Two Months Into Pandemic

Excellent, SophiaZoe -

I will second the motion on these:

1)  100 extra books to read

In fact, well over 200 mystery and romance novels accumulated by my wife over the past 2 decades.  Not exactly my cuppa tea but if tv is blacked out it beats staring at the wallpaper.  Plus many (well over 100)of my own books that I have not read in at least 5 years, that could use a look-see.

3)  An assortment of adult beverages.

Pretty much covered there, since we stocked up for a huge New Year's party (as we typically do each year) and have tons left over.

5)  A home network so that we don't have to fight over the internet connection.

Got the mother of all broadbands, in fact - fiber optic direct to the house.  Just lucky it's available here - have had our own in-home network since 2000, I'm a geek in the industry after all.  We have battery backup for these - won't run them long, but will prevent surges/spikes and intermittent brief outages from messing up our equipment.  Have LCD monitors so battery power will run them longer.

Also -

Glad we've got a fireplace.  Glad we've got a lawyer and a Nurse next door.  Glad we've got dogs (protection and companionship).  The world can't have completely gone to hell as long as I can look in my dog's face and see her confidence in me.  Glad we have firearms and ammo and training (peace of mind).  Glad we have diversions (video games, knitting, gardening, dvds, internet, books, board and card games).  Glad we have water barrels.  Glad we have Tamiflu and other meds.

Oh, wait, you said top 5... OK-

1. Dogs

2.  Books

3. Guns

3.  Water

4. Diversions

5. Plenty of Food with enough diversity to keep from gagging on it after the first week. 

If I can add a 6th it would be conditional - If all local power is out (including local broadcasting and telephone) - I would find the battery powered AM/SW radio indespensible.  Nothing is a scary as being in the dark and it would be a great comfort and a link with humanity.  In that event it would replace the books in the lineup.

Reasons for the heirarchy -  Dogs, not just for their utility, but for the emotional support they give.  Emotional outlook affects everything else, including will to live.  That's why I rated them highest priority.  Books or Radio for the contact with other minds, help offset cabin fever.  Firearms because without the ability to protect yourself and what you have, why bother if someone can just take it away?  Water - 3rd place because even though it's most essential, it's probably the least likely to be in short supply.  Diversions because without some kind of mental stimulation the imagination takes over, makes you dwell on the worst or give in to panic, or worse yet, fight among yourselves out of irritation or desperation for some stimulus.  Food last in the top 5 - wouldn't hurt most of us to miss a meal now and then, but food is a great comfort during times of stress, besides cooking gives you something to do.

Someone might say -"aren't books a diversion?"  and my answer is well yes and no.  Not in the sense that knitting and gardening are.  It's a human mind, communicating with you.  It's funny how humans are hardwired to respond to communication from another human, nothing else will quite suffice.  They've done studies showing that people who live alone - who watch tv - are less lonely than people who live alone but don't watch tv.  Go figure.  The brain doesn't really care that the people aren't real, it just craves that kind of stimulus.  A book or radio can give you that feeling of not being isolated from other minds, where playing solitaire just wouldn't.  A big plus in a quarantine situation, I believe.

HMMM

1. Guns and ammo (to keep out the unprepared nay sayers)

2. Good food like Canned fish not just dried stuff and grains

3. More Guns and Ammo so I can go get item #2 if I run out

4. Generator and lots of gas to enjoy some electricity

5. Bullet proof vest's to wear when answering door

1. jujub,s and tons of on sale candies..

2.lined paper pencils pens(poker chips and board games)

3.spare blankets and thermal undies(its cold this time of year up here)

4.walkmans and tons of extra batteries..(cassete walkmans and cd walkmans)

5. fishing line and all the gear(close to the lake and if able to will do alot of fishing)

Am I able to add to this list...today is clean the cupboards day have to se all that I have...going to start in the kids closetes..and see just how many colouring books I have actually stocked up n..lol..I buy and get this stuff and dump it in the closets..

1. protection-plastic 2 cover windows and cracks,boards,cover windows,knifes,etc

2. food-cereal,canned,frozen,packeged,

3.entertainment-ipod,psp,small tv,board games,laptop

4.Clothing-blankets,mask,body suits if i had 2 go out,gloves,

5.Neccesites-soap,toothpaste,candels,gas,deoderant,water,gen erators,hunting materials

SophiaZoe wrote: Let's pretend... It's now two months into the pandemic, what 5 items are you glad that you got in preparation? I will start: 1)  100 extra books to read 2)  An assortment of foods that are very versatile. 3)  An assortment of adult beverages. 4)  Comfort foods. 5)  A home network so that we don't have to fight over the internet connection.

Only one thing for me "ear plugs" so I won't have to listen to my daughters music. LOL

Coffee

Batteries

Propane tanks

Gas Tanks

Tamiflu

800 remaining rolls of T.P

1 Coffee

2 Chocolate

3 Coffee

4 Wine

5 Coffee

6 Games -scrabble cards monopoly ect

libby.  I got 750 rolls of Charmin and around 500 rolls of that generic type at costco.   I bought a couple of pallets.       

top five-

1. dove facial wipes

2. diet coke

3.malibu rum

4. Tampons

5. midol

it's a chick thing

After 2 months of rice and beans I'd say......

#1  Beer making kits (each makes 5 gallons and costs about $25)

#2 Hand rolling tobacco  ( I don't smoke... but under the circumstances I 

      think I'd start)

#3  Chocolate (since I own a candy company I have this in stock)

#4   Mossberg Mariner 12ga  with a pistol grip.  Military .45 cal pistol

#5  Military surplus Extreme Cold sleeping bags  (one each)