Sapphyre
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When it comes to emergency preparedness / self-reliance, I've met people who have run the gamut from full-on prepper (they'd have their own private bunker stocked with 20+ years of supplies if they could afford to), to those who do not even bother with keeping a flashlight in a known location. Sometimes it can seem like a slippery slope from one extreme to the other. I know some people who keep months of non-perishable foods in their pantry, some who line their basement stairs with bottles of Poland Spring, some who keep a stash of silver rounds (one troy ounce apiece, worth about US$15 or so each) in case of economic collapse and hyperinflation, some who have prepared bug-out bags… and of course, some who lack even a flashlight.
What do you consider reasonable? Where do you draw the line between prudence and paranoia, and how do you determine where that line should be drawn?
Having lived in coastal New England until last year, hurricanes and nor'easters were enough motivation for me to keep at least a week's worth of food and water on hand, as well as a decent handful of cash. The roads may be impassable for days and power may be out for over a week following one of these storms, so when it is finally possible to get out to stores again they are often operating cash-only. I also had a charcoal grill and a camp stove for cooking without power. Many of my neighbors had gasoline generators.
But what about larger disasters? Say, a severe pandemic disease outbreak, or another Carrington Event, or major economic or political disruption (World War 3?)? Is there such a thing as a reasonable precaution against such possible atrocities, or is the only response a choice between the undertaking of extreme prep versus "the ostrich approach"? What are your thoughts?
How prepared does it make sense to be?
What do you consider reasonable? Where do you draw the line between prudence and paranoia, and how do you determine where that line should be drawn?
Having lived in coastal New England until last year, hurricanes and nor'easters were enough motivation for me to keep at least a week's worth of food and water on hand, as well as a decent handful of cash. The roads may be impassable for days and power may be out for over a week following one of these storms, so when it is finally possible to get out to stores again they are often operating cash-only. I also had a charcoal grill and a camp stove for cooking without power. Many of my neighbors had gasoline generators.
But what about larger disasters? Say, a severe pandemic disease outbreak, or another Carrington Event, or major economic or political disruption (World War 3?)? Is there such a thing as a reasonable precaution against such possible atrocities, or is the only response a choice between the undertaking of extreme prep versus "the ostrich approach"? What are your thoughts?
How prepared does it make sense to be?