PP #12: Riders on the Storm, Prepper/Personal Safety Edition
Project: Pioneer #12 December 19, 2023 (Tuesday 9am)
It’s deja vu all over again, with another vicious pounding few days of rain, just like a few weeks ago, but we were far better prepared this time. And now it’s snowing. And how about that? Preparedness, “prepping” is the focus of this journal.
Project: Pioneer is the live reality journal of a couple and their small dog as they leave their ‘normal’ life in a luxury apartment for a new semi-off grid life in a small recreational vehicle, just at the start of winter. We cover prepping, politics, spirituality, afterlife, RV life, and personal finance. (Audio at this link, Apple, and Spotify)
First, let’s get you up to date on a few housekeeping items. I hope you paid subscribers enjoyed the audio blooper clip (Giavana speaks!) from the podcast, the panoramic video of our “front yard,” and a few more pictures. Thanks for supporting Project: Pioneer!
The predominant thing lately is a feeling of financial peace. Our housing cost is now just a fraction of our monthly income. The result is that we do a lot more than we used to, and without worrying about it. I described a bout of homelessness in Farawayer, and ever since that extreme survival experience I’ve been neurotic about every dollar spent. I know it bugged Giavana, and I guess she’s figured out very smartly how to solve that problem! We’re even more generous with tips, gifts, and paying it forward. It feels good, and isn’t that what life is about? Do you want to get there too (with or without living in an RV!)? Read Kiss Your Money Hello (and Financial Stress Goodbye) for the recipe. Buy it as a life-changing gift for yourself or someone you care about. Never go to a job that makes you unhappy every day just to sustain a lifestyle to impress people you don’t even like.
We installed a thermal door cover that’s eliminated the draft from that area. It’s wonderful! The furnace runs far less than before. These also work for houses, and apartments. It’s great because coming in and out of Red House now has an Native American teepee feel. It seals itself up automatically with nice strong magnets and installs with Velcro, no nails/screws needed. We installed another remote temp/humidity sensor to monitor the inside conditions (we have one running beneath to make sure our tanks and lines don’t freeze). One of the best things we bought so far are theses stick-on wall sconces that act as one-touch reading lights. No wires and they attach with a magnet to easily remove and use as a flashlight. Great for night-owl readers or pill droppers to not disturb a sleeping spouse or partner!
Also, we’ve learned that our neighbors have a nickname of their own for Red House. They call it the Little Red Caboose! I like the former blues reference better, but have to admit the latter is apropos. On Sunday I went out very early to fill Giavana’s gas tank as she had a trip to take, and accidently set off the car alarm when I parked. So, the neighbors might have a different nickname for me right now. For now, I’m hiding out!
Ok, on to the prepper content. Is it just me, or are things way more ‘glitchy’ lately? The tech seems worse than usual, even on the most reliable sites and apps. We know our adversaries have been probing our electric, GPS, water, and other utility systems. They always are. These systems are antique. Assume they can be shut down by our enemies should the need arise. What then? Imagine right now your power and water are out (water doesn’t have to be ‘out,’ just contaminated, quite easy to do). What will you do? Get on the road? Is your tank full? Gas pumps won’t work. Roads will immediately clog, and it will be very dangerous out there. Do you know the backroads, or just blindly do what your map software says to do every day? Do you know how to use a compass, and have a real one? Are your devices, flashlights, and other important items fully charged, or are you one of those always-running-on-empty people? Do you have a generator (with lots of fuel), solar capability, a portable indoor-safe propane heater (with fuel)? Got canned or freeze-dried food and a propane stove (and fuel) or a stock of firewood and place to burn it? Careful, a roaring smokestack is a sure sign to those who might be cold, hungry, and desperate that someone nearby has plenty to take. Survival of the fittest.
Do you have something on you at all times that could be used as a weapon? We’re big advocates of safe personal firearms. If we need to have training, take a test, and register in order to drive a deadly weapon (vehicles), we should have to for firearms. Mentally unwell or dangerous people shouldn’t have them. But, they do, all around you. A great, small handgun like the Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380 (with laser sight, concealed carry holster, and self-defense rounds) or the larger Springfield XDM Compact 9mm handgun are great. Again, if you go this route, patronize a good local gun range and instructor. These tools can do more harm than good if you aren’t responsible. Get a good gun safe that can be opened quickly and safely with biometrics or pin code. If you don’t want to go there, a simple taser, stun gun, pepper spray item can buy you valuable seconds to escape. Still too much? A personal safety alarm (especially good for kids and elderly) can do the job and scare off attackers or get quick help.
Change your habits in order to survive. Put your devices down and become more observant of your environment at all times. Where’s the nearest exit? Where would I go and what would I do if someone started shooting right now? Which direction am I currently traveling in? Which direction is Canada? :-) What are the people around me doing? Buy some of the basic essentials below and have them ready, in your trunk, near your door, at work and at home (if you’re at work, you may not be able to get home). Buy them for your loved ones. You may save their lives, even in an event as simple as a car accident, power outage, or bad weather vehicle breakdown.
The #1 Netflix movie (at this writing) is the new Leave the World Behind. I commented a little in my last post. Watch it! You’ll see it starts out as I describe things lately—glitchy, a little weird and unseemly. In the movie, they leave the lights on because well, they have to make a movie. When it happens in real life, power will be out. The ending is interesting and upset some folks. I won’t spoil it, but it’s not a happy one, it’s one that is self-reflective of our species and society right now. Fiddling while the Earth burns, frogs sitting in the slowly boiling water while focused on our devices and memes. Every dynasty thought they would be forever (Roman, Egyptian, Sumerian, Ming, British, Mongol, on and on), and when it ended for them, it was usually ugly. Ours is long overdue. We have a former and wannabe next leader openly fawning over the world’s worst dictators, and pledging to have his own right here, and 38% of our country is like, “Cool, I like that guy, he hates the same people I do!” Have a peek at what life is like for people in Venezuela, Turkey, North Korea, Russia, China. Hint: It’s not good. It never is. Again, if you’re not a wealthy, white, straight, male, evangelical Christian, you’re not in the club, you’re being used, and they’ll come for you eventually.
Want to be ready? Below I list some of the gear we’ve personally bought and used.
2-Person 3-Day Emergency Bug-Out Bag (all in one!), (or this one instead)
Freeze-Dried Food Rations (lighter than canned), and this one
300 Piece Compact First Aid Kit (or this one or this one)
Lifestraw Family Water Purifier
Lifestraw Single Water Purifier
Military Folding Shovel
Auto Emergency Escape Tool
Tactical Range Bag
Survival Folding Knife (I love this!)
Leatherman Wingman Multi-Tool Knife
Backpack Camping Cookware Set
Hand Crank Solar Recharge Flashlight
Potassium Iodide Tablets
Portable Solar Panel
Hand Crank/Solar Emergency Weather Radio
Want to learn more? Read the below books, or at least have them in your kit! (Hint: ebooks and audiobooks aren’t much good if there’s no power, go with paperbacks)
The Prepper’s Blueprint (book)
Survival Medicine Handbook (book)
Prepper’s Home Defense (book)
Prepper’s Long Term Survival Guide (book)
Prepper’s Armed Defense (book)
Road Atlas (Adventure Edition, US, Canada, Mexico)
The Disaster Preparedness Handbook (book)
What’s next? Here come the holidays! It’s also time for New Years resolutions. Vow to get your financial house in order. Vow to be prepared! We focused on the latter in this journal entry, next up we’ll talk more about personal finances and FIRE (financial independence, retire early). Also upcoming: a post focusing on after-life topics! Please share this post on your socials!
"I think religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell, and spirituality is for people like me who've been there."
– Megadeth's Dave Mustaine
Got questions? We’re happy to answer them, just post away below!
Hey, the sale price for my books wasn’t showing on wildlakepress.com, but that’s fixed now! I still have a shelf full of my novels and no room for them at Red House. I’ve asked our friends at Wild Lake Press to mark them down to half off, about $5, while supplies last, just for you pioneer journal readers (discount may not show until you check out). That’s pretty much my cost. If you buy any, you can let me know if you want a custom inscription and signature on it. Remember, many authors don’t get famous until they croak, so it could be an investment! Or, not. Sigh.
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