Flexibility and Solutions

First there was the attack on the oil refinery. Then came the hack of the meat processing company. So I have to wonder, what's next. My best guess is the power grid.

My crystal ball is broken, so I can not see into the future. But common sense tells me that should we lose power, I could lose all the meat that is left in my freezer. And there is a substantial amount and it would cost me a fair amount of cash to replace what I bought at last year's prices.

So the plan was to thaw out much of it tonight and start canning it in the morning. Until I took a look at our local weather forecast, which is for temps in the mid 90's for the next several days. When you live in a three room apartment in a building that was constructed in the late 1800's and has an air conditioning system that sometimes struggles to keep up, perhaps heating the place up by running a pressure canner is not the smartest move. A cool down is coming. I will wait.

Most in the prepper community know about flexibility. Things don't always go according to plan. Which is why we usually have a plan B.

This same three room apartment is sorely lacking in storage space and if I don't come up with a solution as to where I am going to put the additions to my preps, I am soon going to be tripping over cases of canned goods.

I asked my youngest son to bring me some of those banker's boxes with lids. Unlike buckets or plastic tubs, the boxes can be folded up and stashed behind the couch when not in use.

Three of the boxes fit in front of my couch. Three more fit on top of the first three. I plan to spend the next few days filling them mostly with canned food from the grocery store along with some of my home canned food. That will get some of the food off the floor and make walking through the room where most of it is stored less of a hazard. Each box is labeled as to contents. Toss a quilt over the boxes, add a couple of books and maybe a potted plant on top and – drum roll, please – a storage coffee table.

Even though I have been taking time to do some of the things I enjoy – this past week it has been sewing – the need to continue to add to the stores doesn't go away. Learning to be flexible and finding practical solutions to problems are just a part of preparedness.

I doubt things are going to get better any time soon. The tyrannical politicians, both local and federal, aren't going to relinquish their power easily. We have a better chance of surviving the insanity if we can roll with the punches and find solutions to problems. That being said, it is my sincere belief that the most important thing of all is heartfelt prayer.