Just wondering...

Let's start at the beginning (although you may consider it the end) - how much toilet paper do you have?

I know, I know - you put it on the list every week/month/whatever but do you actually know what you have?  Do you know how long your supply would last or is the duration of a roll of toilet paper the least of your concerns?  Not even on your radar - you know you always have "some" so why worry about it?

The other day I was talking with some friends about the upcoming winter (it'll be here at some point) and they said that in an emergency they'd be coming to my house. Why would they come to my house?  Because they like me or they think I might be more ready than they are to go a few days without a visit to the grocery store?  Of course they like me - they have to:  they are my friends!

But they do know (or suspect) that I tend to be a little more prepared.  Look, it doesn't have to be Armageddon or an EMP strike or a major terrorist attack that would send us all spinning out of control.  How about a major Nor'easter?  How long does it take the local grocery stores to run out of just about everything when the Weather Channel says a bad storm is coming?  Two days?  Three days?  Check it out the next time - it takes barely a day!  And in a really bad storm those resupply trucks ain't going to be making any deliveries for a while!

So, what do you have right now if they said you have to live on it (or with it) for the next week?  

It's winter - do you have a source of heat if the power goes out?  Do you have a wood stove or perhaps a generator?  What about fuel for either of them?  Do you have a few sticks of wood left over from the last bonfire of the summer or do you have a cord or so stacked and dry?  Do you have gas for the generator or are you relying on the partial can that you didn't use up in the lawnmower last summer (and is it straight gas or mixed with oil?) or do you have a separate stash of fuel with stabilizer in it for just such an occasion?

Let's say you have plenty of fuel for whatever is going to keep you warm - power is out - how will you cook?  More to the point, what will you cook?  Do you have easy to prepare things stocked away "just in case" or is the pantry pretty much empty because tomorrow was shopping day?  It's my personal contention that money spent on freeze dried foods that only require hot water to re-hydrate and that will last if unused for many years is money well spent. You can just forget about it until you need it.  If you're not into that sort of stuff then how about at least a few cans of soup - or canned meats - or vegetables - or cereal - or fruit?  

Things to think about until the next time around!