Monday, July 11, 2016

five year plan


FIVE YEAR PLAN

Just like the Soviets who were as obsessed with Five Year Plans as our federal government was with acronyms,  I seem to have falling into a Five Year Standard For Prepping, myself.  I have no idea why.  Perhaps it was in my haste to avoid any connection to God’s Patriot Preppers and their references to the Bible and the seven years of plenty and famine.  Perhaps I studied up on the Soviets a bit too much in my youth and their plans were just rattling around in my subconscious.  Perhaps I was atoning for my previous inadequate and ill-conceived taking of advice that one years provisions were sufficient for preparations in the event of a nuclear war, and decided five times that amount should be okay.  Perhaps it is because there are five fingers on a hand so the number seemed fluid and organic.  Whatever the reason, I’ve settled on five years as the magic number for prepping.   I have five years of wheat for two ( a bit more for family but not that much ), along with the ever important five years worth of coffee for two and enough minimal tobacco for two for five years.  I have enough factory ammo and reload components for a total of five thousand rounds in battle rifle fodder-I’m not sure if that is fives year worth, or more or less, but it is a number five anyway.

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I did have five Lee-Enfield rifles but the same skeevy wench that stole a pistol from me when I left her mother for the last time ( the latest ex, leading up to the current New Old Lady ) had an ex-husband that swiped one under the guise of refurbishing it ( like bitch step daughter, like step son in law-two peas in a rotted pod ).  Enough shoes and clothes for a minimum of five years.  More than that in water filters.  And on and on.  Is five years enough?  Probably not.  It is far more than sufficient to weather a civilization die-off followed by enough cushion to still eat as I get established and set up into a new tribe with an old timey food procurement system.  If there is a massive nuclear exchange, causing a “nuclear winter”, where the crap in the atmosphere keeps enough sunlight out to cause widespread plant loss ( the same effect would come from an asteroid collision or the eruption of a super volcano.  None of the three is certain but certainly the potential of any one can’t be discounted-one big reason why I discounted living in Wyoming and left from the oceans edge ), than most likely you would want at least ten years worth of food stores.  Yet, every time I try to get sufficiently excited enough to go dig more holes for more wheat-I just can’t do it.  Is it because I’m stuck on the number five or is because I’ve reached the age I really can’t dig anymore-not while still working the job I do?  Or am I just listening to my reptile brain which never steered me wrong ( that is NOT the same as the Little Brain.  The Reptilian one is responsible for survival on a tooth and nail level whereas the Little Brain is in charge of every other decision which is strictly abided by as long as they don’t override the Reptile Brain survival mode.  If you have no paranoia, you are completely out of touch with this part of your brain.  Bad survivalist!  Bad!  No biscuit for you! )? 

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Many questions, few answers.  I’m also wondering why the heck I’m STILL prepping?  Sure, it is better than paper currency.  It gives me something to focus on and is fodder for article ideas.  But I’m also wondering if it might be interfering with my common sense as regarding my employment.  Is the need to still prep, even with five years worth of crap already ( I’m just tweaking the supplies already on hand, not buying any more basics ), a subconscious way on dealing with the stress of work?  If I’m convinced I need more crap, then I keep getting up every morning to go to my employment.  It excuses me for taking the easy way out by staying in the workplace.  I’m REALLY getting to hate my job, something I thought I’d never say about this one.  But every day I’m stuck between incompetence and greed and every day the work load just keeps increasing.  Why do I put up with it?  For ten grand a year?  Because I’d be too bored without a twenty-five hour week at a job?  Or is it pride, determined to outlast all these pricks?  I’m not sure about that one, as that is a Management 101 trick right there.  Piss them off to either drive them away or increase that days productivity ( that doesn’t work in retail too well, but in manual labor jobs-I get a head of steam going and I’m flinging merchandise to keep from wringing someone’s neck.  In retail, mostly only fear works-then you get subservient wait staff ). 

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As The End ( My Beautiful Friend ) gets nearer, aren’t we all reverting to poor form as the only way to cope?  The boss becomes a bigger dingus as her iron rice bowl is endangered, we preppers desperately keep buying crap, the banks pump out even more derivatives trying to increase their leverage, our politicians get even worse as if that is possible.  If the velocity of worse behavior increases, isn’t that indication enough that the End Is Indeed Nigh?  Just food for thought, and a Navel Gazer article from me on a day I’m hot, overworked and going on way too little sleep.

END

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35 comments:

  1. Sounds to me like you are ready for an employment change. Either in the same organization with a different roll and responsibilities, or a different organization with the same sort of roll and responsibilities (stocker at a supermarket perhaps? - think of all the free goods that you could have first trash pick of!)
    You are unhappy with previous relations - tell your current squeeze that in retrospect as compared to what you have with her those other relations really sucked. She will appreciate it. Appreciate what you have with her too.
    And yes prep more.
    Just because you think 5 years is enough to survive through to a new normal doesn't mean 5 years worth of supplies will last 5 years. Family, friends, waste, loss, theft, illnesses, old age disability, and post-new normal downturns, could cause you to need decades more preps than you currently have.
    I am planning to stop when I have 70 years worth of the essentials for four persons. That's right Seven Zero. for four people or 280 years worth for one.
    Obviously I am not there yet. But a multi-decade time frame is the clear goal you need if you hope to live into old age or provide for people other than yourself.

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    1. I applaud your insane goal-go big or go home!

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    2. Well, that is just where I plan to stop. largely because at that point storage, even over 80 acres of land, would begin to become problematic. But as I get more than the decade minimum I plan to diversify a little as well- not just grain beans water filters and bullets, but non-hybrid storage seeds, black powder making supplies and equipment, greenhouses, livestock breeding, etc.

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  2. Jim, haven't stuck my head out in awhile. Isn't it time to work for year number 6 while consuming year number one? Not being a wise ass here, It is a legitimate question. If you use the oldest supplies first and restock as you go you would constantly replenish depleted stock while adding fresh. Plus, if your circumstances were to change you would still basically have a full 5 years worth to live on while assessing your options. Just curious how you figure such things. the rat

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    1. I look at wheat kernels as Forever Food and don't worry about rotating.

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  3. get some sleep and get back to us when you are rested.
    hope you have some iodine case it is nuclear war.

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    1. I don't know if I'm sleeping worse because of the noise now being in town or because my Lizard Brain is warning me of something.

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  4. Prepping is a journey not a destination.

    Perhaps the word *prepping* is incorrect.
    Prepping for what?
    If I buy groceries today is it for tonights supper?
    Yes, but they are also for next weeks suppers too.

    Think bigger.

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    1. Stockpiling is probably more accurate, for most of us.

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  5. I hear ya.

    I have enough preps so I went and bought a boat so I could have some fun....

    ......It's been one of the coldest, wettest summer's on record.

    I should have bought it last year when we were in a drought LOL.

    Oh well, it makes a nice lawn ornament.

    Idaho Homesteader

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    1. LOL, he said knomes. (mexican spelling)

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    2. Gnomes. Ok, I had a brain fart and couldn't remember how to spell it and just threw something up there hoping nobody would notice. At least I know folks read the comments and I'm not wasting my time on replies.

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  6. If you plan on staying in the desert following the die off James, then 5 years probably isn't going to be enough. Since you can't count on any resupplies following this period, and since from a practical standpoint, gardening in the desert is not really feasible, it's probably better to be safe then sorry. Really, even if you planned on relocation following this period, you really never know if it will improve your lot in life? I think it's best to pick an area and plan on staying there, and hope for the best?

    Other than the modern guns and ammo that I already have, I'm going to concentrate my efforts on resupplies for my black powder guns. I feel that anyone that engages in regular gunfights is not going to last long anyways, and these guns are fine for minimal defense and game getting duties. I can get 25lbs of black powder from Track Of The Wolf for $440.00. You can possess up to 50lbs legally. 25Lbs would probably last for life. Percussion caps are about $60 for 1000 at Cabela's. Lead as we know is free, you just need the moulds.

    25 hours a week is not so bad James. I worked 28 before the lay off, and it was nice, but I was given no choice in the matter. Mon, Tues, Weds all day, and off at noon Thurs. 3.5 days on and 3.5 days off. Of course, now I'm retired due to no choice of my own, and we're the same age.

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    1. I'd be stocking more primers-the powder is far easier to make yourself.

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    2. Yes, good advice on the primers James, and I'll follow it. But with regards to making your own black powder, that video that I posted a week or so back seemed to indicate that it really wasn't all that easy? Oh, I get that if you have easy access to some salt petre (potassium nitrate) sulfur, and charcoal (which is the easy ingredient of the 3) that it's quite easy to make. But what if you don't following a collapse, and in all likelihood you won't?

      I think that stocking the powder is the answer, and once it's gone, that's it. At that point it makes more sense to switch over to primitive archery, and even that is going to require some resourcefulness on your part.

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    3. Curious, how *big* is 25 lbs of powder, size wise?
      And how is it packaged?

      FWIW, I saw that Midway has 1000 caps for $34.95 last week.

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    4. 3:53-you might not get a chance to under-arm if the military situation demands it. I'm just looking at running out and thinking which is easier to fabricate. I was told disposable batteries have mercury in them ( to make mercury fulminate primers ) but I don't know if that is true. In old timey day, BTW, the piss pile was open air under a roof ( to alieviate the need for a tarp ). Once that is ready, you are just processing like the Improvised Explosives Handbook shows. It is a PITA, but shouldn't be too involved.

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    5. It comes in 25 - 1 pound cans ghostsniper. Can't say how they box it? You can mix the granulations however you choose. For example: 10lbs of FFG, 10lbs of FFFG, and 5lbs of FFFFG (For priming flintlocks) and the price includes shipping. My only concern is that real black powder is rather volatile stuff, being a class A explosive, so you have to be careful in how you store it or move it. Thanks for the link on the caps, that's a much better price.


      @James; recall that I posted the instructional guide on fulminate of mercury, from Dick's encyclopedia of practical receipts and processes, which also appeared in the Poor Man's James Bond. Don't know about the batteries, but worth looking in to? Yes, the video that I posted a few weeks back involved a urine pile, but it still looked like there was a lot of processing involved? Not saying that it's not doable, but in your own words, it looks like it would be a chrome plated bitch. They actually mined this stuff (potassium nitrate) in the pure, or at least semi-pure form in the old days, because I saw some photos of a mine one time. That would be ideal; to live near one of these mines. But you still need the sulfur.

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    6. Can't you just add rust with the potassium to bypass the sulfur? I know I posted that recipe at one time but no idea when.

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    7. Maybe James, but I'm not a chemist, and I'd think that rust from the different metals would vary in composition, but I really couldn't say off hand?

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    8. I'll have to try to find that article so I can re-post the formula. Some hillbilly did it with rust and chicken poop dirt and made it sound easy.

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    9. That would be great James. I'm all about easy. Like Phil Garlington of Rancho Costa Nada fame, I'm an average mope with no particular skill set. I've found that it's in my best interest to keep everything as simple as it can possibly be, and my homestead will be set up this way as well.

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  7. So let me get this straight. It's now 5 years from Dr. James while I ramped up to 8 months for 4 people. I posted here that I had bought 50 lbs. each of white and brown rice with 5 cases of broth for each 50 lbs and you snidley snickered at me along with 2 other posters for passing up the GOLDEN wheat according to the 3 of you that swear it will save me and oil and gas is now going to be sold by the teaspoon full!
    I also told you 3 months ago I thought the balloon was going up sometime in late July or into the 2nd week of August with Obama declaring some type of Federal intervention but scant snide remarks from you concerning all the crap that is right in front of us!
    Why do I have to go your brothers (nudge nudge wink wink) to know that we the sheeple are getting ready to step in it and be stepped on by our masters?!?
    And while waiting for your famous 1 sentence response to this post, Police Chief Charlie Beck Of The LAPD said on live television with snoop dog and 2 black panthers thugs standing behind him that we has a society have now desended into tribes. Perhaps he reads your blog?
    Now I'm on my way to buy a video store in Happy Camp Northern California and smoke and drink myself into Happiness.

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    1. I take it you want more than a one sentence response to your comment even after I've written a 1k word article for you?

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  8. "I’m REALLY getting to hate my job, something I thought I’d never say about this one...Why do I put up with it?"

    Is it because you're actually a "people person" at heart and can't do without the daily social interaction?

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    1. HAH! No. Heavy exercise, I can get by with a certain amount of insubordination ( important as I hate kissing incompetent ass-I still have to, but less so ) and it has a very slight amount of job security ( they piss away money. Jim: don't get a new truck the old one still is good for seven to ten more years. Them: it's free, a grant. Jim: I still think it's a bad idea. Them: oh, no, it's cost us $2,500 in 14 months with DMV registration and increased mechanic costs for routine oil/filter changes ).

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  9. Jim anon2.24 may be right time seems to be running out. To many things brewing at once. Something is going to blow in the next few months. Food and ammo top my list I expect shortages of both.

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    1. I completely agree timing is running out. But 2:24 has always been a gaping ass and irritates me. I'm pretty sure he's the one that owes me $20 for the original pictures.

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  10. James if you don't like your job get a new one. I can't imagine it's too hard to find someone to pay you $200.00 a week.


    Heck you can make that much standing around saying "Welcome to Wal-Mart." Or "Would you like fries with that."

    PS" Not saying that to be insulting, just saying a $200 a week job is not hard to find. And at that pay you can move to a new job whenever you feel like it as $200.00 doesn't buy any kind of commitment.

    Ranting all day doesn't fix things, but action almost always does. And action drastically improves your frame of mind.


    Chuck Findlay

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    1. Ranting all day is how I cope. I'm a brooder and an analyzer, not an action hero ( once I make up my mind I have no problem acting, of course-I'm talking my default setting ).

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  11. I also have gotten to the point of too much near term type preps. So instead have switched over to stocking up more in the way of long term freeze dry. Thinking about the possibility of of having to take flight. Pretty hard carrying four tons of wheat, beans and rice heh.
    Why not stock the last ditch stuff up too ?

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  12. I think everyones lizard brain is yelling at them (or at least muttering loudly) not just anon 2.24 or you Jim, or Gary in Bama.
    I don't think that necessarily means that things are going to crash immediately *(though they certainly COULD). Just that TPTB are willing to see which way the pressure makes people jump if they jump at all.

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    1. In 2007, none of us had much of a clue. Now, we can smell a repeat and we know it will be worse. It is a "burn me twice" deal.

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