[PREP] Apartment Prepping & What I Did Today

[RoseTower]

I live in an aprtment in the city, am disabled, living on a pension and have no hope of being able to "bug-out" unless I get very lucky. So instead of worrying about not having a lot of money for preps, I am concentrating on what I CAN do for stay in place stuff.

Today:

1.I froze 12 2ltr. soda bottles of water in my freezer. This will allow me to keep any perishable food in the fridge cold a little longer.
2. I washed and drained another dozen bottles for storing drinking water.
3. I washed and filled four 1gal empty plastic kitty litter containers with non-potable water.
4. I determined which area of my appartment would be my stay in place area.
5. I located my plastic and duct tape in that area.
6. I measured the windows and vents in that area in order to buy heavier plastic for the windows/doors as my budget allows.
7. I began a list of things I need to purchase as my budget allows.
8. I moved my prep food into that area and determined a plan for rotating it with the food I have stored in my kitchen.

Just what I have prepped today. Simple stuff compared with waht some of the rest of you are doing, but it's a beginning.

 

[Delphinus]

Good for you, Rose, that's a great start!

I sometimes think there are many on this board that don't understand that not everyone is in a position (for a multitude of reasons) to have acres of land, a wood stove and a well. The rest of us have to do the best we can with what we do have regarding preps.

Good luck with your prep planning!

 

[theoutlands]

Well, I got 1 of the 3 that actually works (the acres) and 1 of the 3 that is onhand but needs a lot of work (the wood oven - unless you count the grill w/ offset firebox, which works nicely). Still don't have the well.

I know not *everyone* can, but a *lot more* people *could* move out onto acreage if they set their minds to it. We did.

 

[Deb Mc]

Rose,

Ditto what Delphinus said - great job! Doing what you're able to do is a great and a realistic/obtainable option. (Imo, it's far better to do what you're able to do NOW than to daydream about a currently unobtainable option and not prep.)

A few things you might want to check out, if you haven't already:


1. If possible, buy a copy of "Ragnar's Guide to Urban Survival", it's a great book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_1/102-3474537-0440964?v=glance&s=books


Other "urban survival" books:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/102-3474537-0440964


2. Research and print out as much material as you can about "urban survival" and "urban homesteading" or "homesteading". Each can give tips/advice on how to become more self-sufficient while living in a city environment.


3. Take a self-defense course or three.


4. Take a FEMA CERT course (free!). There you'll learn more about disaster preparedness, emergency response, AND network with like-minded people. They are a group who usually is pretty self-reliant, intelligent and is very interested in community assistance. A good "prepper" group if there ever is one!


5. Pick up a new skill such as spinning wool, knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc... Learning such skills usually aren't too expensive and could be a way to bring in money (or use to barter with) later in a TSHTF situation.


Best wishes and God Bless!

 

[RoseTower]

Rose,



5. Pick up a new skill such as spinning wool, knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc... Learning such skills usually aren't too expensive and could be a way to bring in money (or use to barter with) later in a TSHTF situation.

Thanks for the suggestions. I have a few books and I am transferring some of that information into smaller notebooks that won't be so heavy to lug around with me.

I can already sew (with and without patterns), crochet,and I am an inventive cook. In the past I have cooked over a wood stove and know how to milk goats and care for chickens. The new skill I am learning now is how to make pottery. I'm currenting researching how to find the materials in the wild, and how to build my own kiln. Next semester I will learn about how to make my own glazes from scratch.

I also want to learn how to make oil paints from scratch, because there will always be a small market for those who love art.

I'm also O- so I can be a universal donor for anybody!

 

[Libertarian]

Good for you Rose. We all don't all have land to grow stuff on and we all have to prep as best as we can. Any preps are better than none at all.

 

[Pepper]

I'm also O- so I can be a universal donor for anybody!

LOL Rose. So am I. I hadn't thought of that!

I think it is wonderful that you are doing all you can do with what you have. Have you thought about how you could protect your preps in case tshtf and your neighbors try to take what you have worked hard to provide for yourself? Good luck with your prepping.

Pepper

 

[RoseTower]

LOL Rose. So am I. I hadn't thought of that!

. Have you thought about how you could protect your preps in case tshtf and your neighbors try to take what you have worked hard to provide for yourself?

So far the only thing I can do is nail the door shut and keep a low profile (my neighbors woud NOT suspect me of being a prepper. I'm the crazy cat lady on the corner!) But I'm working on it. Maybe put a Quarantine sign on the door?

 

[Deena in GA]

I believe that the spirit of preparedness is making the best you can out of what you have and/or can get. Learning all you can now and thinking through different situations puts you heads and shoulders over most people. You're doing a great job! Congratulations!

 

[Gingergirl]

Rose, you could live next door to me any day.