E-Mail 'Prepping and Practical Minimalism- Making Them Coexist- Part 1, by FLSnappyTurtle' To A Friend

15 Comments

1. This is great article for promoting critical thinking about how to balance. I, too, have struggled with the same issues. Thank you for putting your thoughts and actions in writing. It gives me a platform for comparison of mine with yours.

2. The more you learn, the less you have to carry. Of course, there is no prize for who has the least gear, but downsizing allows you to prioritize. Once you finally get settled down, you can always start expanding your gear, if you want.

   I think downsizing will also allow you to focus on skills, and not just gear. That’s a good thing.

3. I love that jar storage rack system in the picture. Where could I find out more about that?

   1. Deplorable Silver Stacker, it looks to me like a stainless steel extrusion possibly used in commercial window installation or some other construction design. Very similar to what is called unistrut. I, too noticed that and thought it clever.

   2. It’s available on Amazon – Mason Jar Storage by Otter Lab

4. Looking forward to the next installment. I’m also living in a rented apartment in a major metro area. I have limited storage space inside and none outside my apartment.

   My new saying is “less is more” and have been working all summer to reorganize my home. I too was getting overwhelmed with all the stuff and had to cut back to what was most important.

5. Climate controlled storage unit helps to keep your home clutter free. If it’s organized properly you can simply back up a truck and load it for moving to a new location. Like you we are trying to downsize to the essentials but if the storage unit is a reasonable price you can fit a lot of extras in that space. Have a plan to empty it in the event of a crisis.

6. “a multitool, a knife”

   what does the knife do that the multitool doesn’t?

   1. @gman

      A multitool does OK as a knife, but a knife excels at being a knife. sometimes a multitool just doesn’t “cut it” 🙂

7. To: FL Snappy Turtle
   I would also like to know where, if possible you can buy the storage rack like pictured. Real neat, have not seen anything like it.

   1. They were made by Otter Lab and sold on Amazon. Seems to be out of stock right now though.

8. One thing about the racks, if it contains perishable foodstuffs that you are trying to rotate, you have to take everything out of a “file” whenever you add new material. Gets frustrating real fast. If you just put down some “tracks” on the shelves, even using cardboard, you can push in new cans/jars on one side and take from the other. You just have to be careful about how close you are to capacity. I once worked in a shop where we used a similar set up for storing hardware and components, and the hanging racks were more finicky than we liked, so don’t spend too much on them without trying them out.

9. Excellent article. This is my way of staying prepared as well. I am helped by having a very fortunate situation though. I live in a very small town with conservative Sheriff, volunteer fire both of which I dutifully support. I work on a ranch. My area has abundant natural resources. So really, I live my preps. I store to expiration dates in amounts of what I consume throughout the year (stock rotation). My tools are pro quality and geared for this area. I legally harvest some natural resources for a living and personal use and my employer always has sides of beef. I will never be rich, but this is the way I choose to live – free. May the Lord bless us in abundance without the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads.

10. Thank you for bringing this issue forward for discussion. We are trying to retire and downsize. Having one year of food and water, plus seven ways to cook, etc., will not work in a smaller home. Therefore, we have decided to use up all of the current food storage and to replenish it when we re-locate out of California. Dehydrated food stores better and we are only keeping two months of canned.
    Our decision to exit Ca., was a major factor in having to downsize. Moving is expensive and the moving companies charge by the pound. Secondly, the cost to store all this gear by the square foot, labor costs to maintain large properties, taxes, cost of living, etc., need to be considered when retiring and prepping.

11. Has anyone else ever slept on the ground on a chilly night with nothing but a Mylar survival blanket? It got down around 40 the night I tried it and I froze my tushy off. Much colder and they’d have found me wrapped up in foil stiff as swinging meat in a freezer. I call B.S. on the mylar survival blanket. P.S. I only own 1 pair of shoes.

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