WNTBTTA 9

WHAT NOT TO BRING TO THE APOCALYPSE 9

PART TWO

Before we start this, I’d like to give full credit to a loyal minion for furnishing the list for this second part.  He was envisioning the civilization residue left in the wake of a sudden New Spanish Flu or Solar Flare Event ( or man made EMP working in excess of expectations ).  I’ve assumed this list can be used for most every apocalypse other than Greer’s ( the Druid Dude ) “longest ever straining credibility collapse during Gore Warming and overpopulation and energy shortage which will magically take centuries to unfold”.  The list was for one specific fast die-off event.  It was my doing, not aforementioned minions, to apply it to all likely collapse scenarios.  So if some are “stretches” or strain credibility, it is my fault alone.  I credit said minion, I do not mean to blame him.  It has always been my view ( after sufficient study and years of authority abuse that wiped away my optimism and hope ) that whatever collapse we see, it will NOT be anything other than catastrophic, 99% die-off, complete ass falling out of civilization.  Your mileage my vary, good luck with that.  My view is we are all going to die ( even if trying not to is a worthy goal ).

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THINGS NOT TO STOCKPILE DUE TO THEIR WIDESPREAD AVAILABILITY

1) kitchenware.  We all preen over our perfectly seasoned cast iron pots and pans and skillets, and they work so much better over a less than evenly controlled wood fire than anything else, but the truth is that cast iron is still a luxury.  It is really nice to have.  I do, and I recommend it ( for civilized on-grid denizens, stainless steel of quality brand works much better with your electric or gas stove.  I’m a convert after using them the last year.  The only trick is to NOT rush the cleaning.  If it has to soak, let it.  Scrubbing is rarely needed, if soaked ) but if funds are tight there are multiple pots and pans in nearly every home.  Sure, most will be toxic crap Teflon coated, most likely not so very coated anymore, giving you the bonus of tasteless flaking pieces of the stuff.  Granted, your Teflon infused organs will soon enough be in someone’s stewpot, so it isn’t like there is a long term health consequence.  For you.  So, there won’t be the kind of pots you prefer, but there will be a myriad of them available for the picking, nonetheless.  If Third World war torn peasants can bake their flatbread on a piece of sheet metal scrap, you can use a busted ass pan from someone else’s kitchen.

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Same with plates and cups and mugs and silverware.  I’m just as guilty as the next cheese dingus, multiples stockpiling every kitchen dish as if  I would never see another one, ever.  I can’t imagine I thought I could ever sell flatware for a pretty penny ( most likely stainless steel won’t be smelted ).  Perhaps I was just going under the assumption that collapse, no collapse, no matter what I had everything I needed without leaving home.  But it does seem silly, now.  Who doesn’t have a half a kitchen drawer full of flatware and other tools?  Who doesn’t have too many cups or glasses?

2) building materials are usually recommended to the average prepper.  Why?  Suburbia is going to be chock full of abandoned houses that, if not demolished and salvaged, will rot and melt down and blow away.  Plenty of two by fours, nails, plywood, roofing, insulation and other materials.  Since the key to survival is going to be downsizing shelter ( less heat ) and burrowing at least partially underground, with drastically reduced population, and smaller shelters replacing conventional size homes, there should be plenty of houses available to everyone to salvage.  I’d recommend an odd roll or two of heavy plastic sheeting, but at $60 each you might have to also forego that purchase.  It is invaluable for underground housing, but you could also improvise roofing as underground waterproofing, after a fashion.  

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Of course the preference is having exactly the needed materials on hand, ready to go.  You might have a tough time both demolishing buildings, transporting the material easily, AND avoiding the die-off in progress if there are time constraints such as an approaching winter.  However, while wishing for prepper perfection in one hand, unnoticed in the other hand there is appearing a giant pile of reality.  You can’t always budget for everything you need.  Hell, I’d wager NOBODY can prep as prescribed.  It is a huge jumble of hopes and dreams and budgetary constraints.  If building materials are not in the budget, salvaging will have to suffice.  Just get the basics you can’t improvise on.  Which should be few.  Continued tomorrow and for who knows how much longer.

END

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