Do you have a go bag? If you did, what would be in it?

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A question I thought of at the time was what do you do in the absence of money having the same value or accessibility.
Which is something that is likely to happen rapidly should there be societal breakdown either locally or widespread.
Is it easy to set up bartering systems that are anything like egalitarian.

Stevolende, Thursday, 31 December 2020 02:12 (three years ago) link

Or to complete the thought, is ist easy to set up networks that work without having some shared belief system as to how things ought to work.
& what value to place on any item that is being traded. Without the element of coercion or exploitation.
If one is setting up a set of supplies for the aftermath of anything there is always going to be a run out point by which one is hoping that there has either been the restoraton of a prior sense of order or construction of a new one, I would think.
ONe needs some sense of infrastructure to maintain a sense of normality surely?
Or one is just constantly on the guard against others trying to come and take or the weather to allow one to be completely self sustained.

ONe thing I would think useful would be a basic understandig of how to repurpose and what principles are needed in processes one needs. Because likelihood is taht you would be left with a lot of things taht don't work as is, partciularly if an electricity system ceased to work so how to build a generator taht might be used or where to find one local to oneself if you can't access teh internet. & then how to keep it running without the usual local infrastructure.

Stevolende, Thursday, 31 December 2020 09:13 (three years ago) link

a book like the Anarchists Cookbook or Off grid Living would be handy to have if you need more longterm thought.
I assume the initial idea was about very short term what do you need though.
BUt it is always pretty useful to have some idea of what you would need to know in terms of what a longterm disaster would entail.Always better to have some idea and give it some thought in a time when there is no disaster looming so you could do things more relaxedly in a real situation than panicking because you have absolutely no idea what to do. But may mean that given the moment you're just getting into the same queue as everybody else. Given disaster and no immediate infrastructure you're likely to have a heavy level of chaos to deal with anyway, roads blocked by other traffic. nobody around to sort out any breakdowns or roads blocked by other accidents.
Finding alternative routes to probably meeting points etc would be very useful. What has been used as meeting places before and likely to again.
Having some form of communication that doesn't rely on having a phone system working fully or a GPS one. NOt sure if CB etc are still remotely active but useful in absence of normal systems. Phones can give away your location if you are in a situation where taht matters too.

Stevolende, Thursday, 31 December 2020 10:06 (three years ago) link

I should really have one of these as the Puget Sound area has had four earthquakes in the past few days, and I wouldn't put it past 2021 to try to one-up 2020 by delivering the Big One.

Lily Dale, Friday, 1 January 2021 03:35 (three years ago) link

I’m more concerned about stay-water than a go-bag in that regard

is right unfortunately (silby), Friday, 1 January 2021 03:44 (three years ago) link

Yup, I don’t have a go bag so much as a “stay” “top shelf of closet” loaded up with emergency supplies. Mostly in case of hurricanes. This is the first time in my life that I’ve felt even slightly prepared for a disaster. Even so, this stuff will probably only get us through a week or so.

epistantophus, Friday, 1 January 2021 04:13 (three years ago) link

All our important papers, insurance stuff (mostly online now tbf) passports etc live in a folder easily reached. Wallets, keys sit in a location en route out the door and phones are by the bed.

Planning for natural disasters or gun attacks not really a thing but fire plays on my mind and the above eases that somewhat

spruce springclean (darraghmac), Friday, 1 January 2021 04:13 (three years ago) link

One interesting thing I learned in a neighborhood disaster prep workshop - keep shoes where you can put them on as you get out of bed. Apparently a lot of avoidable injuries in earthquakes are from people dashing around in a panic stepping on broken glass etc.

Jaq, Friday, 1 January 2021 06:24 (three years ago) link

My sister's lived in CA for the past 20-so years--first in San Fran and now in L.A. She has had a to-go-bag forever. The closest I got was was hoarding extra cash back in March/April, but now I'm back to normal. I would like to be better prepared.

Xp--Jaq--my sister slept with tennis shoes under her bed so she wouldn't have to look for them in case of earthquake in San Fran.

Virginia Plain, Friday, 1 January 2021 06:37 (three years ago) link

Shouldn't a go bag and a colostomy bag be the same thing?

Hideous Lump, Friday, 1 January 2021 09:35 (three years ago) link

Thanks to this thread I finally ordered 3x 7 gallon water containers for the garage. Good thing we didn’t have the big one already

is right unfortunately (silby), Friday, 1 January 2021 09:39 (three years ago) link

if u have a gas hot water heater, strap that shit in tight. it can also be a water source, if it doesn't blow up

howls of non-specificity (sleeve), Friday, 1 January 2021 16:58 (three years ago) link

I just ordered some 6-gallon jugs, and I'll put together my go-bag today. I really appreciate this thread because I wouldn't have gotten around to it otherwise.

Lily Dale, Friday, 1 January 2021 17:12 (three years ago) link

Xp to sleeve - yes! And if you have a gas supply line, get a crescent wrench with a 2' handle or an extender for extra torque and practice "rocking" the main shut off valve every once in awhile.

Jaq, Friday, 1 January 2021 17:29 (three years ago) link

We keep a couple 3 gallon containers of tap water around and usually between 1-4 gallons of distilled (used for cpaps) - came in handy at our last place where the water got shut off at random all the time due to pipe breaks.

Jaq, Friday, 1 January 2021 17:34 (three years ago) link

A Big Mac

Looking for Cape Penis house (Neanderthal), Friday, 1 January 2021 17:37 (three years ago) link

Fries with that?

Jaq, Friday, 1 January 2021 17:40 (three years ago) link


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