Does Your Spouse Or Partner Agree With Your Prepping?

Lets face it, not everyone is on the same page with regards to all things. When it comes to a spouse or partner at home, certainly there are disagreements between each-other having to do with various issues and life’s activities (this is normal!).

The specific question though, “Is your spouse or partner on-board with it? (prepping)”

POLL Results:


 
The results of the poll are as follows:

Just about half the respondents have a spouse in agreement 80% to 100% of the time with their prepping and preparedness.

The other half of respondents are having a bit more of a challenge…

 
Particularly if your spouse or partner is below 50% with your notion (and actions) of prepping & preparedness, it no doubt leads to “issues” in that household. This probably includes some arguing to do with how your time is being spent, a specific prepping activity, or money issues.

Awhile ago I wrote an article titled, “How To Get Your Wife On-board With Prepping” which received lots of comments and indicated that this issue is likely a fairly big one…

If your spouse is a reader of books, the following novel is probably one of the best regarding scaring the living daylights out of someone (an excellent motivator ;) ),

One Second After

 
That said, there are those who are simply not going to change (or change much). In fact, generally speaking, it’s pretty difficult if not impossible to change the mindset of an adult who is already set in their ways. The time for this is when they are young. Other than that it would likely take a major life-event with enough impact to potentially affect one’s outlook.

 
So if you’re into preparedness and your spouse or partner is not, here are a few suggestions:

1. Do it covertly.
2. Do it gradually.
3. Start small.
4. Point out current event risks & uncertainties (world/national/regional).
5. Don’t “push”. Instead gently nudge.
6. Encourage any remotely related interest or hobby.
7. Don’t get angry during related discussions.
8. Understand and adapt to those people who don’t respond to logic.
9. Encourage getting back to nature. Get outdoors. Hike. Camp. Etc..
10. Grow a vegetable garden. Most won’t object to that ;)

 
What are your thoughts on this subject?

76 Comments

  1. Depends on the item I am preparing for. Her common sense meter is different from mine
    no issue items:
    Water and Rain gutter set ups
    Garden
    Extra fuel
    Generator short term use

    Slight issues, but tolerates it:
    Short term food supply under 45 days
    Ammo – I can only shoot one at a time -stop spending $ !
    Tools – you have enough already
    Medical supplies –

    Issues enough they poke fun at it:
    Long term food past 90 days
    Any consumable item that is needed for more than a 6 month SHTF event

  2. After a couple of personal mini SHTF events in our life DH never really complained about the deep pantry. Other stuff not so much, but it never really turned into a argument. He would just say “Really?” I would explain why we needed this or that and he would just shake his head. Finally after Greece and Venezuela he finally said “keep doing what your doing, I’m glad you have a good head on your shoulders.

    I think I started out exactly like your 10 step list Ken. I started covertly at first and small. Not knowing how DH would take it, I didn’t want to overwhelm him.

  3. I have a brother — no spouse or partner. I tried to interest my brother, even sent him a case of freeze dried foods.

    He ate them all.

  4. My wife just refuses to stop ” driving on fumes ” and has a real problem with keeping gas on hand for the generator. I just don’t get it. I have shown her the accumulation of crud and fine metallic particles in the bottom of a gas tank I removed from a vehicle to try and explain the potential problems of blocking the fuel system by drawing on low levels of fuel. I have tried pointing out the unpredictability of traffic jams, detours, washouts, and power failures [ no pumps ] to deaf ears. I asked what good is a generator in a power outage if you can’t get fuel – no impression. She is an intelligent person who is on board with other preps but who puts too much faith in vehicle computer mileage counters. Another bone of contention is heavy reliance on cashless financial transactions and regards having actual currency at hand the same as keeping gas in reserve. I just can’t get through to her on these points.

    1. @Bam Bam, not too long ago we had our credit card information stolen and used out of state. The credit card company had to cancel our card and we had to wait for a new one. So in the meantime we had to switch to cash. We never use our debit card for purchases as we had a family member who had their card hacked and lots of money taken from their account. The bank replaced the funds after several weeks, but in the meantime she could not pay her bills. This put her in arrears on her bills for a couple of weeks. Maybe you can use these arguments to get her to understand.

    2. Bam Bam, out of love, service, or just your peace of mind, maybe you could offer to gas up her car and take the gas cans with you when you do. I know I really appreciate it when DH performs that kindness for me. (We have different prepping “jobs”: for example, he keeps the garden shed full of garden tools, while I take care of buying and storing grocery items.)

  5. Three month supply of food tolerated, after that, it is just “too much”. If idea of trouble lasting longer than that is discussed, it is dismissed as not possible.

    Kinda makes you wish for a little trouble close to home, to get all on board for “big trouble”.

  6. My wife is getting better about seeing what is going on in the world so is getting better about my preps. Even before her attitude was if it made me happy then do it.

    @ RWT. I had the gun and ammo conversation with my wife also. She asked why I need so many guns so I asked why she needs so much jewelry……… She said okay I’ll shut up lol

    1. Now we know why you are Poorman! As for the jewelry, I have a fiend that does necklaces and bracelets with small denomination gold eagles. Just a thought.

      1. Don’t mind the jewelry so much. It is just another way to store PM’s after all. Since I live a fairly frugal life we don’t have to live check to check and to be honest fair is fair, both should get to buy what is their passion and she really doesn’t spend that much. I would say 1/3 what I spend on preps and guns ( at least for now )

  7. My wife and I are both on the same page. She however has a much bigger “security gland” than I do. Ever since N.K. and other world crazies started being even crazier a number of years ago having extra items has never been a problem. We could probably run our own home clinic here and if we ran out of food we could always barter with T.P. No complaints on my end of course, she has really made sure we are as set as possible.

  8. DH and I have been on the same page since 2004! We left suburbia for the mountain property, I “retired” DH so he could build the ranch while I built my practice. We have a nice deep pantry, live a very prepared lifestyle, and have kept all the kids in the loop (some with us, some just holding their breath). DH is feeling better, and behaving himself…..so we WILL stay put. He is adamant about staying here, which makes me very happy.

  9. I’m not married, but this kind of post rather makes me wonder how I would do as the “on board” spouse for someone who was further along in the journey. And how that hypothetical other would handle my idiosyncrasies. Something we would need to discuss in depth beforehand, I suppose.

  10. Well, no Spouse here so I will revert to my current partner, Blue (120 # Black Lab). He has absolutely NO problems with my lifestyle, as long as I maintain the Caned-Dog-Food and enough Dry to last a minimal of 1 year he’s good to go.

    OHHH and let’s not forget about the ‘treats’, table/cooking scraps, and fresh water. AND of course the supply of heating components (propane/firewood/blankets/bed) to maintain his comfort. Sheeeesh he’s a PITA. Can ya say spoiled?

    Not sure if I get to vote on this one, maybe a category for ‘No Spouse/Partner’ in the voting?

    NRP

    1. NRP,

      Good Ol’ Blue and what a partner he is, great companionship someone to listen to ya, someone to bring a smile…
      Based on other things you’ve said, I bet he is great security
      and would guard your behind in ANY situation, right NRP?

      3 Cheers for Blue and other pet companions out there! :)

      1. @ Shepherdess

        Re; “I bet he is great security and would guard your behind in ANY situation, right NRP?”

        Actually NRP has to cover MY 6, I’m the one right out there in front raising all kinds of heck and letting the old-fart know what’s going on; even last night around 2:30 I dang near went through the porch door heading for a few critters wandering about looking for some grub, Old Grumpy was NOT happy, but I let him know I was doing MY job.

        So yeah, the saying ‘Man’s Best Friend’ sometimes more than most realize. I think I’ll keep my human around so he can open those cans of food for me….

        BLUE

  11. My first wife wanted nothing to do with prepping as it was silly and a waste of time and funds. So every two weeks I would stop by a coin shop on payday and get a little gold or silver. I had a years food hidden and rotated it like a religion. When she found someone else and had the police throw me out of our house I was good to go. Went to Colorado with a paid for van,work trailer, tools, food and gold. Within a year my company was doing great and it even bought a house for me to live in. Got my son through high school and onto the road of life. My second wife is a prepper and is more into it than myself. So when I hear or read about people that don’t prep it just makes me laugh.

    1. @ Southernman

      Good story, thanks for sharing.

      What I find so surprising that most people (95%) feel that a SHTF is some major even that destroys 80% of the world…… How about all the hundreds of little SHTFs that happen every day?

      For a lot of people losing a job is or would be more devastating that NK toasting Japan, of course the US would turn NK into a piece of glass, but that for another time.

      Point is, ya never see a SHTF coming, and when it slaps ya upside the head, you had better have the Spouse on-board to make it through.

      NRP

      1. Yes I did and my son and I never went hungry one day. All kinds of bad things can happen in this life not just the end of the world.

    2. My wife is very well aware of how bad things can get, and how quickly, having lived the USSR divorce. She just doesn’t want to think about it, and says everything happens for the best.
      My observation throughout life is that evil will prevail unless good is very, very careful.

      The Wall st. banksters are right about one thing–hope IS NOT a strategy.

  12. I will just put up with the eye rolls and head shakes and do what i need to do,
    She puts up with me, im sure if she could tell me what to do it wouldnt be doing what i do, i like having extra and plenty so when things go bad i wont starve, and by go bad it could be because of no work, or failed crops or a dizaster,,, could be anything, or everything, who knows, stuff happens, so rather not be SOL and standing in a government line somewhere,,,
    That also goes for guns, she doesnt like em, but ill be damned if i change my habits and likes for anyone, im me and always will be, and nobody will change me

  13. You poll is moot…

    If you and your spouse do not have a plan, you need a new spouse…

    1. @ Paul Eberhart

      Or none, and get a dog…. Hehehe

      Although the poll/article is good to get people talking about ideas and information….

      NRP

        1. Old Lady:

          You remind me of my Aunt Georgia. She was old and feeble and was always talking about how much work she did — made dinner, did laundry, cleaned (but then she would mention that she hadn’t cleaned such and such as well as she had wanted. Of course, it was my uncle that actually did all the work under my aunt’s supervision. She sat in a chair and pointed. Then took credit for all the work that was done.

      1. My X took my hunting dog a new pickup, house with all the furniture. But I got freedom and a new life with a wonderful Southern lady. She cooks, cleans,fish’s, hunts and can skin a dear faster than I can. And on Saturday nights she can out drink me and loves my socks off. I had no ideal Georgia was heaven but now I know.

        1. @ Southernman

          The Hunting Dog, that’s JUST NOT RIGHT, I don’t care if she caught you in bed with your neighbors husband (think about that hehehe) Take everything but DON’T take the Hunt-en Dog for crying out loud…

          NRP

        2. She just didn’t understand why I didn’t like the ideal of sharing her with another man. I’m just old fashion that way. She gave the hunting dog away 6 months later( pup out of Superchief Canada Grade Nation Champion) and never called to ask me if I wanted my dog back. This is why you never marry a Valley Girl from California.

  14. We agree to prep, but we aren’t always on the same page as to how to go about it or how much to spend. We often discuss what we think the future holds, then how to best prep for that scenario. I have a different idea of how to prep (and am more educated and informed imho). And since I do all the purchasing, I win.

    His idea of food preps was ramen noodles and vitamins. No canned goods at all. So over the course of one month I made a variety of dishes using only canned goods without telling him. The look on his face when I told him he had been eating canned chicken ??. He’s come around to a more varied pantry.

  15. My husband and I agree on preparedness, but we value things differently….I am working toward a more self-sufficient lifestyle of growing and preserving food; raising livestock for food; learning homesteading skills, etc. My husband’s idea of preparedness is an arsenal of weapons, enough ammo to wipe out half of our state, and PMs enough to last a very very long time. I guess it’s a pretty good balance, but I must admit I have often wished he would participate in my farming endeavors…

  16. For me, it hasn’t been an issue of whether he agrees or not. He has been 100% in agreement with what I am doing. The issue has been whether he will actively participate in preparing. Until recently, it’s been me doing all of the work and making all of the decisions. The past few weeks, he has been getting more involved which is wonderful! It’s nice being able to make decisions together instead of solo. It’s nice to see the different choices he’s making to add diversity to our food stores. I can’t tell you how happy I was when he came home with a case of paper towels because he noticed that we didn’t have any in long term storage yet.

    We will be heading out of town this weekend to do some hiking, biking, and camping. I can tell that he is thinking a bit more about what he is packing and why. We’ll be in the Four Corners area, so I will be keeping an eye out for the infamous pyramid of TP. ?

    1. That’s great Skibum…

      Peace and safe travels and enjoy your trip! :)

    2. @ Skibum

      If ya happen to see Engineers Mountain on the way, invasion that… HAHAHA

      NRP

  17. Good day, Friends,

    Our back ground story is like a pauper (me) and a prince (DH)…we came from different socio-econ-status backgrounds, different cultures and more and there was lots to work through and adjust etc…hard work!

    Yet our ideas and visions for living the prepared sustainable lifestyle has blossomed wonderfully. It is a good dynamic in our marriage. Sometime he has an original idea, sometimes me. Good energy and flow…learning and growing.

    Y2K, remember that? Well, that is when we started to think about our future in different ways and start in very small ways to do some prepping…

    After 9/11 a little more…

    Then in 2004 moved out to where we are now….
    Now 13 years later…we are very thankful where we are
    it is a nice little homestead. And we have some good folks around here too.
    but if we could both have a dream come true, it would be a little more land
    and even more rural.
    So we will see if that door opens for us in the future. :)

    You dear friends, out there, just remember “baby steps” OK?

    Peace and Blessings all…

  18. NRP

    What to do in retirement? You explore all the crazy ideas that you never had time for while punching the clock.

    There are days when my DW thinks I went crazy and other days that I am a genius.

    An example was when I thought of a TP storage solution – Take PVC pipe the size of the TP tube and feed on enough rolls to equal the length of a mattress. Then pile on row upon row inside a wood frame the width of a queen size bed to the height of about two feet. This way the rolls would not crush while serving as a very good mattress when fitted with a good foam topper. My version of an independent coil mattress.

    Dear wife just shakes her head at some of the hundreds of ideas but occasionally one really works. Much fun can be had exploring ideas and we laugh at the ones that work as well as the ones that crash.

    PS – you can use the TP idea if you wish.

    1. @ hermit us

      Ohhhh the brain already hurts from the “ideas” I want to play with…. And poor old Blue just lays there looking at me like I’m completely NUTS!!!!

      I will agree, it’s kinda nice when “an” idea works out of the hundreds….. LOLOL

      TP storage? I just take the bricks of TP and stack them up in the Very Deep Pantry. Usually on-top of stacked cases of water of canned foods.

      NRP

    2. @ Hermit us, I love that idea of the tp mattress frame. I am constantly thinking of new ways to hide food in plain site. I actually came up with a couple of really good ideas that work well. Unfortunately I don’t wish to divulge some of these ideas for reasons of Opsec. But your idea has given me other ideas that I will be looking into implementing.

      1. Peanut Gallery

        Good luck with your ideas. One caution about a TP mattress (I am guessing) is not to use quilted TP as you may end up with more of a hammock shape than a mattress. Also to prevent moisture, bedbugs, … maybe a poly covering around the whole thing. I am still waiting for permission to try this one from the DW.

  19. She talks a lot of crap, especially when she finds food nearing the BB date. But Gee Whiz! She sure has worn a path in the grass going back and forth to the storage unit for items of convenience.

    We’re in this kind of pay-down-the-debt mode now. My job sucks and pays little, so I wear cheap denim and company t-shirts every day. It saves money, pretentiousness is expensive. So if I can replace a $25-$40 dinner takeout order with $5 of stuff from Aldi… hey I’m good, maybe even drop a few pounds.

    I figure we have enough put up to live for 3 months in relative comfort, plus an additional 3 months in survival mode. Given the current state of world affairs, I think that is entirely reasonable and prudent.

    1. @ McGarvy

      6 Months is not too shabby my friend, knowing that FEMA and it’s infamous wisdom says 3 days…. HAHAHA What a friggen JOKE!!! 3 days ARE THEY NUTS!!!!????

      I agree PAY those stinking CC’s and Debt off ASAP. I hear that new CCs are at 16-26 percent interest rates….. Really? That’s totally unreal

      NRP

      1. Three days…

        Even before I had a decent job, I can’t remember NOT having more than three days of food around.

        For my entire life, I (or my parents) would have had to throw out stuff to get to three days worth.

  20. My boyfriend was on board at first. It started as his hobby. Then as i did more research and jumped in head first he started making snide remarks. Our deep pantry has helped us overcome a week long power outtage in storms, a two month time off work when i broke my foot, parents hospital stays. I was prepped for 2 years for my family and his. Then we got a mice problem. And he got layed off. I guess he decided that he could do better on his own, and left. After a long battle, i got rid of the mice and his belongings and found i had tons more space to store food water and tools. It’s unfortunate but i see myself having to shoot him with the gun he bought for me, when he shows up when shtf.

    1. someone else

      Glad you got rid of the mice and the rat. Unfortunately, some of us will have to turn away some family and acquaintances when the troubles come – hard to deal with a loose lipped, un-supportive, lazy, snowflake, wasteful, …. spouse. It was easy to overlook the frivolous ways of a spouse when the times were good years ago, but people have to adapt to change – many refuse to do so. I have children caught in this dilemma.

    2. Get some lime, girlfriend….it ain’t that expensive and it’s worth every penny of its weight. lol

  21. DW is on again and off again. She wants to travel in our RV while we still can and would like to sell the house and move to s sunny and warmer climate. I don’t do hot weather well. Hard to imagine how are previous generations got out and worked the fields in 100 degree temps with 100% humidity. I think it would kill me. All told though she is happy when the power is out and the generator is running. She knows that she can flush the toilet with a bucket from the rain barrels. She also takes comfort knowing that when the groceries are empty we will be eating for a long time. You should hear her talk about EMPs and CMEs to strangers. She doesn’t like my garden as she feels it will take away from her travel time. Yet she still brings home thrift store finds that she feels will be helpful if the lights go out forever.

    1. me

      Many think they can live on the edge and not commit – thinking that they can jump when the troubles come. Like getting into the RV and leaving as the flood reaches you from the burst dam or the forest fire is at the fence line. You see the death toll after every disaster. You can tell them not to drive into the flood water but … RIP

    2. On a trip to NYC (without me), mine told our daughter that we must move to NYC.

      Daughter laughed.

      Dad told daughter mom and next husband can move to NYC. Mom is well aware of this.

  22. We are both on the same page generally, which is a blessing. I think all my life I have been a “prepper”- I just didn’t know it had a name until a friend pointed it out. I like having options. However, about five years ago we really ramped up our storage – just had really bad feelings about how things were going.

    I left the workforce early and spouse is still working. It provides us the freedom to have our grandchildren stay with us in the summer and we are able to grow our farmstead while living a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle. The farmstead seems like the best prep of all; it can feed us and we love the lifestyle.

    We still participate fully in regular pastimes and get togethers with family and friends, and other than flying, which just pisses me off, we travel for business and pleasure.

    It does make a world of difference when your partner supports your efforts because everyone wants to feel appreciated. However, Sometimes it is our differences that make the relationship work as long as we have similar long term goals. And a little beans and rice hidden away never hurt anyone!

  23. DH & I are both for being prepared for what ever comes but sometimes we look at things from a different point of view. Of course this probably will be good for us as we can look at different sides of an issue. We are not so much “survivalist” as folks in our 70’s & 80’s & this is how people lived as we were growing up & in our early married life.

  24. I’ve been preparing for hurricanes since the 80’s. Hubby was on board for that. We bought a generator (now have more than one), “non perishable foods”, bottled water, camping gear, etc. Note: he was not really happy that I bought more than the recommended 3 days of food and water. But, too bad.

    He was a little dismayed when I had an opportunity to remodel his office space. There was a bathroom that had a large closet. I turned it into a shower. He thought that was a waste of money. I thought of the new office space as a place to evacuate to. I was right.

    Our home was destroyed by a quite large named storm. We lived in his office for 6 1/2 months while our home was rebuilt. Just a note, contrary to popular belief, flood insurance is NOT enough coverage to rebuild your home. This is why we no longer live near the ocean.

    He now supports me (mostly), but I think he is wondering when will enough be enough! He hasn’t said it out loud yet, but I wonder when he will. haha luv ya’ll, Beach’n

  25. I’d have to go 100 percent both ways.

    DW grew up in extreme poverty. She knows from experience the value of stocking up for hard times. I grew up in a rural middle class family with parents and neighbors who all lived through the depression and we all had gardens, raised meat and canned.

    We both garden and we both do canning. I do the heavy gardening prep and pressure canning… she does the light work and some water bath canning and pickling. Our problem is that she keeps pretty good track of how much stuff we have and I don’t.

    Having said that, I’ve discovered that everyone’s rationale or ability to think into the future is different regardless of how one is raised. Put differently, some people are more logical than others. I tend to go off the deep end, DW tends to be a little more rational. When I want to get twelve big hens, wife says 4 or 5 will do… we already have 4 in the freezer and 20 quarts canned why do you want more? I can sit down and eat a whole chicken and drink a bottle of wine in one sitting… she can make one chicken last an entire week of meals with a few things from the garden, some rice and a couple loaves of homemade bread. When I say get three cases of something she says one case is enough, we’ll get another next time. DW is definitely on board with prepping, canning etc., but I have realized that her idea of being prepared extends out about six months or a year, where my idea goes out five years or the rest of my life. The difference really becomes apparent when all three freezers are chocked full, the canning shelves are full and the garden is producing an abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs, and we are walking through the meat section of Sam’s. That’s when our food prepping comes to a standstill. I see a big juicy double pack of Boston Butt’s for .99 a pound or a big 20 pound whole rib-eye for $5.00 a pound and I want to get 2 of each and she puts her foot down and says we already have four of those… why do we need more? Or, the freezer is full they won’t fit (and all this time I thought our freezers were like a giant black hole where there is no limit to what you can put inside. I must have forgotten that you have to take things out once in awhile!!). ;)

    Yeah… I know, we already have almost too much stuff but when I see a big, juicy roast, ham, rib-eye rack or brisket on sale for 50 or 70 percent off, it’s hard to resist.

  26. I started prepping several years back. My wife has alternated between supporting and not supporting my lifestyle; usually in sync with the latest thing she’s heard on TV. My take on prepping is that it’s better to be prepared and have nothing happen than to experience the opposite. My wife has come around slowly over the years, as things have happened and we’ve been ready; whether that be a power outage, an injury, or just coming up short on something in the kitchen at the last minute. These instances are usually followed by a lighthearted “Y’see?” from me, just to highlight the benefit of what I do.

    One-sided prepping can be slower, but as long as one of you are prepping, both of you will win.

    1. @ TomMacGyver

      “or just coming up short on something in the kitchen at the last minute.”

      Personally I like the fact that the closest Grocery Store to my Kitchen is the Deep Pantry…. “Use one, Buy two”

      NRP

  27. Originally, DH wasn’t into the prepper concept. He had no problem with keeping a stash of food at home for those times you can’t make it to the store. He understood that natural disasters should be prepared for.

    In his early years, he lived on his grandfather’s farm. They gardened and raised their own meat. Putting food up was a family affair every year. I lived in a large city where obviously we couldn’t raise farm animals. There wasn’t enough land to grow much of a garden so we bought bushels of veg and canned them. I continued with canning throughout much of my adult life.

    Can’t remember how many years back it was when I started getting serious about prepping. DH thought I had lost my mind. There was no reasoning with him so I quietly continued on my own.

    Since we live in the country, we tend to lose power fairly often. Being able to whip meals together with items from the pantry made him realize that I wasn’t so crazy after all. He agreed we should continue. The problem is his lack of mobility. I get to do most of the heavy work since he can’t stand long enough to do much. Oh well, that’s my lot in life I guess.

    What’s happening about North Korea has scared the excrement out of him. Probably the only reason he agreed so quickly that we needed the outdoor oven. For the last 2 years, he figured it would be a frivolous purchase. Now he sees it as a necessity.

    Yup, the man is finally on board. No more “discussions” as to why I need another couple of boxes of canning jars or candles or tp or whatever.

    To those who don’t have a partner on board, keep on quietly prepping. You just never know what will open their eyes.

    kk

  28. I have been prepping for most of my adult life. My wife did not get into prepping until she married me. When we were living together, she saw what she was getting into. She came from a Navy family that was used to the govt. providing all. (hard times for her meant going to the Base Exchange rather than the local market. or living on base in base housing as opposed to living off base. )

    I worked in civilian sector of govt. so the agency I worked for had a very small budget and one year I remember eating ramen noodles and shooting small game because my first paychecks were late in arriving. It only happened once but being hungry with minimal food in pantry and no money in the bank burns lasting memories in a person. That was the beginning of my prepping in that I did not trust anybody starting with the good intentions of my employer. This was also the prime arguement for having at least 1 accurate, reliable rifle around the house to pop small game for the cooking pot.

    My wife and I do not fight about it. We have separate jobs and separate accounts. We are both savers to a certain degree. We try never to ask others for aid and we donate to our favorite causes separately. She always remembers her first husband that took all of her money when she was young and trusting.

    Everybody has a right to be a sucker once when they are young. Most of us survive the experience.

  29. Most of you are so very lucky. I am doing this ON MY OWN and my DH doesn’t think that I am sane. He kvetches “You’re preparing for Armageddon” AND “nothing is going to happen”, and get this “the government won’t let it happen” and “IF there’s a disaster, we’ll just go to the shelters” He doesn’t stop me from bringing home stuff as he calls it but I get so frustrated and upset that he seems to have his head stuck so far in the sand he won’t consider that it’s possible that TS could HTF. No he won’t read any of the books I have. I thought at least he would read Ted Koppel’s book but NO. My boys are trying but they also think I am off my rocker. My brother did a 180 turn around about 6 years ago. They had a SHTF situation 8 years ago, they lost everything and almost lost their eldest daughter in a car accident. I can’t say what it was that changed his mind due to OPSEC but my SIL is 100% on board. About 4 years ago she had posted that my brother had built her a cabinet for her dehydrator and food machine.I called her because I had just acquired one(dehydrator)and wanted her opinion on the one I got. AS we talked about what my brother had built her for her dehydrator(he’s extremely handy that way, got grandpa’s talent for wood working), I blunt out asked her Are you prepping? She sheepishly laughed and said yes. My words to her were “Thank God I’m not the only nut in this family” She said you too? Yes. I asked why after all the trouble they had a few years ago are you doing it now?. What changed his mind?. She told me what changed. He is taking care of the siblings and their families out his way I am trying to do for my family here and the two sibs that will be heading my way. Before you all go off on me let me state I WILL NOT ABANDON MY FAMILY! No matter how dumb they are. My one sister understands what I am doing and is trying to do what she can for her family but limited budgets and a SO that won’t help out isn’t making it easier on her. The other sister thinks I am crazy and is just being bossy.Can you tell she’s the baby sister LOL But as the Red Cross lady said to me years ago. “You really pull together when the chips are down even though you scrap among your selves”. Long story that. We had death in family and I had to get the boys back from where they were stationed. One brother was at sea, the other in SK, the third in DC.and I had round up the two sisters. Yes I am the oldest and now that our father passed I am (with second bro’s help) the matriarch of the family. My one sister is a tailor, her hobby the other knits, crochets like a fiend plus they each have sons that are ex military so I am confident that we will pull together survive and thrive.I sometimes wish that something would happen SHORT TERM that will kick start the DH into waking up and getting on board.
    Sorry to vent so much but our sink faucet broke last night and I am quite grumpy about it . The faucet is only 5 years old, we can’t get any replacement parts as it was discontinued 4 years ago. So we had to go out and get a new faucet set up and it won’t be here till next week. Neither one of us can get down on the floor too easily so we had to hire a plumber. Sorry folks but it REALLY sucks getting old.
    Well thank you for letting me vent, I will keep doing the best I can and God Bless you

    1. @ grannyo

      ‘He kvetches “You’re preparing for Armageddon” AND “nothing is going to happen”, and get this “the government won’t let it happen” and “IF there’s a disaster, we’ll just go to the shelters”’

      The preverbal rock and a hard place, no easy way out.

      A little story for you;

      Someone I knew way back had a rather unusual tactic. His wife absolutely refused to do a single thing as far as preparedness, she hated the idea of living “in the country”, and absolutely would NEVER think about anyone besides herself. So one day, according to him, he announced he was canceling all of there Car, Home, Health insurance, because nothing would happen and if it did they could go to the ER. Next he stated he was not paying the mortgage anymore because the lender could not evict someone from their primary home. He also stopped paying the utilities, again because they could not legally turn them off without a warrant, and if there were kids living there it was illegal, plus he stoped cooking or cleaning (his job according to her) Well needless to say the wife had a fit, and yelled and screamed at him for 4 full days….. until, welllll you know the rest of the story. They now are very well prepared living in a nice little town in CO. BTW, I know them back in CA a very VERY long time ago. They wised up very quickly after a small little SHTF for them.

      Just something to think on…

      NRP

      PS that was not a vent, that was just a little talking among friends…..

      1. Only as long as Delta is still around. I read that during the great depression 80% of all companies went under.

  30. My wife balks at anything “prepper” but she likes having plenty of food in the house. She fusses about the garden in the front yard, but likes eating fresh veggies. She thinks I go to extremes about security, but appreciates when I go check out whatever made that sound at night, and planting roses under all of our windows. She says that I spend to much on ammo, but likes to go play at the range. We both have health issues so we keep stocked up on medical supplies. So she pretty much is a prepper as long as you don’t call it prepping.

  31. He doesn’t say much. But said if we ever have to move, he’d be getting a dumpster. I guess we better never move. I think he may have been laughing at me when I covered some electronics in foil to protect from EMP. He’ll be happy I prepped after SHTF though.

  32. I asked the other to answer this poll question with the idea that I was the prepper, not they. The other replied that they were the prepper and not I. One of us defines prepping as acquiring guns, canning food, bug-out bags. One of us defines prepping as being loaded up on insurance, financials, tax-savvy. Which one of us has the authority to determine what definition of prepping is for us? It’s all relative. If one of us is packing away ammo in the hideout while one of us is knitting sweaters, it is all useful, no? Do you both have to go bowling together? Go to baby showers together? Do your own things, but stay together. Give each other air to breathe. You do what you do, the other does what they do. If it works, keep doing it.

    1. Wonderful perspective. Thanks for sharing. I also consider riding my bike, backpacking, etc prepping. That’s why NRP and others so correctly refer to it as a lifestyle. Almost anything can be a prep if it is done with mindfulness. Maybe that would be a good title for a book “The Tao of Prepping” or perhaps “Zen and the Art of Preparedness”

  33. I am single and thankfully have no children or grandchildren to worry about. After I retire i plan to move to a place that has mostly older over age 55 people due to crime, for safety, and people to talk to. Houses are a lot of work for older folks with arthritis. I may even do volunteer work for one of those second hand charities that raises money via used clothes and household goods. I try to impress it upon my sister that people should have supplies for at least 72 hours due to floods, power outages, etc.

    1. My only concern with a complex geared towards the older community is that gangs and others will see this as an easy target.

  34. Good thing about being single is you don’t have to worry about that.

  35. My wife is 80% on board but 100% on the need for everyone to prep. The difference being what you prep for in life. Many of us plan for nature’s quirks that can befall all of us. Floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. Over the years as the world and our lives become more technically complicated. There is more to prep against. Financial collapse, civil unrest, crime and war. So it is the extreme 20% that she has a problem with. I’m not into Nibiru or alien invasion but I’ll bet I can scare the daylights out of a few people for what I have prepped against.

    If you are the type that preps for the extreme scenarios. Do it silently. Put the gear into containers. Provide instructions for their usage. Seal them up and store them correctly.

    I love it when my wife asks me, What’s that for? I just smile and wait for the eye roll.

  36. I have really enjoyed reading this article. After hearing some of these stories I am so happy I married someone of similar mindset. We are both into preparing for the future. Like someone else said above we each kind of have our own jobs and completly respect eachothers work. DH makes sure we have all the necessary medical equipment and reminds me to fill up my car and I do all of the gardening, grocery shopping and food preservation. We both take care of the chickens and practice different drills together.

    We are both fairly young 30 and 32 and have been doing a little bit more each month. Suprisingly it is our parents that think we are the crazy ones. We have heard all the same phrases you have heard from others from our parents. They tell us to not worry and that the government will take care of us.

    Thank you all for the great discussion!

    1. Welcome to the journey ;)
      It’s a lifestyle, way-of-life, and a mindset…

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