Tough times are easier when you are prepared!

Whether you believe the conspiracy theories, doomsday prophecies, or economic outlooks, it seems that everyone is predicting harder times ahead for all of us, whether we’re currently feeling the economic pinch or not.    Even so, that pain can be minimized with a bit of preparation before those times get so tough.

There are plenty of fables out there to remind us of the merit of putting things away before hard times, of working hard when the “weather” is good, in preparation for when its cold and hunger comes knocking on our doors.  There are just as many historical accounts of hard times and hunger, if we just look back to the Depression era in our own country.  So what do all of these stories have to do with us today?

What those stories tell us is that an “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  We’ve seen cut backs all across the board with government agencies, and most of us have little hope that if we lose our jobs in the future, there will be anyone left to give us a hand out or a help up again.  Knowing that you can stand on your own two feet in hard times is an important bit of knowledge, and probably does us a lot more for our peace of mind than any insurance policy we could buy.

So how can we prepare now for hard times ahead?  Should we be saving money?

Saving money is probably the least effective way to preserve your own well being in hard times.  Money has a tendency to be affected by inflation, which means that $1000 you saved last year might only be worth a percentage of what it was last year.  The worse the economy is, the more likely we are to see rampant inflation too.  So if things really DO get that tough, we might see inflation reminiscent of what Germany saw in the pre-war years…where it took a wheelbarrow load of money to buy a loaf of bread, and workers collected their pay in the morning so that they could buy food before the money was worthless again.  (Yes, it really WAS that bad.)  America has never had inflation that high, and it is rare even on a world-wide scale, but it is a dramatic illustration of how useless money itself can be.

Minimizing debt is always a good start to preserving your own economic well being.  If you don’t have loans to pay on, with  your house or car as collateral, then you aren’t going to have to make those payments to prevent anything essential from being repossessed by the bank or note holder.  Adding to credit card debt is also not wise, even though the dollars you borrow today may be worth less tomorrow, they still might be difficult to obtain if you lose your job.

Ensure you have an adequate wardrobe for your particular lifestyle and climate, but don’t choose trendy items, sticking instead to classic ones that can be worn many years without appearing too dated.  Often classic designs can be updated with accessories, far less expensive than purchasing a new wardrobe.  If you live in a cold climate, make sure you have warm clothing too, including items to wear if energy prices get so extreme that you need to dramatically reduce your heating bill.  Thermal underwear, cardigans, fuzzy slippers, thick socks, warm robes, and flannel pajamas may not be fashionable items, but if you are forced to reduce your heating bill to minimal levels, they can greatly enhance the comfort of your entire family.  Coats, hats, mittens, boots, etc. for outdoor wear should also be serviceable, classic, and utilitarian in style rather than the latest fad.  As winter fades into spring, purchasing clearance items is an excellent way to stretch your current budget to buy items that may be needed next winter.

Plant a garden in your yard.  This truly stretches the food budget as well as providing many other not-so-0bvious benefits for everyone.  (Exercise, knowledge, quality time, work ethics, etc.)  Even if you have only a tiny yard, “edible landscaping” can create something that is attractive, edible, and efficient for your particular climate.  In arid areas with frequent water rationing, explore ideas such as gray water recycling, rain water collection, and drip irrigation for reducing your water needs.  Starting your plants from seeds rather than purchasing plants from the nursery will greatly reduce the expense of gardening as well and is quite simple for most plants.

If you are landscaping your yard, why not plant fruit trees instead of just ornamentals? Many fruit trees are quite decorative in form and flower in addition to the fruit, and require about the same amount of work to maintain.  The fruit that is produced can be eaten fresh, traded or given to neighbors, family & friends, and be canned or made into jellies and jams as well.  Fruit trees typically take 2-5 years, depending on the variety and size, to begin bearing fruit.

Stock your pantry. Many religions advocate maintaining a food supply for a year, and this same school of thought is held by most people involved in emergency preparedness.  Shop sales and use coupons, buying extras whenever your budget allows.  Date each can with the month and year of purchase to simplify the rotation process.  Always put the new purchases behind the older ones, making it easier to use the oldest items first.   Canned goods do not have an indefinite shelf life, however, and most should be used within 12 months of their purchase.

Buy plenty of staples, such as rice, dry beans, flour, sugar, salt, etc.  Once again, grains and beans do not have an indefinite shelf life.  For long term storage, consider purchasing items that have been packaged for long term storage, typically in #10 cans or 5 gallon pails with an internal sealed liner.  These items can be stored for up to five years without any problem with spoilage, as long as the can or pail remains intact and sealed.

Learn to cook from scratch.  Not only is cooking from scratch usually healthier with fewer additives, preservatives, less sodium and less sugar, but it is less expensive.  Get a good basic cookbook, and enlist the help of an experienced cook if possible.

Learn to shop for local and in-season items, and learn how to use them in your daily recipes.  This can save you a great deal of money, and items that are not shipped across the country are obviously much better for our environment with their reduced carbon footprint as well.  Farmers markets and roadside stands can be excellent sources, as can “U-pick” farms.  (Search online for what is available in your area, in some areas, local farmers often sell at flea markets or swap meets too.)

Learn to can, dehydrate, and preserve food for later use. Not only are homemade jams and jellies far tastier than their store-bought counterparts, but they are much healthier too, as you control the ingredients that go into them.  No preservatives and a healthier portion of fruit preserves these summertime fruits for use all year long, whether its topping ice cream, shortcakes, toast, pancakes, or waffles.  Stirring a spoonful into plain yogurt also creates an excellent taste-treat that cannot be matched by any flavored  yogurt in the dairy case too.  Plain oatmeal becomes delicious fruit flavored oatmeal when it is sweetened with a spoonful of homemade jam too!  Fruit leathers and dried fruit become after-school snacks, or can be used in many recipes.  Dehydrated vegetables are easy to store and can be easily used in recipes all year long, both at home and while camping.

Start walking or using a bicycle for short errands and recreational travel.  It is amazing how quickly short errands can total into hundreds of miles and empty a gas tank without ever going anywhere!  By walking or using a bicycle, you not only save money but reap untold wealth in terms of increased health benefits.  Even grocery shopping can be achieved easily on a bicycle with the use of rear baskets or a trailer.  (Front baskets can reduce the rider’s stability while riding.)  Even purchasing a bike rack for your family vehicle can help reduce your fuel costs when vacationing–many popular tourist destinations are more easily traveled by bicycle or on foot than by car, and the car stays parked while the family enjoys sight seeing.  If you are looking for bicycle routes, try Google Maps, and choose the bicycle icon for their beta bicycle routing feature.  I’ve used it, and I love it!

Unfortunately, one of the problems that increases as the economy’s strength decreases is crime.  One of the best methods to encourage a potential thief or home invader to choose another home is to have a dog, especially an indoor dog, irregardless of its size. Adopting a dog from a animal rescue or pound is much less expensive than buying one from a breeder, and often the adoption fee includes initial shots, exam, heartworm test, parasite exam, and spay/neuter.  This series alone can often be far more expensive than the fee charged to adopt.  Owning a pet offers numerous other benefits besides crime reduction, such as companionship and affection as well.

For services of all kind, whether its vaccinations and wellness exams for your pets, healthcare for your family, insurance for your home and car, repairs, purchases, etc., it is wise to do your homework and compare prices. This can usually be done without ever leaving your home, via the internet and the telephone.  In a price check for annual exam and vaccinations for cats and dogs, in one town, I found an incredible variation in prices for virtually identical services (same vaccinations & basic annual exam w/o lab work).  The lowest was just under $100, but the most expensive was well over $300.  Why pay more if it is the same level of service?  (All of these veterinary clinics were well liked by their clients, and none had any major complaints against the veterinarians practicing there.  Obviously, I didn’t bother checking prices with clinics that were regarded as substandard in any way, whether it was quality of care or difficulty in making an appointment.)  This kind of variation can often be found in almost everything a family purchases, whether it is insurance or a house.  For example, I used an online service for multiple agencies to price auto insurance.  The company I ultimately chose was so much lower that I thought that the quote they emailed me was a mistake!  (No, it wasn’t Geico OR Progressive!) Do your homework and you won’t spend any more than you need to.

While shopping locally is a great idea, unfortunately, not everyone has a vast number of local options for their shopping.  Shopping online is a very valid way to try to ensure that you get the most choice for the least amount of money, especially when you have the time to wait for the item to be shipped. In addition, if it is shipped to you, you haven’t had to spend money on fuel to drive around to FIND the item, often a difficult and time consuming task.  Shopping online does not have to be a difficult and dangerous task.  Read reviews on the products and the retailer to ensure that other customers are happy with the service the company provides. I have purchased a wide variety of items online, from clothing to groceries to auto repair parts, from a number of retailers, and I’ve rarely had any problem except that with the shipping company.

If you are fond of online auction sites, remember, while they were once the bargain hunter’s dream, today they often start auctions at prices the same or even higher than both local and online retailers. Don’t let auction fever grab you and coerce you into spending too much for an item.  In addition, service and speed of shipping is not always what the customer likes to see.   Know the normal prices, set your limit and don’t forget to add in the shipping costs, which are often incredibly expensive.  Read reviews on the seller, and pay attention to complaints and compliments.  While no one can make everyone happy all the time, consistent complaints are concerning especially when there are repeated complaints about items not being as described, poor packaging, slow shipping, never received, etc.  Also pay attention to the auction site itself–some of then actually charge you a fee just to place a bid, whether it is a winning bid or not.  Ebay is probably the auction site most familiar to most people, and it too is not the same as it was a decade ago.

Being prepared for hard times does not mean that you are wishing them upon yourself, but simply that you are being frugal and responsible.  Exposing your family unnecessarily to the hazards of a depressed economy is not a desirable event, and we all like to protect them as much as possible.  By making minor changes in your life now, before gas prices hike, before inflation strikes, and before shortages occur is no different than buying life insurance before you die.  In this case, it truly is LIFE insurance to ensure that your family’s lives are as safe and secure as possible.

Save money on holiday gear with Ebay?

First, click on “Sporting Goods” in the categories.  Next, choose “Outdoor Sports.”  Only then do you get to the “Camping & Hiking” section.  Now you have reached your potential gold mine.

So what is on your Santa’s list?  Tents, you say?

Let’s see what our options are there!  We start by clicking on “Tents & Canopies”.  Here we get options as to the types and sizes of tents, such as 1-2 person, 3-4 person, or 5+ person, along with tent accessories or canopies.  Probably the most common size for most people is the 3-4 person, which in reality, provides room for 2 people plus their gear comfortably and works well for car camping.  1-2 person tents are geared for minimalists, bicyclists, and backpackers.

Now switch the “sort by” drop down menu to “ending soonest.”  This shows the auctions that are closest to ending, rather than by any other option.  Now comes the shopping part.

We’re going to search for a three season tent in this section, so we type in “three season” into the search bar at the top of the window.  On this particular occasion, our cheapest option is a Texsport Osprey tent, and the listing describes its size as 9′ x 6′ 6″ x 40″ h.  That’s shorter than we really want, as we want to be able to stand up inside of the tent.  We really want a tent that is 72″ tall, for a comfortable height inside.

Trying “72”” inside of the search bar isn’t productive, only showing us 2 tents that are higher priced than our $100 limit.  So, we go back to the category.  To do that, click “browse this category” just under the search bar.

In this method of browsing, I found a used REI Taj 3 Backpacking tent for 3 people.  It is supposed to be in good shape, includes the footprint, and is a very good tent.  I searched (in another window) Google for that model of tent, and read Backpacker magazine’s review for this tent, which was practically glowing.  I checked REI Outlet for their selling price, and the price on Ebay is well below half their price at the current bid.  The shipping fee of $18 seems a bit high, but within the “reasonable” levels.  BUT…the seller has only a rating from 3 people.  This low rating, combined with the product’s used status, makes me shy away from paying that much for this tent.  I’ll pass on this “bargain” since I can’t personally inspect the tent prior to purchase.

Just as I’m about to give up and admit that my desire for stand up height and under $100 is not going to work in this category, I find a potential buy.  It claims to shelter 4 persons, and measures in at 9×7′ with my 72″ height requirement.  It has a rainfly, with supporting poles so that all four sides can potentially catch a breeze (important in hot climates.)  It looks like the rain, should it have to be used in a heavy rain storm, would run away on each corner.  It also has “free shipping” and the seller has a 99% positive rating, along with thousands of ratings, so is obviously not a newbie to the world of Ebay.  The dome would be easy to set up, but it also is an
“unknown” brand.  With the current bid under $60, it might be a real bargain after all.  Still, it doesn’t close the bidding until tomorrow, but we’ll see.  (I didn’t really bid, so if you are searching for one, feel free!)

With the tent search finished, we’re now on the prowl for a lantern.  In this case, we’ll say our goal is to buy a single mantle lantern that uses the disposable propane tanks because we’d seen one someone else had and liked it.  So let’s begin our search.  First, go back to the main category of Camping & Hiking.  The easy way to do that is to click on the bar that says “Item listed in:” and find the words “Camping & Hiking” and click on those.  Now in the left hand column, we’ll choose “Flashlights, Lanterns & Lights.”  Next, choose “Lanterns” from the left hand category.  At this point, type in “propane single” and hit enter.

I happen to know that it was a Stansport propane lantern and it had a piezo starter to make it matchless.  I also know that it is sold for $16.99 from the local Walmart.  Our search today indicates that Ebay prices are substantially higher than what it would cost me at the local Walmart.  We don’t make a purchase in this category at this time.

That is the important part or rather, one of them.  Auctions are not a test of your worthiness or importance, but rather a competitive bidding process.  They are popular because it is a good way to get the most money out of your buyers, and there is also always the possibility your buyers will get a bargain too.  Always know the going retail prices for your items before starting to bid.  A bargain will never happen if the starting bid is higher than your local stores sell the item for.

Set your limits and stick to them.  Remember to check your shipping costs BEFORE you ever place a bid.  That bid is a legally binding contract and you can’t weasel out of it because you failed to read the listing.

Pay attention to what other buyers have to say about the seller.  A lot of complaints is not a good sign and steer away from them.  No one can please everyone all the time, so a few complaints are inevitable.

Plan ahead–don’t buy on Ebay expecting to have it by the end of the week unless you talk to the seller before you bid and they agree to expedite your shipping options.  Shop now if you want to find bargains for the holidays.

 

Buying gear-in search of a preemie sized life jacket

One of the Get Ready Go bunch recently had a baby.  Way early.  Now while their darling daughter is doing fine and has come home, the realization that we can’t find a life jacket of suitable size for the little darling.  Now Coast Guard regulations require her to wear one at all times, but where on earth can such a thing be found?

The great thing about the internet is the speed at which thousands of stores can be accessed and their inventory searched for our heart’s desire.  I’m not sure yet how these would actually work for such a tiny baby-she only measures 18 inches and weighs in at a whopping 5 lbs.

There’s a life jacket advertised to fit 0-30 lbs.  (This one here, at only $9.95!)  Sportsman’s Guide carries a Stearns’ vest at $14.95.  I’m not real sure about that size rating…most of them advertise that they fit 8-30 lbs.  How can a life vest that will fit a 30 lb baby possibly be sized down to fit the tiny body of a 5 lb baby?  Her entire body will slide through the neck of a t-shirt sized to fit a 6 month old baby.

Maybe the desire to find a life vest designed for a preemie or newborn seems odd to a lot of people, but we happen to be in the middle of a vast expanse of water and watery-land known as swamps.  Boats are as much a way of life as sidewalks are to other parts of the country.  To banish the baby, and her mother, from the usual activities because of the lack of a life jacket seems harsh, especially since this baby won’t likely make the 8 lb mark until sometime in the New Year.  That means the mother can’t go either, as the baby is breast fed and eats every 3 hours around the clock.

For those who live in this watery portion of the South, boats are used like cars for a lot of activities.  It is quite likely that a Sunday picnic is apt to involve a boat ride to a favorite island, and even some fishing camps are accessible only by boat.  That means that they cannot legally go to those places because of the lack of this magical life vest.  It also means that a paranoid first time mother is nervously looking at the calendar and her tiny daughter too.  Safety is also part of the equation.  That 30 lb life vest might LEGALLY meet the Coast Guard requirements, but it isn’t really going to fit the baby and will leave her at more of a risk for a physical injury than they are likely to need that life jacket for a watery hazard.

Preemie and newborn gear is available in all sorts of useless but cute configurations.  Seriously, who needs a pair of designer tennis shoes to fit a 10 lb baby?  They can’t even walk yet!  How about a baseball cap for your newborn?  Maybe some camo cargo pants?  The only cargo a newborn is going to carry is the load delivered to the diaper!

I don’t know if this is the first time anyone has dared speak up about a boat ride for a tiny baby or not.  Some people have looked askance at us even inquiring as to the availability of such a thing.  We aren’t planning a speed boat rip through the Mississippi Sound!  We were thinking more a ride on the Pascagoula River on a nice warm sunny day, with a little fishing.  It appears that by the time we find the appropriate gear, the baby will likely be an adult, long past the stage of needing a preemie life jacket.

Still, part of my mind goes back to the story of Moses floating in the basket of bull rushes.  Tiny babies can only not swim, but can’t keep their body temperature up either, not for extended periods of time in the water.  Wouldn’t a more effective safety device for a small infant be the use of a weighted and flotation equipped carrier instead of depending on an ill fitting life vest?  It would be much easier to devise a carrier that would automatically erect itself while carrying the under 15 or 20 lb infant than to devise a one-size-fits-em-all life vest, and once the infant is old enough to be active (crawling, sitting up, etc.) then the life vest would be appropriate.

So come on, all you life vest inventors and manufacturers out there…get on the stick and come up with something that would actually work instead of something ridiculous but legal.

Emergency preparedness, camping, and interesting and helpful websites

Last night, on Gia Scott’s Dawn of Shades, I promised to post the websites that we were talking about on this blog.  (My guest was the mysterious Mississippi Hippy and the topic was outdoor survival, emergency preparedness, and outdoor/camping skills.)  I use a LOT of websites, some recently, some were favored in days gone by.  They are all worth checking out!

Emergency preparedness (food storage):  www.foodinsurance.com (recommended to me, but I have not shopped with them.)  www.beprepared.com (I like this company, have shopped with them, and will be shopping again with them…what more is there to say?) 

Camping: Each state will have a website for their state parks, with individual sections for each state park.  Typically, the address is going to be something like www.statename.gov/parks but its much easier to use a search.  Just make sure you are accessing the state’s own website!  Other sites may have interesting and relevent reviews and comments, but may not be current in their information.  For car camping, I LOVE state campgrounds.  Why?  They usually cost about 1/2 to 3/4 of what the national park’s campgrounds in the area are charging, offer better facilities, have more polite staff, have more interpretive programs that are of interest to children and families, are more tent-friendly, and are better maintained.  Even 30 years ago, I learned that state campgrounds were far better–at that time, hot showers were unheard of at any national park campground.  Today, many national park campgrounds will offer things such as flush toilets and showers, but they are NOT tent friendly.  Requirements consistently require that the tent be erected ONLY on the tent pad, which at about 10×10 is far smaller than a family tent, resulting in sometimes over a foot drop as the tent hangs over the edge of the pad.  Sites in Mississippi that I have visited were also prone to flooding during relatively minor rainstorms, resulting in not only campsites being flooded, but the roads within the campground as well.  I do enjoy primitive camping in national parks, where it is permitted, but I recommend steering away from national park campgrounds unless you have a camper.  So much for the image of a tent camping in the national parks!

Other camping and hiking information–I used to LOVE www.gorp.com and got excellent destination information for hikes and camping trips that made me look like a pro even in unfamiliar territory.  Last time I checked…that lovely feature was gone.  I haven’t been back recently to see if it has been reinstated on their website.

Current favorite is www.backpacker.com  Even though I don’t backpack right now and don’t know if I will ever be able to again, the information is good solid information about a lot of gear that tent campers find relevant even when car camping.  Their magazine is also highly recommended–great information!  There is really a shortage of websites, magazines, and communities devoted specifically to tent campers.  Those of us who cling to our tents with every penny pinching muscle we have…seem to be becoming a rare breed.  There seems to be more backpackers than car camping tenters these days, if the web is reflecting reality.  RVers seem to rule the campgrounds, and while I enjoy a comfortable stay as much as anyone, I cannot afford to haul a 6000 lb travel trailer every weekend to some destination.  I cannot afford a vehicle to tow such a trailer anyhow, let alone afford the gas to drive it anywhere.  It’s just plain good sense to tent camp in terms of environmental responsibility.  And yes, I whine when its really hot and humid.   GM whines when its cold and rainy.  We make a good pair!

I use Google Earth to look at terrain and maps at home prior to venturing out into new territory, largely so I have an idea where things are in relation to each other and the general lay of the land…it’s the next best thing to being there.

As for emergency preparedness, here’s my routine for storm season, our largest threat on the Gulf Coast and we’re now in the early stages of the worst part of it.

1) keep your vehicle in good repair, well maintained and with good tires

2) keep your vehicle fueled at all times, do not let it have less than half a tank of gas (in my case, half a tank means I can drive about 200 miles.)

3) keep your important papers and files in a grab & go box of some kind.  I happen to use a portable hanging file folder box with a hinged lid.  Everything really important from birth certificates to titles are stored inside of that box.  It’s easy to add files, find files and transport.

4) have your emergency backpack packed and ready at all times.  keep it with you (we carry ours in the van normally.)  Each person needs their own backpack, and it should be appropriately packed for that person and their ability to carry it.  Mine is very heavy for me right now with my limited ability to carry anything, as it weighs in at 27 lbs. (Yes, we weighed it.)  Its an inexpensive internal frame pack with a waist belt and chest strap.  GM has a limp and back issues, but his weighs about 38 lbs.

5) have extra supplies packed into a “drop bag.”  This bag includes extras that would be nice but aren’t essential for immediate survival.  This bag goes if you can take it, but your real needs are in the backpacks.  This drop bag will have extended supplies, additional clothing, food, and comfort items.

6) be prepared for stay-at-home emergencies as well.  The H1N1 scare turned out to be nothing, but it may not always BE nothing.  There may be times when it makes sense to stay home and wait out a problem, whether it is a pandemic, job loss,  or other problem.  Every family should keep a full year’s supply of food on hand, but if this is not possible, at least 30 days should be stored in the pantry.  Having recently suffered from “economic stress” myself, as well as having moved, and gone through my stored foods to remove items that needed used or were spoiled by insects or the integrity of the can, I recently calculated that we had approximately 22 days of food on hand.  We are also going to switch to dehydrated foods packaged for long term storage after ascertaining that loss of supplies due to spoilage was an unacceptable event that was happening all too quickly and too often.  Previously, we had been using traditional grocery store supplies, with a 6 month rotation.  We were regularly suffering losses as high as 75% per 7 day unit (it was packed in 7 day boxes) in that 6 month time frame.  Not only was that wasted money, but what if we had needed that food 5 months after the last rotation and discovered that it was unusable?   At the same time, even though it would be much easier, we cannot afford to buy the 12 month units from any of the emergency food supply companies.  We have VERY limited space for storing this food as well.  We will make our purchases a case at a time, choosing foods that we will actually also USE in our day-to-day life.  We want to make sure we want to eat the stuff, after all!  We will also supplement our long term storage food in #10 cans with more stable grocery store products that we pack using a vacuum sealer.  Sugar, salt, some flour, and some other grain based products will be sealed with oxygen absorbing packets and tested after 12 months of storage.  We already know the sugar and salt will store well in this way, but flour and grain products may become stale or become otherwise less-than-palatable.  Hard candies will also be vacuum sealed for storage–these items can be stored for very long periods of time without much degradation of quality.  I grew up eating candy in the 60s and 70s that had been made for World War II and packaged in small drums.  Those red or yellow lozenges had little flavor besides sweet, but we loved them anyhow! 

Certain items that we find to be “comfort” items such as coffee, tea, and artificial creamer, are not available from the long term storage companies.  These items will have to be purchased from traditional grocery sources and regularly rotated.  Oils and shortenings are also not suited to long term storage, and must also be sourced from grocers and regularly rotated.  Dog food is also needed by dog owners, and once again…must be sourced from traditional sources or additional meat and fats must be stored to allow for their calorie needs to be met.  Since dehydrated meat is very expensive, I’m likely to vacuum pack traditional kibble for them, with additional oil being added to my supply lists to add to compensate for missing calories and fat in the kibble.

Being prepared mostly is about thinking ahead and using common sense.  Skipping your car payment to allow for purchasing MREs does not illustrate common sense unless you have inside information that a disaster is arriving.  Since few people ever receive prior notice to an emergency, we’ll assume that we won’t have much notice that it is going to arrive.  At the same time, in a world  where jobs are uncertain, natural disasters are potential threats, and rumors of potential pandemics run rampant…having at least that 30 day supply on hand does illustrate common sense.

Here’s some things to think about:

1) most cities will run out of food, both in stores and warehouses, in less than 72 hours if supplies are cut off and cannot be delivered.

2) some of the first things that stop during an emergency situation is utilities such as telephone, natural gas, electricity, water and sewer.   How will you have lights, something to cook on, or a way to keep warm without these utilities?

3) during emergencies, hospitals, pharmacies, and doctors are often unavailable.  How long will you be able to survive without these facilities?  Do you have your medication on hand?  Can you handle minor injuries and illnesses with your first aid supplies? 

4) A group can share supplies, knowledge, skills and provide security.  Do you have a local network for your own little survival group?  Have you got a plan?

5) Do you have a plan for your family in the event of an emergency?  Have you practiced, even by sitting around the table and going over who would do what and why?  On the Gulf Coast, we typically have about 3 days before landfall when we know whether its apt to hit our area and evacuations of vulnerable areas begins.  Depending on a person’s occupation, they may be required to perform certain duties for their job before leaving to return to their own families.  In the meantime, who is going to be preparing one’s home and vehicle for the incoming storm?  Who packs what for evacuation?  Who makes sure that there are adequate supplies, whether you are staying home or evacuating? 

6) THINK about emergencies…even wildly unlikely ones.  Talk about them with your family, friends, or survival group.  Talk about what you should do, could do, or would do.  Assess risks for various actions and for the various members of your party.  Sometimes things you never dreamed could be real…can turn out to be suddenly very real.  There are many stories of people being suddenly confronted with over 6 feet deep water in and around their homes as they were forced to swim to safety, including the very elderly and very young when the surge from Katrina suddenly struck their homes.  The ones that survived had family members who had thought about the situation and were able to make a decision on how to ensure everyone escaped safely in the brief moment that was available to make that decision.  The ones that didn’t survive were the ones that no one made a decision fast enough or made the wrong decision.  Floods, fires, riots, pandemics, civil wars, travel restrictions, infrastructure breakdowns, power outages, terrorist attacks, mud slides, plane crashes, avalanches, earth quakes, winter storms, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, chemical spills, oil spills…we’ve seen all of them happen in the past few years.  What kinds of situations could happen in your neighborhood?

Outdoor gear advertisers & spammers

I am absolutely amazed at the number of comments that this blog attracts from people wanting to advertise their company or product, written in a manner that they are deemed “spam.”  So, for all of you out there who want me to advertise your products on this blog or on my website, I’m going to offer you a solution.

I’m not even being sarcastic, this is sincere.  IF you are a legitimate vendor with a real business, and not someone trying to make a quick buck off of unsuspecting buyers, I want you to send me some very specific information.  Part of it is also requiring that you speak English and are capable of reading this post, which may not be particularly fair in some people’s eyes, but I think it is entirely fair since that’s the language I speak & write, and the language that this blog is written in.

I want your website, a list of your products/brands carried, and a brief paragraph telling me why I should want to list you on my lists of websites and vendors.  If you have something unique, tell me about it.  If you offer a unique service, I’d love to hear about that too.  If you are the owner of a website, and would like me to link to your website because of the information that you could offer to readers of this blog, send me that email!  If you have a product that you would like us to review, that is a possibility too, but send the email first.  We don’t want you to waste money sending us a product that doesn’t fit the type of camping and outdoor activities that we participate in and advocate for others.  (Examples are things like mountain climbing gear-we are a bit short on mountains on the Mississippi Delta, and I don’t have any immediate plans to schedule a mountain trip at this point.)  We do a lot of different things, and while we don’t go mountain climbing, I am supposed to learn the basics of rappelling this year.  Yeah, imagine that…a fat middle aged woman hanging upside down off of a cliff…it ain’t pretty, folks! Especially if it scares me enough (I’m deathly afraid of heights) that I end up peeing my pants…upside down.  That’s one outdoor adventure that doesn’t sound appealing, to be honest, but…I agreed to it, and I’m going to go through with it.  I figure its safer than free climbing on a rock face, and I’ve tried that too.  I will not, and I repeat that one more time, I will NOT agree to bungee jump.  No way, no how, and I’ll freely admit in public that I’m too chicken to try it.  There is NOTHING appealing about bungee jumping to me!  That also goes for sky diving.  I may have a sister who loves it, but I have sense.  I cannot see any good reason to deliberately jump out of a perfectly good airplane for the “fun” of it.  I have friends who have done it, for fun and/or for military training.  I’m not a soldier, I’m too old and too fat.  No thank you…I like the ground under my feet!

See now that I’ve digressed enough that any insincere spam type person has given up, I’m going to give my email address.  Make SURE you put “Get Ready GO blog” in the subject line to prevent ending up in THAT spam folder too!  The email address you can send this letter to is (take out the spaces, you know the routine) giascott (at symbol) gmail dot com.

In the meantime, all you spammers out there, you may as well give it up.  You get deleted, that’s all.  If you can’t be bothered with reading a whole entry and following directions, I can’t be bothered with your spam comments, plain and simple.

First foray into retail brick and mortar stores for bike shopping

We have a couple of Sports Authority stores and an Academy Sports store in Metairie, and that’s where I headed on the recommendation of several people to try out some bicycles for a sit-down experience.  Ha.

Sports Authority on Veteran’s Blvd doesn’t carry any cycling gear.  Period.  THAT was a waste of time!  Next stop was the one in Elmwood, so there we went.  They had a lot of bicycles, but not a lot of variety.  I don’t recall seeing ANY women’s bikes that were not mountain bikes, which I thought was downright odd–bicycling is popular, and no road bikes?  Not even ONE model?  In addition, we were informed by a store worker that they did not have a bike tech, which meant a month turn around if something needed repaired.  That wasn’t a big thrill either, especially looking at $300+ bikes.  Size wise, I was challenged.  The Lamborghini was supposedly carried by Sports Authority, but apparently its just online shopping that they carry it.  They didn’t have any in stock–just a few other brands.  17″ women’s frames were also in short supply–I found a 15″ (too small) and a 17 1/2″ (hair too big), and larger (way too big.)  The 17 1/2″ was a very close fit, and if it hadn’t been for the mountain bike style, it may have been purchased.  I could easily reach the handlebars without over extending my shoulder.  (Remember, I’m nursing a shoulder injury, and have limited mobility, among other issues, with one arm.)

Academy Sports had a LOT of low-end bicycles, with probably a half dozen models under $100 in men’s and women’s models.  We tooked at them, I tried one (hopelessly too large) and I encouraged Greg to look at them more (not real enthusiastic).  I did find a helmet that had an excellent fit, but I didn’t buy it–hopefully, I won’t regret that!  Academy Sports had a few lower-end replacement seats, including a hornless seat, as well as comfort covers for the seats.  They also had a single rear bike rack, the only one I’ve seen anywhere in town, but it was amazingly HEAVY.  It was also designed as a cantilever rack, which I’m not real sure about putting much on a rack with that design.  They also offered 2 different small handlebar bags, and a few bike tools.  Academy Sports in Elmwood definitely had a better selection for cycling accessories, but it was still fairly limited.  No trailers, 1 basket model (identical to one at Walmart), a good dozen different bike helmets (very good!) and bicycle pumps.  Prices seemed reasonable, slightly lower or identical to Sports Authority.

Tomorrow, we’re planning a trip to the local farmers’ markets, and adding a stop at the cycle shop in Kenner seems like an excellent idea.

Now switching the topic to the camping gear selection–Sports Authority on Veteran’s Blvd in Metairie is nearly a waste of time (they seemed to focus on the clothing for sports enthusiasts), and Walmart has a more extensive selection.  It was slightly better in Elmwood.  Academy Sports has a lot more gear, as well as gear designed for hunters & fishermen.  Either of the stores located in Elmwood would be worthy stops (they are close to each other–Sports Authority is in the same strip mall as Home Depot, Academy Sports is just down the road off of Clearview at Jefferson Hwy.) KMart & Walmart both also have stores in Elmwood, which means that most essentials for a car camping trip can be obtained right in that area.