redundancy

I have been loosing the battle with my gun centric side recently. Today I want to speak in some generalities which is both good and bad. Redundancy is key to living without the ability to go to the store to replace stuff. Redundancy is especially necessary for important and or complex stuff such like: vehicles (if you store enough fuel to keep feeding them), firearms, cooking and heating sources, tools, and ways to feed yourself.

Simply put have a couple of each key item and a couple of ways to do each key task. Anytime one system or implement being broken or lost is going to greatly change your existence things are not redundant enough.

For complex implements with lots of small parts some degree of interchangeability is highly desirable. If your primary goes down then it becomes the parts rig. If the implement that you desire is expensive enough to prohibit such redundancy then consider moving toward a less expensive one if it will not greatly reduce the effectiveness. Example, a national match grade m1a is insanely accurate but they are also insanely expensive. If that one rifle breaks for whatever reason your screwed. If you sold that gun and bought 2 (probably not going to be .308's because inexpensive semi auto .308's are over because of our governments import policies) compatible firearms then you would be in a much better place. Ditto for vehicles, camp stoves, tools, etc.

With systems this is a little bit more complex then picking up an extra at the store. If you plan to feed yourself (in the truly long term 1+ year time frame) using one method then you should diversify. If you raise animals great, still hunt and grow a garden. Have more then one way to get water.

To me being prepared is (at least in a sense) having a plan for when things break; regardless of whether those things are our society, the wheat crop, your prized national grade match m1a, an ax, or a crescent wrench.