Planning for the Precarious Near-Future
Keeping what I wrote yesterday in mind, I'm trying to stay ahead of things on the ground. Important things include:
~ Having a home with enough land to keep a few livestock and do gardens every year. CHECK
~ Having a home with room for renters to bring in labor help and income flexibility. CHECK
~ Having chickens all set up. CHECK
~ Start local, personal supply lines to give surplus crops and products to (and maybe get from later). Check, more needed!
~ Meet the closest neighbors in person, exchange phone numbers, and keep up at least a twice-yearly social meeting. Partial check, more needed!
~ Laying in a 3 month stock for emergencies. CHECK (but we'll need to re-stock in a month and so forth)
~ Maintaining a 3 month "deep pantry" into the future. Needed.
~ Begin learning skills for gardening, cooking, machinery and house systems maintenance, etc. to create resilience for shortages and when things break. Started.
~ Make local contacts and connections for some services, be NICE to check-out clerks and make some regular contacts. Started.
PERSONAL SUPPLIES: One thing everyone can do is start working on storing some extras of stuff that can keep a while. Canned stuff, frozen stuff (if freezer room) and dried food is a good idea because there will be regular but unpredictable shortages and you don't want to go hungry. If you have to get creative to find storage, do so. Under beds, in clothes closets-- wherever there is space. That may mean cleaning up your personal areas in order to hold more, but clothes that don't fit and dust catchers are trumped by FOOD. Anything that runs out regularly at the grocery store (like TP) you should keep at least a LITTLE extra of, just to make sure you're okay. (The shortages are NOT all from "hoarders", but rather supply lines not adjusting quickly enough to public life essentially ending over the globe at the same time people need more home care products.)
NETWORKING: Connecting to people, especially those you meet regularly in passing like store clerks and neighbors, can save your ass later, so start building up friendly connections. Smile and wave, or call out, "How you holding up in this crazy time?" people love to vent-- so give 'em room! Introduce yourself and, for close neighbors or contacts, offer your number and ask for theirs, "to keep in touch and in case of emergency."
Online networking, start finding local suppliers of fresh produce, dairy, and meat. Do you have a local, independent butcher? Dairy farm? Any kind of farm that produces organic food? Suss out the local hobby farms and contact them online. When restrictions are lifted, visit them, chat, and buy some local product. Helping them helps you! Don't be surprised when you visit and it's crowded. Everyone will think of this option when the stores keep having shortages, so get on this as soon as possible! Local tends to be more expensive, BUT--! I've already learned that when they have too much food, they'll contact locals who frequent them and give away extra for free rather than let it rot. Local suppliers tend to be more considerate of their customers, who live near them.
DEPRESSION GARDENS & HOBBY SKILLS: Start with herbs in window sills if you have to, but begin learning to grow some stuff. Even a little fresh produce will help. Learn to preserve by canning and dehydrating-- get supplies to preserve food EARLY-- there will be a run on this! Keeping busy with useful hobbies is already a thing, and you'll see Do-It-Yourself or DIY become a really big thing in the next 2 years. People are learning to cook because they can't go out. They're learning to sew to make germ masks. They're having to jerry-rig and mickey-mouse repairs and get creative to address shortages and lack of help from others who can't interact during the pandemic. Instagram your creations and scour the internet for more ideas.
KEEP BUSY & LIVE BY A LOOSE SCHEDULE: Feeling lost and alone will make you depressed, and depression will sap your ability to function. Staying busy, finding things to do and learn, socializing online or by phone-- all of these are important to keep yourself able to face what's happening. A regular but flexible schedule will also help. I've been off work for much of my adult life, and I've learned that keeping a basic routine in place keeps me from getting lost in media entertainment or useless fantasy. I give myself a few things to do everyday before allowing myself TV or games or novels. I balance them out, but having a sense of accomplishment is very important to stay focused.
LONG TERM, TAKE STOCK & RECOGNIZE WHERE CHANGES ARE NEEDED OR LIKELY: This is a tough one. During a crisis is not the time to plan for a crisis. But once one hits, you need to be thinking about what you'll do if times stay chaotic or get even more chaotic. Start making a Plan B and C for where to live if you lose where you're at. Can you take in boarders? Can you become a boarder? Cost of rent and mortgage is the single greatest expense for most. Can you cut back? Can you move in with roomies? Back in with your parents or siblings? Most likely most of us will have to contract our living space or share our living space to afford to live. Even with economic stimulus, a LOT of people will lose their homes and businesses and, happily in SOME areas, rents should start coming down and real estate will get cheaper.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GLUTS: Demand destruction means some things are going to oddly get much, much cheaper while other things are always in demand (like food). For example, the high price of gas has meant some projects or trips were put off-- can you take advantage of cheap gas? A LOT of businesses will be going bankrupt or closing down. That means a LOT of things will be put on sale. Furniture, food storage and preparation appliances, delivery trucks. Look for AUCTIONS and get something you need much more cheaply than before all this hit. Down the line, this may include homes and properties, but only invest here if you have the means. Consider buying a next door property to expand your "area" if you can and bring in some renters.
VOLUNTEER AT PLACES THAT HAVE WHAT YOU NEED: Are you having a hard time keeping food on the table? Volunteer at a local food bank. You'll always have access to food that others have to stand or drive in line for (I've done this, so I know it's true.) If you can't keep pet supplies, see if you can volunteer at a pet shelter-- they get deals. Obviously, this is an idea that works best for unemployed or under-employed people. Also consider joining a church, even if you're not much into that. Find one you can stand (Friends/Quakers, Universal Unitarians are good ones!) This is a built-in community where you can meet local people and join in volunteer mutual support networks right away.
USE ONLINE BARTER SITES: These are online local sites that let you trade or barter goods and services privately. If you have skills or products to offer, but can't get a job or find other ways of selling them, try getting what you have to others and ask for help with things/services you need this way! You can get very creative on this, especially as shortage become a regular thing. Got fresh or canned produce? Can you sew masks? Know how to do repairs? Be safe, but try this as a way to cut costs and stay afloat. Swaps and garage sales are options as well.
LONG-TERM, THINK RESILIENT: That means put off luxuries for a couple of years and concentrate your resources to making sure you can get by for a while despite all the disruptions to regular life. A lot of people will be doing this, so you won't be alone and you'll find more and more sharing of knowledge and ideas online. Nurture relationships of locals, family, friends, anyone who can help you out if you need it. Be willing to help others, that goes a long ways towards good social relations. Figure out where your talents are AND your short-comings. If you can't do much labor, what can you do that is skilled? If you can't plant much, maybe concentrate on healing and culinary herbals. Personalize a plan as you go and find your special niches. Look for bargains, but don't lowball a desperate person-- they'll remember and you can't afford enemies. Long term gain over short term is what I mean here. Build upon your good reputation. Learn where you can contribute. Find out where help is located. Lather, rinse, repeat!
~ Having a home with enough land to keep a few livestock and do gardens every year. CHECK
~ Having a home with room for renters to bring in labor help and income flexibility. CHECK
~ Having chickens all set up. CHECK
~ Start local, personal supply lines to give surplus crops and products to (and maybe get from later). Check, more needed!
~ Meet the closest neighbors in person, exchange phone numbers, and keep up at least a twice-yearly social meeting. Partial check, more needed!
~ Laying in a 3 month stock for emergencies. CHECK (but we'll need to re-stock in a month and so forth)
~ Maintaining a 3 month "deep pantry" into the future. Needed.
~ Begin learning skills for gardening, cooking, machinery and house systems maintenance, etc. to create resilience for shortages and when things break. Started.
~ Make local contacts and connections for some services, be NICE to check-out clerks and make some regular contacts. Started.
PERSONAL SUPPLIES: One thing everyone can do is start working on storing some extras of stuff that can keep a while. Canned stuff, frozen stuff (if freezer room) and dried food is a good idea because there will be regular but unpredictable shortages and you don't want to go hungry. If you have to get creative to find storage, do so. Under beds, in clothes closets-- wherever there is space. That may mean cleaning up your personal areas in order to hold more, but clothes that don't fit and dust catchers are trumped by FOOD. Anything that runs out regularly at the grocery store (like TP) you should keep at least a LITTLE extra of, just to make sure you're okay. (The shortages are NOT all from "hoarders", but rather supply lines not adjusting quickly enough to public life essentially ending over the globe at the same time people need more home care products.)
NETWORKING: Connecting to people, especially those you meet regularly in passing like store clerks and neighbors, can save your ass later, so start building up friendly connections. Smile and wave, or call out, "How you holding up in this crazy time?" people love to vent-- so give 'em room! Introduce yourself and, for close neighbors or contacts, offer your number and ask for theirs, "to keep in touch and in case of emergency."
Online networking, start finding local suppliers of fresh produce, dairy, and meat. Do you have a local, independent butcher? Dairy farm? Any kind of farm that produces organic food? Suss out the local hobby farms and contact them online. When restrictions are lifted, visit them, chat, and buy some local product. Helping them helps you! Don't be surprised when you visit and it's crowded. Everyone will think of this option when the stores keep having shortages, so get on this as soon as possible! Local tends to be more expensive, BUT--! I've already learned that when they have too much food, they'll contact locals who frequent them and give away extra for free rather than let it rot. Local suppliers tend to be more considerate of their customers, who live near them.
DEPRESSION GARDENS & HOBBY SKILLS: Start with herbs in window sills if you have to, but begin learning to grow some stuff. Even a little fresh produce will help. Learn to preserve by canning and dehydrating-- get supplies to preserve food EARLY-- there will be a run on this! Keeping busy with useful hobbies is already a thing, and you'll see Do-It-Yourself or DIY become a really big thing in the next 2 years. People are learning to cook because they can't go out. They're learning to sew to make germ masks. They're having to jerry-rig and mickey-mouse repairs and get creative to address shortages and lack of help from others who can't interact during the pandemic. Instagram your creations and scour the internet for more ideas.
KEEP BUSY & LIVE BY A LOOSE SCHEDULE: Feeling lost and alone will make you depressed, and depression will sap your ability to function. Staying busy, finding things to do and learn, socializing online or by phone-- all of these are important to keep yourself able to face what's happening. A regular but flexible schedule will also help. I've been off work for much of my adult life, and I've learned that keeping a basic routine in place keeps me from getting lost in media entertainment or useless fantasy. I give myself a few things to do everyday before allowing myself TV or games or novels. I balance them out, but having a sense of accomplishment is very important to stay focused.
LONG TERM, TAKE STOCK & RECOGNIZE WHERE CHANGES ARE NEEDED OR LIKELY: This is a tough one. During a crisis is not the time to plan for a crisis. But once one hits, you need to be thinking about what you'll do if times stay chaotic or get even more chaotic. Start making a Plan B and C for where to live if you lose where you're at. Can you take in boarders? Can you become a boarder? Cost of rent and mortgage is the single greatest expense for most. Can you cut back? Can you move in with roomies? Back in with your parents or siblings? Most likely most of us will have to contract our living space or share our living space to afford to live. Even with economic stimulus, a LOT of people will lose their homes and businesses and, happily in SOME areas, rents should start coming down and real estate will get cheaper.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GLUTS: Demand destruction means some things are going to oddly get much, much cheaper while other things are always in demand (like food). For example, the high price of gas has meant some projects or trips were put off-- can you take advantage of cheap gas? A LOT of businesses will be going bankrupt or closing down. That means a LOT of things will be put on sale. Furniture, food storage and preparation appliances, delivery trucks. Look for AUCTIONS and get something you need much more cheaply than before all this hit. Down the line, this may include homes and properties, but only invest here if you have the means. Consider buying a next door property to expand your "area" if you can and bring in some renters.
VOLUNTEER AT PLACES THAT HAVE WHAT YOU NEED: Are you having a hard time keeping food on the table? Volunteer at a local food bank. You'll always have access to food that others have to stand or drive in line for (I've done this, so I know it's true.) If you can't keep pet supplies, see if you can volunteer at a pet shelter-- they get deals. Obviously, this is an idea that works best for unemployed or under-employed people. Also consider joining a church, even if you're not much into that. Find one you can stand (Friends/Quakers, Universal Unitarians are good ones!) This is a built-in community where you can meet local people and join in volunteer mutual support networks right away.
USE ONLINE BARTER SITES: These are online local sites that let you trade or barter goods and services privately. If you have skills or products to offer, but can't get a job or find other ways of selling them, try getting what you have to others and ask for help with things/services you need this way! You can get very creative on this, especially as shortage become a regular thing. Got fresh or canned produce? Can you sew masks? Know how to do repairs? Be safe, but try this as a way to cut costs and stay afloat. Swaps and garage sales are options as well.
LONG-TERM, THINK RESILIENT: That means put off luxuries for a couple of years and concentrate your resources to making sure you can get by for a while despite all the disruptions to regular life. A lot of people will be doing this, so you won't be alone and you'll find more and more sharing of knowledge and ideas online. Nurture relationships of locals, family, friends, anyone who can help you out if you need it. Be willing to help others, that goes a long ways towards good social relations. Figure out where your talents are AND your short-comings. If you can't do much labor, what can you do that is skilled? If you can't plant much, maybe concentrate on healing and culinary herbals. Personalize a plan as you go and find your special niches. Look for bargains, but don't lowball a desperate person-- they'll remember and you can't afford enemies. Long term gain over short term is what I mean here. Build upon your good reputation. Learn where you can contribute. Find out where help is located. Lather, rinse, repeat!