E-Mail 'Teaching Preparedness To Family, by Old Bobbert - Part 1' To A Friend

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20 Comments

  1. Thank you for your article, Old Bobbert.

    I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating.

    “Simplistic Water Supply Planning Rule #2:
    When the lights go off, fill your bathtub with cold water while you still have water pressure. Think about it.”

    I, personally, was in a hurricane in Virginia around 2000. I closed the drain and filled the 2nd story bathtub to be ready. The drain appeared to have a nice tight fit. Within a couple of hours, every bit of the water had disappeared down the drain.

    It’s difficult to believe this was an unusual occurrence.

    My point is: Don’t assume without testing that you will have a trustworthy, predictable water supply in an emergency. Test it out. Use quality Saran Wrap to see if that improves holding ability. Buy a [WaterBOB] bathtub water container. Test, test, test. We are talking about WATER, which is gold in an emergency.

    Have you ever been thirsty, truly thirsty without any potable water? I have and it made a lasting, life impression. You’ll never gamble with your water resources again.

    1. If on a tight budget, a Wally World kiddy pool that fits your tub with the drain plug placed over the tub drain will also work.

      We learned a few lessons as well when Isabel rolled over Virginia and from a few Super Typhoons in Okinawa.

  4. I didn’t get into prepping until I was in my 50s, & now our children are young adults who don’t seem interested in prepping. But I may give them a prepping gift for Christmas -maybe a couple articles on starting to prep & something tangible.

    1. I’m in a similar situation. I’ve been overly prepared since I was a kid and built an oversized camp box for boy scout camp, but I haven’t been preparing for the EOTW for more than maybe 12 years. My son assumes everything will go without problems. Taking a trip, the car won’t break down, tire won’t go flat, no accidents. Food and water will always be one store away. The electricity never goes off. Looks at a pocket knife and wonders what its for. Maybe its a backlash to my extensive plans. He’s also a bit of a minimalist. I couldn’t convince him why he needed to learn the basic knots, he just ties until the knot is secure. He intentionally doesn’t have many possessions even though he makes a good living. While he was at home I could supply him with what he needs. I gave him a sleeping bag for the car, a small bug out bag for college, a slightly different bug out bag for after his first job, a couple water filters, plenty of flashlights, etc. He moved out recently, I’m getting older, and I’m struggling with how to increase his awareness and preparedness for what can go wrong. As long as I’m alive and live close I can collect long term preps for him, but that doesn’t solve the life skills problem. I also worry his minimalist attitudes will lead him to just sell off all my possessions upon my death. I have extensive prepping supplies, guns, an extensive tool collection for woodworking, metal working, car repair, or tinkering fabrications, 1000+ board feet of lumber, and an extensive collection of hardware bench stock purchased cheaply by the pound. I like your idea of articles, printed on paper, maybe in a binder that grows in time. I need to slowly open his eyes.

        1. No contradiction. Based on what I’ve read many young people live a minimalist lifestyle because they have no choice. He leads a just in time life that assumes everything he needs will always be readily available even though it has a higher cost in dollars and time. Prepping recognizes that there are events when everything isn’t available. Prepping supplies and skills mitigate the adverse affects of events that interrupt the availability of supplies or in extreme events law and order. I’ve explained risk assessment techniques, described potential risks, explained what supplies are for, we’ve been without power on more than one occasion, still no change in his behavior. I should explore with him if he’ll change once I’m not around. Right now he can, and does on occasion, rely on me. He’s led a sheltered and secure life.

      2. If ur son is a bit of a minimalist, I’d keep that binder very small, at least until u see his response to it. If it’s medium to large, he may just toss it away. Of our 3 young adult children, one has some hiking-camping-shooting skills & resources, along w/ a large dog for defense. I hope after they buy a home next year, they’ll stock up on food & water a bit. Another adult child is very out of shape physically, & has no prepper related skills or resources, which why I worry about that one the most. The other child & significant other are in excellent physical condition but live in a medium size city. For Christmas, I may give them water purification tablets, lighters, & a small amount of freeze dried food, which would be a start at least. & when we’re together over the holidays, share why I’m concerned for our nation’s future. If u shared your concerns for the future, would your son listen or just tune u out?

        1. It’s going to be a long race to convince my son that the future is not likely to be the same as the past, or that there are potential catastrophic events that are worth some planning for. I had regular interaction with him until he recently moved out on his own. He lives maybe 5 miles away so we can have some interaction. I’m thinking I need to start looking for articles that I can feed him one or two at a time. One on one conversations are not working so well. I think a large book would be ignored so it needs to be incremental.

  5. Thanks, Brother Bobbert, for all your attention to being prepared, and for sharing your ideas about getting our own family on board. It certainly behooves us all to get more people thinking ahead and getting ready, and demonstrates a very practical Christian love of others. If you were willing to share a copy of your notebook, I would be so appreciative, but I’m not sure how to get in touch with you directly.

    It’s good to know that others are promoting self reliance in such a caring way!

    1. HI DIDI,
      CONTACT JIM RAWLES ABOUT MY EMAIL ADDRESS FOR YOU. HE CAN CONTACT ME DIRECTLY TO GET MY OK WHICH I WILL. HE CAN EVEN GIVE YOU MY EVERYDAY NAME.
      GOOD LUCK
      BOBBERT

  6. Two things: If you and your tribe are committed to prepping, keep your plans and activities to yourselves. This is especially important if you have young kids. They are blabbermouths! Do whatever you have to do to get them to shut up and not talk about what your tribe is up to.
    Second, scope out your A/O. Who are your neighbors? Are all their assets tied up in adult toys and other frivolous, useless things? Are their teenagers a bunch of shambling, texting, slack-jawed, mouth-breathing, brain-dead, vaping Mall Zombies? If that is the case, they will NOT have a clue and be pounding on your door screaming for help when they run out of toilet paper, feminine hygiene supplies, food, water, etc. Then, my friends, you will have to make a very unpleasant decision.
    Even though I live in Winterfell(North Idaho), I am surrounded by such clueless idiots. I won’t discuss my plans any further, but I know I will be faced with some very unpleasant decisions once the balloon goes up. Plan accordingly.

    1. Dweezil makes an crucial point. All areas of the American Redoubt are not equal.

      Thinking of moving here? I’d highly recommend renting before buying. It takes time to vet areas at the level Dweezil describes. There are indicators to look for including those he describes.

      If I had to pick one key indicator it would be an area where most families homeschool their children. If you find that you will probably find other highly desirable qualities such as self-reliance, good character, people who would stop and help you if you got stuck, etc. Try to get to know them personally perhaps through church etc. before buying in their area. Choose your neighbors wisely.

  7. My problem is that my lovely wife views my prepping as being a “Hoarder”. In the name of ‘de-cluttering’; she recently gave a bunch of extra groceries to a local food bank. I pretty much have to keep any preps in a barn where she doesn’t dare venture.

  8. Dear Bobbert,
    I am unable to locate this youtube video”Costco on a budget! How to stock up & not go broke! ROB KIRBY”. Could you share the url?
    Thank you,
    alb

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