First steps

[rezdog]

Been taking my first too getting prep. Started planting my seeds indoors, can't start planting outside till end of may last frost here. Got two older bike one in good condision other needs minor repairs to ride working on that. Last getting my wife on board. this week looking for mylar bags for rice
:cool:

[Knobster]

Good for you rezdog. Every journey starts with the first step. I've only been at this for twoish years and at times still feel like a babe in the woods but I do sleep better with each passing night. Keep a slow and steady pace - chances are if you go too fast you'll burn out. (or the finances will!)

[Tofu]

Congrats on the first steps rezdog. Out of that list getting your wife on board is one of the hardest to do. With my time in Boy Scouts (Eagle) I adopted the Be Prepared mentality from an early age, but it wasn't until Obama got into office that I started taking it serious. December got us into high gear. Some strategies that worked for me is to go slow, avoid the panicked we're all going to die at the hands of zombies approach. While that makes sense to many on this board, to a wife (like mine) who is more interested in Dancing with the Stars than planting a garden, you win very few points by sounding like a crazed wildman babling about the end of the world. I would really reccomend taking a more subtle approach to get you to the same destination. First find some time away from distractions (TV, Kids, internet, Mother-In law, etc.) and calmly talk about someone you both know that recently lost their job and the stress it put on their family. Tell her that you have been doing some reading and would like to do some things that might help lighten the burden on your family if something similar happens. And after making this statement say this, "What do you think?" AND SHUT UP!!!! As men we are poor listeners, because we think as we talk. Women have very complex brains that allows them to truly multi-task as we tend to do one thing at a time and tune everything else out. Once she has had a chance to express herself, then lay out a very logical non-scary approach of stocking up on some extra canned goods at the store and some other various preps that would make sense to her. The key to getting her on board with prepping is to ease her into it. If you are like me you have been digesting a ton of information over the last few months and have gotten yourself worked up to action.

Here are some resources for ya.

The Survival Podcast - Reaching the unreachable

A post of where I started

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Cool Beans!!

[MustangGal]

For me, it was reading "One Second After". It was a required read, or I wouldn't have touched it - not my thing. But, it was and here I am. I don't know if you have children, but for me, one of the most chilling thoughts is for my son to ask for something to eat, and me having to tell him we have NOTHING. I felt that on a very primal, maternal level.

Try to get her to read the book, it might help. Or simply ask leading questions - though my DH did that and really I blew him off. The book was an absolute turning point for me.

[barfife]

My wife humored my "new hobby" to start with. Since we have always been "on the same page" about most things in our life, it was strange to be prepping by myself. It took about 4 months to get her on board.

Prepping accelerated significantly after that point. Everything in life is much easier when it is a team effort, and prepping is no different. The fact that she is the better organizer doesn't hurt either. Now she is making spreedsheets, to do and need to buy lists and becoming very proficient with both her side arm and rifle.

Life is better with the right partner...particularly if she is carrying!

[Knobster]

<snip>...particularly if she is carrying!

Marry that woman! Oh wait, you did... That is awesome. My wife is deathly afraid of guns. Doesn't want to see them, touch them, or hear about them. All the tinkering and cleaning of my boomsticks is done in the basement out of her sight. Sigh...

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Marry that woman! Oh wait, you did... That is awesome. My wife is deathly afraid of guns. Doesn't want to see them, touch them, or hear about them. All the tinkering and cleaning of my boomsticks is done in the basement out of her sight. Sigh...

man thats too bad, mine has an arm injury that prevents her from alot of shooting but she really supports my weaponry and antics.

[Tina]

Marry that woman! Oh wait, you did... That is awesome. My wife is deathly afraid of guns. Doesn't want to see them, touch them, or hear about them. All the tinkering and cleaning of my boomsticks is done in the basement out of her sight. Sigh...

Knobster
I was the same with handguns til my first was born - ask her (gently - give her a what if scenario for your current area) who's going to protect the kids inside while you're outside...


Can anyone tell me how to delete previous post?