Reality check on preparedness

[Geeswell]

great! thanks so much!

[chefddr]

I'm new here, I started prepping when I joined the Church 2 years ago. It is time to go through my BOB's and update clothing etc . . .

I am planning on rebuilding and expanding my food storage over the next few weeks as I have some money coming in next week, and I depleted it while my boyfriend has been unemployed and other issues have happened since mid winter.

So, here are my questions:

1. I don't know where to bug out to~I know my kids will go with me, but my boyfriend, while he tolerates me doing Food Storage (I let him decide between a weddng and food storage and he chose the latter - wrong answer!!) Anyway, I know that I have some food packed to bug out with, a tent, sleeping bags, and I think I can pack my van in about 10 min, the question would be where to go!?

2. Also, if and when we do leave, how do I take all my Food Storage with me if I know for a fact I will not be returning?

Any thoughts on these issues would be greatly appreciated, as although I am trusting my Heavenly Father to take care of us, I have been almost compulsive about building my food storage and leaving it behind would probably send me over the edge (I am bi-polar with depression and don't handle stress well).

[durangout]

I've just started on my medical preps. I have a basic 1st aid kit but feel like I should have much more. I've expanded it to include sutures, minor surgery kit, trama bandages, burn dressings, N95 masks. Got much more to aquire but I'm moving in the right direction. Next will be to attend 1st aid classes that Sandy City offers.

[infowarrior]

Just built a 8x4 raised garden bed and hope to build another one That will prove valuable im sure! It adds to the 400 sq. ft. I already have. I plan on using my heirloom seeds come this spring and hopefully will make good use of the garden space.

Ive been buying a lot of food from the Chicago distribution center and from the SLC center whenever we visit home. efoodsdirect and some mountain house foods along with canned butter and cheese has boosted the variety of food storage for us.

Ever since we got into canning food our chicken, red meat, veggies and fruit supply has exploded. We are somewhat addicted to canning food here.

I think where I'm lacking is in the tool department and survival gear.

[chefddr]

Just built a 8x4 raised garden bed and hope to build another one That will prove valuable im sure! It adds to the 400 sq. ft. I already have. I plan on using my heirloom seeds come this spring and hopefully will make good use of the garden space.

Ive been buying a lot of food from the Chicago distribution center and from the SLC center whenever we visit home. efoodsdirect and some mountain house foods along with canned butter and cheese has boosted the variety of food storage for us.

Ever since we got into canning food our chicken, red meat, veggies and fruit supply has exploded. We are somewhat addicted to canning food here.

I think where I'm lacking is in the tool department and survival gear.

Ok, so I am officially jealous! you have a GARDEN!! we rent our little house and my bf wouldn't let me put a garden in! I hope to do a good purchase from the distribution center, in the next several weeks and I want to get some canned butter and cheese and start canning chicken and other meats this winter, I just brought home over 100 qt canning jars from storage, and I have my All American sitting in the attic unused! Thanks for the incentive to keep going and not give up. I did manage to buy some new stuff for preps, clothes for the kids 72hr kids to update sizes, blankets, need some new sleeping bags, etc. . . slowly it will get done.

Still, I am worried about where to go should we need to Bug Out! I would rather get away from here but where to go is a concern, I have NO CLUE!

Thanks to all for the encouraging responses, you keep me motivated!:(

[infowarrior]

Just built a 8x4 raised garden bed and hope to build another one That will prove valuable im sure! It adds to the 400 sq. ft. I already have. I plan on using my heirloom seeds come this spring and hopefully will make good use of the garden space.

Ive been buying a lot of food from the Chicago distribution center and from the SLC center whenever we visit home. efoodsdirect and some mountain house foods along with canned butter and cheese has boosted the variety of food storage for us.

Ever since we got into canning food our chicken, red meat, veggies and fruit supply has exploded. We are somewhat addicted to canning food here.

I think where I'm lacking is in the tool department and survival gear.

Ok, so I am officially jealous! you have a GARDEN!! we rent our little house and my bf wouldn't let me put a garden in! I hope to do a good purchase from the distribution center, in the next several weeks and I want to get some canned butter and cheese and start canning chicken and other meats this winter, I just brought home over 100 qt canning jars from storage, and I have my All American sitting in the attic unused! Thanks for the incentive to keep going and not give up. I did manage to buy some new stuff for preps, clothes for the kids 72hr kids to update sizes, blankets, need some new sleeping bags, etc. . . slowly it will get done.

Still, I am worried about where to go should we need to Bug Out! I would rather get away from here but where to go is a concern, I have NO CLUE!

Thanks to all for the encouraging responses, you keep me motivated!:(

I don't know where to bug out either. I have zero family within 1.5 thousand miles any direction and no awake saints that i would consider a good friend where i could go if my area was compromised for a period of time. Umm, the Church? I'm not sure...

[chefddr]

Just built a 8x4 raised garden bed and hope to build another one That will prove valuable im sure! It adds to the 400 sq. ft. I already have. I plan on using my heirloom seeds come this spring and hopefully will make good use of the garden space.

Ive been buying a lot of food from the Chicago distribution center and from the SLC center whenever we visit home. efoodsdirect and some mountain house foods along with canned butter and cheese has boosted the variety of food storage for us.

Ever since we got into canning food our chicken, red meat, veggies and fruit supply has exploded. We are somewhat addicted to canning food here.

I think where I'm lacking is in the tool department and survival gear.

Ok, so I am officially jealous! you have a GARDEN!! we rent our little house and my bf wouldn't let me put a garden in! I hope to do a good purchase from the distribution center, in the next several weeks and I want to get some canned butter and cheese and start canning chicken and other meats this winter, I just brought home over 100 qt canning jars from storage, and I have my All American sitting in the attic unused! Thanks for the incentive to keep going and not give up. I did manage to buy some new stuff for preps, clothes for the kids 72hr kids to update sizes, blankets, need some new sleeping bags, etc. . . slowly it will get done.

Still, I am worried about where to go should we need to Bug Out! I would rather get away from here but where to go is a concern, I have NO CLUE!

Thanks to all for the encouraging responses, you keep me motivated!:(

I don't know where to bug out either. I have zero family within 1.5 thousand miles any direction and no awake saints that i would consider a good friend where i could go if my area was compromised for a period of time. Umm, the Church? I'm not sure...

your response bothers me greatly. Not that you are so far from family as much as you have no good friends you feel you could to to and no saints who are awake in your area and not sure about the church? THAT IS TERRIFYING TO ME. My mom is 200 miles away and there is no guarantee that we could get to her. My BF thinks I am off the wall with my prepping for "the end of the world" but I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT IF I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO I COULD GO TO ONE OF MY CHURCH FRIENDS AND I WOULD NOT ONLY FIND SHELTER FOR MY FAMILY BUT OTHERS WHO THINK THE WAY I DO, AFTER ALL I LEARNED FROM THEM, BUT ALSO PEOPLE TO LOVE AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER IN A TIME OF NEED.

[BroJones]

I'm new here, I started prepping when I joined the Church 2 years ago. It is time to go through my BOB's and update clothing etc . . .

I am planning on rebuilding and expanding my food storage over the next few weeks as I have some money coming in next week, and I depleted it while my boyfriend has been unemployed and other issues have happened since mid winter.

So, here are my questions:

1. I don't know where to bug out to~I know my kids will go with me, but my boyfriend, while he tolerates me doing Food Storage (I let him decide between a weddng and food storage and he chose the latter - wrong answer!!) Anyway, I know that I have some food packed to bug out with, a tent, sleeping bags, and I think I can pack my van in about 10 min, the question would be where to go!?

2. Also, if and when we do leave, how do I take all my Food Storage with me if I know for a fact I will not be returning?

Any thoughts on these issues would be greatly appreciated, as although I am trusting my Heavenly Father to take care of us, ...

A sincerely-asked question, chefddr... I like to look in the scriptures (and Gen Conf coming up) for answers. This from Alma 48 is relevant I believe, to your questions:

Alma 48:8 [Moroni] had been strengthening…the Nephites, and erecting... places of resort.[.
14 Now the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword except.. it were to preserve their lives.
15 And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them in the land… yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger;
16 And also, that God would make it known unto them whither they should go…[/b]

Pondering this with my wife -- and then the grown children -- we have come to the conclusion to establish not just get-away bags, but "places of resort" as Captain Moroni and his people did. They KNEW they would be attacked, they just didn't know exactly how, when or where.

So they prepared places of refuge to flee to, and they trusted Heavenly Father to "make it known unto them whither they should go", which place to go in a particular situation. My dear wife and I have about a dozen pre-arranged places we COULD go to, depending on the event and seeking guidance at that time from the Lord -- which I believe is in keeping with the counsel of Alma 48 (see also, D&C 38).

Best wishes to you... and I would also urge you to take your questions, written down, to Gen Conference -- that is, listen for answers as you listen to General Conference talks.
-- Steven Jones