Prepping is what it is. Exactly what it is. Prepping is getting ready for the future. We are mentally, physically, and spiritually getting ready for something that is going to happen. Whether that “something” is in an hour, a day, a week, a year, or sometime in the future, we are getting ready for it.

We can be prepared for anything:

• We put money away for a rainy day. They are getting ready for something that could happen and they would need that money for. That is prepping.

• New parents stock up on diapers, wipes, and formula so they don’t run out. That is prepping. 

• We shop garage sales and clearance racks for clothing and the next size up clothing for our kids so we are ready for them when they grow into them. That is prepping. 

• We find a good deal at the grocery store and stock up on that item to have in the future. That is prepping.

• We put money away for kids’ college and other future expenses. That is prepping.

• We save money for retirement. That is prepping. 

• We pay for all kinds of insurance for anything that could happen. That is prepping.

• We go camping and decide to “unplug and unwind” for the weekend. That is prepping. 

• We take a first aid and CPR class. That is prepping.

• We take a hunter’s safety course. That is prepping.

• We take up a new hobby and learn a new skill. That is prepping. 

• We buy groceries for the week so we have food to eat. That is prepping. 

So many of the everyday things we do is prepping. Many people are so turned off by the term “prepper”, but really we are all preppers in some way. We don’t think about being a prepper because we are just doing things to prepare for the future or some future event.

While many people think of prepping as:

• Stockpiling food
• Building a bug out shelter
• Owning a gun and several other weapons
• Learning survival skills
• Learning first aid
• Turning the home into a fortress
• Growing food 
• Running drills
• Making plans for evacuation, security, etc.

There is so much more to prepping. Trust me, those things just listed are important too. However, when you talk to hardcore preppers, they will tell you that they find the first list just as important as the second list. They often do things from both lists on the same day.

Prepping is what it is. It is getting ready for the future. We all have different visions and paths for the future. Our lives change and we are always getting ready for the next stage in life. What you do and what you prepare for can be different than that of your neighbors, but you are both doing what you can to get ready for the future.

Some of us just may see “life” in the future: kids, jobs, college, weddings, homes, and retirement. Some of us may see more in the future – what can happen if something else happens. All of us prepare for the future so we don’t have to worry about what can happen. We all have varying levels of preparedness. There is nothing wrong with that.

While some people just see “life” in the future, some of us see more. We see natural disasters, job loss, an uncertain economy, political and civil unrest, global problems, and much more. We choose to take our preparedness to the next level. We look for ways to be self-sufficient and self-reliant. We look for ways to intentionally be ready for what we think could be happening. Again, there is nothing wrong with that either.

Some of us do not see ourselves as preppers. We may identify as gardeners, hunters, cooks, woodworkers, and more. We may have fun tinkering in the shop. We may like to try new recipes on the grill and love to cook over an open fire. We may find target practice to be relaxing. We might think to watch YouTube videos on how to do things or how people used to live in history fun. We may enjoy working on our own vehicles. We grow plants in our apartments.

The funny thing is that those are all “prepping” skills and learning. We may not see it as being prepared for the future, but those skills and learning may come in very handy in the future. When the power is out, but you can still cook a meal on the grill. You can cook a meal with whatever food you have on hand or in the garden when you aren’t able to leave home. Your car needs a new battery and you know how to replace it. You can build a fire to keep warm. Any skill you learn will always come in handy sometime, but you just never know when.

Prepping happens every day and in ways we don’t even realize. We don’t realize that we are prepping because we just see what we are doing as getting ready for the future. The future can happen at any time. How much you choose to prepare and how far you want to take preparedness will depend upon you which is what separates preppers from each other. There is always someone you think will be too extreme in their prepping. There is always going to be that person you think should be doing more to get their act together. There are many levels of preparedness and only you can decide what level you are comfortable being on.

Just know this: We are all preppers, but some of us don’t know it yet.

Thanks for reading,
Erica

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