Dr. Mac - Member - The Prepared

Discussions

Reply to: Dealing with a spouse / significant other who thinks prepping is nuts Posted February 14, 2021

Not much at this point. Since I am a doctor, I need a little more support for dental emergencies in the field when no dentist is available. I also built an EMP proof older pickup truck in case “bug out” or hauling supplies becomes necessary. Also, I became a licensed ham radio operator (general class) to be able to communicate when they flip the switch on cell phones and the internet. Ham is a great new experience and very empowering. All you need is off grid power, a radio, a wire antenna, and the ionosphere. They can’t shut that off, and I can talk from here to Shanghai and listen too.

Reply to: Food preservation – it makes sense from a survival standpoint Posted February 14, 2021

Happy to contribute. And yes, I share this appliance with our prepper group and all have benefited from its use. Clearly one of the best long-term investments I have ever made.

Reply to: Dealing with a spouse / significant other who thinks prepping is nuts Posted February 14, 2021

One Second After and the rest of the series definitely did it for me, and got me started. Now I’m prepping full bore, including food, secure shelter, water, weapons, and off-grid power. I think internal civil unrest and domestic collapse is just as likely as an EMP or nuclear attack from a foreign adversary. The latest political events and the division in the country support my concerns and preparations. As a physician, I worry much less about COVID, except that it is one element of the NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical) threat universe. My spouse is the eternal optimist, and loves babies and comedy shows. She has yet to “drink the kool-aid” as she feels I have, but she will be ok either way. Some things like the internal civil situation and the political party that foments it we have decided not to discuss. I just do what I need to do and she watches her comedy movies. I hope we never have a real SHTF situation, but if we do, we’re prepared. And while we are hunkered down I WILL rub her nose in it. She may eventually choose to take her chances with the hungry hoards outside rather than hear my mouth. We’ll see.

Reply to: Food preservation – it makes sense from a survival standpoint Posted February 14, 2021

I have tried them all. The best, albeit the most expensive method is freeze drying. Technically known as sublimation, freezing food, rewarming it in a vacuum, and storing it in an oxygen depleted environment eliminates the need for refrigeration, and is said to preserve meats, fruits, vegetables, and even milk for up to 25 years. I cook before freeze drying, and only need water and maybe some heat to warm and the taste and nutrient preservation is incredible. Harvest Right makes the machines and can provide all the needed bags, oxygen absorbing packets, and the instruction about how it is done. As a hunter, this method has allowed me to long term preserve precious and tasty venison, wild pork, vegetables, and fish for consumption later. I spent about $4,000 for the initial setup, but the equipment will last many years with proper care. What do you think?

Reply to: Guide to buying an AR-15? Posted October 12, 2020

I basically agree, especially in a SHTF situation, with parts, etc. MILSPEC is hard to beat. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Reply to: Guide to buying an AR-15? Posted October 11, 2020

Why do you recommend avoiding piston guns? Some of the most famous AR style riles (FN-FAL, HK-416, Sig 716, etc), are clean, accurate, reliable piston driven rifles.

No activity yet.

Reply to: Dealing with a spouse / significant other who thinks prepping is nuts Posted February 14, 2021

Not much at this point. Since I am a doctor, I need a little more support for dental emergencies in the field when no dentist is available. I also built an EMP proof older pickup truck in case “bug out” or hauling supplies becomes necessary. Also, I became a licensed ham radio operator (general class) to be able to communicate when they flip the switch on cell phones and the internet. Ham is a great new experience and very empowering. All you need is off grid power, a radio, a wire antenna, and the ionosphere. They can’t shut that off, and I can talk from here to Shanghai and listen too.

Reply to: Food preservation – it makes sense from a survival standpoint Posted February 14, 2021

Happy to contribute. And yes, I share this appliance with our prepper group and all have benefited from its use. Clearly one of the best long-term investments I have ever made.

Reply to: Dealing with a spouse / significant other who thinks prepping is nuts Posted February 14, 2021

One Second After and the rest of the series definitely did it for me, and got me started. Now I’m prepping full bore, including food, secure shelter, water, weapons, and off-grid power. I think internal civil unrest and domestic collapse is just as likely as an EMP or nuclear attack from a foreign adversary. The latest political events and the division in the country support my concerns and preparations. As a physician, I worry much less about COVID, except that it is one element of the NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical) threat universe. My spouse is the eternal optimist, and loves babies and comedy shows. She has yet to “drink the kool-aid” as she feels I have, but she will be ok either way. Some things like the internal civil situation and the political party that foments it we have decided not to discuss. I just do what I need to do and she watches her comedy movies. I hope we never have a real SHTF situation, but if we do, we’re prepared. And while we are hunkered down I WILL rub her nose in it. She may eventually choose to take her chances with the hungry hoards outside rather than hear my mouth. We’ll see.

Reply to: Food preservation – it makes sense from a survival standpoint Posted February 14, 2021

I have tried them all. The best, albeit the most expensive method is freeze drying. Technically known as sublimation, freezing food, rewarming it in a vacuum, and storing it in an oxygen depleted environment eliminates the need for refrigeration, and is said to preserve meats, fruits, vegetables, and even milk for up to 25 years. I cook before freeze drying, and only need water and maybe some heat to warm and the taste and nutrient preservation is incredible. Harvest Right makes the machines and can provide all the needed bags, oxygen absorbing packets, and the instruction about how it is done. As a hunter, this method has allowed me to long term preserve precious and tasty venison, wild pork, vegetables, and fish for consumption later. I spent about $4,000 for the initial setup, but the equipment will last many years with proper care. What do you think?

Reply to: Guide to buying an AR-15? Posted October 12, 2020

I basically agree, especially in a SHTF situation, with parts, etc. MILSPEC is hard to beat. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Reply to: Guide to buying an AR-15? Posted October 11, 2020

Why do you recommend avoiding piston guns? Some of the most famous AR style riles (FN-FAL, HK-416, Sig 716, etc), are clean, accurate, reliable piston driven rifles.