What Did You Do Today To Prep?

[twinfin]

I've been slowly filling storage boxes with fishing flies I've tied, lures, hooks, and all kinds of paraphernalia related to fishing. Fish are an abundant protein resource which is available in many situations whereas the noise and resources needed for other types of meat gathering might not be the best choice in the moment. There's also the fact that all this stuff, be it hooks or materials for fly tying, is continuing to go up, with no ceiling in site. Say what you want about collecting bait on the fly; but, there are times when having something more ready to hand is better. Likewise, fluorocarbon, while more expensive initially, doesn't degrade the same way monofilament does.

If nothing else, it provides another option in terms of laying in meat.

That’s not a bad idea. I’m not much of a line fisherman but the idea of doing a bit of fly fishing for one’s sustenance while bugged out in the boonies has a certain charm to it!

[user120312]

I've been using my old spinning pole with a Garcia 301 on it to straighten the flags out in our windstorms of late and reading the post about fishing line caused me to reflect on that pole, reel and line being the one I used as a teenager to trout fish on the Kings River in CA, mostly. I'm now curious as to how the decades have deteriorated the monofilament line on it.

I worked with fluorocarbon rod/tube/sheet in the shop over the decades but never equated it with fishing line. Thanks for the tip. I used it mainly for its combination of temperature and chemical resistance in building parts for the chemical and power generation industry. Fluorocarbon, PTFE and graphite/carbon loomed large in those products.

This last week, recognizing the value of enjoyment in the face of adversity and even war, I've been laying in a stock of vintage wines from local Oregon wineries; bonus is I get to built some wine racks out of the reclaimed redwood from my CA place. Necessary? Likely not, but sometimes living one's best life transcends the necessary prep for survival. The test will be if I can keep a bottle of vintage Port unopened. Brutal.

I also unearthed a very old family coin collection going back to the silver era to segregate for assistance in commerce in SHTF. Tomorrow it's assembling some rack-shelf for the garage to better organize the decades of parts and 'stuff' that's very useful in a prep/SHTF situation. The battle is knowing where it is. Time to get organized.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Monofilament and fluorocarbon fishing lines are completely different animals. They require different knots; i.e., one type of knot won't necessarily work with both types of line. There are differences in degradation. Fluorocarbon is denser and decidedly more expensive.

Fluorocarbon is more 'invisible' or, put another way, it is notably less visible to the fish and, therefore, less 'intimidating' than monofilament when in the water. It is also more abrasion resistant than most monofilament. That gives it advantages when fishing. It also gives it disadvantages depending on the type of fishing.

In a 'survival' situation, the 'short term' isn't why you'd invest in fluorocarbon fishing line. It's the long-term degradation resistance, abrasion resistance, and sink rate which, for my purposes, gives it the edge. There's also the fact that, size for size, fluorocarbon tends to be stronger, meaning you can use 'lighter' line weights. Then again, most of my fishing is for trout, not warm-water species, and involves 'mountain' streams, creeks, rivers, and stillwater. In short, I'm not making truly long casts or trying to 'fill a reel' with the line.

If you fish using fluorocarbon as the 'connection' to the 'hook,' it isn't too bad in the expense department. However, you have to bear in mind that fluorocarbon will 'cut' through monofilament if you 'match' line weights; i.e., you have to use a notably heavier monofilament (at least a couple of pounds test strength) than the fluorocarbon if you use them in combination. Your choice of knots connecting the two types of lines also helps.

It behooves one to do a little 'research' before depending on it when it comes to fluorocarbon. I actually resisted it for a number of years. As I experimented, I found that choices insofar as application were advantageous, on various levels. But, as with all things, informed choices work better than ad hoc or wholesale.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

I cut up, hauled, stacked, covered, and brought in more firewood on Friday. Much of it will be used next year.

Of course, I then slept for roughly 16 hours.

My best 'prepping' advice? Don't let yourself get 'old' and with health problems. 😉

[twinfin]

…..My best 'prepping' advice? Don't let yourself get 'old' and with health problems. 😉

That’s something I think of often as I slither into my sixth decade. While working with my neighbors recently on a downed tree that crossed a point where all three of our properties intersect, It dawned on me how important it is to have tools to do the work once handled by youth and a strong back.

With the three of us “old guys” taking care of business, it was really the machines we employed that got the tree removal work done while we just merely operated the controls. Twenty years ago, I would have tackled the project a lot differently.

Fortunately, I’ve put emphasis on proper tools as prepping items knowing that they extend my capabilities as my body ages.

[BigBronco]

Bought a manual de-salinization pump. Along with filtration and boiling our salt water pool water will be drinkable.

[Sailormilan2]

My best 'prepping' advice? Don't let yourself get 'old' and with health problems. 😉

Agreed!!

[ireload]

Warned a buddy living in Houston area of a up coming polar Vortex and possibly a repeat of the 2021 TX freeze. Filled two new 1lb Mr. Heater propane bottles. Replaced soon to expire chemical light sticks.

[user120312]

I did a routine charging of the battery powered motion detector lights for the house.

Good thing, the power went out 15 minutes ago and it's not storming outside so no idea what went wrong. Whole canyon is dark.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

That’s something I think of often as I slither into my sixth decade. While working with my neighbors recently on a downed tree that crossed a point where all three of our properties intersect, It dawned on me how important it is to have tools to do the work once handled by youth and a strong back.

With the three of us “old guys” taking care of business, it was really the machines we employed that got the tree removal work done while we just merely operated the controls. Twenty years ago, I would have tackled the project a lot differently.

Fortunately, I’ve put emphasis on proper tools as prepping items knowing that they extend my capabilities as my body ages.

That's one of the more irritating things for me with the 'young' crowd today and it's especially true with outfits which push 'technology,' including with vehicles.

"New" isn't necessarily synonymous with 'better' and simply because something is 'outdated' doesn't mean it won't work... unless you make it so that it won't.

That's one of the keys to prepping for me. Don't put yourself in a position where you have to solely rely on 'modern' in that, while 'modern' has a lot attractions, it may not have reached the stage of being readily sustainable and, frankly, too much emphasis is now placed on 'built-in obsolescence,' where replacement is preferred over maintenance. In short, make sure to leave yourself alternatives and have a few at your disposal if needed.

[user120312]

In my prep I use layers, embracing 'new', like those rechargeable motion detecting strip lights that mount unobtrusively throughout the house on magnetic pads so can easily be moved/changed. I also have a rechargeable headlamp, which I wore last night to check things and set up the lasers.

However, I still have simpler, like an ordinary old-style D-cell Maglite with an incandescent bulb and, even more simple than that, a gasoline burning camping light, and more historical, oil lamps and barn lanterns from my grandparent's ranch.

Usually when the power goes out, I light the oil lamps, the wall lamps having big reflectors which light the room up well. Last night, I tried the new tech, the strip lights, and they worked great.

It's the same for other essentials like food prep and water production. I try new things and embrace new technology but still have the old stuff to fall back on.

Posting last night during the outage, which lasted around 4 hours, so very brief, I simply switched the cell phone's power cord to the Gooloo USB-A port and the phone, which is my internet, stayed fully charged. I also proactively charged one of the strip lights while the others discharged, lighting the house.

The Jackery, new tech, sat on a TV tray stand in the kitchen with the coffee pot, microwave and refer plugged into it. It's been sitting there since the last storm and power outage, a much longer one. The extra battery, fully charged, sits on the floor underneath it. It has UPS capabilities so the clocks didn't even lose time when the power went out.

I can brew coffee in an old-fashioned graniteware percolator over a wood fire too, using creek water if I have to, boiling it first. Many possibilities.

Happy New Year, peppers. I pray for a safe new year for all.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Don't get me wrong. "New" may not be synonymous with 'good,' but that doesn't necessarily make it synonymous with 'bad.' It's just like the 'newer,' 30 year shelf life of some freeze dried meals has its advantages; but, that doesn't mean I don't also have alternatives available.

For me, it kinda goes back to how I was brought up, where any shade tree mechanic could keep a vehicle running with 'bubble gum and bailing wire,' or so it was claimed and, often, seemed to work out that way if the mechanic was good. However, starting about 30 years ago, even professional mechanics began complaining about having to replace windshields rather than simply repair them for 'cracks' given the sensors being emplaced or dashboards having to be completely replaced due to a diode giving out.

My Grandparents place had a creek alongside the property and, for much of the year, you could get water from it. As the climate changed and the snow packs which fed the creek reduced in size, the amount of time water was available, if needed, from the creek was reduced. Thus, alternatives had to be sought. The day the well dried up and they had to switch over to the town's water system, my Grandfather had a few choice words about the quality and taste, but he switched nonetheless. (The well on my Great Grandparents' property, not far from my Grandparents, never dried up and, so far as I know, the new owners are still pumping water from it; but, there's no closely associated creek with that property.)

So... To each their own when it comes to preferences and what's available. It's just that making sure you have alternatives when it comes to what's available is a good idea and if some of them are 'outdated technology' which still works then so much the better. Just like the sewing machine I have which made my Great Grandfather's baby clothes. Parts are becoming increasingly difficult to find and increasingly expensive. However, it works, not on electricity, but foot power and the belt driving it can be rigged from something other than 'official materials.' Thus, I have options. (Now... If my hands worked like they used to... It's just that those are long out of warranty and I'm not fond of the ergonomics of the alternatives.)

[user120312]

One thing I noted over recent years is the reality that the younger generations, at least many I encountered, were never exposed to 'old tech' so what they know is what they know.

OTOH, the other night when it was pitch dark and I was using it to train, I was fumbling around with the Gooloo I'd left in the detached garage (lithium safety?) and couldn't make its power switch turn on its light so I could see in the garage. I finally figured it out, two presses of the power button. A younger person would've gone duh boomer, where you been?

Good story about the creek. They do change. In our case it's usually tree falls and beavers which mess things up. Ours is unique since it drains a coastal ecosystem and runs between two lakes so it sees some overflow from one lake plus the runoff like my gutters discharging into it as a minute example. However, with a very sandy/gravel soil, runoff is minimized, which is why my 'deep' well is only 25' deep. The water table is really shallow. In my case, a lot of the water I pump is creek water which percolates down to the pump which is essentially next to it.

Living rural for nearly 40 years before moving to the forest I had a very large stock of essential repair parts and the ability to make pretty much whatever I needed, not surprising since I owned a machine shop to make a living. Self sufficiency is something I recommend anyone to learn to the extent of their skill set. It doesn't have to be fancy. In fact I'd opine my circumstances made me lazy; throw inventory and some expensive machine tools or fab equipment at any problem and it was pretty easy to solve.

It's not that way now. Simplicity is exercise for the brain.

[user120312]

Reading a thread in OT the other day I found one tidbit to make a good prep from, consolidating my lithium battery charging and maintenance into a discrete location that provides a safety barrier and fire resistance. It is less convenient than having stuff plugged in all over the house but the member made a good point about fire potential from unattended charging and battery runaway.

I took inventory and do have quite a variety of lithium polymer battery stuff, a surprising amount. Power tools, radios, lights, even the digital microscope on the electronics bench.

Prevention is effective insurance, particularly for those of us who eschew monetary insurance.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

I just ordered a bunch of MRE's and freeze-dried foods. I justified it as 'thinking positive' about being able to use them on fishing/backpacking trips; but, realistically, over the last couple of years, they've simply been rotated into my normal, dietary schedule. With the 30 year shelf life predicted for most or many freeze-dried meals, it's not so bad and I already have 'more than a month' of them built up as a 'last ditch' resort or for mobility purposes. The MRE's are more of a 'short term' alternative as they don't require heating; although most are far better warmed up. (The power was out not long ago and an unheated MRE entree served as expected. Uh...)

I had about a year's supply of canned foods built up. Unfortunately, most of those have started going out-of-date, with some swelling clearly visible in some of the cans. It's unfortunate. However, a change in my dietary habits happened 2 1/2 years ago with the brain bleed and that's when my regular rotation became disrupted. It's one of the reasons I've been investing more heavily in freeze-dried entrees in that their longevity has notably increased. My problem with going too heavily with the freeze-dried, other than the expense, are the water requirements. I'm trying to come up with a water storage system which is 'safe' from the raccoons, opossum, feral cats, rats, etc. which exist here. It's just that I've only met with marginal success on that score and don't want to be dependent on a food source requiring hydration levels I might not be comfortable with.

In short, it's time to begin restocking the larder and at even $2+ a can for soups these days, while they're still less expensive than the alternatives, I have to begin thinking about just how much I'm willing to invest and lay in at this point. I used to be able to rely on hunting/fishing and gathering to supplement things. Not so much these days. Then there's the fact that I simply don't eat as much as I used to being less physically active (alright, incapable of being as physically active) as I used to be.

One tends to forget the amount of thinking which has to go into these things until they're faced with it. Oh well. At least it's something to occupy the mind with... right?