What is serious prepping? What things/aspects/features describes serious prepping? Please keep it civil.

[Sourdough]

We hear a lot about serious prepping but "what" is that....?? Is it strictly a state in mind? Clearly there are those who feel "STRONGLY" that beyond (their definition) of prepping more is not needed or prudent. In this thread "NOT" looking for members beliefs about what they feel is reasonable and prudent. Looking for what "defines" degrees of prepping. How do you describe what is serious prepping. There is zero need of any political discussion in this thread. Thank you for your input.

If you moved to a new town, new state, etc. and started attending a new church, and they said they had three prepping groups in the church who meet regularly. Which would you start attending......???

 

[d_marsh]

How do you describe what is serious prepping.

"Serious prepping", a term I have never really heard before, is in my estimation a dedicated lifestyle. Leaving established civilization to create a self sustainable way of life outside of the norm and having the ability to maintain and defend it. It's an extensive combination of gear, goods, knowledge, and activities that are all devoted to long term survival and a life outside off the beaten path.

 

[Haertig]

To me, "serious prepping" is actually having what you need to be self-reliant for the time period you are shooting for. Thus somebody could be seriously prepped for 6 months and woefully inadequately prepped for 3 years. But the 3 year folks can not say the 6 month folks were not seriously prepped. Because the 6 year folks would similarly chastise the 3 year folks. And the 9 year folks would look down on the 6 year folks. And on and on.

As far as which of the three church prepping groups I would join - it would be the middle one. Always the middle one. Avoid the extremes because that's where the extremists go (by definition).

 

[UrbanHunter]

For the most part I agree with @d_marsh about Serious Prepping being a lifestyle and with @Haertig about maintaining a balance. I think that a serious prepper evaluates every event and thinks about what could I do to get through that situation better. I like the adage of Thriving in adversity, that may be from @Neb , but I'm not sure.

The Serious Prepper needs to be prepared for every situation to some extent, but they also realize that different types of events have a higher likelihood of happening to them, so they prepare accordingly. Being able to match limited resources to an unlimited pool of threats, this is a skill that a Serious Prepper must master.

In this regard, I am only a practicing prepper and know I have a lot to learn about resource allocation and prioritization.

 

[Amish Heart]

I think alot of it is mental. And it's also spiritual. If you are not prepared mentally to do what it takes to survive, then you're not prepped as much as you could be. The other part of prepping is being able to live without the current system. Either being a producer and being fully stocked up, or living in another community system where you do not need the current system. Why? Because our current system is about to fail.
So that includes all of it...meds, food, water, shelter, defense. I'm not going to say exactly how much of all of that is required to be a "serious" prepper, because I'm not in the norm by any means by what I think.

 

[Morgan101]

I consider serious prepping to be a life stlye. To reinforce the old Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" in every aspect of your life. You strive to be as self reliant as possible. You have an increased sense of Opsec, and security. You are always "planning for the rainy day". You are never not preparing.

For those who want to live off grid, and be self-sufficient, as many do on this forum, that is certainly acceptable, and your choice. I would consider myself an Urban Prepper. I am no less serious about it than you are. Given my age, my skill set, and the medical requirements of my family, living off grid is not an option. So I have to do things differently, but not a day goes by when I am not thinking of what we might need, what we might have overlooked, or how we can improve our situation.

As far as the church group goes I would attend all three meetings. Meet the people. Get to know them and their ideas about prepping. After learning more I may gravitate to one group or another, or I might participate in all three. Keep an open mind.

Great topic, Sourdough. Really makes you think.

 

[Neb]

... I like the adage of Thriving in adversity, that may be from @Neb , but I'm not sure.

...

I have used that term many times.

Webster's dictionary...

prepper​

noun​

prep·per ˈpre-pər

pluralpreppers
: a person who prepares something or prepares for something
a food/meal prepper

a hair prepper

specifically : a person who gathers materials and makes plans in preparation for surviving a major disaster or cataclysm (such as worldwide economic collapse or war)
doomsday preppers

I consider myself something of a prepper. I don't necessarily believe there is an apocalypse coming anytime soon. However, there are certain items I always keep on hand just in case.

So it follows that serious prepper is serious about preparing.

For myself, life is not about surviving only. It is making the best of circumstances. If TEOTWAKI comes I want to be the one supplying seeds. If the dollar fails I want to be the money changer. If metal working is limited to black smithing, I want to be the one with the foundry and steam operated machine shop.

And if nothing catastrophic happens in my life I want to set up my son and granddaughters to thrive after I am gone.

Ben

 

[Amish Heart]

I forgot about the church question. I've not heard of prepping in churches except for LDS, but hey, it'd be worth a look. I'd check out all of them. Husband and I did two presentations many years ago at an LDS preparadness thing at their church. One on food and one on ham radios. But I'm not LDS.

 

[Tirediron]

Well first of all I wouldn't want to be around a bunch of people who look to outside authority to make their decisions, the ability to make decisions is a huge part IMO of prepping, opinions are fine but ...

 

[Tirediron]

I think the most serious prepping thing is to look at what you can do, and then look at what you can't do, so many people get stuck in a rut and will not change their patterns at all, might not go so well in some situations.

 

[Sourdough]

A SIDE Related Question: It seems that many are ashamed to express support for longer term prepping.......I suspect they "FEAR" people will think they are CRAZY. Why would a prepper (no matter how serious) give a damn what anyone thinks about their seriousness at prepping or how long they prepare for..??

Another Side thought: Why would some members....???
a.) Over and Over (For year after Year, go to a "designated" prepping forum......and rant negatively about prepping...??

 

[Amish Heart]

OK, I agree with that. I think 7 yrs storage is good. And a way to continue to produce, otherwise, when you run out of supplies, you are dead. Some think if a mass event happens and many die, that there would be plenty of pickings from the stores to get. But I would guess people would want to control that. And that would mostly be in cities. Many think that they've got a few pkts of seeds and will figure it all out when they have to. There is a big learning curve to all of this. I know. Failure and learning can be an option now, but won't be an option when you have to have it.

 

[Hardcalibres]

Serious prepping is actually very complex......because the more severe the crises you are getting prepared for, the more likely it is that the event will involve cascading failures and hence be a series of sequential and concurrent crises. Some of those crises will result in similar needs while others will create specific needs.

Severe crises take years to unfold......and indeed for any recovery to occur. That means that supplies have to be stacked deep and they need to be supplemented with your own production, where that is possible. Production of key resources/supplies may only be able to start after the crisis moves to the stages where there are fewer desperate people still around......and that stage might take years to reach.

Preparedness on an individual basis is mostly about mindset....because without the right mindset, the wrong decisions will be made in getting prepared and when the crisis breaks. Normalcy Bias is a killer when severe crises come along. Having Abnormalcy Bias puts you in the minority of the population.....I actually think it is something you are born with.....I know I was. I put together my first survival kit when I was about eight years old.

When people have the correct survivalists mindset, it usually follows that they will get well prepared......but this is not always the case. I have read the posts of people who have a good mindset, but for some reasons, don't get prepared. Those folks may survive some types of crises or may get lucky and join up with folks who need them and have enough resources to spare.....but that becomes too much a matter of luck.....and with the odds being somewhat poor.

The right mindset often leads those folks to make the right decisions about where they want to live, what they like as hobbies, what sort of skills they obtain, who they pair up with, what sort of career they follow and many other aspects of what makes them who they are.

Some people with abnormalcy bias, have other psychological problems and some do not. Those without those other problems are arguably more likely to survive.

 

[Haertig]

Another Side thought: Why would some members....???
a.) Over and Over (For year after Year, go to a "designated" prepping forum......and rant negatively about prepping...??

I think that is more false perception than anything. Some people feel that they are put down as "not being serious" by some that have dedicated their life to prepping. And on the other hand, those that have dedicated their life to prepping feel that they are being laughed at for doing so. Neither perception is correct, they are just defensive responses that everybody is subject to. Any flare-ups are usually the result of a veiled put-down from one group causing a defensive reaction from the other group. It's probably better if everyone strives to be the Preparation-H rather than the hemorrhoid itself.

 

[Hardcalibres]

OK, I agree with that. I think 7 yrs storage is good. And a way to continue to produce, otherwise, when you run out of supplies, you are dead. Some think if a mass event happens and many die, that there would be plenty of pickings from the stores to get. But I would guess people would want to control that. And that would mostly be in cities. Many think that they've got a few pkts of seeds and will figure it all out when they have to. There is a big learning curve to all of this. I know. Failure and learning can be an option now, but won't be an option when you have to have it.

I have never put numeric limits on my preparedness.

To me, there are plausible threats that would need more than seven years of supplies.......so I sailed right past that goal quite a while ago.

The subject of helping others, accepting family members, taking in unprepared but very highly skilled people comes up in discussions quite often.

In those scenarios, seven years of supplies for two people becomes 3.5 years for four people or one year for fourteen people.

If you find yourself in a severe enough crisis, where having a group of a dozen or more people is the only way to achieve security, then the more stored food you have, the better off you will be (especially since food production would probably not be possible in such conditions)......and hopefully you will have enough for long enough to get to the stages where food production can be established or resumed.

I am always getting more prepared and I expect to continue to do so.

......but I am not obsessed......I have balance in my life......and I have achieved many things that other (normal folks) think are pretty cool.

 

[Haertig]

The subject of helping others, accepting family members, taking in unprepared but very highly skilled people comes up in discussions quite often.

In those scenarios, seven years of supplies for two people becomes 3.5 years for four people or one year for fourteen people.

Good point. I had never really thought about this aspect outside of my own family. The wife and I being the main people to prep for, but we also have extra for our kids (who do not live at home). My son is a reasonable one to take in - he lives a 30 minute drive away. So a good days hike, but that's not much of a barrier. My daughter lives in Hawaii though, and would have to cross a couple thousand miles of open ocean to get here. So most likely, she's on her own.

But I never really gave much consideration to supporting neighbors and friends who might join a collective. That would eat up a pool of supplies rather quickly.

 

[Hardcalibres]

But I never really gave much consideration to supporting neighbors and friends who might join a collective. That would eat up a pool of supplies rather quickly.

.....or a very large stock of food slow enough to make it through to some combination of security and establishment of a sufficient food production system.

Having a large enough stock of food, creates more options.....that include taking in people who really do provide a net benefit.

But having such a stock also makes OPSEC even more important.....because people who are a net liability will also want in on that free food action.

 

[DrHenley]

Serious prepping is a state of mind.

 

[Haertig]

because people who are a net liability will also want in on that free food action.

I also need to consider my desired length of time for survival. Unlike most here, I am a "6 month guy". A short term-er. That's what I'm prepped for (by choice). And the use for a collection of people is less in the short term - or so I imagine. The only real benefit I can see is for defense. But once you are out of the short term and actually trying to produce something - be that growing crops, building things, or whatever - a collection of people is much more useful, probably even mandatory. And that itself leads to different thinking on the amount of preps you need to have stored, as you pointed out.

 

[teeceetx]

"Serious Prepping" to me means a permanent lifestyle.

Someone who has decided they cannot rely of society/civilization to supply them with certain necessities at any point in their lives, and therefore they must live 100% on their own forever.

 

[elkhound]

I also need to consider my desired length of time for survival. Unlike most here, I am a "6 month guy". A short term-er. That's what I'm prepped for (by choice). And the use for a collection of people is less in the short term - or so I imagine. The only real benefit I can see is for defense. But once you are out of the short term and actually trying to produce something - be that growing crops, building things, or whatever - a collection of people is much more useful, probably even mandatory. And that itself leads to different thinking on the amount of preps you need to have stored, as you pointed out.

you wont be when food runs out...hunger will drive you...hunger of your loved ones will drive you to not only live but possibly do things you wouldnt think you would.

its a proven fact throughout history with examples.

another example..you never considered a 6 month supply of food for two gets reduced by half adding in two more people....thats basic prepping 101 calculations.

one years supply of food for one gets cut in half by adding just one more person.

sorry...but this shows just how much you lack in thought...i am not trying to be mean.....the opposite...i want you to see and go buy more supplies and much more.

go read my sleeping bag thread...yall love to jump on sourdough when certain words are used by him in thread title...and you joint in..but never respond much to any other threads in this section....you could say elkhounds dumb i have blankets and that good enough...but you dont...you hunt up sourdoughs threads and jump right in on him.

think about the mother with 6 kids...just how much food they need for just one year alone...thats mind boggling.

read my thread people of the deer...people will do all kinds of stuff...mothers let children fall in their wake on quest for survival of majority of family to survive.

 

[Neb]

"Serious Prepping" to me means a permanent lifestyle.

Someone who has decided they cannot rely of society/civilization to supply them with certain necessities at any point in their lives, and therefore they must live 100% on their own forever.

Sounds like retirement planning.

Ben

 

[Hardcalibres]

Sounds like retirement planning.

Ben

Both involve gathering nuts for winter.

 

[ClemKadiddlehopper]

I am not a serious prepper. I can't get my head around all the lists of must have this, that or the next thing to be a prepper. I do have things, lots of things, but I kind of don't care if it's all gone when I wake up in the morning. Sure it will be suckier, so what? I can make do with very little and enjoy it at the same time.

I think I have a bad case of normalcy bias stemming from my past. I won't be joining any groups. I wouldn't fit in.

 

[Haertig]

sorry...but this shows just how much you lack in thought...i am not trying to be mean.....the opposite...i want you to see and go buy more supplies and much more.

You are trying to apply your thought processes to me. I understand your point, but I don't agree with it. You say "this shows just how much you lack in thought". Could you possibly appear any more condescending and arrogant than that? FWIW, I do not consider you condescending or arrogant at all. I like you and your posts. However, the words you chose to use are maybe not the best way to state your opinion. You have no clue as to why I have chosen as I have, yet there is a "veiled put-down" there whether you intended it or not. This is exactly what I was talking about in my previous post #14. But taking my own words from #14 to heart, I'll try not to respond too defensively and instead squirt a little Preparation-H on you.

go read my sleeping bag thread...yall love to jump on sourdough when certain words are used by him in thread title...and you joint in..but never respond much to any other threads in this section....

I can't speak to how others choose which posts to respond to, but the way I choose is pretty simple and lame. In the upper right corner of forum web pages there is this area listing "Latest Posts". Pretty much, I respond to what is listed there. I also look at the little bell icon in the upper right of webpages and respond to threads that I have previously participated in that have subsequent posts. It is extremely rare for me to find a post to respond to in any other way. I do not go to the main webpage and scroll through subforums to see what's happening. My selection methods sometimes work against me. I often find that I have missed several pages of jokes in the "Jokes and Humor" thread (which I like!) because that thread didn't pop up in the "Latest Posts" area when I happened to check into the forum.

The reason I find Sourdough threads interesting to respond to are because they are provocative. One way to be provocative is to start threads that get your brain thinking. Another way to be provocative is to "poke the bear" trying to elicit a reaction. Both methods are used. Not just by Sourdough, but by many members here (including myself). This very thread is a perfect example. It started with a "provoke the mind" initial post. But then there was a "poke the bear" provocative side thought in post #11. This was minor - better treated with Preparation-H than a defensive response. And I explained my thoughts about it in a rather roundabout way in #14.

BTW, I like my Preparation-H analogy ... in case that's not obvious! It gets the point across, and it's a good joke too.

 

[Canon29]

To me it means being able to exist without help from society or otherwise. Total self reliance. Anything else is just a half measure to hold you over until someone comes and saves you.

 

[Haertig]

To me it means being able to exist without help from society or otherwise. Total self reliance. Anything else is just a half measure to hold you over until someone comes and saves you.

That would seem to imply there are zero serious preppers. Because nobody is going to anticipate everything or last forever on their own.

But I get your point, and agree with it. With the caveat I alluded to in a previous post - a time limit for planned survival set by each individual prepper. There are many of us here, yeah even the older ones like me, that could conceivably live for another 25 years. We might be the most decrepit crypt-keepers imaginable by then, but it's possible. Anybody here think they could do it totally on their own for 25 years? I know I'm going to be needing someone to change my diaper by then.

 

[Sourdough]

One of the problems is there are some whopper lies in the current prepping beliefs. This is especially true in the area of food. I have studied this food issue a lot.......but did it "Outside" the boundary of prepping. Much came to my attention by accident while studying something completely unrelated and starkly different.

There exist truths about prepping and food for survival, but people will not embrace those truths because they hold dearer and cherishingly the falsehoods and lies that will starve them.

 

[Neb]

That would seem to imply there are zero serious preppers. Because nobody is going to anticipate everything or last forever on their own.

But I get your point, and agree with it. With the caveat I alluded to in a previous post - a time limit for planned survival set by each individual prepper. There are many of us here, yeah even the older ones like me, that could conceivably live for another 25 years. We might be the most decrepit crypt-keepers imaginable by then, but it's possible. Anybody here think they could do it totally on their own for 25 years? I know I'm going to be needing someone to change my diaper by then.

Expanding on that theme.

I take 3 blood pressure meds. I could purchase a years worth but that would only be a year. After that there is only a matter of time until something goes wrong.

My only option is to rely on others to provide the medicine.

The average life span 100 years ago was much younger than today. I am on bonus time going on 67.

I recognize the benefits of a robust civilization and will do what I can to restore civil order when the opportunity presents itself.

Ben

 

[Neb]

I am not a serious prepper. I can't get my head around all the lists of must have this, that or the next thing to be a prepper. I do have things, lots of things, but I kind of don't care if it's all gone when I wake up in the morning. Sure it will be suckier, so what? I can make do with very little and enjoy it at the same time.

I think I have a bad case of normalcy bias stemming from my past. I won't be joining any groups. I wouldn't fit in.

Hah!

You grew up a survivor so prepping would be a step backwards for you.

Ben