...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.