Prepping: The $40 Plan for 2020

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Since we’ve been writing about “UrbanSurvival” long before any of the “Johnny-come-lately’s” on the web (starting in ’98), our views on what’s “adequate prepping” have moderated a bit, over time.

Here are the simplest, cheapest, and best ways we can think of to increase your personal preparedness in 2020.

  1. Spend $10-bucks a person on bottled water.

If there is  one vulterability we all have, it’s that water is the essence of life.  Go without it for 48-96 hours and you’re in medical emergency territory, depending on your general health and the climate.

Elaine and I keep a couple of hundred gallons in the ibiquitous blue barrels (which don’t hold up to UV very well, so we plan to replace them this year).  Even so, we ran into a deal this week where the bottled water in the house really paid off.

We live on a single-lane (and calling it a lane is a stretch) dead-end road.  No one comes up here without running our “camera gauntlet.”

One of the features of this “country lane” is a big culvert.  And the earth around it isn’t particularly stable.  Since the pipes in the ground have been in 30-years, or so, when a leak developed by the creek, the water company was Johnny-on-the-spot.

Except, when that leak was fixed, another sprung a block up the street…so overall, the water was off for about 6-hours while the backhoe came in and fixed both.  New sections of pipe, and so on.

Thing is, they forgot to drain the line.  As a result, the water pipe had air in it, so all of our water coming in, even though fresh, was being “charged” with a little effrervescence by the line air.

Sure, you could pour a glass of this milky looking water and in a minute it would bubble out the air, but in the meantime, until we were back in “clean water” we didn’t want to drink what was coming out.

Bottom Line to the story:  We pick up several gallons (when we remember) of 4-liter water bottles.  They store well, and it’s probably better than what comes out of the tap.  Just depends if you want to drink water-down parting compound *(a risk of plastic bottles) or the chlorinated hydrocarbons that somehow end up in water samples.

If there’s ever a plumbing problem where you live, or an earthquake (I’ve scheduled several in 2020) you can thank me later.  We go to the dollar-stores for ours.  Price differential for “designer waters?”  How stupid are ‘Mericans?  *(You know the answer, so I won’t says it out loud.)

2. Code Your Passwords

A  dead certainty in 2020 is that some large corporation or healthcare group is going to be hacked.

Problem with hacks is that when the ransom notes come in, “I record you watching a porn channel…” is how they begin, you have  no clue as to where you have been breached.

Doesn’t matter whether the coding goes at the beginning, middle, or end of your password, and it doesn’t matter if you use two letters or three or four, point is that if we get a  passwordAMA that would nail down the source of the data breach as being Amazon.  We HAVEN’T had a breach there and we DON’T EXPECT ONEi.

But computer security is important to us all, and IF a data breach were to cause a substantial personal loss, having each of your accounts encoded in such a manner than you could assign breach responsibility would put you light-years ahead of people to lazy to think and act to protect their digital assets.

3. Map And Escape Plan

Do you have stored detail maps, including hike-out maps with terrain to get the hell out of a big city?  We have kept up on railroad rights of way that are closed down, since these are generally pretty level ground for cross-country travel.

Look around online, there are lots of them to be found and many can be stored.

Also, do you have a small charger for your cell phone?  I mean, what good will walk-out maps (and a couple of LifeStraw’s (Personal Water Filter for Hiking, Camping, Travel, and Emergency preps) do if you don’t know where you are and where the nearest water is?

For this, something like the $46-buck AMZGO Solar Charger 26800mAh,Portable Solar Power Bank 18W PD Fast Charger with Type-C in/Output?18W USB Output, Waterproof, Ultra-Bright LED Light & Flashlight is a good start, though it would bust our $40 budget by a country mile.

So far, we have a $12 Lifestram and $10-bucks worth of water.

4. A  Serious Pocketknife

Gift from a dear friend is what my firefighter son carries, a  Spyderco Rescue.  Fine knife ($75) and hard to misplace with the bright orange handle.  Being a simpler fellow, my pocket has a Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara 2 Folding Knife – Black Steel Handle, CombinationEdge, Full-Flat Grind, 8Cr13MoV Steel Black Blade and Back Lock (~$36) in it at all times.

While you can pick up a cheapy knife for $8-bucks at a dollar store, we’d sure encourage you to get a “real knife.”  Elaine has her own Cara Car 2, also, though the “flip open with thumb” hole action is a bit stiff for here.

That said, I’ve got a whole list of pocket knife criteria:

  • Whatever I carry has a 3″ blade of simply, “what’s the point?”
  • It has to be one-handed opening  and closing.  I’ve been sailing, flying, and all sorts of “adventuring” with my Spyderco’s over the years.
  • The other selling point to me is the “lock-back” feature.  Thing with the lock-back is it eliminates (or nearly-so) the chances of the blade collapsing on your fingers.  In a survival situation, you don’t want injuries.

Can’t tell you how many times over the years, I’ve been in a situation either sailing, flying, or just at the lumber yard, and someone will remark on how I can smoothly draw and open my knife in a flash.

People look at it and say “Dude…cool knife…”  A good knife, understand, is like a good frriend.

At there other things to carry?  Sure are!  In an urban setting where one-handed knife opening is not so handly as it is out “on the range” (on a Kubota?  who’s he kidding?)… I’d look at a (~$52) Gerber MP600 Multi-Plier, Needle Nose, Black.  Or, if a big bonus was burning a hole in my pocket, hows about a $100 class LEATHERMAN – Wave Plus Multitool with Premium Replaceable Wire Cutters and Spring-Action Scissors, Stainless Steel?

To be sure, you will see a lot of tradesmen (electricians seem drawn to the Leatherman) using the latter…but it all depends on your purpose.  A lower end product that would still be better than nothing would be the less brandced “Multitool Knife. 15 in 1 Portable Pocket Multifunctional Multi Tool. Folding Saw, Wire Cutter, Pliers, Sheath” from Amazon for $14-bucks, or thereabouts.

All depends on what kind of person you plan to be.  If you’re a base jumper turned aerial ladderman who does everything, then more money is warranted.  But, if you’re an accountant waiting for the ateries to harden, then spend your money on more salads for lunch…

I made notes on Monday on my knife us:  Came out of my pocket for:

  • Digging a stuck staple out of a staple gun.  Elaine’s working on a project, lol.
  • Came out to cut up a couple of boxes and get ’em into the burn barrel.
  • Also to slice open a handful of parts than  came in those “impossible to open” plastic  Zon padded envelopes.
  • And to cut back a piece of work a tiny bit so a woodworking project would be perfect.
  • End of the day?  Came out for three passes on the sharpener.  A dull knife is like a dull person…what’s the pointy of having  them around?

OK, of “resolutionating”…Write when you get rich,

george@ure.net

34 thoughts on “Prepping: The $40 Plan for 2020”

  1. First of all, I am a “knife nut” and collect all types of knives. My regular carry pocket knife is a Swiss Army Tinker but I also carry a Buck 110 on my belt. In my GHB is a Swiss Huntsman and a Leatherman multitool.

  2. Don’t forget that Texas has now legalized switchblades and some other fun things. After having a few of the typical “tourist kid’s” knives from the border towns I visited ‘way back when secreted away over the years my wife bought me a Gerber for my birthday a year or so ago. Gerber is the brand that a family member had issued to him while in the Army so that’s what she bought. Excellent brand, good steel, just don’t skin a deer with one or you’ll be taking it apart to clean it. Good luck getting it back together correctly. They have their place in the scheme of things….

    And, in one tome I posted here some time ago, I expressed a love of Arkansas stones for sharpening. My rough stone has been used so much I haven’t used the finishing stone in quite some time as the blade shaves well enough without it after only a short session on the “rough” stone. I’ve had this pair of stones since about 1980 so they do last quite a while as long as you don’t drop them.

    It seems that most blades in a pocket knife now days are stainless. Carbon steel was always easier to sharpen and held the edge well enough but the stainless ones have been in all my knives over the past 30 some-odd years. Rust proof stainless has been the saving grace of many of my pocket knives that I’ve had.

  3. I carry a small length of ‘aircraft cable’ whose ends screw together forming a loop. On that loop I have tweezers, LED Micro light, short ‘wedgey’ bar for prying, flat-head and phillips-head screw drivers, P38 can opener, bottle opener (for those tasty craft beers), and a whistle. One Christmas I gifted each of my sons a duplicate. Extremely handy and self-edifying when someone says, “Oh gosh… wish I had some tweezers to get this splinter out” and I hand them a pair.
    Knives? Yes! I carry more than one, usually. A TOPS 4″ Pukkoo in a belt sheath and a Zero Tolerance assisted opening with a 3.75″ blade. Style and brand may vary depending on my mood. But always a quality blade since I believe in “Buy quality and only cry once”.

    We have the Mini-Sawyers in our GHBs as well as the Lifestraws. Good stuff! We also have multiple means of re-charging phones, batteries, etc. Probably could use a bit more water storage. Thanks for the reminder.

  4. The local trash hauler at the house in town is being bought out by a huge regional waste handler. In the process of screwing the pooch they compromised the entire email list of customers and God only knows what other information. I am currently looking for a new hauler but the ones I have checked with so far want to have access to my bank account for a direct draw. They can pound sand. I have never paid a trash hauler with anything other than a check after getting an invoice in the mail and I will be damned if I will start now. Thankfully here at El Rancho de Chaos I do not have that issue.

    Safeguard your information.

    73 de AD0YQ

  5. Happy New Year, George!!
    I always enjoy your posts and love trying to figure out the typos. Kind of a mind stimulus game for me.

    I appreciate the comments on the knives and the multi-tools. I have been a Kershaw and Leatherman person for years, not only for the quality of the tools but for the warranty and service departments. Leatherman(s) have been back several times, usually due to my errors in using them and have either been fixed or replaced for free. Twenty-five year guarantee really works. As for the Kershaw Scallion, it has always been the right size for most jobs and has the thumb assist and locking that you were looking for. I have worn out three blades and for $10 and postage, Kershaw has made it like new. I have a second Kershaw to use when I sent number one in and a third one as a spare for the spare. “Two is one, and one is none” when you really need something. Food grade water barrels for me as well.
    73 to all

    • I forgot the sharpener(s) as others in this thread have mentioned. I prefer my 20 year old kit from Razor Edge Systems, https://www.razoredgesystems.com/. These are the guys who got into Guinness by shaving with a double bit axe. Old school equipment, but really works. Also recommend watching the sharpening videos from Murray Carter, an amazing bladesmith, who demonstrates that you can shave using a knife sharpened on a paving brick with the proper technique. https://www.cartercutlery.com/. For what it may be worth.
      73

  6. I have hand crank small radio plus it has cell phone charger. (Now I have phone with c- connector, oh well)

      • As I learned from several recent power outages, the local cell tower(s) have zero effective battery backup! Plan on no comms at all unless you have another radio system.

        Just because they’re legally required to have 48 hours of backup doesn’t mean that they do.

  7. Short and interesting column today! When I saw the title, I figured it was a suggestion to get a Peoplenomics account. At least I have that one covered, and it’s worth it.

    If you know a bar or consume any quantity of adult beverages, you can get quality 1/2 gallon(1.75L) bottles for free. Wash(or not) and fill with clean tap water. I have at least 30 gallons of this easily accessible and use it whenever water is not readily available. I also have 500 gallon black tanks as a more serious backup. I’ll be installing roof catchment when the weather breaks and it’s possible to work effectively outside. One storm can fill up a swimming pool. For those that must have everything pre-packaged, Walmart has various kinds of water at 88 cents a gallon. Their plastic containers are not UV resistant though. If you’re going to use blue barrels, keep them in the shed.

    I admit to not formally coding my passwords, though I never use the same one for more than one site. It’s more effort to look up what got hacked, but the security is at the same level. I’ll get around to doing a formal coding some day. Just remember that the most effective passwords are longer ones – even more so than having mixed case, numbers and special characters. The limitation is often on the server side.

    Maps are getting increasingly hard to come by these days. Yes, virtual maps are everywhere, but finding quality topos or sectional charts takes a bit of effort. A minimum of two compasses(compi?) is a necessity, and three for voter coincidence if one fails. It’s worth the effort to learn your environment to the extent that you could walk(or otherwise travel) 50 miles in any direction without a map or compass while maintaining situational awareness.

    Unlike many, I keep good knives in reserve, and I really like stainless! My daily carry is one or more cheap snap-off razor knives – less than a dollar at Harbor Fright. I use these things constantly for everything, including cutting sheetrock, plastic, and Amazon boxes. For less than a dollar, you get a knife and a free toy! The most common toy is their blue LED flashlight(batteries included) which I also use several times daily.

    • NM Mike, you sound like the kind of guy that is handy and would be good to have around. Living in the PacNW offers me lots of natural survival resources yet since my sweetie passed I’m left with good assets but limited with the practical just get it fixed skills. I can do a lot and have preservation yet some things are beyond my ken. At least I have a Berkely water filter!

      • Clancy Pants, congratulations on the Berkey filter! I have had one in the kitchen for the last 12 or so years and it’s been a Godsend, though it’s much less portable than a lifestraw or Katadyn. Even good water benefits from proper filtering.

        My condolences for your loss. Living alone is challenging, yet it can be managed. Sometimes life events and directions are beyond our control. We can always play the hand we’re dealt to the best of our ability.

        Since you’re resourceful, you can learn a lot from staying reasonably current with technology and watching the better youtube videos on things that are less familiar. Sometimes a video can clarify what a book cannot. At the least, such sources provide leads to further learning. If you have tools available, you can learn to use them safely and well. Seeing what and how others create will likely inspire you to build or repair small projects, and that builds competence and confidence. Good luck!

      • NM Mike, I appreciate your kind thoughts and great suggestions regarding you tube videos. Fortunately I live in a small community and have talented friends that have helped around the properties when in urgent need. My rentals are a major concern but I intend to put it on the market this year. Now my home is another story, just finding someone to blow of the roof after a major storm is something I don’t care to do. Nonetheless, I am truly blessed to live where I do.

  8. I forgot to mention my favorite Katadyn hiking filter. These things have possibly saved my life on at least one occasion when traveling in back country. At the least, prevented Giardia. A bit bigger than a life straw but capable of filtering much more water effectively.

  9. 1) I picked up some food-grade non-photochemically reactive 275 gallon jugs a few months back for $10 each — haven’t decided whether I’m going to mount them in a tower (running water), bury them (emergency supply) or both.

    2) ANSI extended code set for any place that’ll accept it.

    3) I joined an antique railroad society some years back. Sure, I like steam locomotives and mahogany Pullman cars, but I joined specifically to acquire maps of every known railroad right-of-way in NA. Even if the tracks are long-gone or someone’s turned it into a hiking trail, the road bed is still there.

    3a) Duh…

    4) My current EDC is SOG. I bought a broken case of Leatherman Wingmans and gifted them to kids, etc., keeping one as a car-carry. Also as car-carry, I added a Silky Gomboy 8″ lock-blade saw to my kit. The saw is breathtakingly sharp and holds its edge as well as any American or Swedish blade. It ain’t as fast as a chainsaw (my firestarter is not as fast as a butane lighter — sometimes “fast” isn’t the point), but it’s really quiet and gets the job done. I believe I could build a rough hovel or shack within a few days, with it…

    • 3a1) ‘Course I also carry a compass, and a pocket sextant and star guide (thank you, Edmund Scientific!) in my GO-bag…

      NB: When I was a kid, we had genuinely neat toys which actually did things, and some of us learned to take care of our stuff, too…

      • “Course I also carry a compass, and a pocket sextant and star guide (thank you, Edmund Scientific!) in my GO-bag…”

        Now that’s being a smart man Ray…

        I was once jogging with an army ranger that was on.leave before he was deployed to some god forsaken spot on the planet…
        We were star gazing and got into a deep discussion about self locating your position on the planet by aligning the stars.. it dawned on me then after we visited . If I don’t have a compass or map.. you sure in heck dont want to have me lead you through the wilderness lol..
        And if your lost in the wilderness where theres wild animals that can hurt you make sure you have someone with you that has a different prominent side that runs slower than you do lol..oh hey that is the same for being in a bad neighborhood in a big city lol

        I read a fair share and my wife tells me I know north worthless crap than anyone she knows.. I’ve had a lot of hats and can hold my own but if we are lost you are in trouble lol lol

      • “where theres wild animals that can hurt you make sure you have someone with you that has a different prominent side that runs slower than you do”

        I know you’re being flip, but this is an actual serious point:

        ANY creature will show fear when confronted by danger. Man can not outrun any carnivorous animal — we didn’t get that genetic gift. A human has to fight, not let their fear get to them, and figure a way to limit both frontal and flank attacks while they counterattack. I fought off a dangerous dog just last month. I faced him as he was charging, then kneed him judo-style. His impetus carried him about 12 feet through the air, into a concrete wall. After the wall adjusted his attitude, he allowed his owner (who’d been helplessly watching this event unfold) to approach and put a leash on him.

        ‘Point is, you HAVE to fight, and losing is not an option, so you put yourself in a defensible position. I was not, and couldn’t reach one, so if that dog had come at me again, I was perfectly prepared to take a bite from him, and kill him in-return…

  10. Scanning some surplus electronic parts catalogs I found a 6 watt (1.2amp) 5volt usb solar panel charger. Also some ‘yuge’ super-capacitors. I put together a plastic electrical box with the solar panel on top and… get this… 2,000 Farads @ 8.1v of energy storage super caps inside. Left out in the sun for a day or two it collects enough electrons to charge the PDA anytime, day or night.
    Yes, you read that right… 2,000 FARADS.

      • The box I put the supercaps in is about the size of the SB-220. But will the modulator work at only 8 volts? What I got are six caps rated 3000F @ 2.7volts. Three in series are 1000F @ 8.1 volts. Two strings in parallel. That’s the drawback with supercaps… such dang low voltage.

        • Let’s see: 2.7 volts, so a string of 1000 of these (to his the 2.7 KV on my
          “breathed on” SB-220…um… now I’m down to just 3 F..but OMG, think of the bragging rights, not to mention the size of the HV supply! Wanna do the current limiting resistor calcs for startup for me, assuming mains power of 240 V at 20 A?

      • Are you OK with 30-minute warmup/chargeup time? :-)
        And a thousand of these puppies, even at surplus prices, will require a second mortgage loan.

  11. The stuff you have with you is infinitely more valuable than the stuff you have locked up somewhere else. Getting too obsessed with electronic widgets, sharps and firearms is a mistake.

    For me, a small multi-tool, a one cell flashlight and a small compass in the pocket are good everyday carry. The pocket compass gets used least, but when I need it, I need it right then and there.

    Keep a couple of bags of stuff in the vehicle. Try using materials on hand to put together a small pack with items you will need if you are on foot and maybe a duffel for things you need for repairs and to stay with the car if you are stranded.

    Rain-wear and spare clothes go under the category of shelter, and are the highest priority items everyone ignores when they think of survival equipment. Do you have a couple of lighters tucked away in the trunk of you car? Water gathering and purification come after shelter. First aid supplies are important in motor vehicles. Do you have a tourniquet?

    At home, try to think about what the functionality of things you buy will be with the electricity off or comms down before you purchase. Did you really need the electric can opener and knife sharpener, or would you be better off with the non-electric variety?

    Running out and buying more stuff is usually not necessary. Look through all the things that you have squirreled away, or banished to the junk drawer. I was going through an old duffle today and found a number of items which I added to the vehicle bags. Not things of beauty, but they were serviceable, and the price was right. Re-purposing old stuff which hasn’t seen the light of day in years is a double win.

    • A truly excellent post!

      To add to it:

      “Water gathering and purification come after shelter.”

      This is EXACTLY RIGHT, and totally overlooked. You think of an emergency or “bugged-out” scenario, and you think: “WATER! If I don’t have water, I could die within 2-3 days” — and that’s correct. However, in an unfamiliar environment or locale, especially during a SHTF event, you can get shot or eaten within 2-3 hours. I’ve seen cougars in Michigan (not far from Jackson, which ain’t exactly “the wilds”) and heard tell of ’em in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Pennsylvania — They are not just Western, “Badlands” dwellers, as they’ve been stereotyped. Coyote (or coy-dogs, which are more-dangerous) are everywhere.

      When bugged-out, if a stop is necessary, you ALWAYS camp in a defensible position and establish a secure perimeter, establish a shelter, THEN concern yourself with water (and food, if you’re going to be in-camp for a while — not recommended, but stuff happens…)

      People look at me kinda funny when I tell them I have spare underwear and socks (in a Ziploc) in my GO-bag. If you get wet, especially when it’s cold, you can NOT get warm outdoors, with a wet base-layer, and you WILL get sick. My daughter is an avid camper, and has saved herself grief at least twice, with dry undies. (I know, because she has called each time to thank me.)

      The “Swing-Away” is the “gold standard” in manual household can openers. (Edlund is the absolute best and finest, but who wants to spend $200 on a manual can opener?) Swing-Away was American-made for 70 years, however, the last 17 it’s been made in China. The Chinese unit is mild steel, including the knife (that wheely thingie which pierces the can and cuts the top off when you turn the crank) and is good for 5-6 #303 cans, before the blade edge rolls over, the center hole wallows out, and it will no-longer function. Try to open a large can and the frame will bend. However, that “junk” Swing-Away in the bottom of your (or your parents’) junk drawer will open everything from 6oz cans of tomato paste to 8lb cans of beans — reliably and without electricity, and for darn near forever.

      Not everything that’s old is good.
      Not everything that’s good is old.

      But you’re much more likely to find good (as in quality, functional) stuff in an old junk drawer or a box in a garage, than on a shelf in a store.

      BTW I have bought at least a dozen “compact” “wheel-knife” can openers, from new to ’30s vintage, and have yet to find one I’d include in a GO-bag or grab-and-go kit. Sad to say, a P38 or the opener on a Scout or Swiss Army knife or multitool may be as good as it gets.

      • A lot of the can openers have issues because the cans today are made with less steel. But if you turn it on its side and open the can the can side is still made with a heavier steel.
        Every seal or ranger I’ve ever visited with has sworn by having a multi tool..

      • “People look at me kinda funny when I tell them I have spare underwear and socks (in a Ziploc) in my GO-bag. ”

        I can totally relate to that… I get teased all the time about that.. not that I have them in a go bag.. but I have a change of everything in the car.. a bag and an auto bag.. I was a work a holic and spent the majority of my life living to go from one job to another.. my egg timer years because I used an egg timer for an alarm clock.. I lived in my car.. I carry spare hats for the maximum seating .. gloves.. blankets etc.. I am that way at home to.. fire extinguishers I have about every twenty five feet.. fire blankets oxygen and two aed’s.. one in the shop and one in the house.. since kids are not to be in the shop.. we do our experiments together.. I have ped’s pads in the one .. along with the adult pads..
        I use to get teased because I would keep a few weeks worth of provisions around to.. then we had to use them for a year.. now I have people ask if they can help..
        so I can relate to being teased about something like that.. I get it all the time..

  12. yes indeed you have George.. but now with max crazy we have little old gold going up as everything goes to the horn guy.. so cute !!so dalio / moriarty / kern like .. such smart new economy types .. buy gold on afterpay if you like and most of all be happy as you go broke looking at gold .. yippee !!! gold in a defationary depression .. save a guru !! save Bridgewater !! save America !!! save the planet .. give em some scary stories bob !!! you need the money

  13. all you need is gold . dalio survivor guide .. gives you a real job ..e radicates massive non productive maxed debt .. savings as well !!! remember that !! you get more money for money !! invest in Bridgewater !! make you a trillionaire like ray .. so good !! flash car you actually own as well !! and a big big house !!

  14. and play the game !!! make up doom stories and then solve them with gold like master doomteller bob moriarty!! start your own ponzi scheme based on a non existent bond market !! and get medals and rewards from the government and FED.. its a new world .., play commiecapitalismo with ray , bob , bobby and the boys .. !!! get rich quick get into goldie game .. the stock market game is finished , bitcon , fang game, finished play goldie like the gurus!! join master storytellers sites like kitco and 321 gold

  15. Like I would like to tell all the gurus when everyone is bullish gold and the market. It’s the red button!!!! Bob ray and the gang of gurus

  16. My favorite every-day-carry is a Benchmade mini-griptillian in green scales. I often carry a Case Texas toothpick style. Funny it’s got green scales too. When “outdoorsing” I also carry a Buck 110 Alaskan on my belt. For “serious” outdoorsing I have an Essee 5 with full sheath and ‘altoid boxes’ full of interesting stuff. I carry a small pen-size but powerful 250 lumen flashlight on my person. My key ring has a small knife on it too disguised as a key. Got Leathermans and a first-aid kit in each vehicle. My Wrangler unlimited has more tools and whatnot as it’s the ‘bugout’ vehicle.

    You can never have too much water. That being said we only keep about 40 gallons in blue 5 gallon jugs and average about 5-6 cases of drinking water bottles in the house at one time. We should do more of course. Only have about 4 months worth of food and that includes the freeze-dried stuff and that is a bit scary.

    I’ve only recently taken on the focused password changes as you’ve suggested. It’s working great but it’s Amazing how many online Ids you end up with over time. For that matter how do I change my password on Peoplenomics?

    We’ve got topo/highway maps of Texas in large book form that include railways. They are several years old so I’m sure they need updating with all the urban sprawl central Texas has seen.

    My wife doesn’t really get the whole “you can never have too many tools” thing but she doesn’t get in the way of it either. Nor accessories for the jeep and boat. She’s a great gal.

    We do Not currently have a bugout location mapped or bought. As Austin becomes ever more crowded and degenerates that’s become more and more important. Guess I’ll have to sell the 911 and the McMansion in exchange for some scrub somewhere. :) For that matter we do have a bunch of ‘junk’ that we need to downsize/get rid of and that’ll go a long way as we approach retirement years.

    Trying to start a small aquaponics operation here at home just for practice. That’s a real space-eater. I’ve got a small night-crawler farm started in an old flower bed kind of by accident but it’s set and rolling now. Provides my fish bait for free. :)

    That’s all for now. Have a great New Year!

  17. https://siegestoves.com

    I gave those out two years ago with xmas cards to add to the car kits..

    Each car has one of these along with a road hazard kit and shovel. The siege stove clipped to the side. In the kit I added emergency straws and pl34
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/BailOut-Backpack-Disaster-Emergency-Elite-Survival-Kit-Bag-Food-Water-Bug-Camo/274074293747?hash=item3fd019d5f3:g:-D8AAOSwVV9duV7p

    These are the straws I have in each kit .. I also sent these out with xmas cards one year.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-New-Clean-SIP-Straws-Water-Filtration-Removal-E-coli-Bulk-Packaging/113739067416

    Each year I send out something new. One year it was a wallet or purse survival card.. one year a glove compartment

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/38-Mini-Portable-Pocket-Alloy-Fishing-Rod-Rack-Pen-Backpack-and-River-Reel/292774306645?hash=item442ab56355:g:8wQAAOSw~ZFbxhym

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Readyman-Wilderness-Stainless-Survival-Card-Multi-Tool-3-75-x-2-25/392002835664?hash=item5b453094d0:g:Kp8AAOSwFilartqq

    For water storage I I use the water brick

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