Prepper thoughts!
What do you do when you have been a prepper (just normal living was the words we used back when) for most of your life and you start to run into the issues of just having too much stuff?
Credit to http://intothehermitage.blogspot.com/2009/04/house-on-your-back.html for the picture!
Canning, dehydrating, 1 is none, 2 is 1 and then after the house is filled you start in on storage buildings unless ya have a couple of barns.
Over the years it at times feels like all the stuff is weighing you down.
What are the solutions you have found to deal with it all?
So welcome to steemit, read, respond and be real.
Yes I am accumulating and accumulating.
One answer is to keep everything well organised (which I aspire too but don't always achieve!). Always frustrating not to be able to find something when you need it.
I also have a continual cycle of sorting, refining and upgrading as I can afford it. I then pass on what I don't need to people I know that will make good use, or via freecycle.
I strive to have the optimal kit that I can afford at any one time.
It is a process that never really ends.
Good idea on the cycle for foods but what about tools and such?
We only keep what we need. Knowing what we do and our lifestyle, we know which tools to keep, which things will need maintenance and what parts we will need for them.
We refine the list, rotate, clear things out to freecycle...frequently. Then for long term preps, we keep two bins for medical...one bin and two back packs for survival gear (because it can be done with a knife, axe, flint, rope, kelly stove and blanket...so aside from making sure we have a few extras on those things, then it is just food, water and herbs...
We keep whole grains which last 15 to 20 years, plenty of seeds, beans etc, enough pre-made storage food for 6 months (I would like to get that up to 2 years)...then can our food.
We have manual food prep tools, and will have a new Berkey soon...
I have extra sewing stuff, and fabric...and would like to get some carding/spinning tools...but I keep extra knitting needles and crochet hooks, darning needles...leather (but if we were in a long term SHTF mode we could tan more...
Knowledge and tools seem the most important aside from food, water and medical...so we try not to get things we don't really need.
and beads...lots and lots of BEADS ;)
LOL You know it!
Much stuff means much concern. I'm struggling to find the balance too. I'll be very interested in what others have to say.
I am hoping lots of folks chime in also because we can all gain knowledge!
I think that it puts you in a position to help others that are in need. That said, I have been trying to purge because I've realized that a lot of the stuff I thought I've owned has actually owned me. In other words, it has weighed me down, taken time to move or been in my way, takes time and money to maintain. Am I using it or do I have a "reasonable" expectation of using it in the next 12 months? No....I give, donate, throw away, or try to repurpose. Yes? It stays and I reevaluate in a year. It's a constant struggle but better than the alternative of being in need and not being able to obtain. Good luck Wee!
Yup I am at the point it is eating up too much real estate and I am asking myself just how many ways do I really need to have heat (cast iron stove that is too big).
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