Hello from the suburbs of Chicago

[Deenie7]

I introduced myself in the ZSC:020 thread but figured I should post here too. I live in a house in the 'burbs with my husband and two (much-beloved, so no hasenpfeffer jokes - only I get to do that! ) pet rabbits. After watching friends deal with things like bugging out from Katrina (little damage to their place, thank goodness)/friends offering shelter to other friends from the Colorado fires this year, and dealing with some big power outages last summer ourselves, I got more serious about preparing for SHTF-type situations. My husband isn't as dedicated as I am, but after explaining that we know how crappy the power grid is, and what if there's some bad storm/train derailment (we live about a block and a half from major railroad tracks)/whatever that we either have to hunker down for a bit or get out, he's more understanding. I told him I don't believe there's going to be a post-apocalyptic scenario but we've had to deal with utility outages and the like, and it pays to be prepared in case things get bad.

So we've probably got more stuff for "bugging in" rather than bugging out - about 30 liters of water stashed in the basement so far, about a month's worth of long-term-freeze-dried food (thanks Costco!), a few dozen quarts worth of home-canned goods (mostly tomato stuff, pickled veggies, a few canned veggies/fruits), and I'm working on stashing both (commercially) canned and dried beans, pasta, and rice. We've got probably a month and a half worth of hay stored for the rabbits as well. We have a bunch of old camping stuff in the basement that I have to sort through, so we should have a decent tent in there, Coleman camp stove (needs fuel, I suspect), that kind of thing. Probably sleeping bags. For alternate home cooking methods, we have a gas stove (and furnace), and a propane grill, and I know how to make a solar oven. He also hunts, and owns a rifle-barreled shotgun plus some ammo.

I have a rudimentary 72-hr BOB internal frame backpack with an Esbit stove and fuel, Datrex water and food bars, some freeze-dried meals, small mess kit, a very basic first aid kit (which needs work), a Nalgene bottle/collapsible bottle/Bobble filter bottle, water purification tabs, LED flashlight. LED headlamp, glowsticks, "space blankets", sunscreen and bug spray, a cheap AM/FM radio (got a solar/crank Eton NOAA radio w. USB port coming this week, plus a filtration straw), fire-making stuff (waterproof matches in ziplocs and in a waterproof case, beeswax-soaked cotton pads, a magnesium stick and flint), small Swiss Army knife, hydration tablets, camp soap sheets, and pelleted hay for the rabbits. Some spare clothing for me, a few hygiene items. We have a couple sizes of pet carrier in case we have to bug out in various ways (car vs. not) and intend to haul the rabbits out with us if at all possible. Next I think I have to start on a BOB for my husband to tote, and I can redistribute some of the general stuff into his pack.

Oh, and I have some minor stuff in my "daily carry"; I carry a business-style shoulder bag to and from my job in the city of Chicago, and commute via the commuter rail trains (diesel, not subway). Among my usual stuff, I tote a Swiss Army knife, pepper spray, hand sanitizer, N95 mask, small LED flashlight, a couple energy bars, a pill box with Aleve/Imodium/Zyrtec/aspirin, thin emergency poncho, and work gloves with thick rubberized gripping palms. I keep forgetting to add a small bottle of water to my bag and should really do that, but sometimes I'm carrying water anyway. I wear heels at work but wear more "sensible" shoes during the commute and carry the heels in a bag.

Other random stuff:
- I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian. I don't proselytize or debate on the topic. (My husband is a true omnivore, and I do make meat for him.) I'm willing to chuck that out the window in a desperate situation, but for now, I prefer to stick with how I eat. I bought veg meals for the BOB pack, but plan on adding jerky and stuff for those meat cravings/extra protein (he's almost twice my weight!) for him.
- I'm a good cook, do home canning, homebrewing, knitting, food dehydration, and have some minor medical knowledge. I'm currently knitting a gray 100% wool balaclava for myself, for when the colder weather returns to Chicago.
- Oh yeah, I found ZS via Google! I was looking for a more "fun" prepper group that was a better fit for my own opinions and attitude. I know I mentioned a ton of "domestic" skills in my last point but I'm not exactly a "Suzie Homemaker" type, and a lot of prepper groups really don't exactly jive with how I am. And being in the medical field, I can get behind the idea of disease-related disasters being a real threat! Plus I love the Evil Dead/Army of Darkness series, as well as Shaun of the Dead.

[majorhavoc]

Deenie7, I'd say you're well on your way. The preps you describe seem very well thought out. I think you have a lot to contribute and I hope your share your ideas beyond the Chtpr 20 subforum!

No apologies needed for being a vegetarian pre or post SHTF. I'm what I call an opportunistic carnivore, meaning I've lived at least half my adult life with vegetarians, so day to day I have functionally been a vegetarian for months or even years on a stretch. And I honestly don't miss animal protein that much, especially red meat.

But when given the opportunity, my primal instincts do take over and I enjoy the occasional slab of bacon, juicy hamburger or sizzling steak.

Having said that, my daughter is not just a vegetarian, but vegan. I will say this: since going vegan, she's never looked more healthy and beautiful.

So we roll all kinds of ways here at ZS. Welcome!

[Deenie7]

Thanks for the welcome! I've been posting randomly on the boards here and there in the last day or so. And I don't lecture or judge based on what people choose to eat, just explaining a little quirk in my planning. I'm originally from Wisconsin, so I joke that I don't think I'm "allowed" to give up dairy! I do cook vegan now and then, just because I find yummy-sounding recipes and I think that it helps my flexibility with cooking different foods.

I do own a pressure-canning-suitable pressure cooker, and need to figure out an issue I'm having with the seal (I'm such a pressure cooker newbie!) before I try more pressure canning. Not having to stick to high-acid/pickled food will be great! We're "shareholders" in a local CSA farm (Sandhill Organics) and typically get more from our weekly Summer/Fall allotment than two people and two rabbits can eat, so I can extra food when possible.

[majorhavoc]

The wonderful thing about ZS is that all types freely mix here and the forums are set up in a way that promotes tolerance, respect and staying the hell away from hot button issues like politics and religion. Reading your two posts, seeing that you're an urbanite into community supported agriculture, home canning and vegetarianism, but not judgmental about it, I think you'll fit right in here.

You'll find yourself exchanging ideas with gun enthusiasts who hunt their own meat and folks who have never set foot in a community larger than 50,000 people. People who are metal workers by trade, and others who are doctors and lawyers. Artists, writers and poets. Police officers, active duty service personnel. Realists and LARPers, hardcore survivalists and horror movie buffs. And people from all around the world.

I like to think this is a community that allows people to discover and talk about interests they have in common, rather than focusing on points of view that set them apart. A valid model, I believe, should the unthinkable ever happen. In times of disaster, we all have to rely on each other.

[duodecima]

Welcome from Central IL! I stumbled in here, like you, looking for a forum to fit in with, and they haven't been able to get rid of me since! I drive to the ZS 020 events when I can, maybe I'll see you there! (Come, the ZS020 folks are very cool, and you'll meet people who share some of your interests and skills!)

[Illini Warrior]

Welcome Deenie ..... Chicagoland here also .... make sure you study the postings on the various prepper sites in regard to "getting home" .... if you are the average rail commuter you are traveling 2hrs+ and have your 8-9hr day in the city ..... good chance a SHTF situation will catch you away from home ..... plan on the trains being disrupted and a 2 day hike home .... think about a cache at work .....

[Deenie7]

Yeah, thanks for the reminder! I brought in one the day before the big-ass snowstorm in early Feb. 2011. They warned us that there may or may not be a huge snowstorm, and so I went to work the day before with some extra clothes, some food and water (besides the usual lunch), that kind of thing. Since it's a hospital, it was staffed the whole time by the essential staff members (I work in the clinic building, which shut down, so I wasn't needed but was waiting to be called in just in case of disaster); my workplace put up cots in areas for stuck employees to sleep, and had those areas monitored by security. The cafeteria also stayed open to feed people. Fortunately I bugged out at just the right time and managed to catch a good train home.

I did remove my stash later, but maybe I should keep a little stash there. I also may be called in if there's a major medical emergency to help with triaging and general care, so I might be asked to travel about 15 miles during adverse conditions.

[duodecima]

Lol. My commute is 3 blocks and I still have a small stash at work. (Me, paranoid? Naaahhh...) But it's very helpful in the "I forgot lunch!" and "It wasn't supposed to rain today!" emergencies.

[RomeoRockwell]

Welcome Deenie fairly new to this site my self. Im from the chicagoland area. Seems like youve done your due dillegence in regards to general preparedness. I to take public transportation, so much easier then finding parkng downtown. My EDC is pretty much a Powerbag (tablet messenger bag) that has a battery system inside that charges my phone or Ipad. Inside is usually my Ipad A Kershaw Black Blur Folding Knife, LeatherMan Juice S2, Fenix Flashlight E21 i believe, buisness card wrapped in Duct tape, couple of power bars, gum and a few other miscellaneous items. On my person is My phone Galaxy S2, a Kershaw Leek, My keys, wallet, watch and CamelBak Groove Water Bottle with Filter. Now that i think about it a N95 mask is something i will add to my EDC as well. Anywho welcome and enjoy the forum.

[RomeoRockwell]

Lol. My commute is 3 blocks and I still have a small stash at work. (Me, paranoid? Naaahhh...) But it's very helpful in the "I forgot lunch!" and "It wasn't supposed to rain today!" emergencies.

Just out of curiosity what would your stash consist of? I only ask because im thinking of stashing a few things at work as well.

[duodecima]

Lol. My commute is 3 blocks and I still have a small stash at work. (Me, paranoid? Naaahhh...) But it's very helpful in the "I forgot lunch!" and "It wasn't supposed to rain today!" emergencies.

Just out of curiosity what would your stash consist of? I only ask because im thinking of stashing a few things at work as well.

Keep in mind it's only about .35 miles home, I've always figured I could crawl that far if need be. My stash/GHB would be different if it were a longer walk.

Food (tuna/cracker and chicken salad/cracker packs, nuts, crackers, hot cocoa, coffee. I rotate thru all that regularly just with snacking & working thru lunch occasionally. )
Cheap raincoat and/or umbrella, depending on what I wore home and forgot to bring back for a while.
Small amount of cash
N-95 mask

I'm edc'ing small flashlight, multitool, lighter, cell phone.

I work in a clinic, so I don't worry about an extra fak.

I should add - a few bottles of water with the food
Galoshes/small rainboots (my size has not yet turned up at the thrift store)
Exta hat/gloves (Where'd this snow come from! Wasn't in the forecast!)
Extra clothes - it's not impossible that I would get slimed and have to change, and it would save me running home to change.
Leather/work gloves

If I were really paranoid?
Emergency radio (that runs on AAA we've always got those stocked)
Mylar blanket AND some kind of small regular blanket - I can't imagine getting trapped there overnight, though, but I'd want those if I did.
pry bar - I've thought aboout it, since earthquake is not impossible and it's an old building, but it'd have to live in my office where I spend a minority of my time.

Deenie, we've hijacked your intro, sorry!

[Deenie7]

That's OK, it's good to get me thinking!

I started carrying the N95 mask and durable work-type gloves after reading about a CTA L breakdown underground, where there wasn't much of any lighting, people had to light their way with the glow of iPods (iPhones weren't prevalent then - many iPhone users, me included, have an app that lets you use the phone's flash as a flashlight), and plenty of people got scuffed up just trying to feel around and get out of there. I don't often take the L but sometimes I do, and Metra train escapes can involve people stuck in train cars. Plus my clinic is in a pretty tall building, so you never know what you might have to go through to get out of those.