It’s easy to assume that tomorrow will be like yesterday, but it’s better to be prepared for the completely unforeseen and unexpected.

If the world stood still for one day or one week you would probably be totally fine. If everything stopped for a month you could probably scrounge together enough to eat from what you already have on hand. If things came crashing down completely for more than a month you would probably regret not being better prepared. Now imagine a much less dramatic scenario: The country that produces your favorite staple can no longer efficiently export it. The price of your most beloved ingredient triples overnight. Conflict disrupts supply chains and it now takes months to get your favorite pantry item. Would you be ready if tomorrow looked completely different than today?

The concept of preparedness has become somewhat dramatic and dystopian. How many people stock ammunition and gold (definitely important) but forget to set aside olive oil and dried beans? How many people prep for civil unrest but overlook how much stability a safe supply of morning coffee will give them? Preparedness used to be a mundane, matter-of-fact way of life that everyone took part in. Flash back to only 75 years ago and every household had food put up for leaner times. Preparedness is a form of self-reliance, an expression of independence.

Just as it is recommended that you have a 6-month emergency fund to cover all your bills and financial outlays in the case of a loss of income, so, too, should you have a 6-month supply of the most important food and household items. These items may vary from person to person. You may deem it essential to have 6 months worth of fermented cabbage, while another person may deem it essential to have a 6-month supply of peanut butter. While there is no single perfect list of pantry items, consider choosing 20 items to start setting aside (and rotate items in and out so nothing expires). Then, if aliens attack the electrical grid or a virus shuts down the banking system, you don’t have to eat your ammunition, lol.

1. Olive oil

2. Yellow lentils

3. Dried black beans

4. Jasmine rice

5. Old-fashioned oats

6. Coffee

7. Peanut butter

8. Strawberry jam

9. Canned sardines

10. Canned tuna fish

11. Canned tomatoes

12. Canned green beans

13. Almonds

14. Bar soap

15. Shampoo

16. Toothpaste

17. Deodorant

18. Toilet paper

19. Bleach

20. White vinegar

Copyright 2023 Kesel Wilson (entirely, 100% human-created)

Please share my writing with your friends and family.