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”
It has been my experience that to some degree age is a state of mind. I’ve found that at 62 I can do almost anything I could do at 32. Last spring I installed a new roof on my home. My brother sent his son’s over to help. When it came time to carry the shingles up the ladder none of them were prepared physically. It seems that carrying a 100 lbs. on your shoulder was beyond their ability. Out of the 105 bundles that had to go up I ended up carrying 78.
Like my grandma used to say “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight that’s important, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” She was 95 when she passed away and put in a 2000 square foot garden the summer before.
i’m glad i had parents and gparents that lived through the depression. growing up on a small farm we repurposed everything. at least we had the freedom to thrive or fail. some of my children are waking up and returning to our roots. yhis is my goal, pass it on so the next gen can thrive.
From what I have found, the prepper demographic is actually older than one might think. At least this is true for the demographics of Prepper Webiste. I did an article on How different generations view preparedness on ed that matters. It was interesting.
Peace,
Todd
Thank you, Gaye. As a senior myself (62), and still working full time and prepping full time, I could not have said it any better! I’ve spent my whole life doing things for myself, instead of paying someone else to do it. This means I have skills that some younger folks don’t even know exist. But, I don’t look down on them for it. Rather I offer to teach anyone willing to learn. And one more point I would like to make, there are a lot more of us, than there are of them. And they will be one of us someday!
Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance. ~David Mamet~
As a post-60 senior, i am very pleased to know some of the simple skills that may prove equally as valuable in survival as strength and endurance. Skills like: being able to read a paper map, doing math problems in my head, knowing east from west from north from south without the benefit of an app, being able to convert tsps to gallons, and so many other “old people” skills that many young people seem to be deficient in. I may not be able to out run my juniors, but i can grow a garden and mend torn clothes. And i have learned the very important concept that time is often ally and that instant gratification is not a reality. I think i will do equally well when put to the test.
My (and my wife’s) parents taught us well. We live frugal, but very comfortable lives. Do our own canning, baking and rarely use any “processed” foods. One issue is that is rarely discussed are disabilities. While I can do quite a bit, some physical tasks are beyond me. Therefore, I work to make thinks as easy as possible. My commuter “go bag” holds a fold-up cane, as well as, extra warm clothing and extra food, in case i have to walk home (a 3-5 day journey on good days). I recognize that we no longer have the stamina of 20-year-olds and plan accordingly. Living in the woods for weeks on end is no longer an option.
I have to chuckle as my dad would have. In my family we have an abundances of redheads and like me, many who have the complexion and temperament but not the red hair. LOL I’m thinking your hubby must be like my dad, so he balances you.
I get to celebrate my 64 years of living on this earth this year. As is my custom, which I do in January and June, I take stock and add a bit more to my wisdom acquired by my years of experience. I’ve learned to do this by “being the mouse in the room.” I was that girl who snuck into the room and just sat and listened as the old folks talked. One thing I learned then and have seen in action is it takes ALL types of people with various skills and experience to get on with life. I’m still a young senior, even so, I’ve had some experiences which many had in the depression. I’m very thankful for those experiences and as I have lived, I’ve taught them in “camping” situations. Even so, I’m upgrading those experiences with current information. Soon I’ll be taking CERT training so in the event of a disaster, those more able bodied can get out and do while I keep those ‘home fires burning’.
Gaye, wherever you read that article, chuckle too because the author obviously hasn’t a clue on what oldies can do. lol I do mean chuckle. Do you remember in the 60s when our generation thought you couldn’t trust anyone over 30? Now look at us! Just accept this author was telling you more about where he was in his growth and focus than he was actually knocking seniors. It was out of ignorance he spoke thus. 😉 We, seniors are the gift to our communities especially if technology fails in the coming collapse. 🙂
Regarding pepper sprays – it is important to compare SHU (Scoville heat units) as a measure of how “hot” the spray is I carry the Fox brand 5.3 million SHU also is the spray a stream or fog or does it have a foam carrier – Kimber make a Guardian that does not use a spray but discharges a pepper round that is made for the general population
Wow! Thank you for this article! Those of us who have not been through the depression, have been through hurricanes, winter storms, and many, many power outages.
If nothing else, who will watch the children while you walk the perimeter, build fires and try to fend for your family’s survival? Who can have the patience to hum them to sleep, to entertain them with games that require no plugs? And who can usually cook up something from practically nothing? lol
It’s our job to help them make it to where we are.