Survival Chronicles of Jim- Chapter 18

Back again. I haven't been as busy these past weeks as I'd like to have been. It seems that I have been one a long road...and there is no end in site.

Most of your preppers out there would have to admit that there really is no end in sight in getting prepared for TEOTWAWKI. There is always something to do, something to buy and ALWAYS another idea or tip out there.

When I start to get a little anxiety over the latest economic news I try to rationalize that I am much better off than I was nine months ago. At least I have a re-location plan, a Survival Bug Out Bag, some stored food - both the long term storage and more short term food,.....I have a growing cache near the cabin. I have some Silver coins (for their silver melt value) as well as some Silver bullion in the form of one ounce rounds. I have a Survival firearms battery of a 12 gauge shotgun, a .22 LR pistol and a Mosin-Nagant rifle. I also have a .22 LR up at the cabin in cache.

Again, haven't been as busy as I'd like. Still considering an AR type M-4 rifle or something similar. Urban Man also had me look at Ruger Mini-14's which I really like but they are only about $250-$300 cheaper than an M-4. Urban Man says the two disadvantages with the Ruger Mini-14, compared to the AR rifles, are the lack of magazine compatibility with the millions of M-4 and available magazines, and, the inherent inaccuracy versus the M-4. I'm not too concerned about the accuracy thing since I am not really a shooter, but I do intend to get better and maybe attend a shooting school.

These past weeks I did however get some 3/4 inch plywood and two by fours cut for the windows of my house. Found a couple picnic bench tables at a flea market which will form the basis of shooting platforms from my small basement windows.

I also picked up six rolls of duct tape, a roll of 3 mil black and clear plastic sheeting and some small hand tools: I bought a folding metric and standard allen wrench set and some small open/box wrenches; a hammer and several boxes of nails from 8D to 16D; plus a hacksaw and small hand rip saw.

This coming week I am supposed to go with Urban Man to the range and shoot my shotgun and handgun some more - so that means more ammunition. At the last couple range sessions Urban Man has been letting me shoot several handguns to see what I may be interested in. These include: a Glock 19 in 9mm; a Glock 22 in .40 S&W; a Smith and Wesson M&P in 9mm; two H&K handguns - a USP-C and a P2000 both in .40 S&W; and, a Smith and Wesson 586 .357 Magnum revolver.

Haven't heard from Neomi, probably better since she told me about having to include her mother and sister and children into any Survival plan she is a part of. Still I have to be prepared for people who show up at my place at the beginning or into a economic or other collapse asking for refuge. And undoubtedly Neomi and her relatives would be among the first, unless she gets a boyfriend first, ha ha.

Anyway, I think I am getting better, how about you?