I started my blog, “Simple Living Over 50” many years ago and have shared many of my thoughts and dreams throughout these years. At the age of 59 now I have lived and learned a lot about both myself and others. I find it important that I now share with you another side of my Simple Living way of life.
I have been and always will be one who prepares for the future while living in the NOW. As the chapters of our lives unfold there have been so many life events in which I have learned from. These events are as simple as not saving money to purchase a gift for a best friends wedding, to evacuating our home due to a forrest fire. It is my intention to describe many of the simple ways I have found to prepare for many of life’s challenges. For this reason I have decided to change the theme of this blog to that of the mindset of a “Simple Living Prepper”.
We have all had the opportunity to see “Preppers” in action on TV, in magazines and of course on other blogs. Many of these folks prepare for extreme events which they believe will help save them. From underground bunkers to finely crafted homesteads it appears that the lives they lead should be a lesson to all of us about what it takes to prepare for the unknown. Although I have to admit that I do enjoy watching these types of programs I have found that what I am watching just is not my reality right now.
My reality is slightly different as I suppose most share my reality. I live in a house in a City on a very small piece of property. Many folks I live near are renting houses or apartments and I do consider myself very lucky to own something. I spend close to an hour and a half driving to and from work each day. I don’t own a giant pickup truck as the gas mileage would crush my finances. Most of the food that comes into our home is purchased from a supermarket. I never hunted and have only fished a handful of times which includes catching crabs when they are in season. Pretty much my life is dependent upon the system of society created around me.
In my minds eye I enjoy playing out different situations. Recently my wife and I found ourselves being evacuated due to a major forrest fire in our region of the planet. Other than driving 3,000 miles away to relocate to a new area 9 years ago, this was the first time we were put into a situation where we were forced to leave our home. We were staying in a hotel just 25 miles from our home and maybe 30 miles from where the fire was burning. After just two days we received word that our home was safe and we were able to return.
I thought I was fully prepared for this event but quickly learned that I brought with me many things I did not need and forgot to bring many things that I actually needed.
There are two very special things I do love in these times we are living in. One is going on vacation, mostly to see family and loved ones, and second is camping. It is the practice of these two things that have set the stage for the things I would need to survive for several weeks in the event of being forced from out home. The Prepper World calls this “Bugging Out”. Bugging out only needs to happen when our lives are in direct danger should we stay in our homes.
Before going on vacation or setting out on a camping trip I go through the same routine. I make a list of all the things that I would need during my time away from home. The way I do this is by projecting myself in that Hotel room on vacation, or at that camp site. I think about all of the things I need to get us through our trip.
There are also events that would cause us to remain in our homes for safety and this is called, “Bugging In”. Bugging in is always preferable as the shelter of our homes provide the needed comfort needed during stressful times.
These two realms of “Bugging Out”, or “Bugging In” cross paths when it comes to preparedness. My intention is to project my thinking into many small articles that are geared towards my way of life and the typical City dwellers out there. It is also my intention to learn from others who respond to my posts as I can so like so many others, I do not have all of the answers.
Simple Living Over 50 
We left Oregon 10 years ago, after surviving several windstorms and power outages where we lived on the coast. We live off grid in N. Idaho now. We are pretty self-sufficient, but we are not prepared for the collapse of the supply chain. I am building a shop hopefully in the spring, but there are shortages in building material. I will have to be creative in my build or not build at all. I have family still in Oregon, they have also returned home after the fires. Oregon, Washington, and California are facing a housing crisis already the fires exasperated it. Owning your home is already a more stable place to be. My folks are struggling with rising rent costs now.
We have been advised to go to Idaho. I officially have 29 months to reach a second retirement. I will be 65 and have planned well. I would love to find 5-10 acres of land in northern Pennsylvania where we can set up a plan to offer our children a place to go should the the whole country goes to hell. I am hoping that we are out of Oregon before the shit hits the fan. Civil unrest seams to be getting worst my the day here.
We came to Idaho in 2010 when property crisis was at its worst. We sold our coastal home for 100k less than it was worth and bought bareland for 100k less than it was worth. We moved out of one depressed economy to another which helped. Our home sale profits built our very simple small off grid home. No mortgage makes things easier. You have been doing your homework, a double retirement will be nice to assist in building your dream.
And it seems property values are peaking. I still have 29 months to go. I hope the values don’t drop.
If the FED keeps printing money property prices will keep climbing, but so will everything else too. We live in interesting times.
Buggin’ In – how appropriate a term during this uncertain time. When our house flooded 5 years ago, we learned very quickly what was necessary – almost nothing!
I do understand this. Anything of true value is in plastic tubs ready for bug out if necessary.
Last year we were forced pack up for possible evac and faced with how poorly outdated our “go bags” and lists were. It takes an occasional emergency to set you right.
Yes, I had to make some significant adjustments