More with Less: Just in case...

With terrible destruction and loss of life currently being experienced in one of the world's most develop nations, it reminds us that life moves easily along until it doesn't. That doesn't mean we can take all of our technology, and modern lifestyle for granted.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to review the the importance of remembering the Boy Scouts motto, which simply says "Be Prepared". Prepared for what you ask. Well it doesn't matter. I am not the type of person who lives in a constant state of fear of the unknown, but I want to have some basics covered, just in case.

The most pragmatic way to be prepared is to know what to be prepared for. So to start your journey to peace of mind, step one should be simple. What is the most likely disrupting event that could occur? On my list natural disasters are not very high, flooding is my only major concern. I live in a part of the United States that has very low risks for earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes. My biggest concern is a breakdown in the economy. In 2008 we were standing on a cliff looking into the abyss of economic disaster. Since then we have pulled back from the cliff slightly, but the fundamental problems within the world of big banks and high finance that is Wall Street have not gone away.

That being said I look to the past to see how historical economic breakdowns of progressed and how people living in those economies dealt with the problems that come with economic collapse. As a general rule food becomes a substantial problem. If becomes scarce and expensive. My "just in case" scenario has centered around the idea that food could become hard to come by in a disaster, economic or otherwise. I would recommend having a supply a 6 months of food for all members of your household, and perhaps a bit more so you can help those beyond your family.

I don't want to rag on this subject any longer. There are tons or resources, blogs, and information online. Here a couple of links that helped me achieve some piece of mind with respect to a "just in case mentality."