When it was just the Kid and I, I got quite ill. I couldn't hold a job down, hadn't slept in about 2 months, migraines, carpal tunnel and much more. When I lost my job, I didn't qualify for unemployment benefits. I applied for disability, but that takes forever, so I lost our home. We lived in a tent-camper in a friend's front yard for almost 2 months. I went to the food bank daily for our meals, and let me tell you, they don't have healthy food. It's bread, cakes, rotting fruits/veggies, and every once in a while, on-the-edge milk. Still, we got through it, and I got a new place with welcomed help.
I became a hoarder. When I was given fresh fruit or veggies, I used a dehydrator and put some away for a rainy day. Someone left a box of shampoo, etc. on my doorstep, I watered down one and stored the rest away. I hoarded. Oh, believe me, I hoarded! Just look at the ton of boxes we have in our tiny home and 2 storage units!
Thankfully the initial hoarding period didn't last long. I got medical help for my physical problems, met my husband and married him, and disability came through. My hoarding turned into prepping. What if all of these changes in the weather are a sign of frequent and radical weather changes? What if the "war on terrorism" will escalate to bring it back on American soil? What if the bird flu hits? What if What if What if?!?!
I started storing everything and anything... sewing kits, dried food, powdered milk, sterno, ammo, seeds, and much more. I wanted to be prepared for whatever may come. Yep, more boxes.
Only recently did my mindset change again. I didn't want to "prepare for a catastrophe". I want to be able to live lightly on the Earth. I want to know that I can take care of myself and my family without worrying about "using the last toilet paper" or oh no, the last of the powdered milk got ruined whatever shall I do?!
So this blog, in case you've followed me from the prepping and survival blogs, is about taking care of myself. About reacquiring knowledge our ancestors used for centuries until we got too good for our own britches. About smelling bread baking and knowing **I** grew the wheat, cultivated the mother (for sour dough) and grabbed the eggs fresh from under a hen just that morning. About serving my Kid some yogurt that we just made from milk we took from our favorite nanny goat.
From time to time, I may digress and talk about storing and checking inventory and so forth, so bear with me, but for the most part, I hope this blog will show my journey to be self-reliant and content with myself and my accomplishments.
Thanks.
Vikki
1 comment:
I think the difference between prepping and "hoarding" is that preppers typically just stock up on stuff they'll need and/or comfort items that will be useful if things hit the fan. "Hoarders" on the other hand buy or collect stuff they don't need or can't use. I've been slowly getting my family to realize that I'm not "hoarding" food--I'm doing the common-sense thing in stocking up several months' worth just in case, becasue I like to eat! If more preppers would take the approach that they're just doing what they normally do, buying what they normally buy but in greater quantities so they won't run out but will have a surplus if things get bad, hopefully that common sense will spill over among other people in our families and friends. I think the problem is that preppers like us are the ones with the most common sense, it's just that very few others realize it yet!
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