Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Dash Deringer - on being prepared...

“Be Prepared” - it is the Boy Scout moto - and it is great advice... are you prepared?  Do you have a plan - a just in case plan... just in case I get laid off... just in case I laugh at the wrong joke and some miserable do-gooder gets me fired... just in case my home burns down or my neighborhood needs to be evacuated... just in case of some natural disaster... just in case society falls apart - the economy collapses... the socialist come marching down the street to round up those who hold a different opinion... just in case... just in case - are you prepared?

Just in case - do you have food and water stored to get you through tough times.
Just in case - do you have an emergency kit.
Just in case - is your home secure - do you have the means to protect yourself and your family.
Just in case - is there enough money in the bank - and if you can’t get to it, is there enough money at home.
Just in case - you have to secure in place - do you have all you need without having to leave your home.
Just in case - you have to run - do you have a place to go and the means to get there - and do you have the supplies you will need to sustain you until you reach your destination.
Just in case - do your children know the plan... does your spouse... do your parents... just in case.

I keep a ruck sack pre-loaded ready to go hiking and every time I return from a hike I restock my supplies - just in case.  In my closet I keep packed zip-lock bags - one with undershorts, one with socks and I have a larger plastic bag with extra shirts and an extra pair of pants - all ready to be thrown into my ready ruck sack - I always carry a small pencil bag that contains a tooth brush, tooth paste, an eye glass repair kit, floss, and a razor - just in case - because one never knows where you’ll wake up... this little case moves easily from my rucksack to my shoulder bag to my suitcase... I can carry it in my breast pocket of my suit jacket... just in case... I always carry a couple of pocket knives with me - everywhere... and I keep a small flash-light on my key chain - with a flash drive containing what is important to me - just in case... I keep an emergency kit in my ruck - but I also keep one in every bag I have - just in case

When I travel - I never unpack - I prefer to travel with a ruck sack only and maybe a duffel bag as well sometimes - I prefer to travel as light as I can but... sometimes... my load gets heavy... but I never unpack and only hang up my suits and coats... usually I will travel with two suits - dark - suits I can mix and match...

When traveling - I always take a tarp - just in case... duct tape, chord, clip binders (handy little fuckers), head lamp and flash light, multi tool and my knives, I keep a little note book with check lists for all my stuff - and I always check and re-check it - like Santa - before during and after packing - this is of course only when there is no rush - but when I have to get out in a hurry - and it actually happens more than you would think - I just grab my bag - which is never unpacked and get the hell out - what I leave behind can be replaced... I also - of course, keep either a small container or zip bag with food and snacks in my ruck or duffel...

I know what it is like to be out of work for a long time and I know what it feels like to run out of food and money... it is not a good feeling - when you’ve eaten your last can of tuna and you’ve spent your last dollar... and the desperation sets in... I keep my pantry stocked... I could last for at least three or four months without leaving my place in Texas if I had to lock down - in Mexico - much longer... simple plan: rice, beans, noodles, tuna, spam, canned soups, sausages, and jerky - salt, sugar, pepper, and spices - olive oil - nuts, seeds, and dried fruit - water... lots of water... make sure you have plenty of cleaning supplies - detergent and bleach... and for the love of God... personal hygiene products -  fill up every empty space with rolls of toilet paper... keep lots of hand sanitizer and paper plates with disposable forks and spoons - just in case... don’t waste water washing dishes... candles - lots and lots of candles - have a way of collecting rain water and a way of burning your garbage... If I am away from my home - say I am with family and something terrible happens and we either have to lock down or bug out... I will leave my family and pretty much any one else I may be with at that time - I would go on my own and either try to get back to my place or get to my safety base - others would slow me down - and if they have no plan or are not prepared...they will be worthless to me -  if my family comes along it is fine with me... but they wont... if they did not take my advice on prepping - they are on their own... if they happen to be at my place when we have to lock down... I might just take what I need and get the fuck out of my own place and get to my base - yeah... I would leave them everything and get the fuck out - for the record... my family has absolutely no respect for me  - for whatever reason - (that is the first time I have ever admitted this to the world)... it is something I have come to terms with and I just don’t care anymore... I love them... but I am better off alone... and yes... if you’re not clan - you would get turned away... this is the first time I have ever spoken about being prepared... it just make sense... I don’t care if you have a plan or not - it is of no concern to me...

Keep a low profile - do not tell people you are prepared - do not tell people you have a plan - do not tell people you have food... just don’t... be prepared - but keep it to yourself - you’ll thank me for it... “but Dash... you just told us you have a plan... you just told us you are prepared...”  yeah... I did... try to find me... and my stash.
A Huntsman With Dogs
by 
Winslow Homer

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