Now that Ben and Maggie have moved on, I have been cleaning, decluttering and organizing the upstairs. How does all this relate to preparedness? Well, when I was putting together a sleeping plan during the snow storm I realized that I had misplaced the bin with the wool blankets and a second bin with extra pillows. I found them but I wasted a lot of time. This time I had it to spare but another time I might be scrambling.
I consider getting my home in order the first rule of preparedness. Not being able to find something is the same as not having it. The winds of change are in the air again. I try not to fall into worry mode but as things in Europe don’t seem to get any better and unrest in the ME has escalated I find myself running scenarios in my head. What if I had to provide shelter for more family members? Who would sleep where? How long would the food stores last? How much area could I plant with seeds on hand? How long would the wood last? What about the lamp oil?
These aren’t idle questions. Our history, both as a nation and as a species, has been defined by crisis. We are coming out of an age of stability and entering an age of instability. It’s a new normal in economics, climate and energy. Any one of a number of wiggly dominoes could topple any time. I have no idea which is going down first but I find it hard to believe that my life will just keep rolling on without being affected by job loss or food insecurity or weather crisis or energy constraints. Whether the impact will be a solvable problem or an intractable predicament is largely up to me.
November 16, 2011 at 10:07 pm
As always, thanks for the inspiration. I need to get another wool blanket or two, and new pillows. Your post on mattress toppers has me thinking too – although if I make the bed too cozy I have trouble getting up and out for work! Still working on putting water up and getting at least a 3 month supply put together. Life is too hectic! But we may actually slow down now that it’s the holidays. Go figure!
Best Wishes! Thanks for the motivating posts!
November 16, 2011 at 11:32 pm
I hadn’t thought about the idea that not being able to find something is the same as not having it, but I definitely see your point. My apartment is currently overcrowded and disorganized, and one of my big projects is to sort things out so I can better use and take of the things that I have. It’s a big job, but something that’s necessary to do.
November 17, 2011 at 9:15 am
Listening to NPR last night, someone being interviewed said that in his view, when families are saving/cutting back, the gov’t should NOT do the same, but should make up the slack. Then, ‘when the economy improves,’ the gov’t can make up the debts. IMO, ‘when the economy improves’ is a similar time frame to ‘once upon a time’ or ‘long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away.’ It’s a fantasy, and the sooner folks grasp that, the sooner we can get on with dealing with the reality facing us every day. Your sensible, thrifty, achievable suggestions are an excellent place to start!
p.s. did you get my phone message? I have a hutch that might serve for your canned goods… it was free at a friend’s yard sale
November 17, 2011 at 9:30 am
I’ve been working on the same things…organizing makes what you have USABLE. We have a small house (the result of brilliant downsizing) and it’s hard to keep what you need in an organized manner all the time, but so worth it when it’s done.
I think you are right and something is coming down the road at us…an ugly crisis, which I hope we all can manage through our preparedness!
November 17, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Well said, Kathy, thanks! I’ve shared this with a someone here who is stubbornly resistant to picking up & putting away on more than a semi-annual basis.
November 17, 2011 at 3:40 pm
I think you’re living Groundhog Day.. been stuck on days 11 and 12 for quite some time!
My latest achievement is adding a small cabinet near the front door that is storing our hats/mittens/scarves and our flashlights. Earlier this year, we had plenty of flashlights but no idea where they were. Is one in the kitchen drawer with the utensils? Bedside stand? Front porch? Pantry? Over the washing machine? In the basement? Back hall? Those are all real places I’ve seen a flashlight, but now they have a home. Next miniproject: get batteries organized. I want to know what batteries we have, where, and whether they are charged (and to charge them if they are not). Also, I want to know if we are lacking in any particular size (I suspect we urgently need D cells).
November 17, 2011 at 4:39 pm
I just sat down at the computer after checking our water supplies and adding some to the bag of preparedness that’s heading into my husband’s car. I was thinking I might type up his emergency contacts and add them to the bag in a ziploc. Mobile phones are great, but so few of us memorise the numbers of our loved ones anymore, that without the phone,we would be stuck.
I noticed last week that wool blankets are between $6 and $12 in our local thrift store. However, any that have even the smallest marks on them are designated ” dog blankets” and sell for $1. Well I now have one or two, perfectly clean after laundering, pure wool “dog blankets” keeping my family warm, thank you very much! To be honest, I do believe that my washer gets things clean and so any that retained some marks wouldn’t really bother me, I just might not put them on the guest beds
. I shall continue to swing by the ” dog blankets” and see what other treasures I can find. Any that really dont wash up well I might chop up and make slippers.
November 17, 2011 at 8:03 pm
I think you should be on day 18 by now!