Discussions
Reply to: How to develop realistic scenarios to prep for? Posted November 14, 2023

I completely agree that it would be very hard (and expensive!) to keep several scenario specific bags ready. We can’t prep for (or survive) everything, we can’t predict the future, but we can make educated guesses. For example a BOB level 3 contains quite a few wilderness survival tools. In most cases you will try to bug out to a safe location. Is there a likely scenario where I will flee into or through the wilderness? TBF, the only case I can imagine right when I would flee into the woods *on purpose* was when someone was specifically after me (highly unlikely I hope). So one could leave out the tent and axe and saw and gas stove, or one could keep these in the car (and then possibly go for lower cost, higher weight items). Another aspect where I think specific scenarios are useful is planning. Say I have a water filter and other treatment options. A possible case when I would need that would be a complete grid down scenario, when the water works are without power for longer than my home supplies last. What else is without power in such a scenario? Wastewater treatment plants. So I need not only the filter, a car, and containers to gather water, but also a clear idea (or better a map) of water sources that are likely to be uncontanimated (Even if I filter the water, my filter will last longer when starting with reasonably clean water).  I think TP did a great job of identifying gear that is useful in many scenarios.  But gear is only one part of the equation, skills & community are others and last not least – you need a plan to work from. This is where thinking through specific scenarios becomes very useful. 

How to develop realistic scenarios to prep for?
10
2
Posted November 13, 2023
Reply to: Prepping books Posted August 21, 2023

A few possible additions … Joe Sacco – Safe Area Gorazde: A report on a bosnian muslim enclave in serb held territory, during the yugoslav war from ~91-93 or so. Many harrowing stories of escape or near escape. The importance of firewood and, – surprisingly, books and movies and so on. Prepping lessons on signs to look out for when to flee, skills that might be handy – many residents of Gorazde had small watermills with generators on the local river, the Drina. I’m currently rereading with an eye for prepping lessons and tbh I find many of the tragic and brutal stories overwhelming. Joe Sacco is a journalist, but the book is a graphic novel. Dina Dor-Kasten – Versteckt unter der Erde. The author lives in in Israel, I’m kinda amazed the book appears to be only available in german. The authors parents where Jews in Ukraine during WW2. The family excaped from a Ghetto in ’42 and hid, with two little kids (Dina, the author, and her brother) in a forest until liberation in ’44. TBH I havent read it yet, but there’s a summary by austrian survival trainer Reini Rossmann on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHy1TCFDb18  hopefully the autotranslate/subtitles are useful!) with prepping lessons: The firm decision of the father of the familiy, to take their fate into their own hands, the importance of really hiding in the forest from search parties in an underground hideout, you cant live off the land for such a long time – essentially the Kastens, and other jews and partisans hiding in the same forest, had to steal food from nearby farmers, get support from or work for food and tools – the father was a skilled sewer and could sometimes find work on farms. Also the family had good winter clothes. The video mentions a blog by the author that I was not able to find.

Reply to: What habits have you developed related to prepping, and what habits do you wish you’d develop? Posted July 10, 2023
Reply to: What habits have you developed related to prepping, and what habits do you wish you’d develop? Posted July 10, 2023
Reply to: What habits have you developed related to prepping, and what habits do you wish you’d develop? Posted July 10, 2023
What habits have you developed related to prepping, and what habits do you wish you’d develop?
14
4
Posted June 22, 2023
Reply to: News for the week of 2023-06-12 Posted June 16, 2023
Reply to: Lets see your EDC Posted June 15, 2023
Reply to: Lets see your EDC Posted June 14, 2023

Hello from Germany, everybody. I hate having a lot of stuff in my pockets, so my idea is to have a very small “real” edc (comes with me into the bathroom) and a few pouches/sets of things that fit into a jacket pocket or so, that will usually go into a backpack when I’m out and about. I’m living in middle-sized city in a large agglomeration (Ruhrgebiet) and move mostly between at home and the office. Real edc: Swiss army knife With me when I’m out and about: Purse or fanny pack with phone, wallet, keys, nose wipes, pen (easy to reach, this is the only “tactical” consideration tbh), sometimes a silcock key (I’ve actually used this once!), hair ties In my backpack, when I carry one: Charging cable for cell phone Water bottle, snacks Small first aid kit with bandaids, combo dressing, a few pills (in original blisters), emergency blanket (thinking about removing this because of bulk) Masks (tbh I rarely mask up these days, but I try to have few masks at hand) What I want to add next (and the whole reason I write this down is to trick myself into actually doing it …): A ResQ Me in case I’m not driving my own car (where I have several), would go into the purse. Maybe a lighter and a whistle as well. Small repair kit: Needle, threads, wad of duct tape, safety pin, bobby pins or similar items from strong wire Hygiene kit: dental care chewing gums, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, condoms, brush with small mirror, more hair ties “Big” repair kit: Small adjustable wrench, bitholder and bits, combo plier – this is basically to see which tools in addition to the SAK I’d actually use if I had on hand often … I *want* a proper multitool but I’m not sure I *need* one. Maybe a phase tester (is that the english term?). I also want to add tire patches for my bike here. I want to take a stop the bleed course, afterwards I will review my IFAK and our first aid supplies generally. I’ll likely add an Israeli bandage, but I want to have handled one before I buy. Not sure about a tourniquet tbh. Maybe the course will change my mind!

How to develop realistic scenarios to prep for?
10
2
Posted November 13, 2023
What habits have you developed related to prepping, and what habits do you wish you’d develop?
14
4
Posted June 22, 2023
Reply to: How to develop realistic scenarios to prep for? Posted November 14, 2023

I completely agree that it would be very hard (and expensive!) to keep several scenario specific bags ready. We can’t prep for (or survive) everything, we can’t predict the future, but we can make educated guesses. For example a BOB level 3 contains quite a few wilderness survival tools. In most cases you will try to bug out to a safe location. Is there a likely scenario where I will flee into or through the wilderness? TBF, the only case I can imagine right when I would flee into the woods *on purpose* was when someone was specifically after me (highly unlikely I hope). So one could leave out the tent and axe and saw and gas stove, or one could keep these in the car (and then possibly go for lower cost, higher weight items). Another aspect where I think specific scenarios are useful is planning. Say I have a water filter and other treatment options. A possible case when I would need that would be a complete grid down scenario, when the water works are without power for longer than my home supplies last. What else is without power in such a scenario? Wastewater treatment plants. So I need not only the filter, a car, and containers to gather water, but also a clear idea (or better a map) of water sources that are likely to be uncontanimated (Even if I filter the water, my filter will last longer when starting with reasonably clean water).  I think TP did a great job of identifying gear that is useful in many scenarios.  But gear is only one part of the equation, skills & community are others and last not least – you need a plan to work from. This is where thinking through specific scenarios becomes very useful. 

Reply to: Prepping books Posted August 21, 2023

A few possible additions … Joe Sacco – Safe Area Gorazde: A report on a bosnian muslim enclave in serb held territory, during the yugoslav war from ~91-93 or so. Many harrowing stories of escape or near escape. The importance of firewood and, – surprisingly, books and movies and so on. Prepping lessons on signs to look out for when to flee, skills that might be handy – many residents of Gorazde had small watermills with generators on the local river, the Drina. I’m currently rereading with an eye for prepping lessons and tbh I find many of the tragic and brutal stories overwhelming. Joe Sacco is a journalist, but the book is a graphic novel. Dina Dor-Kasten – Versteckt unter der Erde. The author lives in in Israel, I’m kinda amazed the book appears to be only available in german. The authors parents where Jews in Ukraine during WW2. The family excaped from a Ghetto in ’42 and hid, with two little kids (Dina, the author, and her brother) in a forest until liberation in ’44. TBH I havent read it yet, but there’s a summary by austrian survival trainer Reini Rossmann on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHy1TCFDb18  hopefully the autotranslate/subtitles are useful!) with prepping lessons: The firm decision of the father of the familiy, to take their fate into their own hands, the importance of really hiding in the forest from search parties in an underground hideout, you cant live off the land for such a long time – essentially the Kastens, and other jews and partisans hiding in the same forest, had to steal food from nearby farmers, get support from or work for food and tools – the father was a skilled sewer and could sometimes find work on farms. Also the family had good winter clothes. The video mentions a blog by the author that I was not able to find.

Reply to: What habits have you developed related to prepping, and what habits do you wish you’d develop? Posted July 10, 2023
Reply to: What habits have you developed related to prepping, and what habits do you wish you’d develop? Posted July 10, 2023
Reply to: What habits have you developed related to prepping, and what habits do you wish you’d develop? Posted July 10, 2023
Reply to: News for the week of 2023-06-12 Posted June 16, 2023
Reply to: Lets see your EDC Posted June 15, 2023
Reply to: Lets see your EDC Posted June 14, 2023

Hello from Germany, everybody. I hate having a lot of stuff in my pockets, so my idea is to have a very small “real” edc (comes with me into the bathroom) and a few pouches/sets of things that fit into a jacket pocket or so, that will usually go into a backpack when I’m out and about. I’m living in middle-sized city in a large agglomeration (Ruhrgebiet) and move mostly between at home and the office. Real edc: Swiss army knife With me when I’m out and about: Purse or fanny pack with phone, wallet, keys, nose wipes, pen (easy to reach, this is the only “tactical” consideration tbh), sometimes a silcock key (I’ve actually used this once!), hair ties In my backpack, when I carry one: Charging cable for cell phone Water bottle, snacks Small first aid kit with bandaids, combo dressing, a few pills (in original blisters), emergency blanket (thinking about removing this because of bulk) Masks (tbh I rarely mask up these days, but I try to have few masks at hand) What I want to add next (and the whole reason I write this down is to trick myself into actually doing it …): A ResQ Me in case I’m not driving my own car (where I have several), would go into the purse. Maybe a lighter and a whistle as well. Small repair kit: Needle, threads, wad of duct tape, safety pin, bobby pins or similar items from strong wire Hygiene kit: dental care chewing gums, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, condoms, brush with small mirror, more hair ties “Big” repair kit: Small adjustable wrench, bitholder and bits, combo plier – this is basically to see which tools in addition to the SAK I’d actually use if I had on hand often … I *want* a proper multitool but I’m not sure I *need* one. Maybe a phase tester (is that the english term?). I also want to add tire patches for my bike here. I want to take a stop the bleed course, afterwards I will review my IFAK and our first aid supplies generally. I’ll likely add an Israeli bandage, but I want to have handled one before I buy. Not sure about a tourniquet tbh. Maybe the course will change my mind!