Although there's nothing wrong with that if it's what you prefer.
I'm no expert, but I'm willing to share what I know and hope you'll do the same.
No matter how much "stuff" you've stockpiled, there's never going to be enough in a long-term situation. Things get stolen, spoiled, left behind, or lost. Stuff is good to have but nothing can replace skills.
Can you start a fire to keep warm or to cook with? Can you do it without lighters or matches? Can you do it no matter what's not available? If not, this is a skill you need.
And there are more.
Finding and purifying water is another. As is hunting, gathering, and gardening. Tracking may even become essential.
And repairing tools and equipment. That's a big one if you want to keep things easier than they will otherwise be. Even more empowering is the ability to make new tools.
Blacksmithing is like a superpower in a permanent grid-down situation.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't stock up on stuff. Nothing will show you the value of a lighter faster than having to do without one for a long time. By all means, stock up on them and stash them in a variety of places. But know how to make a fire if you don't have one. And practice this skill.
Practice every skill.
Think of other skills you can learn which will make "stuff" less essential to survival. Feel free to share your ideas. Learning from others is another skill too many people neglect.
Every skill you learn will make "stuff" less critical.
Situational awareness is something we could all do better.
The sooner you are aware of the situations unfolding around you, the more time you have to decide whether to intervene or escape.
I say "situations", plural, because there's never only one situation happening near you.
Even if a person comes into a place where you are, intending to be a mass shooter, there are other situations going on. You should be aware of them, too.
Other people may be noticing. Some people may be oblivious and heading into extreme danger. Others may be preparing to address the danger. Would it be better for you to intervene or does someone else already have a handle on it? Would you be helpful or get in their way? Would it be better for you to slip out the side door, or to be the one to take on the responsibility? Every situation is going to be different.
You need to be aware of all these situations, even though it is probably not humanly possible. Tunnel vision will be working against you.
The more ...
The "officials" kept spinning dire warnings about the water situation, so I took it upon myself to do a daily visual check of the water levels in the water tanks I could check. Three out of four have a gauge on the outside. The fourth is a water sphere that, as far as I can tell, has no way for a member of the public to check the water levels. This is disturbing.
What my visual check showed me was that we're in better shape than the "officials" wanted us to believe.
I've been posting photos of the gauges every day on social media, and suddenly, at least the newspaper editor, who is very much in the pockets of the local politicians, admitted that the tanks are nearly full.
I'm not sure he would have admitted this without my intervention, but perhaps.
I also wrote a letter to the editor, which got a lot of pre-publication pushback from the editor. He has his preferred solution, which just so happens to align with the local politicians. He didn't like what I said and tried to make me feel ...
My local town (population ~1400) is in a water crisis. It's always having a low-grade water crisis, but this time, government incompetence brought it to a head.
The guy who visually checks the water levels daily was on vacation. The sensor that keeps the water towers full stopped working. One tower was empty, and the other was half empty before anyone noticed. Now it's everyone's problem.
Consequently, we're under some pretty harsh water restrictions- and they've been getting more severe each day for the past 3 days.
Fortunately, I have quite a bit of water stored. As much as I can fit in the nooks and crannies of my house, anyway. Just last week I got fussed at for doing this. That tune changed quickly.
I've also stocked up on bottled water.
I would catch rainwater, but a lack thereof is the root of the problem.
I wish I lived near a water source, but there are none in this region. I wish I had a well, but of course that would be "illegal" in town. I wish I had a long-term ...
