By Wulfin Dec 16, 2011
Ever notice you talk to 4 or 5 people about prepping, even very experienced preppers and you end up with many opinions? Have you sat down and wondered why? I have, and maybe I have come up with a few answers.
Usually when you get people together talking about things that are not hard science, you get into a problem of “this is right” and everyone who does not do it this way or think this way is wrong. I have found usually, that happens because; some people just need to be right, others want the best for people and they have through experience and time and sometimes great study and effort leaned what works for them. Since it works for them (“If it works, it can’t be stupid”, as my mentor always said) then it becomes what they consider the best.

Thing is, I have found that a lot of times there is more than one way to skin a cat (figuratively of course since I am a cat lover). Joe may find that taking a head gasket off of his car is easier using XYZ and BOB by using ABC. Both accomplish the mission, and both will swear their way is the right way since it works for them. Both are correct, but the thing we all tend to forget at times is, the way we find best or works for us, may not always be best for everyone and in every situation. People need to learn to find their own way to what is right.

Like taking a recipe that’s given to you, you cook it their way first, then you in time may find you add a bit of this or a pinch of that and may vary your cooking temp or how often you stir it. You make it yours by modifying it to your tastes and situation. I think in many ways, prepping is that way too. Listen to the experts, learn from them, understand you are going to get different opinions on things, so experiment and find what makes most sense for you and your family. Make prepping “yours” just as you would do a recipe your cooking (yes guys, deal with the cooking analogies, I hate sports and prefer to cook).

You will hear a lot about the best way, the best gun, the best ammo, best knife, best lubricant, best fuel, best place to live, etc. Guess what, for many, that may be the best, but what is best for others may not be best for you and yours. Listen to the “experts”, then experiment and find what is best for you. It may be exactly as someone suggested as the best, or it may end up a modification or combining of two or more ways you heard about.

Also take into account when looking for the best, your situation. Is this best for where you live, your income level, your social status, and your skill level. All of that comes into play. When SHTF, it’s your life, and your loved ones lives which will depend on your thoughts, decisions and preparations. I will most likely not be there suffering or surviving along side you, I am betting I will be somewhere far away and doing my own thing as will all the experts you talk to or read articles by.

So, when you read some sniping between “experts” on things, remember, they are not usually doing it out of spite, or being mean, or whatever. For the most part, each want to provide the best information they can to people to help and they are putting forth what life has taught them or through experience found worked “best” for them. Since it worked, you should listen learn and then make up your own mind if that’s something you wish to do. As I said, if it works, it’s not stupid.

That's why I preffer to ask people what "Their" favorite whatever is as opposed to what they think the best is. My personal attitide can be summed up like this. I will Always listen to advice. I may use some, all or none of it but I will ALWAYS listen to it.

great post! Like I said, if you just get the absolute MUST type of rules down, it's a matter of what works for you the best. Doing your own research as well as talking to others is how you grow your ideas.

I usually enjoy hearing the differing opinions. Other than, Air, Water, Food, Shelter...there are no absolutes. Lots of room for different approaches and methods.

Doc,
Know I drive some of my friends crazy, having to know the weight of stuff I prep, storage space necessary, durability in many kinds of environments, marking numbers on outside for order of importance, etc. They think I am OCD to the max on some things, and they are correct. It just does not make sense for them to do those things, nor to keep the inventory logs I do, and do the testing I do on things.
I could explain to them that I do it, because what if I had to bug out. I will know exactly how much weight and in what order I need to pack things to go. I will know exactly how much space I need to have in a transport to meet the needs and what are must have and what are nice to have things and in what order I should place them to keep the transport balanced.

Call it habits gained from military and having to know what you can pack on your back, or how much can your transport (on foot, horse, mule, motorcycle, car, truck, trailer, boat or aircraft) can hold both weight wise and volume wise. What needs other items to support it, what priorities for accomplishment of the mission are necessary and what can be left if in a hurry. How many trips would it take, how much fuel, how many man hours? To me these things are important. I was a grunt, just a grunt. My old platoon Sgt used to tell me, “Infantry has to be a jack of all trades and only a master of one, that’s killing. That’s our business and business should be good, but you can’t do that unless you have the means to do your job. Know as much as you can about getting what you need to accomplish the mission to where ever you need it”. I think he was right about that, at least for me.

If caching, how much space is needed, what is needed to protect it from the elements it may be exposed to, are spare parts necessary and do you cache that also. How man many hours to bring to the cache and set it up. How will you find it again and what is the danger if someone accidently finds it, could they be harmed by anything in it? Could it hurt the environment if it leaked, etc. etc. All these things have been thought about by me and put into my plans. That is not normal I know and not how most people function, but it works for me and has for so many years now I cannot remember when I did not do it.

It’s all about what works for the person and the people they are with. We all have to figure this stuff out for ourselves and live with the rewards or the consequences.

Interesting post and one I have considered as well. One of the reasons I see a lot (in addition to what you have pointed out. Notice I am not arguing but adding to your points... Grin) is the specific unspoken scenario each party is addressing. If you get them to agree on the scenario quite often you can get them to pool their ideas and come up with a reasonable consensus on some of the specifics.

Yep tiger your correct, and in a community you will have to compromise and soem times go with what the majroity agreeds to do or thinks is best. Like my friends nixed my plans to buy a Russian nuke attack boat as a bug out plan... still wonder why..... LOL

wulfin wrote: Like my friends nixed my plans to buy a Russian nuke attack boat as a bug out plan... still wonder why..... LOL

I would get new friends!

You have made some really good points!!!
I wonder also if I am that OCD too. What ever! The reason why I prep may not be the same as you but I am doing what fits me. I am doing the best that I can and I don't worry about the little things.
Right now I am storing water because I have the bottles available to me. I will do it for as long as I can.

I have thought about some of the same things too Wulfin, in why some people don't prep.
I think that living in denial is so much easier because to look at the facts and execpt that their live is on borrowed time is painful.

A man works all his life and is thinking he can retire in a few years.
Parents have just sent their kids to college and are looking foward to the empty nest.
A young man or woman has just graduated and is looking foward to starting their career.
A young Mother has just had her first child.
A young couple have just gotten married.
New grandpartents are looking foward to spending time with their grand children.
I have just bought a new house, and car, and boat and I am deep in debt.
I have been living in the city and my house for is almost paid for.


If a person looks at how bad things are, the first thing is a rejection because it would disrupt ever aspect of thier life. Their whole lives would be destroyed as they know it. It isn't easy thinking that your loved ones are going to hurt and there is nothing you can do about it. It is just to painful for some thing think about so living in denial is easier.
Denial is a powerful thing.

We talked a bit about this last night on the show...there ARE a multitude of reasons for different foks doing things different. I'm easy going about weights and stuff, because I hope to never bug out, but it makes sense that you would worry about that. I think each of us has a bit of OCD in our genes too...or we wouldn't be so set on being prepared. I have precise labels I use and it drives me nuts to see things with the labels turned; but that's because then I can see what I have.

You made some really valid points about needing to know space requirments and stuff....did you know that a year's supply of TP (for one)can fit in a 15 gallon tub? I can cache one of those with very little effort even in my rock encrusted soil here. (just saying... )