[nw_arizona_granny]

From a Sarajevo War Survivor:
Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war - death of parents and
friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. but you never no how long trouble will last, so locate
near renewable food sources.

2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.

3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war
quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold’s.

4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity - it’s the easiest to
do without (unless you’re in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)

5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without
heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy - it makes a lot of
the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs
enough heat to “warm”, not to cook. It’s cheap too, especially if you buy it in
bulk.

6. Bring some books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more
valuable as the war continues. Sure, it’s great to have a lot of survival
guides, but you’ll figure most of that out on your own anyway - trust me, you’ll
have a lot of time on your hands.

7. The feeling that you’re human can fade pretty fast. I can’t tell you how many
people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of
toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to
lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.

8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches

From your:

100 Items to Disappear First

http://www.thepowerhour.com/news/items_disappearfirst.htm

An excellent and accurate list of what will disappear first, from the stores.

Thank you for posting it.

Many do not allow for simple games, coloring pages for the kids and anything to keep the kids quiet and busy, as they learn to live without tv and computers.

Few remember, how often keeping a child quiet, has saved a group of people from being discovered by the searchers.

Not just in time of war, it could be as simple as a nut with a gun, out to kill as many as they can, or a war zone.

The American Indians trained their babies to stay quiet and not make a noise, so have many others over the years.

I have posted several times coloring pages that can be printed and saved for the kids, they work, for I used them in my office, to keep clients children busy, while we discussed real estate.

[appleseed]

Just a few things to add, my wife is Blackfoot Indian and spent several years in the deepest darkest Mexico as a missionary so my six is covered. We have a stock-pile of food but that is our normal way of doing things. Been my experience that TP is better than grass, leaves or my fingers and I might add that one can't eat gold or silver. Been without electricity so I have all the stuff that requires manpower to operate, just out of experience. Got a bunch of books to keep busy and can also be used as tinder if needed. As far as luxuries, toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne I'm not stockpiling. May be good for bater but I live in the sticks and probably won't be doing much of that.

As far as kids goes, my grandaughter loves stickers. I have about a dozen sticker books which should last until she moves on to another passion. I thank God for the wisdom he has given me to prepare for the worst. When I look at my kids and my grandaughter I see my blessing and I am thankful. My self-reliant life has prepared me to take care of them.