blog « Robin Writes

As I said last week, there’s lots of talk online and on news channels about “something big” coming in September. Sure, it could just be rumor, but I, for one, don’t want to wait and find out too late.

The market is going down, down, down. If you—like me—aren’t an investor, why should you be worried? Well, I don’t pretend to know all the ramifications, but you can Google it; the main reason, though, is that this is an indicator of economic health.

You know, economics: prices and value and cost. Hey, give me a break; I’m trying to keep it simple. Also, I don’t have enough coffee in me yet to make a lot of sense of this.

The point is that, sooner or later, this effects the prices you’re charged for goods like food, gas, and other products.

Now would be a good time to step your prepping.

And that’s exactly what we did this past weekend: convenience foods, staples, water, etc. And gasoline. Probably a few more things this coming week.

You all know we’re planning to GOOD next spring. We’ve changed the timetable for that too . . .

I decided there were some things that I didn’t want to leave behind, if it came to that, and so I started packing. We’ve gone through two rooms so far, packing and moving things that we likely won’t need between now and spring—so if we have to GOOD sooner, we won’t have such a loss.

But keep in mind a few things:

We’re moving just a few hours away;

We have a place to go to;

It’s not like we could never return, if we needed to or wanted to do so.

I’m not expecting a major apocalyptic event that levels our house or burns down the metro area, although I guess things could get very scary here. I’m not expecting to have to LIAH, but if we did, we’d be pretty well set as far as clothes and personal items and so forth.

Remember, if you have to LIAH, you’re going to be limited in what you can take with you. In our case, we’d grab all the food we could, important papers and cash, phones, wallets, and pets. Not necessarily in that order, in case you’re worried about Fido.

The other thing that has me concerned is, again, the market. Falling shares could mean a run on banks or a banking system snafu. Or credit cards shutting down. It’s been suggested that one withdraw cash in the next couple days, just in case.

That is, after all, what preppers do—look at the just-in-case scenarios.

I’m sure you’ve heard that you should keep your prepping on the down-low and not advertise to every Tom, Dick, and Harry where you are and what you’re doing and planning. This is very, very true. But you also have to be careful around friends and family.

My husband and I were discussing our kids—we have five—and what they could contribute if they had to leave town and come down to the farm. The next question is whether or not any or all of them would have the skills to actually get here, or if they’d realize that they should be bugging out.

Or if they’d want to.

See, in four months, over the summer, the only one who’s been here is the youngest, who’s still at home and starting his senior year of high school.

I also have some dear friends who would be welcome when SHTF. They have skills to contribute, after all, but most of them don’t seem to be too concerned about a situation that could occur, any situation.

So it’s likely just us.

However.

People talk. And it’s imperative that those who know where you are DO NOT give directions to anyone else. You’ve trusted them, but it doesn’t mean you trust or even know THEIR friends or family.

And you certainly aren’t extending an open invitation to everyone, just because you have a few acres in the middle of nowhere. We prep for US. WE are prepared to live here, indefinitely, when SHTF. We are NOT prepared, and will not, or should be, ready for anyone who does not have a direct invite from US to come out here.

This is not a vacation home. This is a farm. It may not look like much now, but it will. Sure, we can take a day off, most of one, or even two, to show you around and have some fun, but there are still daily chores to be done and our time is valuable.

Things in the city could get bad, really bad, this month, or next month, or next year. Or in five years, or never. No one knows. But it’s coming. And if you show up, you better have both skills and supplies. And if we don’t know you personally, you’re not coming in. Sorry, but my family is my priority. If you’re worried, start prepping. And spread the word to your family and friends, but DO NOT talk about my location or invite whoever you please.