Is there a difference between being "Prepared" and being a "Prepper"? Yes and don't be intimidated by it...

  I'm sitting here wondering about the attitudes people have pertaining to the making of an emergency plan and setting up the supplies for a 3 day period. Most people have a desire to set them selves up, however there is a disconnect between the "want to" and "making the decision to prepare." My web site is dedicated to assisting people in planning and setting up for a 3 - 5 day event, the final goal is having a years worth of supplies in the pantry. It is all a very good initial plan, we all certainly do not want to be caught unprepared. There are many reasons people do not set up a 3 day kit, some may be: 1) Monetary 2) Way too busy to start 3) Just don't think about it. and the 4th reason of which this blog is centered around is being intimidated by preparations being made by the totally committed "preppers", which are extensive and very well thought out. Much more preparation than many of us need to do.

Many containers may be utilized for set up and storage of
your 3 - 5 day evacuation kit 

  The totally committed preppers are living a life style dedicated to preparing for a catastrophic event to occur that disrupts the entire society. Monetary system failure, Civil unrest, War, or collapse of the government are a few. Whether or not we are facing an event of such magnitude I don't know, it involves a lot of speculation and assumptions. One theme I read about on line is that of evacuation to some sort of a remote homestead supplied with every thing a person needs to survive. Some sound like a military installation, some are merely a "hideaway". The idea is to live in the middle of no where with a group of people, mainly the immediate family, and protect their position. It is an extremely heavy and demanding plan for most of us, and very intimidating for many. There are some things I agree with about that plan and some things I don't agree with, one is isolation. 

 

I could live here, it might get a little lonely, it appears to be a
good hiding place.

If it is possible to find a place deep in the isolated woods or desert where there is no means for people to find it, that would work. If the small group is a family, husband, wife and a few children warding off intruders, my opinion is they are doomed. The intent in being isolated inside some sort of a compound is to keep what is theirs, fair enough. The entire reason for being there is to keep people from stealing their "stuff", it's a thin veneer. 

  That plan involves a total life style commitment, everything they do is aimed at being prepared for that melt down of our society. My question is "why leave your main home?" Why when thinking of the aftermath of a cataclysmic event the first thing we think of is hitting the road? Where in the heck would I go? I'm staying home, if possible, this is where my stuff is.

  I'm staying home and am prepared for 5 days, that's it, 5 days, one day I will have a years supply of foods but that's a long term goal. I know my neighbors, there is safety in numbers. Trying to hold off people needing what you have would be fruitless for a few kids and their parents, a band of at least 25 people with varied skills is essential. An assumption made is that the people coming to rob you have the means to travel to where you are bunked out, I question if anyone will be able to get anywhere. It would have to be a huge event to cause the entire population to be in a situation such as the Armageddon scene. 

  That is why we are dedicated to the initial 3 day period, actually a 5 day period makes more sense to me. For one thing it's fairly easy to write up an emergency plan for a shorter period of time. Another is a 3-5 day kit is easy to set up, either by purchasing a pre made kit or configuring and setting one up yourself. A third reason is once a short term plan has been constructed a  longer term plan works it's way into your life, for some people it starts a lifestyle change, for others satisfaction that their family has supplies for the initial 3 -5 days of the event is the goal. Preparing does not have to be intimidating and it should not be brought on by fear of the future.

This is what a years supply of food looks like. 

  To be prepared for an emergency situation and to be a prepper are related but only distantly, I prepare to help my family and neighbors not to establish a military stronghold. I'm not saying a serious event such as a total meltdown won't happen, my attitude is if it does happen, we're all in the same boat together and to fight off our friends and neighbors because they want what we have stored may be self defeating in the long run. We would do better to gain friends and share what we have, survival would be a lot easier to maintain. 

  A stigma attached to people that prepare for disasters is that they are a little "strange", right wing wacko's or crazy gun nuts. That should not affect our endeavors to be prepared for the first 72 hour period after a disaster. They are not crazy or wacko, they are very concerned about their future and feel they are on the correct path, they very well may be. 

  My plan is to prepare for the short term and let the long term preparedness take on a life of it's own, I reach a plateau by having prepared for 3 days then continue on a longer plan if I want to. Most of us have more to do than speculate about bad stuff ending our society, I have just enough faith in the structure of our governments to think it's not small enough to crumble. What are the chances for a meteor striking the earth? Click here to read a paper on it. 

  I've been thinking about the divide between being prepared and being identified as a Prepper, related but distantly, don't let it intimidate you. What we need is a 72 hour emergency kit, some water, communications and other people.
  Thanks for reading leave a comment with your thoughts, tell me if I'm wrong or right, Thanks!

jimandkate  EmergencyKitsPlus.com