When thinking about “Family Survival” it is important to have your spouse on board with the emergency plan and emergency preparedness. Here are some ideas to get you started talking with your spouse about emergency preparedness.
Common Themes Among Non-Preppers
Over the years I have discovered several things about the non-survivalist by talking with friends, relatives as well as my wife her and network of friends. Male or Female, there are a few common themes among people who do not prepare.
- Ignorance
- Selfishness
- Despair
- Fear
- Arrogance
Ignorance
This is a trait that is hard to believe in this day and age post 9/11 and Katrina but it does still happen. It usually takes the form of “They” will take care of us. “They” are usually the government (Federal, State, Local) but it could also be international groups or charities.
I know a gentleman who never thought about preparedness until FEMA said to have a 3 day supply of food and water on hand for emergencies.
Now he has started doing this but won’t hear of having more than a 7 day supply of preparedness products. Unfortunately Hurricane Katrina was not enough to prove to him that the government cannot always be there to help you and everyone should take emergency preparedness a little more seriously.
Selfishness
This trait is perhaps the most difficult to overcome. Grasshopper and the Ant tale; The Ant works all spring, summer, and fall to prepare for the winter while the grasshopper spends his time in the sun enjoying every minute of it thinking the good weather will last forever. “I won’t sacrifice today’s pleasure for the possibility of future return.” This often results in denial of the coming shortage or disaster.
Despair
This trait takes a unique form, I saw it in adults when I was just a kid. The world would be so horrible after a “Nuclear War” that I wouldn’t want to survive, therefore I won’t. This is a tough nut to crack since despair often doesn’t respond to reason.
Fear
Fear often looks like despair but is much easier to deal with because all hope has not been lost. People are often afraid to put together a plan or talk things out with their family or spouse because they afraid to think of the possibilities and don’t have answers to the issues they will be facing in a “Family Survival” situation.
The truth is…none of us have all the answers. We can only prepare so much and the rest will be left up to being able to improvise during a disaster or TEOTWAWKI.
Arrogance
This can often takes the form of “It can’t happen here because this is the United States (or Canada)” or “Things like that only happen in 3rd world countries.”
But it could happen here and because of our society’s reliance on electricity & oil….things could be much…