The Silver Bear Cafe

As we approach what many say will be the "Greatest Depression" I was inspired to combine lists into items needed in hard times. What follows is a list of lists covering areas that sustain the average family.

Most US families have no such checklist. Good times, as far as we can remember, don't inspire planning for hard times. We've been immune from such worries for 65 years since the end of World War II. The average historical memory is probably only 20–30 years.

That lack of historical perspective is a handicap against what is currently happening to the US economy. And, the US is exporting their worst problems to the rest of the world. Ironically, "other" countries are facing hard times now, before the US.

My interest in optimizing all things leads me to prepare for good times and bad. I'm a natural optimist and believe that our Creator gave us the ability to overcome all obstacles. Checklists like this are proof of that ability. It was wise, not pessimistic of the Biblical Joseph to store seven years of grain before the famine.

To optimize one must first be thorough. When it comes to preparing for hard times that means making a thorough checklist. You may not have to purchase, store or do every item on the checklist. But, there's many benefits to making one.

If your family could check off all the items on this list as ether done, not applicable or have access to then you'll be doing far better than average even in good times.

Just making your own version of this checklist leaves you mindful of the many tools and things that sustain us. It may even point out some weaknesses you haven't yet addressed or thought about.

Another benefit is realizing we don't need to own everything on the list. Simple access to many items is fine, and sometimes better, than ownership. That's where friends and community come into play: We trade and share to make life easier and be more smart. Being more smart with what we have leads to needing less things to begin with.

Still, things like food, water, shelter and clothing are probably best owned. For essentials, there's many benefits to listing and buying them, in advance:

You need them, anyway, so nothing goes to waste.
Buy them now, while they're available.
Buy them before inflation raises their price (And your boss doesn't raise your wages).
Get bulk discounts.
Less trips to the store is more efficient.
The cost of not having essentials is a "high price" to pay.
Thinking through this checklist tends to optimize your household which leads to needing less things.
Awareness of essentials gets your mind spinning on creative ways to obtain them.

You might say this is a good list for good times. And it's a great list for hard times.

We still have division of labor. That makes everything needed in hard times available for purchase now. If we get to a time when gold is needed to survive many essentials won't be available at any price. Distribution channels for things that are available will be crippled. That will make their price rise even in gold terms.

By the way, have you seen the price of gold, lately? With one ounce in your pocket who will be able to make change for $1000 when you need milk and eggs at the store? It may be time to learn what our ancestors knew: Gold is for kings and Silver is for people.

Making this list forced me to recognize my limitations. As much as I value self-reliance being the sole provider of every item would be hard, if not impossible. For any truly hard times I'd want my family and friends around, at least. Any kind of optimal living, however, would need to go beyond that. That's why I recommend adding one of the most urgent and crucial items onto your list in the 'personal' section: "Find people you can trust."

Click on a category to go to a list for that area. Cut/paste the whole list into a word processor and use it to make your own.

Medical & Health

hydrogen peroxide
alcohol for sterilization
Vitamins / Minerals / Herbs
Bandages
hot water bottles
Ice packs
sterile pads
slings/splints or raw material to make them
tweezers
hemostats
sutures and needles
clamps
stethoscopes
blood-pressure cuffs
thermometers
scalpels and blades
non-disposable syringes and needles
wound cleaning syringes
Iodine
Imodium
anti-histamine
aloe
Mercurochrome
Betadine
“Bag Balm” (an antiseptic lotion)
dental floss
baking soda, instead of toothpaste
Personal medications
Augmentin / general antibiotics
Get dental work up to date
Painkillers, aspirin
Anti-fungal spray
DIY Dentistry kits (Oil of cloves, temporary filling kit, extraction tools)
burn treatment supplies
minor surgery kit (inexpensive Pakistani stainless steel instruments)

Back to Categories

Install Whole House Water Filter (Chlorine)
Install three-stage water filter under sink for drinking water
Atmospheric Water Generator/Filter for water from the sky
Rainwater catch from roof
House downspout (Redirected with sheet metal into barrels)
Water Containers for rainwater
Clorox hypochlorite bleach for sterilization
Berkey Water filters for rainwater/travel/car
Water containers for car
Water containers for barter

Back to Categories

Choose & Order 6-month supply of Freeze Dried food for entire family
See Water section for rehydrating freeze dried food
Decide on Storage Solution (Freeze dried makes that much easier)
Purchase containers to store the food
Designate cool & dry space for food storage
Purchase DVD canning instructions
Consider supplementing Freeze Dried storage with:
Cereal
Crackers
Canned goods
tuna
salmon
fruit
vegetables
soup
chili
milk – evaporated
beans
rice
peanut butter
popcorn
Dried pasta
olive oil
coconut oil – Best for long term storage
coffee
beer
wine
whiskey
pet food
protein bars
baby food/formula
spices (Makes all other list items taste better)
salt – sea salt and some iodized

backup stove – BBQ Grill or portable Colemen or the like
fuel for backup stove – 6 propane tanks, Sterno, white gas
Grain mill if using flour or require grain grinding
pots, pans, utensils, dishes
paper towels
Mylar bags
Aluminum foil – Heavy (Can also be used for barter)
Wax Paper
pots and pans
buckets
mops
measuring cups
measuring spoons
metal mixing bowls
baking sheets
roasting pans
cleaning brushes
canning jars with seals and lids
baby food jars (excellent for storage)
thermos bottles
can openers
potato peelers
spray bottles

Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Razors
Toothbrushes
toothpaste
lotions
Soap (hand, dish, laundry, cleansers)
Shampoo
Hairbrush
Ladies’ supplies
Toothpaste (or powder)
Floss
Q-tips
Sunscreen

Electricity Generator
call local utility company regarding solar panels
decide on which source of fuel (gasoline, diesel, natural gas/propane)
prepare city approval plans
decide on contractor or self-install
Consider only installing transfer switch and renting during emergency
install generator
test generator
house inventory of tools and box contents
garage sale items
sort out what needs to be stored
sort out what needs to be sold
inventory box contents
decide on storage for box contents
Decide on barter storage space
store barter items
pellets for winter
firewood
LED lights for all rooms in the house
lighters

Socket sets
pocket multi-tools
wrench sets
drill bits
chisels (wood and metal working)
files
Allen wrenches
screwdrivers
driver bits (with manual drivers)
cutters (side-cutters, end-cutters, snips)
clamps
hammers (of all sizes)
pry-bars
shovels
rakes (the heavy gardening type)
handsaws (hacksaws, crosscuts, etc.)
axes
oil
grease
WD-40
graphite grease
Gardening tools
Auto mechanics tools
Welding
Bolt cutters
Woodworking tools
Gunsmithing tools
work gloves
wire of various gauges
duct tape
chain
nails
nuts and bolts
weather stripping
glue

Alarm System (Connected via wireless cell, not landline phone)
Connect alarm system to smoke detectors
3rd-Party (ICE) contact for separated family members
Handgun
Shotgun
Rifle
Ammunition
Magazines, speed loaders
Gun cleaning kit
Spare parts for all gun tools
Gun Safe(s)
DuraCoat
eye and ear protection
carrying cases

Fire Extinguishers
Upgrade to a metal roof?
Clear brush around house
2" water line from your gravity-fed storage tank (to provide large water volume for firefighting)
Fire fighting rig with an adjustable stream/mist head.
Smoke and CO Detectors

decide now on computer and hardware upgrades
decide now on software upgrades
Pay all vendors as far in advance as they will accept
Pay all subscriptions (internet, software upgrades, etc.) in advance
Pay all service providers in advance
Pay off all high-interest loans within reason
Keep money in a range of currencies or gold/silver
Reduce exposure to US Dollar as much as feasible
Consider 2nd backup business if primary is vulnerable
Read The Hyperinflation Survival Guide: Strategies for American Businesses (Paperback)
Spare copy of all crucial documents

Water (From ecoloblue generator)
Eggs (Freeze dried)
Milk (Freeze dried)
Salt
Silver
Gold
Cooking spices
Ammunition (9mm, .38, ,.357, .40, .45 ACP, .44 Mag, .223, .308)
Rope
Candles
Flashlights
Batteries
Whiskey

Make separate list for everyone in house
Prescription and nonprescription medications
Spare copy of all crucial documents
Backup eyeglasses
Backup reading glasses
sunglasses
Keep dentistry up to date
Any elective surgery that you've been postponing
Work off that gut
Stay in shape
Find people you can trust

jeans
belts
warm durable jackets
wool sweaters
wool work clothes
T-shirts
Jean shirts
underwear
work gloves
boots
sneakers
sandals
baseball caps
hats for sun protection
Web gear/Bullet proof vests?
towels

Bible
Physician's desk Reference (PDR)
Gray’s Anatomy
Carla Emery’s Encyclopedia of Country Living
Favorite novels
Survival Handbooks
How Things Work type books
Recipes

Batteries of all types
pencils and pens
paper
Mosquito repellent
sleeping bags for each person
flashlights
penlights
Escape route maps
Topographic maps of your area
Safe room areas mapped out for your house/neighborhood
Home Invasion procedures & guidelines
Spare Masterlocks

AM/FM radios (crank power)
shortwave for local communication and monitoring
longwave for backup communications
police band monitoring
List of frequencies used in area

advance maintenance for cars
replace tires that will wear out within 1 year
make sure have spare tires for all cars
emergency kits for each car
Make sure bicycles are in shape

Terence Gillespie [send him mail] has worked at IBM, played jazz piano on cruise ships, is an instrument rated pilot, songwriter, and is attempting to optimize every aspect of life one article at a time on his blog at YourOptimal.com.