When Do You Stop Prepping?

[NoMadMeHappy]

I'm 59. I have no children. I have enough fishing gear (and boats) to fish out my days. I have too much ammo for the guns I have, and could cull a third of my calibers, but want to add a few more
Prepping is a spectrum, right? I think I have been prepping since I was a little kid. I've always rationalized that my bubblegum had "value" like I was putting stuff in the bank. I think I'm getting to that purging age where I want to downsize and thinking about leaving a mess when I'm gone. I feel more and more like the value I have put on my stuff is not nearly equal to value to others.

Not sure what I'm saying here, but maybe prepping is for future thinkers and I'm running out of future? Not to be too morbid. I say this in very weird political times.

Anyway, my thoughts on prepping are changing with age and I worry more about my Gen Z nieces than more than myself.

Read More

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

I have too much ammo for the guns I have, and could cull a third of my calibers, but want to add a few more

Problem, meet solution

my Gen Z nieces

Training, gifts, hanging out with family having fun, whatever. Prepping is pointless if you lose enjoyment of your life

 

[NoMadMeHappy]

Siblings couldn't be further away. I'm leaving influence on my nieces to my siblings. Once I right-size, my OR/WA buddies will get my bubblegum.

 

[1911Fanatic]

It's never ending. Once you've got guns, ammo, emergency food and water, heat to cook with and waste disposal taken care of, you can just replenish your stock as you use it.

I am trying to reach the point where I could totally "Bug In" for 6 months without having to buy anything as far as food and supplies goes. Camping gear and meds.

I am almost done with buying guns, mags, and ammo. I mean, we have until at least November, likely until March. So I have a limited time in which to complete my purchases.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

Not to pry, but 59 only feels old when you are 59 or younger and if you have no other indications that your demise is forthcoming, maybe turning off the news and finding someone to talk to might be a good place to start?

 

[NoMadMeHappy]

Siblings couldn't be further away. I'm leaving influence on my nieces to my siblings. Once I right-size, my OR/WA buddies will get my bubblegum.

They've had their fill of Drunk Uncle

 

[NoMadMeHappy]

Not to pry, but 59 only feels old when you are 59 or younger and if you have no other indications that your demise is forthcoming, maybe turning off the news and finding someone to talk to might be a good place to start?

I appreciate that, sincerely. I don't think that 59 is unusual to start feeling your mortality. The future gets smaller, but I'm hanging in there.

 

[1911Fanatic]

Not to pry, but 59 only feels old when you are 59 or younger and if you have no other indications that your demise is forthcoming, maybe turning off the news and finding someone to talk to might be a good place to start?

I am not anticipating societal collapse but am more worried about a massive earthquake or a volcano blowing. I am old enough to remember Mt. St. Helens blowing.

I used to be active in the LDS church. They are big on prepping. At least when it comes to eating. My former in-laws and most of the people that owned houses in our Ward had a 2 year supply of food. For the whole family.

Me? I live in a small 1200 sq ft house. 6 months is all that I'm gonna have room for. Especially when it comes to water.

 

[CountryGent]

When Do You Stop Prepping?

When life is over. Preparedness reminds me a little bit about physical fitness or spiritual growth; wherever one is right now, one can make improvements, however minor. Or as Seneca put it, "As long as you live, keep learning how to live."

That said, where one is in their life and preparedness journey is going to govern how much and what is being done. I've, generally, always had a "Preparedness" heading on my daily to do list. What has been listed under that heading, however, varied wildly depending what was going on: from a massive project involving a serious time commitment and many thousands of dollars invested, to low level maintenance and supply chain management. Or a mix of both.

It is healthy to shift focus, reevaluate priorities, rethink notions, process lessons learned, deem a project done when the time is right, and sometimes just taking a good old fashioned break from preparedness activities. However, I don't think the work is ever really done. Well, until a final departure; and even then, how you've prepared impacts those still among the living.

 

[Mono1]

When life is over. Preparedness reminds me a little bit about physical fitness or spiritual growth; wherever one is right now, one can make improvements, however minor. Or as Seneca put it, "As long as you live, keep learning how to live."

That said, where one is in their life and preparedness journey is going to government how much and what is being done. I've, generally, always had a "Preparedness" heading on my daily to do list. What has been listed under that heading, however, varied wildly depending what was going on: from a massive project involving a serious time commitment and many thousands of dollars invested, to low level maintenance and supply chain management. Or a mix of both.

It is healthy to shift focus, reevaluate priorities, rethink notions, process lessons learned, deem a project done when the time is right, and sometimes just taking a good old fashioned break from preparedness activities. However, I don't think the work is every really done. Well, until a final departure; and even then, how you've prepared impacts those still among the living.

Excellent post, @CountryGent

 

[Cavedweller]

I know where you're at and I understand the mindset. I've been prepping for a long time, but prepping these days has taken on a different meaning. I'm still staying prepared for the short-term inconveniences of normal existence, such as the occasional winter storm power outage and such, but when it comes to surviving SHTF, that's off the radar. I'd last about 2 weeks after TEOTWAWKI anyway. Prepping these days is more about downsizing and decluttering so I don't leave too big a mess for those I leave behind, and doing what I can to insure their future. Prepping doesn't end, the focus just changes.

 

[Pete F]

My Daughter as over Sunday to take my wife out to lunch for her birthday. She mentioned to my wife that she was under the impression that she would get all my guns, ammo and various gun related stuff when I pass.

Not that I don't love her and will give her a few, she does not go out shooting with her only gun, a 9mm SCCY. I really don't think that she will get the enjoyment that I do. I have a lot of guns and tons of ammo and am afraid that she will just sell most of them.

I don't want to just sell them. Many of them may not be available for purchase or ownership in the future. I want to keep them in the hands of citizens and not registered with the government. My Daughter lives in Washington.

 

[gmerkt]

In my case, age has to do with it. I'm 75 now, as it happens most of my prepping has been unnecessary. Now, if Armageddon comes, so be it. A lot of my prepping goods were of a nature that they were also part of a hobby so not entirely for naught. Lots of my stuff has resale value, so the wastage is minimal.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

as it happens most of my prepping has been unnecessary.

Same with me and wearing my seatbelt everytime I get in the car!

I mean, not going stop. . . just say'n.

 

[Mono1]

In my case, age has to do with it. I'm 75 now, as it happens most of my prepping has been unnecessary. Now, if Armageddon comes, so be it. A lot of my prepping goods were of a nature that they were also part of a hobby so not entirely for naught. Lots of my stuff has resale value, so the wastage is minimal.

Better to Prep and not need, than to NEED and not be PREPPED!

 

[1911Fanatic]

My Daughter as over Sunday to take my wife out to lunch for her birthday. She mentioned to my wife that she was under the impression that she would get all my guns, ammo and various gun related stuff when I pass.

Not that I don't love her and will give her a few, she does not go out shooting with her only gun, a 9mm SCCY. I really don't think that she will get the enjoyment that I do. I have a lot of guns and tons of ammo and am afraid that she will just sell most of them.

I don't want to just sell them. Many of them may not be available for purchase or ownership in the future. I want to keep them in the hands of citizens and not registered with the government. My Daughter lives in Washington.

I got my ex a SCCY. I should have got her a P320.

 

[GrayGoose]

When all the zombies are gone.

 

[arakboss]

When the SFHTF.

 

[ma96782]

Rrrrrright...........

As I look over my "Collection". I often have to tell/remind myself that I only have two hands.

Aloha, Mark

PS.......

I'm already 66 years old. And yeah......I realize that the clock will stop, someday.

 

[nwslopoke]

Prepping should be a combination of readiness and perspective. The readiness speaks for itself. Perspective can be lost to tunnel vision. After all, how many parachutes do you really need?

Honestly, traveling abroad without guns, not understanding what people are saying all day and staying away from the bickering has caused a reset in some of my thinking. Just saying there are levels.

The number of giant fires across the west coast shows there is actually too much stuff, if you can't move it in an emergency.