This is mostly a repeat of other posts, but these are important not to look over.

- Salt. It's your friend in a lot of situations. You'll find a big pot of rice and beans sucks without a little salt.
- Spices and dried herbs. Goes hand in hand with salt. Make the same meal totally different with these additions.
- Antidiarrheal. A must in your first aid kit. Have plenty. Not just a few packets. Who wants more old beans?
- Baking soda. Tons of uses including baking and toothpaste.
- Candles. Multiple uses again. Get unscented ones unless you want your post-apocalyptic house to smell like vanilla-pear.
- Fire making equipment of your choosing.
- Alcohol. Makes a good disinfectant and a fine cocktail.
- Tarps. They take up so little space and can really help weatherproof.

And my personal favorite,

- A cribbage board and deck of cards. You'll want to take a break from killing zombies at least sometimes.

Water... You can not stock up on enough water. THink about the worst case scenario. Nukes drop Chicago gets it... right their half of the nations fresh water supply has been contaminated Via the Poisoned mississippi and all the rivers it feeds.

In the future after our leaders finnaly lose it and push the button those that have large reserves of fresh water will be kings... Water barons...

And remember boiling water is not the same as distilling it. And after the water is distilled the waste run off will be very hazardous so remember that too.

Hand sanitizer.

You can start a fire on ice using hand sanitizer. Has a variety of uses and is easily carried.

Originally posted by lpowell0627
Hand sanitizer.

You can start a fire on ice using hand sanitizer. Has a variety of uses and is easily carried.

You can also buy it by the quarts at sam's club.

I've been stockpiling for years; I write on the containers the date purchased, and rotate the stocks.

The past couple of years, we've been working with native foods -- more of a long-term solution. In my case, it's learning how to make coconut oil, coconut flour, soap from coconut oil, breadfruit flour, breads from same, cultivating summer pusalane and calleloo, etc. etc. Just those things alone could keep us alive several years, even without augmenting the diet with fish or seafood.

I think it's important to learn how to live within your local (or the location you plan to bug-out to) area's fauna and flora. This is what humans did once, to survive. I think we've forgotten how to live, as our cultures -- for the most part -- carry us away from those simple places.

I strive to live more simply. Aside from this computer and a TV, we are pretty self-sufficient, and produce enough to share. I am growing coffee plants, stevia, pepper, cilantro, basil, garlic. These things matter in the long view, not in short-term survival.

Be safe all, but please don't forget to LIVE! to laugh and have wonder

Originally posted by I_am_Spartacus
I have fantasies of turning away (or making slaves of, waaaaha hahaha) some of my wifes family members when they start showing up at our door (the ones who have belittled me for being prepared). I have all the juicy lines prepared, lets hope I never have to use them.

Yeah, but is that really going to fly with your wife? I can't imagine anything positive about any scenario in which they have to come and live in my basement and I have to share my supplies. My in-laws are argumentative and they don't respect me

Can you imagine me trying to get them all to take iodine pills so their heads won't melt off, when they argue with me about the word "espresso" not being spelled with an X, and whether or not there is an "e" in the word "potatoes"?

My hunting knife, fire-starter flint and ventolin. Don't need anything else.

I'll skin MP's for my sleeping bag and tent.

Originally posted by AmethystSD



Yeah, but is that really going to fly with your wife? I can't imagine anything positive about any scenario in which they have to come and live in my basement and I have to share my supplies. My in-laws are argumentative and they don't respect me

Can you imagine me trying to get them all to take iodine pills so their heads won't melt off, when they argue with me about the word "espresso" not being spelled with an X, and whether or not there is an "e" in the word "potatoes"?

My problem exactly. Example, my mother-in-law will argue till she is blue in the face that eggs are a dairy product!! "Well why would they sell them in the dairy cooler if they weren't dairy?" IDIOT!!!

A shortwave radio, receiver at least. The only frequency's still controlled by the people.

[edit on 17-9-2009 by I_am_Spartacus]