Gaye Levy
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There are all sorts of prepper’s. Some are rank beginners and others have been practicing family preparedness for twenty years or more. Some live in urban areas and some live in the country. And most assuredly, some are young adults in their twenties and other are in their sixties, seventies and eighties.
Given this widely variable demographic, it stands to reason that some preparedness topics will be more interesting and more useful to one group than to another. On the other hand, the basic tenets of emergency food, emergency communications, first aid, self-defense and self-sufficiency are universal. Furthermore, there are no boundaries and no set requirement that a person be interested in each topic equally.
We are talking about family preparedness here, not rocket science. And while we are each unique, we are each the same as well.
Which gets me to the topic of today’s article: The Plight of the Aging Prepper. I have a bit or a rant so please bear with me while I explain.
Senior Preppers Do It All
Being a baby boomer myself (born between 1946 and 1964), I find it a bit offensive to find that many websites refer to “senior” preppers as doddering old people with limited vision to what is happening in this world and limited ability to fend for themselves.
This stereotype is simply is not true. Many in the over-60 crowd walk 2 to 5 miles daily, work at full-time job, and actively pursue hobbies that require strength and endurance. Others farm their land and while living on or off grid, chop wood, feed the chickens and milk the goats or cows, day in and day out, rain or shine. Not only that, most men of that age have served in the military and thus understand and embrace the need for teamwork, discipline and perseverance to get a job done.
References to being an older prepper who may be slow on the draw is just, well, not right and darn disrespectful.
Survival Concerns – Regardless of Age
Regardless of one’s age, the pursuit of survival does come with some concerns. Some of the major ones are listed below:
Nutrition and diet with limited food sources
Healthcare – both treatment and prevention – when conventional medicine and medical facilities are not available
Money for supplies, services, items for barter and the basics of life
Self-defense using lethal, or non-lethal weapons (or both)
Mobility for the physically disabled and those with hearing and vision challenges
Community and companionship when if it all goes to heck
Learning from Our Parents and Grandparents
The current trend within the survival and prepping community is to look back to the experience of those that lived through the Great Depression. Well guess what? Many a senior prepper lived through it, if only as a child. Now might be a good time to ask these senior preppers how they dealt with these survival concerns. It is a forest through the trees thing: if you lived through it, you may not recognize the value of that experience to others.
I don’t want to belabor the point so let me just say this: being old of age does not mean you are weak of mind, weak of body and weak of spirit. Quite the contrary. The older prepper has a lot to offer and is stronger than you might think in at least one of these areas if not all three.
The Final Word
It has been a long time since I have written one of my passionate little essays. Clearly, something set me off and yes, it was another prepper-oriented website.
If I do nothing else today. I want to reinforce that the senior prepper has indeed woken up to what is going on in our country and our world. They are quite capable of taking care of themselves.
On the other hand look around: there are certain able-bodied twenty and thirty something’s who, at the mention of an election, at the mention of self-reliance and at the mention of making a difference in this world look up from their texting and say “huh?”.
So you see, there are all types of people at all different ages. We are a community of preppers and we are strong. Let us drop the stereotype and get on with the business of preparedness. We will remain strong as long as we stand up tall, young and old together.
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
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37 Responses to “The Plight of the Senior Prepper”
There are advantages for senior preppers just the same as there are advantages for young preppers.
We understand the importance of health and strength and because we are aware we can focus on those areas we may need to improve. Many with years behind us have had the opportunity to practice living without the conveniences, losing things we care about, repurposing sturdy items, growing something, canning, saving and using odd things, fixing the broken and generally making do at some point.
But most importantly we had the opportunity to know and listen to the seniors of our youth. Yes, there were survival tips mixed in the stories of the depression but best of all was the fact there were also glimpses of thriving. Neighbors that helped each other, rolling up the rug and putting furniture in the yard so they could dance inside, homemade gifts they treasured enough to pass down with explanation, etc. Never underestimate your value. Where ever our preps are otherwise we can surely be prepared to be the voice of reason and HOPE!
Thank you for this! I just turned 50, and am being introduced to the joys of being a senior man tomorrow when I will undergo my first colonoscopy, and so this article is of particular interest to me. I must admit that I do have concerns about how I would weather TEOTWAWKI at my age. The aches and pains of being this age certainly would test the physical demands of being an older survivor, but my faith is that the wisdom of being this age would hopefully even the playing field. Thank you again for all you do.
Papa J – if it were permitted I’d give you a “thumbs up”.
I didn’t mean to imply that I learned nothing from my parents or my grandmother, but I know there is a ton or so of more things I could have and should have learned. Unfortunately, there was only one grandmother and no grandfathers around when I was growing up, my sister and I were the youngest of 6 children and only 3 of us are left alive.
Gaye, obviously, the person that wrote that article doesn’t know not to piss off a cute little red head!! 🙂
I would love to read (& comment) to that article you read. As a “Boomer”, my observation of younger people I know will be the 1st to go. If we die, my wife’s kids might survive as they go through our stored food and read the directions I have printed out in my absence on what to do and how to use my equipment. Seriously, kids today just think our endeavors are crazy. When I was younger, I truly did listen and learn from the “OLD” people. They were just down right brilliant. I do wish I could go back in time to discuss more issues with a few people I knew. Admittedly, I am not as fast and strong as I was in my 20’s, but knowledge can make work easier.
I think that many seniors have a clearer view of the world than the young. We have seen more and I don’t think we are as likely to believe that everything will be alright just because that is what the media/government tells us. We know to research what we are told, and form our own opinions. But we all need to work together and we can find common ground if we make the effort. So when I give my son-in-law an awesome “fubar” for Christmas- I can just say what an awesome zombie tool this would make- and everyone is happy and I put an excellent piece of equipment in the hands of one strong enough to use it. And since he is now talking about getting a place in the country and going off grid- I think my words/actions are finally beginning to make sense to him.
Your reference to the “Wire saw” might be better replaced with
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YPMSY/
I had too many wire saw break maybe they were cheap but this works
well
Thanks for this – I am going to order one to check it out.
I’m minded of the old saying:
Too soon old, too late smart.
I would love to ask my mother about these things but at 94, she can barely say hello and then will forget who you are. As a small boy, I vaguely remember watching her ‘darn socks’. I tried it the other day and now I know why they use the term ‘darn’! (smile)
Good points. I was thinking the other day how those of us who are Baby Boomers, and younger generations, know little of the deprivations of the first Great Depression and World War II. We’ve had it pretty good. Those who came before us tried to make things better for themselves, and for us as well. We’ll have to learn new lessons about adversity.
My parents both lived through the Great Depression. We lived on a ranch quite a ways from the nearest town and it was a very small one at that. While my parents did try to make sure we had things better than they did, they also made sure we knew the value of hard work and a dollar. We worked on the ranch, earned our “allowance” (when we got a dollar or two) and were taught how to live off the land. We always raised our own meat, hunted and grew our vegetables. We traded meat for fruit that we could not grow where we lived. Those learned values will never leave me and will serve me well when SHTF.
better to be underestimated, and have the edge of surprise, than to be totally figured out. . . . exploit the supposed “weakness”-use it as a strength.
Rick, I agree!! Funny, but most younger folks don’t think about what to do in emergencies. They are busy making a living, raising a family, and accumulating toys.
I said most…..and I think I am right. Some may think about preparing, and some may actually take steps toward that goal ( which is never ending ). I think it’s us seniors that have time to research, and prepare for any emergency…not just catastrophic
I am not …unhealthy, really. I have a few dings and things that happen with age, but my brain and wits are still in operational. If nothing else, I’m here to assist those who haven’t done anything for emergencies. I don’t have most of the Prepping gadgets, but still I think I have a better chance than many.
I am also a senior. Many times I have told my younger sister (also a senior) that I wish I knew one tenth what our grandmother knew. Unfortunately, our grandmother passed away in the seventies. So, I suggest that any readers who have elderly grand parents, go sit and talk to them! Some will have minds that wonder, but the gems of survival information will make it worthwhile. Ask them questions! “How did you make your money streach during the war?” – “How did you live without electricity / air conditioning / refrigeration / running water / etc” – – You might be surprised at what you learn!
Well said Jim. For those that don’t have grandparents living try the senior center in your town. Most serve a good lunch for a reasonable price and you can meet active seniors that would love to talk to you.