All Gooood?!

One movie that I enjoy from both a comedic aspect and a somewhat military aspect is "Inglorious Basterds". Yes, note the spelling and you will know I am referring to the movie from 2009 starring Brad Pitt as opposed to the original from 1978 starring Bo Svenson. I know you are now saying, from a military aspect? Yes. Although it is allegorical and definitely to be considered somewhat satirical, the point was it was all about getting the Nazis. Regardless if you agree or not, it is not the point of this post.

There are several phrases that I say just in a daily routine either to my friends or children. The one used most is when he is addressing the men and he states, "All Goooood?!"

This post is to let you know that my response is yes, I am good. Things are well here but very busy which is why I have been burning the late night candle and some of you get responses from me at strange hours, even the one I sent out the other night at 2:43am. I will continue to work on the blog and several other means of communication, including Google+, which I am still trying to figure out. I can still be found regularly on Twitter, even though I might be slow to respond or respond with a direct answer as opposed to a more friendly comment. I mean nothing by it, but am trying to sort things out on my end.

For those that are keeping tabs on social media interaction from me: Twitter, Facebook, Paper.li, Wordpress are the main communique with Google+ and Glipho bringing up the rear. I don't think I am stretching it thin as one post usually posts to many outlets so it fits your needs.

That being said, I am working on another special guest post from yet another brilliant mind. I gave him a deadline of this coming saturday so I hope to have it posted soon after that. I am trying to write again, so hopefully I will finish this never-ending novel that I am writing and you will be able to read that as well.

What? Glad you asked. It is about a prepper who is a former CIA operative who has been trying to leave his past behind and spend time with his family. Not a far fetched novel but it is something in my brain. I don't know page length or when it will be done but the goal is 2013.

That's it for now. Don't forget to comment below or Tweet me.

Until then,

Use your instincts to survive.

Advice to Travelers

I had the luxury of being the last one off the plane the other day and decided to make use of the waiting time by talking to the Flight Attendants. Normally, this would be a short conversation but apparently the topic was intriguing. Preparedness.

It started when one of them mentioned an unintended overnight stay due to a storm front that recently came through. She also mentioned how several of them didn't bring a bag because this was to be a turn around and their last flight of the day. This caused them to dart for the local drug store for contact solutions, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

There were several comments on what would happen to the flip flop wearers if there had to be a water landing. The clencher was how all the attendants got together and decided that it would never happen again and they would each have an EveryDay Carry bag. Genius.

Understand that this comes on the heels of the Carnival Cruise ship, Triumph's, fiasco and people mentioning there are some things you cannot be prepared for.

I kind of disagree.

I carry an EDC almost everywhere, yes, almost everywhere I go. When I travel and I have to take a laptop with me, I rig my bag to fit within regulatory guidelines. Read TSA. I will give you a list of what's in my bag but you will have to read on before I do.

I responded to the cruise line's retort with one of my own: "MRE, toilet paper and purification tablets or straw would have been a great start." To which they replied, "I didn't think of those items".

As for the airline discussion, we discussed what the attendants carry and did a comparison of what I carry. I think we all had things to add to our bag we never thought about. Pretzels and peanuts only go so far. They wanted to hang out after the flight for more notes, but I was ready to get home so I declined.

NOTE: I am by no means great, or even good at preparedness and I make no claims to be. I am learning like the rest of you. I look for information and learn where I have gaps. I am amazed at the willingness of others to learn. I like it.

The question that beckons to be asked is: Do you have an EDC and will it be a good start should the need arise?

Let's compare:

• Multi-tool without knife (can't carry knife on a plane but have a pack I slide into my bag when I am not flying that has a knife, a multi-tool with a knife, and torch lighter)
• Safety matches (according to TSA a standard set of "bar" or book matches are acceptable)
• Signaling mirror
• Monocular - 6ounces lighter than old Simmons Binoculars
• Bandana
• Pre-made first-aid kit (Colghan)
• Clif Bar (2)
• Water purification tablets
• Powdered lemonade to add to water
• Survival playing cards
• Knot cards
• Small Silva Compass (going to switch to a button compass)
• 20' paracord (in addition to the two bracelets of 10' each I wear)
• Titanium Spork (life's little luxuries)
• Medicine
• Ibuprofen
• Eye drops
• Eyeglasses (I wear contacts so these are my backup)
• Cash and a few gold coins
• Charging cords for electronics
• Flashlight - Looking for a small Faraday or good crank flashlight to replace this one
• Extra batteries for flashlight
• Waterproof case
• Shemagh
• Toothbrush
• Extra underwear
• Extra socks
• Extra shirt
• Extra clothing enclosed in a gallon zip top bag
• Bottle for water or bottle of water (depends on travel plans)

I'm sure I am missing something but that would at least get someone started. The total additional weight without water is about 4lbs. It is a good trade-off especially since I'm already carrying an 8lb laptop.

I welcome your comments.

Until then,
Use your instincts to survive

Operational Security - Guest Post

I was honored that I was able to feature a great writer for a guest post on the blog. I gave liberty with the understanding that I would review the article. I have to say, there was no disappointment. Great article by Plan and Prep. Enjoy!

Until then, 

Use your instincts to survive

-----

Operational Security

Most preppers love to talk about OpSec, “Operational Security”.  At book signings and prepper events whenever a conversation gets started you can pretty much guarantee that this subject is going to come up.  The surprising thing is just how often people will invalidate their own OpSec, usually when talking about OpSec!

At a recent book signing I was talking to a gentleman and his wife that had come in from central Illinois.  They were there to shop and get a copy of my book signed and hopefully to have a little discussion about prepping.  When I asked where they were from the man said “Central Illinois” and the woman interjected “South of <town name>”.  Well, unlike the majority of Americans I am actually familiar with the area so I said “Really?  I have a friend on Pine Crest Rd there” to which the lady replied, “Oh yeah?  We’re further south, off of highway 3, just north of <town 2>”.

At this point the man broke in with questions about bunkers and stored foods and we talked for a few more minutes.  When the discussion came back around to their available resources the man mentioned that his neighbors were real quiet, “dead quiet” as a matter of fact and he and his wife shared a laugh.

The rest of the day that conversation kept coming up in the back of my mind.  I had a very good idea of the layout of the man’s homestead from his descriptions, I knew what kind of truck he drove because he offered that information to me, and I knew roughly where he lived also from his wife’s descriptions.  When I got home I jumped on Google Maps and zoomed over to their town.  After about 5 minutes of searching the map views I had a real good idea of where this couple lived, right down to the satellite photo of his truck in the driveway.

I knew quite a bit about this man’s preps, I knew a good deal about his security and I knew when he wasn’t normally home because he told me where he worked.

Now this couple was having a simple conversation, and a lot of the information they offered was buried in a pile of words and questions that some people wouldn’t pick up on.  Being an ex-cop I hear these details and they just sort of file themselves away so I can call them up later to rebuild the conversation in my head.  It is a skill that some people have and some don’t.

Generalizations Are Good

When you are discussing your preps be general.  You don’t own a Ford F-150, you own a truck.  The truck isn’t Black its “dark colored”, your car isn’t red it’s “bright colored”.  You don’t live on a two-lane blacktop road; you live on “a county road” or “a country road”.  Don’t tell people what town you live near; give a regional description like “central Indiana” or “western Kentucky”.  You don’t have two rivers on either side of your property; you have “localized freshwater resources”.  You don’t live in a large, two story country home with white painted paneling and blue shutters; you live in “an older home, but it’s comfy”.

Details narrow down searches and can make it very easy to locate you if necessary.  If someone knows you live in a small town they can focus their search for you there.  If they know you drive a late model white Ford F-150 pickup truck you have just narrowed down their search dramatically.  Imagine the difference between staking out a busy intersection for “trucks” versus “late model, white, Ford F-150 trucks”.  If the person knows your race or general appearance they could easily find you and recognize you.

Don’t Discuss Security

So many people at my signings want to tell me about their security setup.  They tell me what type of firearms they have, how many, how much ammo and which members of the family are proficient with them.  I have had people tell me about their early warning systems as well as full descriptions of their fail safe plans.  Usually they do this to get to a question, but they feel that I need to know everything about what they have so that I can narrow down some advice that will be useful to them.  Meanwhile a small crowd standing nearby now knows everything about your home security.  Not only that, you have just told a military trained, ex-police officer exactly what he would need to get past to invade your space.  Not a good idea.

Anonymity Rules

Purchasing bulk supplies or even small amounts at regular intervals gets noticed.  Perhaps not to the point of causing trouble, but if you see the same sales people every month for two years they will remember you, and if asked they’ll offer anyone a theory as to why you need all of the stuff you have been buying.  To counter this you need to locate multiple outlets to purchase supplies and ensure you utilize different carriers for delivery, rotating them regularly.  The guy down at the firearms store that feels the same way you do and happens to be a prepper may not be the best guy to talk to about all of your preparations.  Remember, if the time comes when he needs something he will remember where to get it.

Have a Cover Story

Treat your Operational Security like you are a cold war spy.  Develop a secondary personality and identity that you can use when people ask you questions.  Obviously I do NOT mean to get a fake identity or lie to authorities; I am talking about general conversation when people ask you questions.  For instance, I often talk about my family homestead property in Michigan.  Some people at my book signings are from Michigan and ask where it’s at, so I say “Near Mason”.   That will usually quell their curiosity, and I am safe because my homestead is not, “near Mason”.

It’s An “All the Time” Thing

A lot of preppers make their biggest OpSec mistakes outside of their prepping activities.  Telling someone at work about your prepping is as good as advertising it because it becomes a funny story that gets told to spouses over dinner, and then over the phone the next day when the spouse is talking about that “prepper” guy at her husband’s job.  In large cities this isn’t so terrible but in small to mid-size towns that can lead to a lot of people knowing more about you that you would like. 

I am sure most people do this, but please make sure your preps are either put away or hidden when you aren’t actively working with them.  Neighbors stop by, kids bring friends over and sometimes people are just a bit too dang nosey for their own good, so hide those preps and keep them safe.

Another big OpSec fail is when you are practicing your “bug out” procedures.  In order to make it realistic many preppers will wear tactical gear and act in a way that is contrary to the norm.  This gets noticed REAL fast.  Try finding tactical clothing that doesn’t look tactical but still has functionality.  Most of the better tactical clothing companies offer clothing lines that fit these criteria and the prices aren’t too bad.  If you can’t find what you want in the tactical arena try normal work wear; cargo pants, safari shirts, etc.  It isn’t the same as a set of tactical BDU’s but will get you through a bug out drill.  Being un-noticed is a HUGE tactical advantage and will do wonders for your OpSec.  For more info on that, research “Grey Man” tactics and “hiding in plain sight”.  I had an article on my site for a while regarding this, I will repost it later if I can dig it up.

Don’t Be Too Cool

Situations change quickly in life, especially when you are dealing with events that preppers are preparing to weather.  Ensure that you are flexible in all of your planning while still maintaining proper OpSec.  This means having multiple plans, backups and redundancies.  What this also means is that you will probably react much differently than other people around you, which can bring notice onto you.

If the world is reacting in chaotic fashion and you are in the middle of it looking calm and cool then you have a couple of problems.

1. )      You aren’t worried enough, get your guard up.
2. )      People will notice your cool head and gravitate to you.

To avoid this you will need to avoid these situations where you are near crowds, which is always a good idea in the first place.  However, if that cannot be avoided then you will need to manufacture a sense of overwhelming fear, on the surface at least, in order to fit in with the crowd.  Keep it in check and make sure that if you have children, they are aware of this and don’t get overly frightened by it.  It shouldn’t be hard to do, just make sure to keep it in check and remember that you are in control of your situation and this is a means to an end.

For more information on this topic and others, please visit my website.

Plan and Prep

“Ready for Anything”

www.plan-and-prep.com

Survival Instincts and other updates

I did not want a week to go by without giving you some updates including the latest venture and possible futures.

The latest was the decision to create a newspaper. I know, there are a lot of different papers out there and Paper.li makes it easy to create one as a front end portal to all other articles and posts.

However, what makes Survival Instincts different is I am doing most of the work. What does that mean? A lot of papers are doing a good job of gathering information from other sources based on hashtags and pointing to different resources. With Survival Instincts I am doing the reading and researching of articles and posts to determine what I feel is best for the reader. This means that when you look at the paper you will see my name associated to many of the articles posted not for an egotistical boost but I think they serve the purpose which helps you, the reader, use your instincts to survive.

Check it out when you get the chance and let me know your thoughts either on the paper site or here.

Survival Instincts

I've been busy following, retweeting and mentioning on Twitter as well. Make sure you check out the #preppertalk hashtag. The #bushcraft and #survival hashtags provide great information for you too.

Regarding the future, we will continue going down the same path that we are going now. In addition, I am comparing blog sites to see if I need to move to provide more and better functionality for you, the reader. Another option is to use this as the main site and use the Tumbr account as a "micro-blog" for updates. No decision has been made at this time, so who knows.

Lastly, I want to just say THANK YOU. You are a great community and friends both virtual and physical. You have been great for a laugh and the tips you give are fantastic. I certainly couldn't have done this without you.

Until then, 

Use your instincts to survive

"The DOOMSDay Prepper"

"The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" - This quote, made famous by the short film, Chicken Little in 1943 and then again with the movie of the same name in 2005, is an indication that people expect a Doomsday scenario to play out before the end of their lives. Many of you may remember reading Henny Penny and Chicken Little when you were little.

For decades people have had a hidden fear of what may be considered the "end of days" or armageddon type event where there is total destruction or annihilation of the earth. Recently, people have started bringing it to the forefront of their discussions and mass media has added to the fear machine with movies such as "Armageddon", "Deep Impact" and various Zombie classics.

Many have considered, National Geographic's Doomsday Preppers, as a relief for them to discuss what might have originally been taboo. I use it as a launchpad for many conversations around prepping and the reasons why to prep.

For this post, I want to set the record straight on something that has been weighing on my mind; The Doomsday scenario. If you watch the aforementioned show, you will notice that no one and I mean no one, has stated they were preparing for doomsday but instead something that would change the course of how they live their day to day lives.

I have heard about an EMP (electromagnetic pulse), tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruptions and even hurricane scenarios but none talk about the total destruction of the earth.

If that is the case, then why do we prep? Someone mentioned on Twitter around the Mayan Event (12.21.2012), the preppers will be sorry after the date passes because they will look foolish. To some I retorted and said many are not preparing for the Mayan Prophecy and went on to explain what I was preparing for when the question returned to me. I found this to be the case with many others as well.

I have created a friendship, albeit mostly virtual, with many in the prepping communities and credit a lot of that to the Twitter hashtag #preppertalk. Many of the discussions that go on are around great subjects such as food storage, reuse of old materials and general self-reliance. Yes, including gardening and permaculture. I was amused at the number of folks that poked fun and even gave me a "ROFL" when I asked if they were ready for the Mayan Prophecy to come to pass.

Please understand, there may be someone out there that they do fear an "end of the world" doomsday event where the moon and sun collide with the earth and the big blue marble no longer exists. It is for each person to decide why they prepare without judgement because it doesn't affect you. But please understand, many of us are just normal folks, looking to ensure the safety, security and well being of our families, now and in the future.

As for me, I just want to make sure that if I ever lose my job or if cold weather turns the power off, we have food and warmth until all things are restored. Sure there may be some other things, but really, Zombies? I use that as another launchpad for discussions and it works REALLY well.

By the way, thanks to all who watched my first video post. I hope to have more in the future.

Until then,
Use your instincts to survive

Battery Firestarter

  In an attempt to try something a little more modern than still photography, I have added a video to my latest post as a supplement for my topic.

Many people have seen the 9v Battery and Steel Wool Firestarting method. Some have even used a car battery. 

But what if you only have a cellphone and steel wool. Now the debate comes as to the practicality of carrying steel wool on a normal basis, but we are testing unusual circumstances or something that might be understood as SHTF or TEOTWAWKI. 

So without further ado... here is the short two minute video. 

Enjoy.
Until then,
Use your instincts to survive

Special thanks to my son for video and production.

Paracord Frenzy?

Lately I have been seeing a lot of posts around paracord bracelets, handles and other things you can do with this great 550 paracord. Keep in mind, I am not like some others that you have seen on the internet that have 50 types of bracelets and 35 different knot fashions. I have three!

These three are my "go-to" styles when someone says, "Ooooh! Make me one!" Because of the popular request, I was asked to post the pictures and info on my site. So here they are with a little blurb about each type.

The first is a single twist, single cord bracelet with a knot as a lock. It has approximately 7' of 550 Black paracord and as mentioned in the description, one piece.

The second, going from left to right, is a single cord as well but it is a half cobra knot. It has approximately 8' of 550 ACU paracord and a knot as a lock. Again, it is one solid piece.

The third, which was my first one, is the standard double cobra knot using a 12" piece of O.D. green 550 paracord as the center and approximately 10' of black 550 paracord. This is two pieces and can be created like the many you have seen with two colors and a plastic buckle latch as opposed to the knot as a lock.

That's it. Simple plain and easy. I have done many colors and several with buckles and several without. Both allow for adjustment if the size is wrong. I know you can create your own and there are many articles on just how to do that on the internet, but if you decide you would like to buy rather than build, I can assist.

They are bracelets (photographs above), necklaces, keychains, luggage tags and zipper pulls among other lanyards. Keep in mind, this is not my livelihood and profit is minimal.

Item prices are as follows:
$7 for double cobra
$5 for single cobra
$5 for single twist
plus $3 for shipping and handling

Ask for price breaks on more than five items. Shipping and handling is for up to five items. Six to 20 are $5 for shipping and handling.

If you are interested, either comment with your email address or email me.

Book Review: The Ultimate Survival Manual

I was in the bookstore the other day and picked up The Ultimate Survival Manual: 333 Skills That Will Get You Out Alive by Rich Johnson. As I thumbed through the book, I saw great value in its pages. As I further perused some of the pages, I realized why the back of the book stated: “Your go-to guide for surviving anything”.

This book is just that. It displayed on the rear jacket how it was broken into three main sections: Wilderness, Disaster and Urban Survival. However, once you start at the beginning you realize that it has a fourth section. Essentials. 

I know many people that will buy this manual for that section alone because it gives you the checklists for everything. Car, BOB/GOOD and EDC bags, house and it goes from there. 

The sections of the book make it easy to read and put into practice the snippet that you just learned without having to worry about losing your place or attempt some complex process that is going to save your life. The 333 skills are broken down into bite sized chunks that are easily digestible and certainly easy for the beginner or the seasoned survivalist to understand.

I have been a fan of Outdoor Life since I was a child because of their stories, tips and great pictures. Now, as someone who reaches out to others to teach basic survival and preparedness skills, I have added this as a required read. And, at the moment, both my 11 and 14 year olds are reading it and enjoying the content and the beautiful pictures. I know the durability of this book will stand up to their little hands as well.

All in all, two words is all you need to know about The Ultimate Survival Manual. Buy it! You will be glad you did.

Until then,

Use your instincts to survive.

A New Threat?

As if things couldn’t get worse. I have been trying not to listen to the media hype crap but alas, it finds its way to me in one shape or form. 

I know that we are all prepared or getting prepared and although I fit into the getting prepared category, I heard another topic the other day that caused me to think.

This is the time of year to get prepared for winter. Although hurricane season is coming to a close, it is obvious with the upgrade of Tropical Storm Sarah to a full bore hurricane, it is definitely not over for the East Coast.

• Do you have batteries?
• Do you have alternate power?
• Do you have food?
• Do you have water?

This is a great initial checklist for all preps but it doesn't necessarily focus on my latest topic. Politics! No, I will not be discussing the candidates, platforms or favoritism towards one or the other as this is not the media choice for that discussion.

My “instincts” kicked in when I thought about the outcomes regardless of the winner. What could happen is the question at the top of my list. 

• Riots
• Shortages
• Fuel prices rise
• Looting
• In city/out of city

Although I don’t know the answers, this is a short time preparedness goal we need to set as a community. Regardless of which way the vote goes, these are possible.

STOP! No, this is not to scare you. This is not to make you fearful. This is, as always, using your instincts to survive. 

The idea actually came from a person who doesn’t watch politics, doesn’t watch the news, doesn’t focus on doomsday scenarios but still came to me for a solution.

So there it is folks, another thing to be prepared for. I am adding a few extra things just in case but pretty much sticking with my normal preps as a whole. Oh, what are they?

• Extra water
• Extra soup
• Extra rice
• Extra toilet paper
• Extra batteries
• and...Extra Bullets

Again, it is all prefaced with extra because it is just adding to my normal preps.

CALL TO ACTION: Check your preps. See if you need to add a little something extra.

Until then,

Use your instinct to survive

Photo Credit: ©2008 Oregon Mountain River Chapter of the American Red Cross

DIY Firestarter

Firestarter Blogpost

Taking a page, or rather two from the Survival Quarterly (Volume 1; Issue 1 page 48), I decided to follow the article by Curtis Fidler regarding DIY Firestarter. First, let me just give accolades to Ron and Karen Hood for an incredible magazine. I came across their Survival.com site a couple of years ago and recently decided to go all in and purchase copies of the magazine including back copies. The writers within Survival Quarterly are people that I trust. Guys like Mykel Hawke, David Williams and Ron Hood. I have even been very happy to see some articles by Karen Hood as well. She has done a fantastic job with the magazine since Ron’s untimely death. 

Back to the stuff:

The motto for the magazine and Ron’s creed has always been “Survival... It’s all in your head”. Because of that, I started actually putting to task some of the things taught in the magazine. The DIY Firestarter is one I really wanted to share because folks pay good money for firestarters and why not save some cash by doing it myself.

It starts simple as all you need is:

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Cotton balls
• Paraffin wax

Stuff the tube with cotton until it is firm, make sure it doesn’t come out of the other side

Melt the wax and pour it slowly into the tube. The tube will get wet with wax as well (note the color differences compared to the previous picture). This is a slow process as it takes a while for the hot wax to get from the top to the bottom of the tube. Continue this until you can’t put any more wax in the tube.

Let them dry completely. I waited two weeks to ensure their firmness but could have probably used them before. 

Slice them to your liking. I think more than 1/2” is a bit much and mine are between 1/4” and 1/2”.

Light em up! My test was done on fairly breezy day and the 1/4” disk burned for around 20 minutes. I think if there was no breeze, it could have easily burned for 30 minutes. 

As mentioned in the article, this goes beyond just starting fires but can be used as fuel for a compact camp stove, creating a can lantern or candle or whatever else you can think of just by fluffing a little portion of the cotton and lighting it. Another option is starting the tablet on fire and putting it out to make a “char cloth” type of disk that can be relit with your ferrous rod.

This comes as a very low cost way of creating something we pay top dollar for just to be prepared. Use them wisely but definitely be prepared. Also, let me know your thoughts or ideas or other uses. I would like to hear and share them.

Now to see if it will work with my striker as opposed to a match. :)

Until then,

Use your instinct to survive

Health 101

"Are we having fun yet?" This was the question my wife asked me a  week ago while I was lying in the Emergency Room of the local hospital. I just looked at her and smiled with tears in my eyes and said in a comforting voice, "It's going to be alright."

Both her and my son looked at each other and held each others hands as the technicians whisked me away for yet another test.

Rewind. How did I get there? Why was I there? Why am I at home now?

It started the last week in June, a week full of stress with multiple projects being due, multiple house repairs to be done, finances being what they are and still the notion of preparedness in the back of my mind. The last one was the least of my worries as I trusted in my preps and more so, my Lord and Savior. As the week progressed, the tell-tale sign of me getting tired and stressed is my words. The stuttering and stammering had returned. This, along with the lack of sleep was not a good thing for two reasons: I speak, or rather, present to people for a living and that meant something was seriously wrong.

Sunday, my body had apparently had enough and in the middle of the grains aisle at the grocery store, I got dizzy and grabbed a shelf for stability. My face grew pale and I became disoriented and wasn't sure why I was there. Thankfully I was with my wife and daughter and they started watching my like a hawk through the rest of the store. Yes, I got my bearings and realized what was going on but something still wasn't right. The week progressed, my doctor's visit went poorly and the look of fear on his face was a sure sign of why he sent me to the hospital.

Test after test, hour after hour, minute after grueling minute went by with my family by my side and the conclusion...non-conclusive. So, they blamed it on stress. Thankfully. Why thankfully? Because it was something that could be remedied. No immediate danger was there, but if I didn't and don't tend to it, it could lead to a real stroke as opposed to the stroke like symptoms that brought me to the hospital in the first place.

What does all of this have to do with preparedness? GREAT question. I am back home after one day, not quite 24-hours, in the hospital due to one main thing. My eating habits. I had been moving towards a healthier lifestyle so I could be around to use my preps and take care of my family if I needed to. Yes, that means less of the crap that is easy to obtain or the dash for a donut from the local convenient store and a 64 oz soft drink for breakfast and lunch.

How do I eat healthy and how do I add these things to my preps? Let's break this into the full two questions.

How do I eat healthy? There are many resources available on the web that will tell you about how to eat and what to eat to obtain a healthy diet. I am also not a nutritionist so I won't pretend to play one on TV. I will say this:

• More sleep
• Less Salt
• Lower Fat / Good Fats
• Lower cholesterol
• Back to basics

Back to basics? That means that you determine what the food is naturally and eat it as close to that as possible. In other words, a potato doesn't come from the ground in a thin slice and deep fried to be coated with salt and vinegar (yes, a weakness of mine). Eat the potato instead. If you have to have fries then slice up the potato, put a light coating of olive oil, a pinch of salt and even a sprig of rosemary and throw it in the oven for 20 minutes. <- Recipe :)

It is these things that you can do to eat better. That along with exercise will keep you healthy or at least get you going. I am back home because I was already heading down that road and because I had made a choice on what to eat. Review your diet and then add those things to your preps. A root cellar may be just what the doctor ordered. I know, but there are plenty of ways to build a root cellar that doesn't add a hole in your floor because you have no basement.

I hope this little Health 101 talk helps you. I am just sharing my experiences and resting on the road to recovery.


Until then,
Use your instincts to survive

Review...even more now

Over the holidays, I took some time to spend it with family and friends as well as sit back, read and review. Yes, I am aware it is now the middle of April but I am a slow thinker. Well, more of what is considered a “processor”. When an emergency happens, my brain fires on all cylinders and things work out great. However, when I have the time, no pressure, no firm deadlines, I sit back and think, ponder, reflect and review over the thing(s) that is the focal point. For this post, it was PREPAREDNESS.

 

During the spending time with family and friends, I decided to watch one of my favorite series of movies “Resident Evil”. You don’t have to like it or even agree with it, but it stops my hectic lifestyle for a couple of hours to watch someone kick someone else’s butt <keeping it clean>. My wife decided that she would gladly sit and watch them with me if I would get up and turn on the light in the middle of the night when she made her routine bathroom visits. I called it “fair trade”.

After watching a disk the other night, I was sealing up the Netflix envelope to send it back and my wife asked me a question that made me start thinking a little bit harder (dang it). She questioned, “I know there are no zombies. And the CDC has proven that we can’t produce them at this time. But men are men and they do stupid stuff. If someone created a virus of some magnitude, similar to the one in the movie, are we prepared for that?”

My immediate response was “No, I would need more beans and definitely more bullets.” But the question nagged me for the rest of the night and again this morning. Is mankind really that crazy that they might invent something like that on purpose OR on accident? I don’t know the answer to that question except for I hope not. The question did move my butt along into doing some things I hadn’t already done to get prepped.

The other side of my thinking is based off of a previous post of mine, “What Are You Preparing For?” and a book I have been chipping away at. I say chipping away because it is just shy of 500pp. on 8 ½” x 11” with double column pages. 

Atticus Freeman (@selfreliantinfo on Twitter) recommended to me “When Technology Fails” by Matthew Stein. In it, he calls out seven possible scenarios that could happen as an impending event and mentions the possibilities of even more. In reflecting on which of the scenarios I was preparing for, I realized I was preparing for all of them and none of them. 

Let me offer a fairly simple explanation. You see, there are many things that I know I cannot prepare for as a single entity. If it is an Avian Flu Pandemic, then I hope the preps I have will do just fine. If it is a Zombie Apocalypse, then hopefully I have enough bullets. If it is a Global or Social Economic Collapse, I trust that all my training is still holding up and I can guide my family and friends through it.

I am not saying that I am totally prepared for whatever may come my way. I personally think I am not even close. However, my base preps should get me through as a starting point to just about everything in one way, shape or form. In other words, I will use my base preps regardless of the event.

I then have to look at my secondary preps and see that they, along with my base preps, will get me through to a certain point for total of about 80% of what could happen. So that leaves about a 20% gap. Whether I am able to or should ever fill that void is one of the things I am pondering. I know that I will not leave my family hungry while I am prepping for that 20% void as we all, yes even you, prep on a budget. I will ensure that my current stores are sufficient to last us for a period of time and I am completely satisfied with my work. Once that has been done then and only then will I start focusing on the 20%.

You see, what I realized is I could focus on one specific, impending event. Scientist could give me the data to back it up. Friends could encourage me to focus on this one thing. But in reality, it may not happen. I would be ecstatic if it didn’t as the goal is “Be prepared and be happy that you don’t have to use it”. Instead of Solar Flares pushing an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) to send us back to the 1800s, a tornado may just come right through my neighborhood. Or vice versa and then what would I do? Thank you to Doomsday Preppers for bringing this tidbit to my attention.

I had to take the fear mindset that grips so many people and change my thinking. It is not fear that causes me to react but comfort. Let me say that again. It is not fear that causes me to react but comfort. If a person is fearful sometimes it leads a person to panic or to inactivity. There are a small percentage of people that respond “correctly”, if there is such a thing, to fear. However, when I am comfortable, I know I can focus on those things that need to be done. I can see where my gaps are because I have taken the time to dry run through scenarios, eaten some of my rotated preps and practiced my tactical maneuvers because I am not in fear for my life or the lives of my family and friends.

After doing that I have the ability to move forward when the event happens and not be stuck in my tracks not knowing what to do. It is then, in that “fear” that muscle memory and rote action takes over. 

CALL TO ACTION

Review your plan. Plan to review. Practice and run through your immediate scenarios both strategic and tactical. Lastly and probably the most important, pray. Pray that you don’t live in fear for your life as that is not living; it is, in reality, dying.

Until then, use your instincts to survive.

Review

I thought we were going to have a cold Christmas based on the weather patterns, but when I turned on the weather report, I found it was going to be 70 degrees for several weeks. Imagine my surprise when I woke up to another high 60's day and by lunch time the temperature was in the low 50's. This has been the trend since early December. Now personally, I enjoy the cold weather. The briskness of it along with the rapid movement of wildlife as they forage to ensure they are prepared for a cold couple of days.

I was watching the finches and wrens this afternoon while I was cooking my lunch, and they were scurrying all over the ground gathering seeds and small bugs. As I watched them, I started to run through a mental list in my mind of how much food we had in the pantry and in storage. This, along with my physical list, put me at ease and I continued watching them get ready. The rain started to drizzle and it was as if some where saying, “five more minutes! I'm not ready!”

How many of us are saying the same thing? I know there are times when I sit back and feel accomplished about completing my preparation tasks for the week. On other days, I begin to freak out because I don't think I have done enough to provide for my family to provide for their well being, protection, and well-stocked food stores. So today, I just want you to review.

Review. Review for whatever disaster(s) you have been preparing for. Are your lists up to date? Do you have enough if the power is out for an evening, a day or a week? Or if you aren't preparing for a disaster, should you be? Take time to review what you have done thus far. There is nothing wrong with taking a moment to sit back to see what you have accomplished. It is also recommended practice to review periodically to determine if there are corrections or additions that need to be made in your preparations over the next three, six, nine and twelve months.

I want to keep this short this week and will probably also write a short post for next week. Take this time of year and review your inventory, what you are doing, or even what you feel you "should" be doing. It is during this time you may want to also broach the subject of preparedness with your family and friends.

Regardless of what you are doing during this time, have a great week!

Until then,

Use your instincts to survive!


Photo:
Freedigitalphotos.net/Jeff Ratcliff
Special thanks to SelfReliantinfo

Reading

I have been reading a few good books lately but don't want to go into detail about them at this time. However, I would like to list some of the ones I have been reading and am scheduling to read.

"Schedule to read?" you might ask. Yes, sometimes I get so busy with the mundane parts of life that I forget to schedule "me" time. It is in these times that I do schedule time to read. That is not to say that I won't sneak a chapter here or there or even while I am traveling but I do have to make a point to set aside some time to read.

What I am reading at the moment is three separate books. This is a little slower than what my average used to be. There was a period of time where I would be actively reading five books at a time. No, not physically reading them at the same time. I wish I was that smart. I am saying, I would read a chapter or two from one book, then something in the next book and so on and so forth.

Most of them might be along the same subject matter which makes reading more books for me easier to do. There are times when I have to stop reading a specific book because I am intently focused on a main topic or a specific subject matter and it is just not sinking in. Regardless of how many books you are reading at the moment, I do think it is key that we continue to read until we can't read anything anymore. Pick a subject, something you enjoy, and either visit the library or purchase your book of choice. My simple rule is if it is a reference book, purchase it. Otherwise the library is your best bet. I have found some great deals on Amazon for books that I wouldn't mind keeping even though it might not fit the above rule.

Why purchase a reference type book? So I can write in the margins or highlight the actual text. I make the book mine and easier for me to use and refer back to when the occasion arises.

Anyway, this is a very short post in comparison. I want to wish you all a great week. Back to reading for me.

(Oh! The list. Right.)

• Patriots by James Wesley, Rawles
• One Second After by William R. Forstchen
• Lights Out by David Crawford
• Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
• How to Survive the End of the World As We Know It by James Wesley, Rawles
• Survivors by James Wesley, Rawles
• EMP Survival by Larry and Cheryl Poole
• Survive by Les Stroud
• SAS Survival Handbook by John Wiseman
• Will to Live by Les Stroud
• and various Mother Earth News articles and several good blogs

One last thing before I wrap up this post. I wanted to give you a link to a few other sites that have great book listings.

James Wesley, Rawles - SurvivalBlog.com
Atticus Freeman - Self-Reliant.info

Until then,

Use your instincts to survive!

Make a List

"He's making a list and checking it twice. He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice." ¹

Despite the fact that these are lines from a supposedly happy Christmas song that makes me feel like Big Brother is watching me, making a list and checking it twice is not a bad idea. As an example, if I were to make an inventory to be prepared for a catastrophic event; what would be on the list?

I am a fan of lists. I am not, however, one of these people that will make a list of my lists to check my lists against other lists, but I have friends that do something similar. It’s kind of weird I guess. My wife of 18 years was not a big fan of lists either, until recently. “Oh, the thought of sitting down to make it just to strike the item off does not seem worth it,” she would often retort every time the discussion came up. That is until she saw exactly how beneficial lists can be if done in the right way.

Let's start with why you should make a list. The reason is fairly simple: to be (more) organized. It is a proven fact that if you write something on a list it is 90 percent more likely to be accomplished than if you did not have that item posted somewhere. This is also a proven factor for most successful people throughout the world. With that being said, this makes your chances of preparing very successful.

What goes on my list? Another great question. If it is something that you are preparing for, then it should be on your list. An example is what is considered a BOB (Bug-Out Bag) or GOOD (Get Out Of Dodge) bag. This bag is what is to be packed should you have to leave your home in a hurry for one of the events mentioned in my post Preparedness. Another item that you might make a list for is for an EDC (Every Day Carry) or GHB (Get Home Bag) that will tide you over until you can make it to your destination or home. Yet another list is the focus of the rest of this blog, which is your preparedness inventory.

A preparedness inventory is the list of items that you would need for you and your family to survive for 36-72 hours should a catastrophe happen. An example that I used in a previous post was the normal winter ice storms that we have every February. If the power goes out, would you and your family be able to survive for 36-72 hours until the power gets restored? The recent snow storm in the upper northeast was an example of how that could happen and how some were not prepared. I have friends in the Boston and New Jersey areas that did not have power for 2 weeks. They were not prepared for that length of time, but luckily with their family's help they all made it through, including the 18-month-old that thought it was fun to make a tent in grandma's living room.

Let's get into further detail by looking at some items you may actually write on the list. Now, I say "write" because it is easy to find and use paper and pen or pencil. Some folks actually use spreadsheets on a computer, while others have made applications to do this for them. Whatever works for you is what you should use.

I will use an impending power outage as my list example, and hopefully, you will be able to “fill in the blanks” with things that would help you be more prepared.

• Glow sticks – taped to the inside of two cabinets in case we cannot get to other light sources immediately
• Flashlight – alternate light source while lights are out
• Batteries – to power flashlight 
• Matches – to light candles and grill
• Candles – alternate light source so we don't blow through the batteries
• Blankets – warmth and put at bottom of doors as a draft protector
• Fuel for grill – I use both charcoal and propane
• Various Soups – we’ve gotta eat
• Crackers – to go with the soup, of course
• Beans – this is for when we run out of soup
• Beef Jerky – homemade and great source of protein
• Cards – for when we get bored and have to entertain the children

Keep in mind this is not a complete list, but I think you see where it is going. As you gather needed items they get added to the list. For instance, if I need an alternate heat source, I will add it to the list as well.

“My list is made. Now what?” The answer to that is fairly simple. If you have everything on the list then store it in an easily accessible place. Mine is in a Rubbermaid container sitting on a shelf in the garage. As seasons change, I will move the container(s) somewhere a little less or more accessible depending on the priority of what's in the box. My winter box is moved to the forefront at the moment so it is easy to retrieve as opposed to one needed during hurricane or tornado seasons.

If you don't have everything that you need or want on the list, then work towards getting the items to complete your list. Keep in mind; you might not be able to get them all at one time due to budget constraints. This is for you to decide.

Hopefully, you have a better understanding of what a list is for and what is to be included on the list. Maybe in a later post, I will share with you my full list or even point you to someone who does have a List of Lists.

Until then,

Use your instincts to survive!

¹ Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie

A special thank you to SelfReliantinfo for his help with this blog