How long does it take to get prepared?

[Alaskan Survivalist]

I've been taking inventory lately and while everyones plans are a bit different preparing in different locations for different situations sooner or later you get there. My inventory revealed my plan is complete except for one item and with just this one thing to achieve I should have it in a few months. That's it, done, everything I could think to do. I got curious just how much of my life has been disrupted by this detour into preparation so I went back through the archives of the site that first opened my eyes to the importance of preparation and awareness of our dire situation to see when I made the decision to prepare. It was October of 2007 and estimating how long it will take to make my last purchase I should be completely finished by this October, 3 years. I have been fairly focused as I believe focus is the way to achieve your goals and there where times when current events had my determination to near panic levels. I made a few mistakes along the way and life threw me a few curve balls which is to be expected so I am thinking this would be about the average length of time a person should expect preparation to take. I have noticed a relaxed attitude among many survivalists that seem as if they have a long way yet to go so I thought to get a realistic time frame for people new to preparation should expect to achieve thier goals. How long did it take to get you where you want to be or how far are you from getting there? How long has or will it take? Not to get into how much time is left but do you think you will be prepared in time?

[Rick]

I'm not certain you ever finish unless you die. There's always one more gotta have on the list, just like you. When I get it then there's just one more. It never seems to end.

I plan for natural disasters so I'm as complete as I can be I guess. There is that radio I need, however, and that new pack and that ......

[Justin Case]

I have a Loooooong way to go, and right now I am at a complete stand still because I am still unemployed I can't afford Anything, Can barely afford food, so for me, I can only do lots of reading here, and believe me, I have learned sooo0 Much ! Thanks to you guys (oops sorry Ken) Thanks to you "good folks" here at WSF,, Thank you for that !

[Pal334]

I don't think I have an "end date" or specific goal (as in "inventory in stock") in mind. I have taken to think of it as a path to follow, incorporating prepardness as a part of my life/lifestyle. My line of thinking is along the lines of what Rick said "I'm not certain you ever finish unless you die". There is always room for improvement

[crashdive123]

I agree with those that have said there really is not an end date. I also don't view it as a detour or interruption, but rather something that I do. Just part of every day life.

[Rick]

sjj - I'm sure you've noticed, then, that preparedness always peaks when there is a down business cycle. When things start looking bad everyone wants to get prepared and when things start looking up again they want that new car.

In 1980-81 you couldn't find army surplus gear. It was being bought up as fast as surplus stores could get it in.

[wareagle69]

my preperations are constantly evolving, i was on this site for a considerable amount of time perfecting my wilderness skills, and as you can imagine after a couple of years i think i have that down pat, so then along came the shtf era, rawles and one second after and such, that is a contsant state of improving upon my preps, but then also added some skills that have led to my long absences here and that is land navigation, lots of feild work and medical training, plus firefighting but as far as prepping goes it constantly evolves as i "own" as skill. So am i ever done? not sure as i go along my journey.
what i do know is that as i continue my chances and my abilities grow both to help myself and others around me.

[Alaskan Survivalist]

I guess I'm more goal oriented in this regard and set goals before I took my first step. Sjj, I hear you on the over doing some things. I have more ammo and peanut butter than I'll ever use. Maybe I should rephraze the question to how long did it take to get to a level that you where confident in your survival. Justin Case, being a "Doomer" the first shortage I saw coming was money which was part of my panic to get things while I could still afford them and even the last item I am getting (a Backhoe) is for generating income as the economy slows. Part of my concern with how long it takes is how long is left. I'm not seeing the green shoots and am of the opinion it will only get worse. If people are not well on thier way by now it may be too late since money is getting tighter every day. I suggest you set some kind of goal and get it done. "The world steps aside for the man that knows where he is going".

[randyt]

Both my granddad and dad were preppers. it wasn't so much a SHTF scenario but more along the lines of a farmer putting up for a dry spell or long winter and a self reliance inclination. for me it was second nature due to them so I've been close to ready (I hope) most of the time.

[Sarge47]

"How long?" All of your life! To top it off no one person can be prepared for every situation. Like Rick & others have said, it's an ongoing process. As far as goal setting goes I'd have to disagree with your statement that setting goals made you different. Many of us have set goals,; however there are different types: "Short Term, Medium range, Long Term, & On-Going." There are some things one can't prepare for, like that Tsumni that hit awhile back, no one really saw it coming until it was too late. Or the time that tornado hit that Boy Scout camp, killing some of the Scouts. Again, it came without warning.

[oldsoldier]

I'm not certain you ever finish unless you die. There's always one more gotta have on the list, just like you. When I get it then there's just one more. It never seems to end.

I plan for natural disasters so I'm as complete as I can be I guess. There is that radio I need, however, and that new pack and that ......

+1 I agree with Rick IMHO you are never 100% prepared. Wheen you get to the level you want to on say food, then you will likely want to extend the amount you have from say 2 years to 3, then 4, as well as rotating your stores. Now lets talk about the "gadgets" seems like every week something is " NEW AND IMPROVED So if your like me your updating/upgrading/ your gear, either for lighter,compact, easier to use,whatever the case may be. Then again improving the "quality" of your gear as well. So It never seems to be "complete"

[doug1980]

Never be complete. Things always change and new things to perepare for always come up. Besides who knows if what you or I have will be enough to get us through said situation. We might think we were done but may find out that we weren't even close.

[Alaskan Survivalist]

Limitations are what they are, this does not mean that a person cannot reach the natural limitations. Then you will have done all you can. Break it down to just one thing like food storage. How much is reasonable to keep on hand? For me the answer is as much as I can eat before it goes bad. I have exceeded that limit and there is no need to store more. Some people may have limited space and thier food storage goal may be to fill one closet. Sooner or later if thier goal is realistic they will have achieved it, done. How many guns do you need? I set the limit at what I can carry and use, I'm way over that limit and see no need to continue buying guns. When I apply this standard to all aspects of survival I've done what I believed to be reasonable and reached the goals I set. I think of wilderness survival for longterm and know I have all I need to do so in Alaska because I know what it takes. It was simple for me because I just had to go back to what I know. I was well set up 10 years ago but I was planing for retirement and sold off all my tools and equipment except for what was needed for home maintenence. My goal was simple, get it back. I've done so and now I will move onto other goals that are not survival related and if the world continues or gets better all my preparations will sit gathering dust. This is one thing I will be very happy to be wrong about and I will look upon it as the cost of my peace of mind. I was raised like this and never thought of it as fun, just work and I will be getting back to having fun now. I may not be different in setting goals but I seem to be different in getting it done.

[Rick]

AS - I think there may be a couple of fundamental differences here. First, you are a bug out kind of guy. I say that only because your posts have indicated you have places to go. That limits you on the amount of material you can effectively carry using whatever means you plan to use. I'm a bug in kind of guy so I'm not limited. All the excess is barter material. (Yes, I do recognize that there are scenarios I might be forced to leave).

The other difference is the reason for preparations. If you are a "doomer" then there is no light at the end of the tunnel. One it hits, it hits. I'm concerned about natural disaster so all I need to do is get through the tunnel to the light at the other end.

I guess about three years to get where I wanted to be.

[Alaskan Survivalist]

I guess about three years to get where I wanted to be.

It's like pulling teeth! That's all I was asking.

[Alaskan Survivalist]

BTW I am staying put as long as I can and if forced to leave I plan on coming back.

[Rick]

Dang it! I was coming to get those Coots the minute you took off.

[crashdive123]

Dang it! I was coming to get those Coots the minute you took off.

See if you can find the Beretta.........oh wait......wrong Coot.

[Alaskan Survivalist]

The Coots are my BOV's. One loaded with tools, the other with gear and supplies towing my Zodiac and fishing gear. Much of my plan was figuring out how to take most of it with me. Its is all layered progressively so I can leave stuff behind systematically going all the way down to my 10 pound BOB. Slow collapse into a totalitarian state is what I am preparing for. Wilderness survivalists will be the last free men. Well according to me anyway.

[Sarge47]

I may not be different in setting goals but I seem to be different in getting it done.

How would you know? What is your frame of reference? Are you referring to "the rest of the members here?" Seems to me like you don't know anymore about people on here than we let you know, right? So how can you honestly compare you to us?