Are you prepped?

The mention of Covid in the news this week reminded me how not so long ago we were all thrown into the deep end and given a taste of prepper life. I realised I've gathered a quantity of items (and skills) that would suffice in an emergency scenario if it were to happen again in the near future.

I've changed some habits like how I shop and the kinds of items I purchase to ensure there's always long life items in the cupboard and have a semi decent pantry of things that will not only last on the shelf but developed skills to make even those boring kinds of foods tasty. Of course I learned how to make my own sourdough starter :) I tend to buy more items in bulk and have never run out of loo roll since.

I started growing my own vegetables and learned how to garden over the last couple of years. I still have some veg seeds packs although maybe not the best freshness but like Matt Damon, if there's a spud in the cupboard I'd be able to farm a crop in any event. It took me three years to master tomatoes but it was worth it.

I've acquired random items like a camping gas stove, with a couple of spare canisters. Oil lamps and sundries for lighting and plenty of jigsaws and books for keeping myself entertained. I became more frugal with energy use and reverted to buying solid fuel to subsidise central heating, having an open fire/stove provides more kinds of warmth and comfort than just heating.

I still have a couple of 5l drums of bottled water that never got used and a stash of toiletries like hand soap and toothpaste that would last years if it came to it so I feel like I'm better prepared if the sh't hits the fan and there's a run on grocery items and being cooped up safely indoors for a period.

(I've also acquired an axe and some dangerous looking gardening tools that could be used as defensive weapons, not that I'd probably be able to wield them with any great success but at least I have them)

and of course, I got used to be away from family and loved ones and have adapted psychologically to the absence of close knit community.

Would you fare better now knowing what you've already been through and are you ready if it happened again?