Discussions
Reply to: What habits have you developed related to prepping, and what habits do you wish you’d develop? Posted July 17, 2023

Despite emergency preparation being on my radar for about four years, I haven’t come all that far. The things I have done seem a bit disorganised. But I can at least see that I’m better than I was. Additions to my car have come in handy in small ways; a multitool regularly gets used opening the seal on a new bottle of oil (old car, loses oil, but otherwise trusty), sanitiser for so many situations, toilet paper for when the public toilets are out, garbage bags, a back-up power bank, etc. I’m reassured I’ve a couple of waterproof bags I can switch things to if my car ever gets in an accident in very wet weather. 3 kinds of torches/ lanterns. First aid. Hi-vis jacket. N95s. And other bits and pieces, some more ‘just in case’, e.g. long-term water pouches & ration bars that can be stored in hot environments. I also now carry a tiny torch, with a teeny lantern, in my bag. Wouldn’t want have to rely on my phone battery in an extended situation. Also in my bag, 2 or 3 muesli/nut bars. Sometimes 4. Nice to have choice but also, there was one day I depended on the 2 bars in my bag and, while they keep energy up & most of hunger away, I learned they’re not actually that satisfying. I look forward to an opportunity to offer to others.  I now have something like a Go Bag, with first aid, cash, a map, etc. No doubt missing a few things but then it’s also a little heavy for me. Need to actually practice walking with it, too. But then I also have my Hospital Bag. This feels like it might be more useful. Not actually expecting to go into hospital (thankfully) but if I wake up in a hospital bed and need to stay a night or two, right now, it’ll prob be my dad I send to bring me some essentials from home. I realised having a designated Hospital Bag would make that process so much simpler.  I’m perhaps a little more regular at Topping Up. Petrol, groceries, phone battery, whatever. When I use up the toothpaste, I refill from one of my 4 or 5 tubes and replace from the store. I was shocked one day when I ran out of muesli and discovered there wasn’t any in my Emergency Food. How did that happen!? Things I’m not so great at? Washing and refilling my meagre water storage when the time comes around. Seems like pretty basic stuff… I learnt a knot once, and now I can’t even remember which one! There’s another thread on this site: https://theprepared.com/forum/thread/estate-planning-real-life-notes-on-why-you-should-do-it-now/ It’s too easy to think that, because ‘I don’t have much money, it’ll work itself out’. I want to organise a will and other important documents (Power of Attorney? I think that’s what we call it here in Australia) because I don’t want my loved ones to make any more decisions than they absolutely have to at a difficult time. Or have any doubt that they made the right decisions. I would happily write things down, it’s the making an appointment and realising I need to get proper organised that makes me baulk. And choosing a lawyer (will they be competent? Nice? What if I feel stupid?). But maybe if I do that first bit (write things down), I can ask people I know for recommendations for an estate lawyer and start organising my paperwork, at least. 

Reply to: An introduction to lightweight backpacking Posted June 24, 2022

Just wanted to say thanks for this. I hadn’t looked into lightweight backpacking before and in the context of this website I found it really thought provoking. I have some chronic joint issues due in part to overly stretchy ligaments which means I can’t walk far with a lot of weight without some kind of increased pain and, eventually, even less mobility. Being less able than the average person my age has motivated me think about being prepared for things, but also has me looking at some BOB recommendations with a bit of despair. So it’s just good for me to consider that there’re options. I think the principle “the more you learn the less you need to carry” is particularly motivating for someone in my position. I also think I’ll try weighing the stuff I often carry just in everyday life and take a closer look at weight distribution. So thanks for the contribution!

Reply to: Common survival myths among preppers Posted April 19, 2021

The point about closing borders not helping with diseases is prob true in a lot of/most situations. It just sounds strange to an Australian during COVID-19. I think it just needs a lot of caveats. Like, it obvs helps if borders are surrounded by water. And there are humanitarian issues, like citizens trying to return home. It should be considered a matter of when, not if, cases will escape quarantine. So distancing & testing & tracing still needed. And quarantine needs to be continually refined. Would all this have helped with a different disease? Maybe not, but here we are. In a context where external (sea) borders are mostly closed, internal border closures have also helped. Though, there needed to be cooperation with state authorities on either side & with the majority of public. My main reason for saying they helped is Australia’s second wave was largely contained to the state of Victoria. Of Aust’s 910 fatalities, 820 occurred in Vic. There have been multiple temporary closures between states/territories since. I didn’t see my fam in the ACT until a month after Xmas due to a small cluster in NSW. Of course the nation being a continent is a big factor. And the type of disease. I reeeally don’t want to suggest that our closures can be directly transposed to the situation of whoever is reading this. The whole process is complicated and extremely situational (geographically, financially, socially). But I agree that border closures don’t keep cases out entirely. Whether they “help” depends on a whole bunch of things. Maybe the rule is: don’t *count* on border closures helping when it comes to the next pandemic.

No activity yet.
Reply to: What habits have you developed related to prepping, and what habits do you wish you’d develop? Posted July 17, 2023

Despite emergency preparation being on my radar for about four years, I haven’t come all that far. The things I have done seem a bit disorganised. But I can at least see that I’m better than I was. Additions to my car have come in handy in small ways; a multitool regularly gets used opening the seal on a new bottle of oil (old car, loses oil, but otherwise trusty), sanitiser for so many situations, toilet paper for when the public toilets are out, garbage bags, a back-up power bank, etc. I’m reassured I’ve a couple of waterproof bags I can switch things to if my car ever gets in an accident in very wet weather. 3 kinds of torches/ lanterns. First aid. Hi-vis jacket. N95s. And other bits and pieces, some more ‘just in case’, e.g. long-term water pouches & ration bars that can be stored in hot environments. I also now carry a tiny torch, with a teeny lantern, in my bag. Wouldn’t want have to rely on my phone battery in an extended situation. Also in my bag, 2 or 3 muesli/nut bars. Sometimes 4. Nice to have choice but also, there was one day I depended on the 2 bars in my bag and, while they keep energy up & most of hunger away, I learned they’re not actually that satisfying. I look forward to an opportunity to offer to others.  I now have something like a Go Bag, with first aid, cash, a map, etc. No doubt missing a few things but then it’s also a little heavy for me. Need to actually practice walking with it, too. But then I also have my Hospital Bag. This feels like it might be more useful. Not actually expecting to go into hospital (thankfully) but if I wake up in a hospital bed and need to stay a night or two, right now, it’ll prob be my dad I send to bring me some essentials from home. I realised having a designated Hospital Bag would make that process so much simpler.  I’m perhaps a little more regular at Topping Up. Petrol, groceries, phone battery, whatever. When I use up the toothpaste, I refill from one of my 4 or 5 tubes and replace from the store. I was shocked one day when I ran out of muesli and discovered there wasn’t any in my Emergency Food. How did that happen!? Things I’m not so great at? Washing and refilling my meagre water storage when the time comes around. Seems like pretty basic stuff… I learnt a knot once, and now I can’t even remember which one! There’s another thread on this site: https://theprepared.com/forum/thread/estate-planning-real-life-notes-on-why-you-should-do-it-now/ It’s too easy to think that, because ‘I don’t have much money, it’ll work itself out’. I want to organise a will and other important documents (Power of Attorney? I think that’s what we call it here in Australia) because I don’t want my loved ones to make any more decisions than they absolutely have to at a difficult time. Or have any doubt that they made the right decisions. I would happily write things down, it’s the making an appointment and realising I need to get proper organised that makes me baulk. And choosing a lawyer (will they be competent? Nice? What if I feel stupid?). But maybe if I do that first bit (write things down), I can ask people I know for recommendations for an estate lawyer and start organising my paperwork, at least. 

Reply to: An introduction to lightweight backpacking Posted June 24, 2022

Just wanted to say thanks for this. I hadn’t looked into lightweight backpacking before and in the context of this website I found it really thought provoking. I have some chronic joint issues due in part to overly stretchy ligaments which means I can’t walk far with a lot of weight without some kind of increased pain and, eventually, even less mobility. Being less able than the average person my age has motivated me think about being prepared for things, but also has me looking at some BOB recommendations with a bit of despair. So it’s just good for me to consider that there’re options. I think the principle “the more you learn the less you need to carry” is particularly motivating for someone in my position. I also think I’ll try weighing the stuff I often carry just in everyday life and take a closer look at weight distribution. So thanks for the contribution!

Reply to: Common survival myths among preppers Posted April 19, 2021

The point about closing borders not helping with diseases is prob true in a lot of/most situations. It just sounds strange to an Australian during COVID-19. I think it just needs a lot of caveats. Like, it obvs helps if borders are surrounded by water. And there are humanitarian issues, like citizens trying to return home. It should be considered a matter of when, not if, cases will escape quarantine. So distancing & testing & tracing still needed. And quarantine needs to be continually refined. Would all this have helped with a different disease? Maybe not, but here we are. In a context where external (sea) borders are mostly closed, internal border closures have also helped. Though, there needed to be cooperation with state authorities on either side & with the majority of public. My main reason for saying they helped is Australia’s second wave was largely contained to the state of Victoria. Of Aust’s 910 fatalities, 820 occurred in Vic. There have been multiple temporary closures between states/territories since. I didn’t see my fam in the ACT until a month after Xmas due to a small cluster in NSW. Of course the nation being a continent is a big factor. And the type of disease. I reeeally don’t want to suggest that our closures can be directly transposed to the situation of whoever is reading this. The whole process is complicated and extremely situational (geographically, financially, socially). But I agree that border closures don’t keep cases out entirely. Whether they “help” depends on a whole bunch of things. Maybe the rule is: don’t *count* on border closures helping when it comes to the next pandemic.