This article addresses when the end of the world as we know it hits… but for you alone.
When prepping, planning and long-term goals are done as a family it makes life so much easier.
We started in earnest pre-Y2K then my husband and I were blessed to be introduced to JWR’s writings in 2008. So our preps have been ongoing and well-thought-out. From our conversion of a grid-powered well to a solar-powered pump with cistern to the metal roof on our rock house to the multi-year tree removal plan we had the big things on track. We found a family to move in on to our property and have started a symbiotic relationship of mutual survival and self-sustaining life. They help manage the varied environment and have added animals and a large organic food farming aspect to our compound. Our food storage is deep and well rotated, though as mentioned in a previous post, the weevils and other pests have been a challenge.
So we feel we are prepared or at least continuing to be prepared…and then my husband falls ill. After a very brief illness he passed away last month. I don’t think I am saying the end of the world as I know it to be funny.
Now What?
Since I don’t fall into a fit of despair as I have faith and a great Church community, also family and friends have rallied around to keep me uplifted, I still have taken the time to look around at our compound and sigh. Now what?
While this feels like it will come across as haughty and in any other community I would never even mention this, however, upon review I find that our silver and gold collection is beyond what I thought. Even though we always discussed these purchases, now that it’s “just me” it feels impressive.
The Logistics
I had to have our armourer/ Class 3 dealer come out to the farm and review the weapons that require NFA transfers. Not a big deal, just some paperwork and more fingerprinting.
Though upon sorting and reviewing, I really had no idea just how much ammunition we have before now. I know that as my husband was laying in bed we reviewed the many aspects of the farm, he mentioned where certain types of ammo was stored and which weapon it was good for. (And with which weapon to avoid using it.) We had seriously taken to heart the idea of common ammo and magazines between weapons. I know we both practiced the belief that one is none and two is one.. so we are set. Certainly, more than I can use myself so I will be distributing ammo to my son and sharing certain weapons with him and his RN wife. My safes are bigger than theirs so they can keep the extra weapons and ammo here until they increase their storage capacity. But I do plan on my son and daughter-in-law coming here in the event of any major disaster.
I know I need to spend some time reviewing our medical supplies again. The wound care items have been resupplied but I know I need to review the overall medical supplies. The various prescriptions from my husband will need to be well sorted and reviewed. I thankfully have no prescriptions but do need to make sure I have other supplies that I know I used a lot during his illness for example Zinc, rubber gloves, and essential oils.
Something that I have been doing that is a little emotional is sorting my husband’s clothing.
I was able to find a wonderful homeless “pathways” transitional program that was willing to take many items that a Salvation Army collection center is not set up to accept. I did take some of his nicer items to a consignment shop to help me with cash flow. The biggest thing I have done is to sort out sweatshirts, camouflage, TruSpec pants, heavy-duty socks, et cetera. I have stored them in secure tough totes. I know there will come a time when these clothes will make the difference of survival for someone. Between the ability to barter and having items like this for charity in the future will be as good as the silver in the safe. Any toiletries that don’t have a good shelf life I have distributed, even to a non-begging homeless man that my son sees as he goes into work in the downtown area that was thankful for some of the opened items. He can’t carry much but the travel sizes were helpful.
Open containers of food that I won’t eat were given to a neighbor and my son. So that was nice to know that it wouldn’t be wasted. I guess as I continue to add and rotate in my “pantry” I am sure that I will find items that were purchased for him in mind and can share those now. Certainly, I have a bunch of long-term storage shelf-stable items that I have no use for but will make excellent barter items in the future.
Continuing a Productive Farm
So then there is the farm and all the equipment. As I mentioned, we have a family that lives on the land with us and they have been part of the plan for years, but now the young man that was always the assistant around the big equipment is now the primary operator. While I enjoy using the Cat excavator, I have many other chores and work to do so he will take on the bulk of the operation of that piece of equipment. The tractor with all the various attachments has a large learning curve to say the least. Friday was the time to start bush hogging before the jungle gets too far ahead of us. While it was slow going and JB wasn’t ready for the steep parts of the land on the tractor… he did an excellent job and as time goes on he’ll gain the confidence to hit all the spots he was hesitant to do so far.
I was reviewing the trailers today, thinking about different locations on the property to store them when not being used I realized my trailer-backing skills are sorely lacking. I must start somewhere so why not moving a trailer to a new area? I do think I should take a trailer out to an area with a big unused Parking lot ( there are more around than should be !) And practice backing and maneuvering. You know, all the things I always let me husband do.
Since the weather has been cold for the spring the planting season is delayed, I think this is actually a good thing considering all that I am dealing with right now. I have (MOST) of the seeds ready to go… just the plowing and tilling is going to be delayed but so is the ground temp. I had a plan to start seedlings under a grow lights in the scullery early this year but with all the time-consuming needs of my husband, that too was put on hold. I trust that G-d will provide a source this year for the starts I had wanted to do.
Another thing that happened that I find reassuring, we had planned on buying some adjacent land and installing fencing and adding livestock. That plan was delayed and I lost that opportunity. But I am now thankful because adding a new venture with the magnitude of work would not be something I could do at this point with all the added responsibilities nor could we have done any work while my husband was so ill. As Garth Brooks sings:
“Sometimes I thank G-d for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of G-d’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers”
Back to Work
While I had to back way off as a Realtor during my husband’s illness, I have started to slowly take on a few clients. We or I should now say, I specialize in land sales and now while the housing market is nuts, the savvy investor knows land is critical. So it was wonderful to get back out on the land this past weekend and show some impressive land parcels. Life almost felt normal.
So while I still have a very long list of things to accomplish, according to the estate attorney, I feel that the background work, those items that the attorneys and clerk of court don’t care about, are though not overwhelming are surely either emotional or new to me. I can handle them if I just keep reminding myself that the plans we made were for TEOTWAWKI. So even though It’s my world Things will go on and I will survive.
I pray that I continue to make the right choices and continue in the manner we had planned. I am thankful for the foresight my husband had and will work as hard as he did.
Hindsight Beats Foresight
In hindsight, I know I should have paid more attention to the working of the property, not just the business side but the day-to-day operation of the equipment and facilities. So far nothing has completely stumped me. I know I may be doing things differently than my husband would have done, but they are getting done.
A word to the wise, we always hear about cross-training for our survival. Do not ignore this. We all need to know all the various aspects of our home. Weapons, food, equipment, paperwork, governmental requirements, basic healthcare, etc. No one should be so specialized that they can’t be replaced. Push yourself now out of your comfort and learn those things you don’t think you need to know. Because you do need to know those things.
Well, y’all keep up the great work, never stop preparing and may you keep the Peace of the Lord with you at all times.