30 Reasons Why You Might Be a Crazy Prepper Nut Job

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With 100% certainty, I know that I am perceived as one of those “crazy prepper nut jobs”.  I laugh at myself as I say this because like the story of the ant and the grasshopper, it is the crazy prepper nut job that is going to prevail following a disruptive event of any magnitude.

I first wrote about this back in December 2011, which, in prepper terms, is eons ago.  Back then, preppers were a novelty and were considered extremists.  These days, and especially with the release of Ted Koppel’s book, Lights Out, we are suddenly trail blazers and visionaries.

The Urban Dictionary describes a nut job as “A person of inadequate sanity or lacking normal perceptions of reality”.  That is hardly how I would define modern day preppers and yet still, it is a moniker that is sometimes applied to our kind.  Why is that?

In the broadest of terms, preppers live and breathe the need to be ready for uncertain times even though the cause of those “uncertain times” could be any of a number of diverse woes.  As we talk about growing our own food, washing clothes by hand, grinding wheat into flour, and bartering for goods and services, the grasshopper types get a bit glassy eyed.  Or perhaps they just get defensive.  Sometimes it is hard to tell.

None of this seems looney-tunes to me, but then again, I am a Prepper.

Now I have to tell you, during my recent cruise vacation, more than one person looked at me quizzically and probably thought that I fit that definition.

Why?  I talked about prepping, survival skills, and the need to prepare for uncertain times.  I also talked about self-defense and learning to shoot.  I talked about growing my own food, bartering for goods and services.  And most shocking (to some), I questioned the news as reported by the main stream media and challenged the statistics bantered about by government officials.

This brings me to today’s topic: are you one of those “Crazy Prepper Nut Jobs?  Take this little test and see for yourself

The Backdoor Survival “Crazy Prepper Nut Job” Test

1.  Do you have a year’s worth of food, water and medical supplies stashed away?

2.  Do you think that our planet’s ability to outpace the current population rate is doomed?

3.  Do you refuse to get a flu shot because you deem it dangerous and unnecessary?

4.  Do you own a firearm for self-defense purposes?

5.  Do you have a concealed carry permit?

6.  Do you have cash stored away in a personal hidey hole in anticipation of a global banking collapse?

7.  Do you read alternate media sources such at Activist Post and Before Its News?

8.  Do you think we are on the brink of another Great Depression and when I happens, will not see a recovery for years?

9.  Do you think high ranking government officials and politicians are sneaky and egocentric?

10. Do you peruse at least 10 prepping and survival blogs a day?

11. Do you question everything you learned in school about history and so-called modern inventions?

12. Do you have supplies stashed under your bed, under the living room furniture, and in every other spare hidey hole throughout your home?

13. Do you have three dozen different flashlights and lanterns – just in case?

14. Do you know how much toilet paper you need to tidy up your business for a month?  Using that calculation, have you stored enough TP to get you by for two years?

15. Do you have 4 different ways to purify water?

16. Do you go camping not for the fun of it but to practice being off grid?

17. Do you stock fish antibiotics so if the SHTF your “fishies” will not get sick?

18. Is your favorite book, William Forstchen’s One Second After?

19. Can you survive three days with the supplies kept in the trunk of your car?

20.  Do you make your own soaps, cleaners, and personal products from simple, basic ingredients?

21.  Do you have the ability to cook outdoors using only the power and energy of the sun?

22. Do you take periodic field trips to the forest or desert in order to pick up biomass?

23. Do you know four ways to start a fire?

24. Do you have a portable solar panel that can be used to power your eBook reader when the grid is down?

25. Do you have a Ham radio license solely for emergency communication purposes?

26. Do you know what a Faraday cage is?

27. Have you built your own Faraday cage and filled it with electronics?

28. When meeting new people, do you ask them trick questions to determine whether or not they are preppers?

29. Do you believe that Camp FEMA exists and that a visit to that particular “camp” is to be avoided at all costs?

30. Do you hoard (oops, store) unused toiletries, clothing, and other discarded items so that they can be used in a barter economy?

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The Final Word

Although this little test is somewhat tongue in cheek, the reality is that prepping is still considered a bit out there.  Perhaps no longer extreme, but still unconventional.

That said, many of us (and I am including myself here), have families that just don’t get it.  This weighs heavily upon us and, when coupled with the burden of truth and knowledge, can bring sadness into our lives.  I do not have a solution other than to say that when friends and family become agitated and defensive when you talk about preparedness, just shrug it off.  You can only do what you can do and must learn not to take it personally.

I am sure you will agree with me when I say that preppers are not crazy nut jobs.  Call us names if
you like, but prepping and being a prepper is simply being smart.  And that, for today, is all I will say about that.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye

PS:  If you enjoyed this article, you might also enjoy this one that was written last year by my friend and blogging colleague, Daisy Luther.

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Below you will find items related to this article as well as some personal and BDS reader favorites.

Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath:  The hallmark book, by award winning journalist Ted Koppel, will hopefully educate the sheeple and motivate them to embrace the message of preparedness.  For the rest of us, there is much to learn about the state of preparedness, or lack thereof, at the highest levels of our government.  Read more:  Prepper Book Festival 10: Lights Out by Ted Koppel.

One Second After:  For many, the novel “One Second After” was a game changer that convinced them of the need to be prepared.    If you have not read this book, you really should.

Kindle eBook Reader :  After resisting for eons, a year ago I broke down and purchased a Kindle and am now browbeating myself for not doing so sooner.  Technology has come a long way since purchasing my old Sony eBook reader (which was 3 times the price).  With a Kindle you can store your entire survival library with room to spare.  My own Kindle is the fantastic Kindle Paperwhite but honestly,you cannot go wrong with any of the current models.

RAVPower 15W Solar Charger with Dual USB Ports: This compact, three panel, solar charger will charge two devices at once, including tablets, smartphones, Kindles, and even AA/AAA battery chargers.  For more information, read: Gear Review: RAVPower 15W Solar Charger with Dual USB Ports.

Baofeng or Pofung UV-5R Ham Two Way Radio: The Pofung (formerly Baofeng) UV-5R is a compact hand held transceiver providing 4 watts in the frequency range of 136-174 MHz and 400-480 MHz It is a compact, economical HT that includes a special VHF receive band from 65 – 108 MHz which includes the regular FM broadcast band. Dual watch and dual reception is supported.  Here is the antenna I ordered along with the programming cable: NAGOYA Antenna for BAOFENG UV-5R and USB Programming Cable for Baofeng UV-5R UV-3R+.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter:  The LifeStraw is considered the most advanced, compact, ultra light personal water filter available. It contains no chemicals or iodinated resin, no batteries and no moving parts to break or wear out. It weighs only 2 oz.  making it perfect for the prepper. For more information, see my LifeStraw review.

FordEx Group 300lm Mini Cree Led Flashlight:  PERSONAL FAVORITE! Here we go with another flashlight.  At the time of this writing, this one is with free shipping.  It is super mini sized, bright and waterproof.  Plus, it uses a single, standard AA sized battery. Pictured is one that I own in green but they come in basic black as well as some other colors.

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