People are depending too much on gear and surivial supplies!

[topcat128]

:mad:I have found out that most people preparing for TSHTF are depending too much on gear and supplies. What is going to happen to them if they find themselves with just themselves and nothing else.
You and I need to focus more on ourselves and less on gear and supples. Not that they are not important, but we are more important.
What is your state of health? How long do you think you can survive without food or water? You mind and body are your most important asset during bad times.Work on your mind and body. I am 70 years and in real good health, take no meds, exercise, not over weight, try to eat right, but do take vitamins and mineral supplements.

[TheLastMountainMan]

I agree with ya topcat, we also should focus at skill sets too.

[survivalguy]

I agree 100% with you we should focus on our bodies also we need to get back to basics here all the gadgets and gizmos can't save you when they are broken, lost or you run out of it. What happens when you break your knife? Can you flintknap to make a new one? How about your lighter runs out of fluid? Can you make fire by friction? your food supply runs out .. learn a few wild edible plants. Do you know how to hunt, trap and fish with what only material nature supplies you? If you answered NO to some of these questions you need to find someone to teach you or scour the internet for the information and practice these skill sets .... Remember knowledge is power and nobody can take that away from you!

[Mangler]

I have been thinking about the same thing. However, in the history of man it has been the tools combined with skills that have made the difference.

A simple handgun allows the slightest woman to defend herself from the largest man. Matches or a lighter can be the difference between freezing to death or making it until morning.

You are correct we should not rely simply on stock piling large amount of stuff. We need tools as well as skills to use them. One or the other is not enough.

[RICHFL]

No I do not agree. Not everyone is a 6 minute mile runner nor can weight lift and golds gym daily. They have normal lives and jobs and concerns. They prepare as best they can. Where you might go RAMBO with a knife most would sit back, and use a hunting rifle to get the same results.

Use equipment when you can, and work on what to do, when you do not have that equipment.

[JLBIII]

I agree with that, I stay in shape, eat right, and have learned a lot about making the gear I need with items found in the woods and then fashioning them into useful items that if they break I can just make another one. Though there is nothing wrong with using your man made items as well. Our biggest advantage is the knowledge we have learned over the years, nothing beats good old fashioned brain power. I think it's wise to be able to use everything you have at your disposal, no matter how it was made. Stack the odds in your favor.

Joe

[survivalguy]

No I do not agree. Not everyone is a 6 minute mile runner nor can weight lift and golds gym daily. They have normal lives and jobs and concerns. They prepare as best they can. Where you might go RAMBO with a knife most would sit back, and use a hunting rifle to get the same results.

Use equipment when you can, and work on what to do, when you do not have that equipment.

I'm not saying don't be prepared for the worst ..what I am saying is do not just rely on what you have things break supplies run out ... you need a host of skills if it gets really bad and I believe if you go back to the basics (primitive skills) you can supplement on what you have say food is running short ..break out those skills and find a meal. your out of ammo build a trap from natural materials. like I said "knowledge is power"

[Survivorman]

I agree. Way too much tacticool stuff.

[Oscar Wilde]

:mad: .... What is going to happen to them if they find themselves with just themselves and nothing else.

Great point TopCat. No doubt we all could benefit from some of your practices on healthy living.

Regarding the gear, hey, we're like a bunch of kids at Christmas don't ya know.

O.W.

[Big Guy]

I prepare in the shadows. I don't want to stand out more than I already do. I practice skills out in the woods where no one can see what I am doing (Outside my small group).

Some of the guys in my group have all the cool gizmos and gadgets, I have the food storage and the ability to hunt/gather more. I have the ability to purify water, cook outdoors, build shelter.

[RICHFL]

No one individual can gain the knowledge and be a master at each skill. That is why most preppers once they have established a plan of action and are well into gathering the items they need that they start looking into the areas they have short comings in like ER surgery or ham radio operations. They then expand their groups trying to find and fill those needs. My group is now at 8 full time members and a few extra part time preppers.

[Mangler]

My prepping depends on the highly likely probability that our species will survive, and not just barely, but with most of its acquired knowledge base intact. Oh sure, localized pockets of stupidity will develop, but libraries and books won't disappear because the dollar is worthless. Either electronic data will get destroyed (CME, EMP) or physical data (paper) will get destroyed, (riots, wildfire, earthquake) but not all of it everywhere.

So, those will knowledge will immediately begin re-making stuff; maybe even better than when the corporations were in charge. And the world will be awash in semi-manufactured resources. Every disabled automobile will become a parts store, every abandoned building a Home Depot.

I am comfortable with the possibility that I may live out the rest of my life living hand to mouth from what I can grow in my garden and hunt or fish. My concern is for two generations after TEOTWAWKI. Will we have relearned how to make seamless pipe and extruded wire, or stainless steel and optically clear glass.

[Bobbie]

I am not in good shape I have a problem with my knees so my experties is in gardening and raising animals to butcher and raising our show American Bulldogs that are awesome guards. Me and my husband are just beginning to prep so this site will help a lot. This year we are installing solar panels and rabbits to our small farm. I can hunt as well but I do not want to rely on gadgets so for all the lighters we have stocked I also will buy a primitive fire starter. For the electric mill to grind grains I will have a hand crank model. We have a creek close by we can haul water from so we can be totally low tech. I have my kindle with my books but important survival books on plants,snakes,ect I also have paper copies.We have guns but also backed up with knives,pepper spray and tazers. So I am not going to lean on just one way of doing things I will have back ups.

[Oscar Wilde]

I am not in good shape I have a problem with my knees .

Vitamin D, calcium, chondroitin, glucosamine, MSM. Last but not least Dr. Asa http://www.drasa.com/

Welcome to the forum Bobbie.

O.W.

[Bobbie]

I will try that but I have bare spots on my knees so it is bone on bone. Sucks but I deal with it fairly well. Docs said no knee replacment till in about 60 so I have 22 years to cry.lol Thank you for the welcome I hope to learn alot and help others as well.