudes... guys who can 'git er done' in so many ways beyond my own skills..... their wives are nurses or emts, or teachers.... they've helped us in tough times and we've helped them. In SHTF this informal community of friends whom we can trust will be worth more than gold bars. Pretty much how I'm rolling as well! 
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I've learned of more fellow savannahians over the past couple days than I have the entire time I've been a member here! :o
See zaphod, you've got to be in a better area than we are. I understand about the medical issues. Ever since 50 my major joints have fallen apart and I even have after market parts. Now it's my hands, I sympathize with your wife. I'm actually more concerned about the economy and the shape the country is in. I've planned for the future and to retire and I'm concerned about it all being taken away. Even the health problems werent as worry some before now. I'm afraid there won't be any quality doctors around soon, and that health insurance will be my biggest expense, while I'm surrounded by people that get everything for free. The ability to hike to the hills in red dawn style isn't really a realistic solution to the problems we will all be facing together. You have as much ability to plan for the real things that might happen as anyone else. I think that once you put up some shelves and get some useful supplies on them, and start to real the benefits of that (lowering your grocery bill because you only need to get things on sale!) you will feel more empowered. One thing that helped me was making a financial/budget spreadsheet. You might not have that problem but I was doing a lot better financially so never bothered to make a budget. Stupid I know. We were managing very well though. Now we have less household income and have had to cut back. I have a decent amount saved for retirement but blew through my short term savings when medical bills went up and income went down I now see I should have managed better before now. But I still have a lot of useful preps and I am building up my emergency fund. I watch every penny and can live very cheaply. Doing that helped my mental at attitude and when you aren't beaten down by worry you can think better and come up with positive solutions for problems. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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I don't know what to say OP other than know your limitations, mitigate the things you can control, and come to terms with the one that you can't. I know that may be difficult to do. It was for me. Just remember no one here is prepared to handle everything.
By most standards we're doing well for ourselves. Paid for house on 5 acres in the rural suburbs of nowhere Indiana, 12 months of food stored, large garden, currently raising rabbits/chickens, genny and wood stoves for backup heat and power, living debt free, on track for retirement, and most of us have backup trade skills if we have to face unemployment. We're still screwed if the "event" is NBC in nature. We're screwed if it is bigger than a regional disaster. We're screwed if it lasts longer than a year. That is just the truth of it. We lack the manpower for 24hr security. Once the cords of wood are gone that's that because we don't have the acreage for a renewable wood supply. And, while we can garden, we lack the machinery/draft animals for real farming. With that said, the good news is we'll likely never have to experience anything like that and just a few preparations can turn the much more common Katrina type situations from a life and death struggle to merely a minor inconvenience. Keep your chin down OP. It will be alright. |
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Deal with what you can deal with
Lose weight for starters, since you mention it If your wife is disabled and cannot be relied on for many shots, don't plan on her for a primary defense role Find what strengths she does have and build upon those Acquire knowledge and connections now that can help you later No one is a lone wolf with any great success edit: your follow up posts covered all of this, just reinforcing it Theres another recent thread about connecting with neighbors and how much you should disclose up front I think there was some good advice on that issue in that thread You're 46, I am in my early 50s We aren't the same person we were at 20 or 30 or even 40, and we can't pretend we are in our planning Thankfully I don't have major issues like your wife but I've got accumulated pain and limitations from accumulated injuries Then there's the stuff that just crops up I've religiously gone to my dentist twice a year my entire life In 3 months despite a life of preventative dental care I've had to get a root canal and two crowns There's a reason people used to have shorter lifespans They didn't have access to all the preventative care we enjoy now, but even now we can have stuff crop up that was unplanned for and those problems often start manifesting themselves at the age you and I are at now |
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Thanks for all the replies.
I should have been clearer in that what I fear about SHTF is that it's going to be a lot tougher than some think due to the limitations I mentioned. Also, and as mentioned by a kind IM I received, I have come to the realization that planning for a 3-6 month period of being on ones own is about as much as I'll be able to realistically expect to do, so that's what I'll be prepping for. I'm not afraid of a SHTF scenario. I'm afraid of not being able to do enough to keep my wife safe. I spent today organizing my stockroom. Time to get a few more items and then start filling buckets with beans, rice, and pasta. Also have to stock the pantry to the gills. Heck, if I were to lose my job tomorrow and only have to drive to the grocery and the airport, I have enough gasoline to last me for months.
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You've taken an important step: Understanding the problem(s)... Now it's a matter of making plans addressing what you can. (Your wife's hands are not something that is easily dealt with, I'm leaving that one out!)
God bless. Keeping a clear head when you feel like it's hopeless is a big plus. It's not hopeless. There is still time to get you and her in the best position possible. |
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Z, you sound like you are overly stressed about this.
The way I look at it, the reason to prep is so you don't have to stress out in times of crisis. The odds of the movie "The Road" becoming reality tomorrow is pretty low. There are some things that are so ridiculously high damage/low probability that it is frankly unreasonable for most of us to prep for them (assuming you can't build a nuke-earthquake-flood-attack proof bunker and stock it with everything you need for the rest of your life AND not negatively affect your preferred lifestyle). Can you withstand a natural disaster, loss of utilities, or loss of income for a reasonable amount of time? If so, you shouldn't worry so much! |
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sad fact is, that if a genuine SHTF crisis ever does happen, millions of good people, and not so good people, are going to die. In a PAW, there just won't be the infrastructure that currently allows out of shape, medically dependent, and un prepared people to get by.
I take 8 different meds now. Were a crisis to happen, I'd probably croak when my meds run out. Simple as that. My preps are primarily to insure my family will get by, and be safe. |
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Quoted: Z, you sound like you are overly stressed about this. The way I look at it, the reason to prep is so you don't have to stress out in times of crisis. The odds of the movie "The Road" becoming reality tomorrow is pretty low. There are some things that are so ridiculously high damage/low probability that it is frankly unreasonable for most of us to prep for them (assuming you can't build a nuke-earthquake-flood-attack proof bunker and stock it with everything you need for the rest of your life AND not negatively affect your preferred lifestyle). Can you withstand a natural disaster, loss of utilities, or loss of income for a reasonable amount of time? If so, you shouldn't worry so much! The part in red. Although "the road" is an arfcom fantacy, that's not how things go down in reality. As a matter of fact, they are going down right now. It's "hitting the fan" for people that didn't plan for the worst. Student loans are not being paid off, people lost homes and jobs. Prices are going up but people kept on their rose colored glasses. People are paying a lot for ammo because they didn't see the ammo shortage coming. The same ones that are going to bug out and head for the hills. How prepped are they? Is their home paid down? Do they have CC dept? Do they have a job? I think most of them live in moms basement. When Greece went into austerity, people didn't "bug out" and head for the hills. Same with Argentina. We kind of already know what's down the road but watching countries in Europe. Taxes will go up, buying power will go down. There isn't much we can do about the health care being foistered upon us. Ferguson type incidents are on the rise, so being mindful of that will keep you out of trouble. You seem just as well prepared as the rest of us. The ones whos plans consist entirely of "bugging out" and all of their preps consist of their bug out bag, those are the ones not prepared. They are prepping for a movie scenario that is never going to happen. Even ferfal scoffs at the bug out and head for the hills crowd. Plan for the words in red and you will be as prepped as you can. And don't tell anyone what you have. |
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Keep your head up brother... One step at a time!
Get your self a few weeks to one months worth of emergency supplies so you can shelter in place then plan for the most likely events first like others have said... Next I truly believe six months worth of expenses in savings should be the second goal of a true prepper right along with becoming debt free. While we all might see economic collapse, pandemic, or solar flare on the horizon the chances of those taking place and causing a mad max scenario is slim to none. A power outage, significant weather event/ storm or maybe even a real great depression are probably what we will get on the next roll of the dice. |
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I know this isn't GD, but I can't help myself after looking at your screen name.... Grab a towel and Don't Panic!
In all seriousness though take care of yourself and you can take care of her better. I've considered changing my house alarm sound to a friendly, "Don't panic....... Don't panic...... Don't panic......".
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Fear on some level is the only common sense way to feel about shtf. If you don't have fear you really can't be truly understanding the full impact of such an event. You think millions can die around you and you will remain untouched? Agreed. The prospect of SHTF should bother people. |
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That's the boat my wife is in. Meds are a PITA. I wish I could find a friend doctor in MN who could hook me up with 2 years worth of them... Quoted:
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I take 8 different meds now. Were a crisis to happen, I'd probably croak when my meds run out. Simple as that. That's the boat my wife is in. Meds are a PITA. I wish I could find a friend doctor in MN who could hook me up with 2 years worth of them... Go to the pharmacy and tell them your wife's meds were lost/stolen/dog ate them/left in hotel room or whatever and they will call your insurance company and get a temporary authorization to refill. This will give her an extra 30 days. Then you can wait 6 months to a year and tell them you are going on vacation for 2-3 weeks and ask for an early vacation refill. The timeline really depends on the insurance company and how expensive her drugs are as to if they will allow multiple overrides per year. This will work as long as the prescription drugs she takes aren't controlled or tier 3 or 4. I know its not 2 years but an extra couple month supply rotated on a first in first out basis is huge compared to the alternative. Another piece of advice is that this will be much easier to accomplish at a locally owned independent pharmacy. Simply put they care about your business vs a big box store. Its totally up to the pharmacists discretion to fill a script early and most that have worked for me aren't going to deny someone who isn't a crackhead access to their maintenance meds, however some big box stores have policy about early refills and it takes a pharmacist who is willing to push professional judgement beyond bullshit corporate policy (my brother is a WalXXXXXX's pharmacist.) Grove |
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sad fact is, that if a genuine SHTF crisis ever does happen, millions of good people, and not so good people, are going to die. In a PAW, there just won't be the infrastructure that currently allows out of shape, medically dependent, and un prepared people to get by. I take 8 different meds now. Were a crisis to happen, I'd probably croak when my meds run out. Simple as that. My preps are primarily to insure my family will get by, and be safe. Same boat here. I need a heart transplant. I am on a sodium restricted diet, take 12 different meds. Every canned food, MRE and Mountain House foods are sodium overload. Sure, the dehydrared veggies are sodium free, but how long can I live on that? I keep my family well prepped for when I crap out. A lot of us are in the same situation as you. Maybe we should start a forum, "I Am So Fucked." |
| I think the first thing is to calm down. Being prepared for "whatever" is the first step toward sanity. The most likely SHTF will be of a personal nature anyway. Societal collapse is very remote. But, if it happens, I dare say that even the best prepared are in for a world of hurt. Being prepared though is way better than the alternative. At the very least you have created options for yourself. |
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So I ordered a case of MRE's for our GHB's. Little did I know everything in them has soy. Wife is allergic to soy. Sigh.... 
Off to Nitro-Pak.... I just bought some 'mini meatballs' They have some soy in them, so be careful. I am figuring a collapse then a recovery like before WW2. Except that we will need to lose a lot of population. There is a big difference between preWW2 and now, the FSA. Meds are an issue too, I have about 2 months extra at worst. I have a couple that are PRN and I use them less than prescribed. Zhaphod, I would not stress so much. Society will pull through, well 75% or so will. It is the natural order. Look at plague, not everyone was killed, society rebounded. |
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Prepare for the most likely scenario first and least likely last.
The odds of you taking your family to war are about NIL to NONE! Things like a weather event, crime event, out of work, even your heating system goes out are fare more likely. Here's the kicker, you will be surprised if you prepare for these most likely events, how prepared you are for some theoretical zombie invasion. The best way to prepare is do a threat assessment. List everything that can happen, including burglars to house fire to weather event, rank them then by potential, best guess. Now list the preparations you need for each one starting with the most likely. Note the overlapping preparations. My first one week utility outage (hurricane), I was into camping and weathered it just fine. That gear overlapped. The next time, a different state, I was ten times more prepared. A blizzard, I had power and heat when none of my neighbors did. We here in the forum like to talk of zombies and SHTF, well, because its fun and it grabs people attention, but its this mundane stuff that keeps it going and a decision becomes a lifestyle. Tj |