Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

Logistics and planning…two things that you just cant ignore when youre Commander Zero. Of course, it isnt that I *ignore* it..I just sometimes overlook things. Naturally, two weeks after the nukes go off thats when i’ll suddenly discover Ive got a hundred cases of canned ham and no can opener.

Most of the logistics is simple. If you have a canned ham, pack a can opener with it. If you have candles, package them with some matches. Thats the easy stuff…then it gets exponentially difficult.

Example: Kerosene heater. One heater and some kerosene and youre set, right? Nope…gotta have kerosene, a storage container for the kero, a funnel or pump to transfer fuel, cleaning rags to take care of spilled fuel, a fire extinguisher, matches, spare wicks, a box to keep all these items together, and a few other items. See how it adds up? And thats for something simple. Imagine something more complex like, say, a vehicle. Then youre into fuel, spare fuel pumps, tires, water pumps, radiator hoses, belts, lights, batteries, etc, etc, etc.

Fortunately I dont see my future having a mushroom cloud over it…oh sure, someone *will* nuke/dirtybomb LA or NY, no arguement there. But Montana? Not likely. No, I suspect its going to be a creeping depression and/or infrastructure failure…which means lines for toilet paper, empty meat counters, minimal fresh produce and probably gas rationing or something like it. Think Moscow/Beirut.

Of course, theres a zillion less dramatic things that can happen…unable to work, illness that prevents you from working, etc, etc. The sorts of things that cause alot of people to get in trouble. If you lost your job for, say, six months, how would you fare? Food? Utilities? Bills? See, these are the everyday disasters that are minimized by being prepared….

In other news, Sportsmans Guide has Gamma Seal bucket lids on sale for $5.97 ea. Great price. I love these things. Turns any 5-gallon bucket into a screw-off waterproof, airtight container. Great for storing grains and whatnot. Me and the LMI’s will be ordering a bunch next week.

Logistics and planning…two things that you just cant ignore when youre Commander Zero. Of course, it isnt that I *ignore* it..I just sometimes overlook things. Naturally, two weeks after the nukes go off thats when i’ll suddenly discover Ive got a hundred cases of canned ham and no can opener.

Most of the logistics is simple. If you have a canned ham, pack a can opener with it. If you have candles, package them with some matches. Thats the easy stuff…then it gets exponentially difficult.

Example: Kerosene heater. One heater and some kerosene and youre set, right? Nope…gotta have kerosene, a storage container for the kero, a funnel or pump to transfer fuel, cleaning rags to take care of spilled fuel, a fire extinguisher, matches, spare wicks, a box to keep all these items together, and a few other items. See how it adds up? And thats for something simple. Imagine something more complex like, say, a vehicle. Then youre into fuel, spare fuel pumps, tires, water pumps, radiator hoses, belts, lights, batteries, etc, etc, etc.

Fortunately I dont see my future having a mushroom cloud over it…oh sure, someone *will* nuke/dirtybomb LA or NY, no arguement there. But Montana? Not likely. No, I suspect its going to be a creeping depression and/or infrastructure failure…which means lines for toilet paper, empty meat counters, minimal fresh produce and probably gas rationing or something like it. Think Moscow/Beirut.

Of course, theres a zillion less dramatic things that can happen…unable to work, illness that prevents you from working, etc, etc. The sorts of things that cause alot of people to get in trouble. If you lost your job for, say, six months, how would you fare? Food? Utilities? Bills? See, these are the everyday disasters that are minimized by being prepared….

In other news, Sportsmans Guide has Gamma Seal bucket lids on sale for $5.97 ea. Great price. I love these things. Turns any 5-gallon bucket into a screw-off waterproof, airtight container. Great for storing grains and whatnot. Me and the LMI’s will be ordering a bunch next week.

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

Hmm..I sure am posting alot lately.

I was talking with someone yesterday about grains and, to a degree, food storage.

My ideas on food storage are ‘layered’…I have the normal day-to-day foods in large quantity that get used and rotated. I simply buy alot of them at a time. (Spaghetti sauce, pasta, canned meats, canned soups, etc, etc) These are things I use daily but I keep enough of them on hand so that with their normal consumption rate theyd last a couple months. All have a shelf-life of a year or better. (and, actually, they last longer..its just their nutritional value starts to dminish, but their safety and edibility remain.)

Next layer is day-to-day/longer term stuff. This is things like instant potatoes, canned vegetables and fruits, honey (honey is incredible stuff..it literally will last forever), etc. Its basically the same as the above, but with much much longer shelf life. (Example: Im still using Idahoan instant potatoes from 1998. Theyre in #10 cans and have been sealed since then. Taste great.)

Then theres the convenience/emergency food – this is MRE entrees. This stuff is for situations where you cant cook or need maximum portability. MRE’s are already cooked and you can, if you must, eat them cold. But you can also toss ‘em on hot engine blocks, in a pan of hot water, or on a hot driveway to heat them up. If you have to grab your gear and head for the hills theyre a great choice.

Freeze drieds make up the really long term layer. They’re sealed in #10 nitrogen filled cans. Assuming the can doesnt get punctured, the shelf life is over fifteen years. Theyre very, very lightweight. Disadvantages is that they require hot water to reconstitute and they aint cheap. But, theyre good.

Last layer is the bulk stuff… 5-gallon and 15-gallon buckets of wheat and rice. (Corn too, as soon as I get around to it.) I dont care much for beans but they store exceptionally well and may be worth it for trade value…additionally, if I get hungry enough, I’ll eat anything. (Plus, beans and rice [or corn and rice] make a complete protein.) The wheat is the most versatile…it can be sprouted for fresh greens, made into flour, craked and made into a meal, or made into bulghur. Pretty versatile. Lasts forever too.

Combine all this together and you can come up with some pretty decent meals. Of course, this doesnt include whatever I can scrounge at the last minute. Nor does it take into account whatever foodstuffs that arent already set aside may be in the fridge/cabinets.

Still need a few other things like dehydrated butter, eggs, that sort of thing. Im also wanting to get a really, really high-end hand-crank grain mill…the wone I want is about $310 but it’ll last a lifetime and grinds to all sorts of granulations.

Ive got a spreadsheet around here somewhere that keeps track of all this stuff. On the 2000 calorie diet its around 2.5 months…good for short-term stuff…but I want at least six-months and ideally a years worth. Ive got the storage space, that isnt a problem…just gotta cough up the $.

Hmm..I sure am posting alot lately.

I was talking with someone yesterday about grains and, to a degree, food storage.

My ideas on food storage are ‘layered’…I have the normal day-to-day foods in large quantity that get used and rotated. I simply buy alot of them at a time. (Spaghetti sauce, pasta, canned meats, canned soups, etc, etc) These are things I use daily but I keep enough of them on hand so that with their normal consumption rate theyd last a couple months. All have a shelf-life of a year or better. (and, actually, they last longer..its just their nutritional value starts to dminish, but their safety and edibility remain.)

Next layer is day-to-day/longer term stuff. This is things like instant potatoes, canned vegetables and fruits, honey (honey is incredible stuff..it literally will last forever), etc. Its basically the same as the above, but with much much longer shelf life. (Example: Im still using Idahoan instant potatoes from 1998. Theyre in #10 cans and have been sealed since then. Taste great.)

Then theres the convenience/emergency food – this is MRE entrees. This stuff is for situations where you cant cook or need maximum portability. MRE’s are already cooked and you can, if you must, eat them cold. But you can also toss ’em on hot engine blocks, in a pan of hot water, or on a hot driveway to heat them up. If you have to grab your gear and head for the hills theyre a great choice.

Freeze drieds make up the really long term layer. They’re sealed in #10 nitrogen filled cans. Assuming the can doesnt get punctured, the shelf life is over fifteen years. Theyre very, very lightweight. Disadvantages is that they require hot water to reconstitute and they aint cheap. But, theyre good.

Last layer is the bulk stuff… 5-gallon and 15-gallon buckets of wheat and rice. (Corn too, as soon as I get around to it.) I dont care much for beans but they store exceptionally well and may be worth it for trade value…additionally, if I get hungry enough, I’ll eat anything. (Plus, beans and rice [or corn and rice] make a complete protein.) The wheat is the most versatile…it can be sprouted for fresh greens, made into flour, craked and made into a meal, or made into bulghur. Pretty versatile. Lasts forever too.

Combine all this together and you can come up with some pretty decent meals. Of course, this doesnt include whatever I can scrounge at the last minute. Nor does it take into account whatever foodstuffs that arent already set aside may be in the fridge/cabinets.

Still need a few other things like dehydrated butter, eggs, that sort of thing. Im also wanting to get a really, really high-end hand-crank grain mill…the wone I want is about $310 but it’ll last a lifetime and grinds to all sorts of granulations.

Ive got a spreadsheet around here somewhere that keeps track of all this stuff. On the 2000 calorie diet its around 2.5 months…good for short-term stuff…but I want at least six-months and ideally a years worth. Ive got the storage space, that isnt a problem…just gotta cough up the $.

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

Some of the links in Zero’s Bookmarks:

Major Surplus – Has some interesting gear and their prices arent too bad. I get their catalog every month and sometimes you can find some real deals in there (Swiss medic pouches $9.95 ea, etc, etc)

Essential Gear – Specialty LED lights. Me and the LMI are quite pleased with LED flashlights…bulbs arent fragile, dont burn out, and battery life is magnified exponentially. Their VIP model in red LED/black case would be standard LMI gear if it werent for the price.

Nitro-Pak – Not the cheapest but certainly one of the most complete. Their catalog is a dream. Good source for Mountain House foods, but a bit pricier than other places.

Long Life Foods – MRE central. Best place Ive found for pouch food.

Army Radio – Good commo is a must. Military radios take abuse, are man-portable, and immune to most civillian eavesdroppers.

eBay Surplus – I find Seismic Intrusion sets, military radios, field phones, fallout suits and lotsa other cool gear here. ALways, always, always worth looking through.

ALICE manual – Everyone has an ALICE pack. Heres how Uncle Sugar says youre supposed to use it.

Best for last: Survive a nuclear attack – Lotsa happy shiny links.

Some of the links in Zero’s Bookmarks:

Major Surplus – Has some interesting gear and their prices arent too bad. I get their catalog every month and sometimes you can find some real deals in there (Swiss medic pouches $9.95 ea, etc, etc)

Essential Gear – Specialty LED lights. Me and the LMI are quite pleased with LED flashlights…bulbs arent fragile, dont burn out, and battery life is magnified exponentially. Their VIP model in red LED/black case would be standard LMI gear if it werent for the price.

Nitro-Pak – Not the cheapest but certainly one of the most complete. Their catalog is a dream. Good source for Mountain House foods, but a bit pricier than other places.

Long Life Foods – MRE central. Best place Ive found for pouch food.

Army Radio – Good commo is a must. Military radios take abuse, are man-portable, and immune to most civillian eavesdroppers.

eBay Surplus – I find Seismic Intrusion sets, military radios, field phones, fallout suits and lotsa other cool gear here. ALways, always, always worth looking through.

ALICE manual – Everyone has an ALICE pack. Heres how Uncle Sugar says youre supposed to use it.

Best for last: Survive a nuclear attack – Lotsa happy shiny links.

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

Ahhh…hurricanes. The news shows the obligatory photos of people standing in line at Home Depot for batteries and flashlights, later they are on line at the supermarket for bottled water and milk.

Who are these people??? They really couldnt spend $20 once a year to keep a couple flashlights and batteries on hand at all times? Watch the aftermath..lines of people waiting for ice and water and other goodies…no need to worry, your friendly fedgov will take care of you. After all, who wants citizens who think and act responsibly? But convince them that .gov is the answer to their problems, that .gov will take care of you, and they’ll happily smile and nod their heads when you say ‘We’re doing this for your protection.’ Food, water, heat, light, first aid, security and communications…how bloody hard is it to set yourself up for those simple needs?

——

I was talking about fuel with someone the other day. Me and the LMI’s try to have multiple redundancies and this applies to fuel. If youre going to store fuel the two biggest factors are safety and shelf life. Gasoline gets pretty wierd after a couple years. You can put Sta-Bil in it to stretch its life, but after a few years it’ll be good for lawnmowers and weedwhackers and not much else. (Unless youve an older vehicle thats very tolerant of wierd gas.) Propane is miraculous stuff as long as you can store it safely and the tanks keep their integrity. (Nice thing about propane, you can scavenge 20# ‘barbecue bombs’ off all the gas grills in your neighborhood).

Me, I like kerosene. Its cheap, lasts forever with no treatment, is completely safe to store (drop a lit match in a 55-gallon of kero and you dont get any drama..unlike gasoline.) I have kerosene lamps (good ones – Aladin and Petromax), kerosene heaters, and our camps stoves are multi-fuel so they can run on kero, white gas, gasoline, jet fuel, or anything else that’ll burn. They even make kerosene powered refrigerators. (Remember, a refrigerator uses a heat source).

However, a bit of gasoline is definitely worth storing and rotating every year. A couple five-gallon cans at least. Why? Because fuel is one of those things that people will trade heavily for if things go bad. Remember, when the power goes out all those gasoline pumps wont run..and you’ll be stuck with the 1/4 tank in your car and its 150 miles to your retreat. Now, you gonna walk or you gonna start bargaining with the fella who has a five-gallon can of gas to trade? Dont believe me? Talk to some folks in Arizona… when your ability to come and go quickly and conveniently is at stake, you’ll deal.

Of course, gasoline, diesel, (and propane, actually) are used for generators. Generators are a mixed blessing…theyre good for keeping things like your well pump, freezer and battery charger going but they usually make enough noise to let everyone know that youve got an island of civilization. Risk vs. rewards.

I usually buy sealed 5-gallon drums of kero at Home Depot, coat ‘em with varnish to help protect the metal, and store them out in the yard. Ive also a couple dozen of the smaller propane bottles to be used on things like heaters, lanterns, etc. In fact, all my lighting, heating, cooking needs can be run entirely on either white gas (Coleman fuel), kero or propane…so if I do come up short on fuel, I can use whatever I find.

Kerosene heaters actually work very well. The trick is that when you light them and when you turn them off, let them sit outside for about five minutes..by then any smell has disappeared. No muss, no fuss. And kero burns hot so it puts out a good amount of heat.

I’ll be heading up to HD this week to pick up another five-gallon can or two..can never have too much. When I have my place out in the sticks, I’ll have four or five 55-gallon drums of the stuff in storage..lasts forever and can be used for almost all my needs.

Been pretty good with power outages here…we usually have one every winter but only for a few hours..but, just in case……

Ahhh…hurricanes. The news shows the obligatory photos of people standing in line at Home Depot for batteries and flashlights, later they are on line at the supermarket for bottled water and milk.

Who are these people??? They really couldnt spend $20 once a year to keep a couple flashlights and batteries on hand at all times? Watch the aftermath..lines of people waiting for ice and water and other goodies…no need to worry, your friendly fedgov will take care of you. After all, who wants citizens who think and act responsibly? But convince them that .gov is the answer to their problems, that .gov will take care of you, and they’ll happily smile and nod their heads when you say ‘We’re doing this for your protection.’ Food, water, heat, light, first aid, security and communications…how bloody hard is it to set yourself up for those simple needs?

——

I was talking about fuel with someone the other day. Me and the LMI’s try to have multiple redundancies and this applies to fuel. If youre going to store fuel the two biggest factors are safety and shelf life. Gasoline gets pretty wierd after a couple years. You can put Sta-Bil in it to stretch its life, but after a few years it’ll be good for lawnmowers and weedwhackers and not much else. (Unless youve an older vehicle thats very tolerant of wierd gas.) Propane is miraculous stuff as long as you can store it safely and the tanks keep their integrity. (Nice thing about propane, you can scavenge 20# ‘barbecue bombs’ off all the gas grills in your neighborhood).

Me, I like kerosene. Its cheap, lasts forever with no treatment, is completely safe to store (drop a lit match in a 55-gallon of kero and you dont get any drama..unlike gasoline.) I have kerosene lamps (good ones – Aladin and Petromax), kerosene heaters, and our camps stoves are multi-fuel so they can run on kero, white gas, gasoline, jet fuel, or anything else that’ll burn. They even make kerosene powered refrigerators. (Remember, a refrigerator uses a heat source).

However, a bit of gasoline is definitely worth storing and rotating every year. A couple five-gallon cans at least. Why? Because fuel is one of those things that people will trade heavily for if things go bad. Remember, when the power goes out all those gasoline pumps wont run..and you’ll be stuck with the 1/4 tank in your car and its 150 miles to your retreat. Now, you gonna walk or you gonna start bargaining with the fella who has a five-gallon can of gas to trade? Dont believe me? Talk to some folks in Arizona… when your ability to come and go quickly and conveniently is at stake, you’ll deal.

Of course, gasoline, diesel, (and propane, actually) are used for generators. Generators are a mixed blessing…theyre good for keeping things like your well pump, freezer and battery charger going but they usually make enough noise to let everyone know that youve got an island of civilization. Risk vs. rewards.

I usually buy sealed 5-gallon drums of kero at Home Depot, coat ’em with varnish to help protect the metal, and store them out in the yard. Ive also a couple dozen of the smaller propane bottles to be used on things like heaters, lanterns, etc. In fact, all my lighting, heating, cooking needs can be run entirely on either white gas (Coleman fuel), kero or propane…so if I do come up short on fuel, I can use whatever I find.

Kerosene heaters actually work very well. The trick is that when you light them and when you turn them off, let them sit outside for about five minutes..by then any smell has disappeared. No muss, no fuss. And kero burns hot so it puts out a good amount of heat.

I’ll be heading up to HD this week to pick up another five-gallon can or two..can never have too much. When I have my place out in the sticks, I’ll have four or five 55-gallon drums of the stuff in storage..lasts forever and can be used for almost all my needs.

Been pretty good with power outages here…we usually have one every winter but only for a few hours..but, just in case……

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

Being Commander Zero is not all sunshine and stun grenades….its an expensive life. Really, its almost a gamble against something that is uncertain (an ugly future, for example). However, its no different than, say, disability insurance or, really, any other form of insurance. Its an expense to provide large benefit(s) if event x happens. Unfortunately, being the Zero isnt $49.95 a month like alot of insurance. No, its time, money, and alot of odd looks from people from time to time.

I was travelling lately and spent time in Virginia which is an utter hotbed of fedgov buildings, facilities and personnel. Was I uncomfortable? A bit. If, say, a NYC-style blackout had occurred Id have been at a disadvantage. If a hurricane occurred Id have been at a bit of a disadvantage. When Im here in ZeroLand Im much more comfortable…I know that I have food, warmth, clean water, a place to sleep, protection, and LMI’s. In VA there would have been sudden appearances of armed badge-wavers on every corner repeating over and over that they were ‘here for your protection’…and I would have been one of many sheep among the wolves. I dont wanna be a sheep. But I dont wanna be the wolf either. I wanna be whatever it is that watches the wolves and sheep do their thing, all the while completely undetected and left alone. Squirrel?

Anyone can be a liberty-lovin’, self-reliant, fiercely-independent individual when the power is on, the supermarket is open and the infrastructure is running. But when you have to stand in line for a National Guardsman to toss you water bottles and T-rations or shuffle into a Red Cross tent for a free meal and shelter voucher you lose alot of things…self-esteem and control of your future spring to mind.

I would guess that my ability (real or imagined) to be able to take care of myself and my loved ones while everyone else is panicking, starving, freezing or being herded into cattle cars has an incredibly large effect on how I think of myself. Maybe its that secretly Ive always wanted to be a hero, maybe I hate the idea of not being in control of my future, maybe I want a sense of adventure, maybe I’m a fatalist, maybe I just think responsibility for my well being starts and ends with me…I dunno.

Regardless, I tend to not focus on why I do the things I do rather than just simply doing them. There are, after all, far worse interests and hobbies to have. Being Commander Zero has some everyday benefits…food is cheaper since its bought in bulk..same for toiletries and other consumables. Im good at improvising or problem-solving and other uses for ‘thinking differently’. I lead a very safe existence (when Im not out of state)…minimal crime, no senseless violence, no drive-by shootings, etc.

Self introspection is so not my strong suit…lets shift gears….

Picked up some more remaindered meat for the deep freeze, a couple boxes of 3″ Kling bandages, and some more bags for the vaccuum sealer. Winter is coming and I need to make sure im set for emergency heating and lighting. It can get pretty cold here if the power goes out in the middle of winter.

Being Commander Zero is not all sunshine and stun grenades….its an expensive life. Really, its almost a gamble against something that is uncertain (an ugly future, for example). However, its no different than, say, disability insurance or, really, any other form of insurance. Its an expense to provide large benefit(s) if event x happens. Unfortunately, being the Zero isnt $49.95 a month like alot of insurance. No, its time, money, and alot of odd looks from people from time to time.

I was travelling lately and spent time in Virginia which is an utter hotbed of fedgov buildings, facilities and personnel. Was I uncomfortable? A bit. If, say, a NYC-style blackout had occurred Id have been at a disadvantage. If a hurricane occurred Id have been at a bit of a disadvantage. When Im here in ZeroLand Im much more comfortable…I know that I have food, warmth, clean water, a place to sleep, protection, and LMI’s. In VA there would have been sudden appearances of armed badge-wavers on every corner repeating over and over that they were ‘here for your protection’…and I would have been one of many sheep among the wolves. I dont wanna be a sheep. But I dont wanna be the wolf either. I wanna be whatever it is that watches the wolves and sheep do their thing, all the while completely undetected and left alone. Squirrel?

Anyone can be a liberty-lovin’, self-reliant, fiercely-independent individual when the power is on, the supermarket is open and the infrastructure is running. But when you have to stand in line for a National Guardsman to toss you water bottles and T-rations or shuffle into a Red Cross tent for a free meal and shelter voucher you lose alot of things…self-esteem and control of your future spring to mind.

I would guess that my ability (real or imagined) to be able to take care of myself and my loved ones while everyone else is panicking, starving, freezing or being herded into cattle cars has an incredibly large effect on how I think of myself. Maybe its that secretly Ive always wanted to be a hero, maybe I hate the idea of not being in control of my future, maybe I want a sense of adventure, maybe I’m a fatalist, maybe I just think responsibility for my well being starts and ends with me…I dunno.

Regardless, I tend to not focus on why I do the things I do rather than just simply doing them. There are, after all, far worse interests and hobbies to have. Being Commander Zero has some everyday benefits…food is cheaper since its bought in bulk..same for toiletries and other consumables. Im good at improvising or problem-solving and other uses for ‘thinking differently’. I lead a very safe existence (when Im not out of state)…minimal crime, no senseless violence, no drive-by shootings, etc.

Self introspection is so not my strong suit…lets shift gears….

Picked up some more remaindered meat for the deep freeze, a couple boxes of 3″ Kling bandages, and some more bags for the vaccuum sealer. Winter is coming and I need to make sure im set for emergency heating and lighting. It can get pretty cold here if the power goes out in the middle of winter.