The Mushy Middle and Keeping Going

In survivalism (or preparedness whichever slightly different philosophy or label you prefer) the initial flurry of purchases, adaptations and skills is easy to quantify and makes you feel far more confident in your ability to survive. It could be debated where this stops but for most people it is being reasonably well prepared for a significant regional disaster lasting several weeks. You’ve gotten plenty of food, batteries, fuel for your lanterns and stoves. Also you have acquired a few guns as well as a decent supply of ammo (not cut and dry but you are probably starting to measure in cases not boxes) and keep some cash on hand. You may have even put a few bucks into precious metals in case things get really weird. Of course you have done numerous other small things that fill out your setup.

Then things start to slow down and become harder to really get excited about. Once you reach that first initial goal (and don’t get me wrong it is a worthwhile one covering you for most realistic scenarios) other goals become a lot bigger and more conceptual. How they really affect your preparedness becomes more and more remote.  It is easy to let complacency set it.

I have kept plodding on over the last couple years because well, I am crazy and that is what I do. Time goes by and things get accomplished an order of this here, that there, practicing some skills and refreshing some kits now and then.

Now don’t get me wrong we have made some big strides, it is just hard to see them in isolation. A little at a time I have set back a decent stash of ammo and spare parts. No longer am I one of those Americans with plenty of guns and hardly any bullets. Also got spare parts for our important guns to keep them running. Picked up all kinds of small but necessary electrical stuff, batteries and a charger plus a Berkley water filter. Also slowly but surely our stash of PM’s is adding up.

We saved an emergency fund and got out of debt. Now as our family has grown and our expenses have changed a little bit we need to give the emergency fund a boost. Not a pressing need just something we will do over the next year or so.

Keeping motivated is essential. Some people have long term visions and know exactly where they want to go and just work towards it. That keeps them going.  I am not so sure I have those for survivalism. There are just so many variables in our lives. However I do know what I want to accomplish in broad terms over the next couple of years.  Maybe I will write another post about that.