Swansot - Member - The Prepared

Reply to: Is this still an alternative to Discord? Posted July 3, 2023

I’m guess that I’m one of the remnants. At first, I had thought it was my imagination that the number of posts had fallen off and then realized it was because of Discord. There use to be a good steady flow of information but that has severely tapered off. At least there is still good info in the old posts. As for Discord, I can’t stand having my picture taken and I don’t FaceTime the kids either so there is no way I’ll join up. I actually have tape covering the camera on my computer because it bugs me. Yep, I know, I’m a dinosaur. I have always had extra food and supplies on hand because that’s how I was raised. When your family is mostly military and farmers, it’s a habit. Couple years ago I got a nagging feeling that something is going to happen and realized there was holes in my knowledge base and went looking for info and after working my way through the kooks, crazies and loonies, I found this web site. Was very impressed with how everyone focused on prepping and not on politics or conspiracies. Enjoyed the flow of conversations and everyone’s input but now it seems that Discord has almost killed the forum. Oh great, now l’m going to have Video killed the Radio Star running through my head.

Reply to: Estate Planning – real life notes on why you should do it now Posted June 5, 2023

Sorry, this is a long one. In Nov 2007 my husband was diagnosed with ALS and that was the start of a very long journey. In 2011 he was vented and pegged and I lost him in 2018. We had wills but they were written when our sons were small so, we had them updated and also got Living Wills and a Medical PoA. I also had a full PoA on Ted and he on me. Warning: make sure you can trust the person you give a full PoA to otherwise they have the power to rob you of everything. I kept notes on everything I had read on estate planning and what you should do and it was starting to confuse me (doesn’t take much, lol). I got a composition book and blocked out the first 30 pages or so, and started listing who, where and the phone number I would need to call and why. As Ted was retired Air Force I had to deal with several Federal, State and County agencies. The back half is where I kept logs of the conversations and what I was told to do and by whom. It really made things a lot easier for me and now I’m putting mine down for my kids but, I’m afraid, they will have to deal with disposing of my property and things. This year my goal is to try to clear out as much “stuff” as I can but , it still won’t be easy for them. Also, food for thought: 1. If you have items that you want to go to a certain person…PUT IT IN WRITING!!! My neighbor is dealing with this right now. His sister is trying to get every penny she can by claiming he forced his mother to sign documents and change beneficiaries on accounts. The mother in her will states “Share and share alike”, basically 50/50. The accounts she changed just before her death gives more to the brother. He is on the spectrum and the mother wanted him taken care of. I had talked to the mother just before she went into the hospital. She was in her right mind. Yep, I probably will get to go to court. 2. As July says, check your beneficiaries. When the man on my husbands birth certificate died, his will stated that Ted and his sister gets nothing, everything went to the niece and nephews. That’s fine because we wanted nothing to do with him. BUT, me being the distrustful little witch (with a b) that I am with that particular side of the family, took the will to a lawyer in their state to make sure we are not responsible for anything and got a letter from him stating that fact. Yeah, I know overkill. However, two weeks later his sister gets a call from the family saying we have to help with funds to fix up his house so they can sell it. Nope, I don’t think so. It seems the jerk had a small insurance policy and forgot to change the beneficiary from his second wife. Even though the will gives everything to the kids the policy gives it to her and of course she kept it, besides if he treated her like he did my MIL, his first wife, she deserves to keep every penny. Sorry kids. I am fortunate in that my family doesn’t stick our noses in each others business. We provide support when needed and advise when asked, otherwise we mind our own business. If you are not as fortunate and have a “nosey” family or friends, having a guide line is a really big help. When the…you should do…I’d advise you to…can you give me…I want that…kicks in, and it will, it can help you stay focused on what is right for you. And whatever you do, don’t let any entitled jacka$$ pressure you into anything. Tell them to put it in writing and when you have quiet time you’ll think about it……..and then lose the note. And one final thought. Check with your state on where to keep you wills. In one state we were told to NOT it in a safety deposit box, because the boxes would be sealed until probate and if the will was in it, it would take a court order to open it. The state I’m currently in, according to my lawyer is ok with wills in safety deposit boxes, because it’s safer. Or you can do what I do, the lawyers gave us two legal copies of everything. I keep one set in the home safe and the other set in the bank. Again sorry for the length but, I’m southern, I can talk a hind leg off a mule. 🙂

Reply to: Boil water alert – Washing your hands Posted May 15, 2023

I turn the container up and let the soap drain out, then do multiple rinses. I think I get most of the soap out and I don’t believe there is enough left to cause an issue. Not too concerned with the spigot, it’s really an overgrown liquid soap dispenser. After I rinse off,I splash clean water on it.

Reply to: Boil water alert – Washing your hands Posted May 15, 2023

I know this is an older post but, I’d thought I would toss in my two cents. I use a large empty laundry soap container that comes with a spigot. When empty add water and the amount of dish soap I like and set up outside. I’ve placed mine next to one of my garden rain barrels so I can rinse if I need to. Add a nail brush and I’m good to go. Comes in handy if I get very dirty when outside.

Reply to: See what mail you are receiving before it arrives. Informed Delivery by the USPS Posted November 7, 2022

I signed up for this service when it started. Being in the south, for me it is useful to know if something is being delivered (meds, food, etc) that I really don’t want sitting out all day in the heat. Same applies to FedEx and UPS, I receive notices from them as well.

Reply to: Off-grid cabin/land purchase Posted August 3, 2022

It’s a cultural inheritance. Michigan to North Dakota is where a large majority of immigrants from the Scandinavian countries moved to. Also, “eh” is more Canadian, try “uff da”.Traveled the UP a lot, my husbands family is from the lower mitt and we were stationed in ND and WI. Definitely check water quality.

Reply to: Minor prepping victory: Perennial Fruit! Posted July 1, 2022

Will try both berries again next spring. I’m 63 and unfortunately have a bad back and knees so, right now I’m working on clearing the yard out for easier maintenance. Don’t know if I’ll try any fruit trees, my three acres were part of a farm eons ago and the soil is depleted of nutrients.

Reply to: See you later Alligator! – How to avoid and survive an attack Posted June 30, 2022

Two points to add. They are unbelievably FAST! Don’t let that big lumbering body fool you, they can move, especially on their first strike. They can climb. Don’t think a hurricane fence (chain-link) or any fence will protect you, or your kids or pets. If they can hook their claws into any part of the fence they will go over. I grew up on the Texas coast and now live in the South Carolina low county and it baffles me that with all the warnings, visitors insist on behaving around gators like they’re geckos. Just remember…big gators know where they are in the food chain. Also, please note…a 22 will just piss them off.

Reply to: Minor prepping victory: Perennial Fruit! Posted June 29, 2022

I’m envious. Nine years ago I planted a very small fig tree, three blueberries and blackberries. The first year the lawn guys managed to mow them all down and which killed all the blues and two of the blacks. The mower’s proceeded to mow down the plants every year even with constant warnings. Placed bricks around them to marked them…nope, still mowed them down. Ditched the lawn service four years ago after my husband died and in two years the fig managed to grow a foot. 🎉 Family came to visit and decided “to lend a hand” while I was at the store. Unfortunately I had pulled the bricks up to replace them with something nicer…yep, down they went again. Well, it’s been another two years and the fig is a foot high again. The remaining blackberry is about six inches, either that or it’s a weed growing in it’s place. Only time will tell. 🤔

Reply to: Wine for the apocalypse Posted June 24, 2022

I agree with you on keeping track of your wine stocks or any alcoholic beverage if you have it. In my case I don’t drink much at all, I mean half a beer and I’m under the table but I cook with it. I keep several bottles of red and white wines plus the small single serve bottles as well for use in various favorite recipes. I can’t stand red wines so pouring out half a single serve bottle is better than a regular size bottle if no one is there to drink the rest. Also an added benefit in having your stock is you can use them to barter with if needs be.

Reply to: Novel and delicious shelf-stable foods Posted June 24, 2022

I have one for your list…Boiled Peanuts.

Reply to: Controlling cooking food odors whether SIP or Bug Out conditions Posted June 23, 2022

Just use a stainless steel spoon. A larger cooking/serving size works best, dual purpose and less weight.

Reply to: What to do if your elevator gets stuck Posted June 19, 2022

Yes I have…many times. Same elevator. Worked in a office supply located in a old building that used to be a department store. The elevator was the type seen in the old movies that required an operator to run. Also, it required both sliding gates to be closed. Well, the old boy was a bit temperamental and if you didn’t handle the controls just right the circuit breakers would pop. Which was fine if you got stuck on the first floor or close to it because the breaker panel was located in the maintenance room right next to the elevator. You only had to be able reach the outer gate latch to get it open climb out and run down…did I mention that the store was a quarter of a city block big…to the store and get the key and open up said room, reset breakers. If stuck in the basement level, again, no big deal just open gates climb out, run length of basement, up stairs grab key, down to maintenance room, reset, and retrace steps…remember quarter city block. The big problem was if it stopped dead between floors. To get out you HAD to open the outer gate. You only hoped that it was close enough to reach either down pass the floor or if you had to, climb up standing on the inside gate and control lever. Down was always better, and yes I speak from experience. During the week it was no problem, plenty of people in the building and if we got stuck we just yelled however, on the weekends unless you had a customer you were alone. My husband knew that if I wasn’t home by a certain time on Saturdays, and didn’t answer the store phone, to come looking. No we didn’t have cell phones then. Fortunately I…for the most part…have always got myself out of what ever predicament I got myself into. Boy, you sure brought back some 32 year old memories that I had forgotten about with that question. Good times, I actually liked running that old beast, the other girls hated it. 😉