prepare « Robin Writes

And now I have that old DP jingle stuck in my head. You probably do too. You’re welcome.

What is a “prepper?” The broadest definition, of course, would be “someone who is prepared.” Prepared for what? Well, that depends on a number of things: your political persuasion, your awareness of current events, and/or your level of insanity.

I only mention this last because, well, we’ve all encountered crazy people in our lives. That, however, is often open to interpretation. Is there anything inherently wrong in being over-prepared? And over-prepared, in itself, is also open to speculation.

Most “preppers” that I know don’t use that word to describe themselves; they are simply waiting and watchful. And they’re getting ready. Most are conservatives; most pay attention to things that are happening. Are they right to be concerned? Yes.

As I explained it to someone who told me about my seemingly batshit crazy cousin, who’s running around advertising for “help” and living in his basement and burying things in the backyard, anything could happen – it doesn’t have to be apocalyptic.

With rising prices, you might not have access to or be able to afford food, running water, utilities, gasoline, and so forth. Or war could break out – or looting, or rioting. Or, too, civilization as we know it could completely collapse. Yes, it could happen. Certainly. Some preppers believe that it will, sooner rather than later.

So, in a nutshell, you could be ready, or not.

What could you do? Without, of course, triggering the insanity-radar of your neighbors, family, law enforcement, etc.?

First, you need to have some storage capabilities. Your garage, a shed you can lock up, the laundry room, under your bed, in a closet, or even the very top kitchen cabinet shelves that you don’t really use.

The next part is a little tricky and depends upon your beliefs. If you think SHTF is imminent, you better step up your game. If you think that you maybe/probably have some time, then keep reading. I don’t consider myself a prepper, although plenty of my friends use that word to describe me. I won’t pretend to be an expert, but I will help you develop a plan for “just in case.”

Do you use coupons? Does your local grocery store have good specials from time to time, like ten items for $10? That’s when you stock up, on things like canned goods, jugs/bottles of water, instant seasoning packets, tomato sauce, beans, peanut butter, nuts, granola, and so forth. You can find much more comprehensive lists elsewhere, this is just the start.

While you’re stocking up on food and water, don’t forget personal care items: deodorant, toothpaste, toilet paper. I’m not saying go crazy, but hey – these are things you use every day. I hope.

Take a few minutes to think about how you would live if the electric grid went down. Propane for cooking? Wood? Charcoal? What about if the water supply was contaminated? Containers, bottled water, filtration kit, purifying tablets – have these things handy.

Cash, too. No electric means no businesses open, no ATM. And gasoline – when it drops in price, since they like to tease us from time to time, fill up your tank at least halfway. Keep a few gas cans in the garage. Batteries, flashlights, blankets – think about an emergency kit that you might keep in your car. Just more items.

I certainly haven’t covered everything, but it’s a start. And, naturally, I have to mention my books, Reduced and Reused. Abby and her gang had some advance notice of SHTF, and they were prepared. They were ready to bug out and go live in the woods, with quite a few gadgets and comforts that they otherwise might not have had ready. You can certainly bug out, if you have to leave your home, but the gist of it is this: what next?

If you aren’t ready, it’s not as if you’d be able to whine and moan online or over your cell phone or listen to the latest news. You’ll be on your own, with your family perhaps, and have to make do. It’s much easier if you’re prepared, even if it’s just for a week. And if nothing happens, well, you’ve done your shopping for the next however-many months.

And if you don’t tell anyone, they won’t think you’re crazy.

This is REDUCED. REDUCED is a work of fiction. Probably. Mostly?

REDUCED tells the story of a group of people, friends, and one woman in particular, Abby. After a major government screw-up, the world has changed. No utilities, no Internet, cell towers eventually fall – especially out in the woods, where these survivors have chosen to remain hidden.

Now there’s been a lot of talk going around, especially lately in light of the recent US election. Words like “apocalypse” have been tossed up in the air, people refer to “bugging out,” and there are rumors of US economic collapse in the not-too-distant future.

Are these a bunch of fanatics? Crazy backwoods types? Maybe.

What if it really happened?

I’m not suggesting a government plot anything at all like what happens in REDUCED, but there are very real fears of an economic collapse – reliable sources have noted that food prices are likely to increase in 2013, more shortages will occur, and things, in general, could slide downhill very fast.

There are three possible scenarios that could lead REDUCED to play out in real life:

1) Soaring prices, unavailability of certain goods and services, worthless credit, vigilante law; one thing leads to the next, and so on and on. It could happen in a couple months, or six months, or a year. Or, never.

2) Outright revolution and rebellion. Certainly unlikely, but one never knows for sure. Kind of like earthquakes – in some places, the odds are greater, but you never really can be positive it won’t happen to you. Or a storm like Sandy. Or….

3) And of course, many of you remember the Cold War. A lot of talk about nuclear annihilation, bomb drills, shelters, and so forth. Another possibility.

Abby had some advance notice, and maybe that’s all some or even most of you would need. If you heard that something was imminent, you’d rush around to “prepare.” But would that be enough? Are you mentally and emotionally ready?

I’m certainly not suggesting you flee your home – not at all. After all, REDUCED is fiction. Probably. On the other hand, what would you do if your local water utility was no longer pumping or had been sabotaged? What if the electric grid went down? The cell towers? The Internet, for heaven’s sake?

Think about how your daily life could change almost overnight:

You head into the shower; what if no water came out of the tap? No shower, no brushing your teeth, no coffee.

You commute to work; what if the traffic lights were ALL on the fritz? What if cars were simply abandoned on the streets? What if gas prices doubled or your local service station actually ran out?

The temperature drops into the 20s. Your house is getting chilly about now. The power is out – no electric heat, no started for your gas furnace. Do you have firewood? A fireplace? A lot of blankets?

A long time ago, I read something like this: prepare for the worst, then hope for the best. That’s what happens in REDUCED. Fiction. Probably.