...without looking paranoid

[Ronin13]

Question for some of the more seasoned folks on here, how do I plan and prepare for worst case scenario (such as stocking up a store room with food, water, excess "camping" gear and ammo) without looking like a paranoid survivalist nut? A friend of a friend has a little room in his crawlspace stocked to the gills with boxes upon boxes of long-lasting food stuffs, bottled water, and various "hold-out" boxes of ammo. Me and a couple of guys were shown this a few weeks ago and automatically everyone thought this guy was crazy- except me, I thought Well, he's prepared, and I'll be if SHTF he won't be going crazy trying to survive.

[DFBrews]

Question for some of the more seasoned folks on here, how do I plan and prepare for worst case scenario (such as stocking up a store room with food, water, excess "camping" gear and ammo) without looking like a paranoid survivalist nut? A friend of a friend has a little room in his crawlspace stocked to the gills with boxes upon boxes of long-lasting food stuffs, bottled water, and various "hold-out" boxes of ammo. Me and a couple of guys were shown this a few weeks ago and automatically everyone thought this guy was crazy- except me, I thought Well, he's prepared, and I'll be if SHTF he won't be going crazy trying to survive.

That guy is doing it wrong. You only show your preps to people you would trust your life to.

[bobbyfairbanks]

Go to Costco and buy a bunch of rice and canned foods.

[StagLefty]

Just stock up as you go-you'll be surprised how fast items pile up.
When King Soopers had a recent sale on canned veggies I stocked up on what we eat (don't buy what you don't usually eat) at .50 a can.,2 for 1 sales, Mgrs. specials on meat etc. vac seal and freeze. I spent a lot of years camping and hunting so I have a good source of stoves,lights etc. Just stock up on fuels.
It's a lot easier than folks make it-Good Luck

[Big Wall]

It's called OPSEC. No one should know you are prepared or they will end up on your doorstep.

[Ronin13]

It's called OPSEC. No one should know you are prepared or they will end up on your doorstep.

That's kinda where I was leading with that... he isn't the brightest bulb in the shed, but he does mean well. I still have some left over MREs I have in dry storage, and I keep a few Ranger Bars on hand- but for the most part I need to renew my COSTCO membership and keep a couple weeks or months supply on hand.
Stag, good freaking point! I know what I like and eat regularly, and read about it in books, or see it in movies, people grabbing up everything on the shelf. Never once do they mention food allergies or 'holy cow this tastes horrid.' I claim I'm allergic to fish, but in reality I just can't stomach it, I find it the most horrible tasting food on earth. If the elk population were to die of when SHTF, then I'm screwed.

[StagLefty]

It's called OPSEC. No one should know you are prepared or they will end up on your doorstep.

I mistakenly tried to educate a neighbor last year about prepping. He says to me after I told him how relatively easy it was that "he knew where to go when SHTF". I then informed him he would die in the driveway if he was empty handed. Some people just aren't worth the air.

[jerrymrc]

The short term (so to speak) canned goods should always be bought on sale. You should always check exp dates and get the longest you can. Many items have dates 2-3 years out. You buy, rotate and use.

Some of the shorter items we keep like instant mashed potatoes and the pasta/rice sides dates are 18 months. We keep like 20 mashed potatoes and 30 rice/pasta sides on hand and use within 6mo of expiring. They make it cheap and easy to prepare short term.

Tuna is 3 years out date wise and has been on sale a few times in the last couple of months for 50 cents a can. I keep a cushion of 40-50 on hand.

Some of the canned products like stews and thick soups can be a large meal for two with just the addition of a couple of cups of cooked rice to put it on. Same way for pasta and canned ravioli.

Some of the camping gear/stuff. I keep a couple of boxes. One has all those stupid items like the hanging shower, the grommet kit, the sewing kit, the soap, toothpaste, lantern mantles. pump kits, rechargeable batteries and solar charger, all kinds of crap that I would not need unless needed. I tape up the box and print a list out and tape it on top.

I do mylar food the same way. Box#1. I have a master list with everything that is in the box and the date packed. If done right all someone would see besides a well stocked pantry is numbered boxes on the shelf. One does not have to write "Zombie Apocalypse" or TEOTWAWKI on the side.

[funkfool]

Are you saying I'm paranoid... is that what you're saying?
'Cause I know that you're thinking I'm paranoid....





I am working on getting 55 gal drums of water in my shed at home and the cabin...

I'm with Jer... bag it / box it / tag it... then keep using/rotating it...
(Except I label EVERYTHING as "Zombie Apocalypse Supplies")

[Wulf202]

I gave up my costco membership.

Their prices aren't that great to begin with. I just wait for a good sale at the grocery store and end up cheaper than the bulk stores. They may look at me funny buying a cart full of tomato sauce but I just don't care. Often you can get to the cardboard sleeves of the food by pushing the ones in front to the side. As Jerry described, you wind up saving alot of money if you can afford to buy a years worth of an item when it's on a great sale then rotate it.

Cost savings alone is good enough reason to have a big pantry. Start watching those coupon queen shows I hear all about and learn how they do it.

Asain markets are the best place to get cheap rice. There's a nice one in Broomfeild and one one parker rd.

Opsec is important, only a handful of people have seen all my preps. Though I put myself in the lime light with the survival co-op and such.