Often when starting down the journey of preparedness, we start to focus on one thing. Let’s build our food storage to a year’s supply. Or let’s move our whole house off-grid.
The problem is not the preparedness in itself. It’s a lack of balance.
When we focus solely on one type of thing, other things tend to fall by the wayside. Things we might need if then situation we are trying to prepare for beats us to the finish line.
We have a friend who has focused most of his energy on preparing his house for an EMP. An honorable path to be sure. But in putting so much energy into off-grid power, there are many problems with the rest of his plans.
First, the off-grid solar system costs A LOT of money. Money that came from loans and stretched his budget to its breaking point. Second, this source of power has no guarantee of working. It’s all a gamble. Last, because of the constraints this caused, other items have been put off or ignored. Things like water security.
The very act of narrow his focus caused him to lose sight of the big picture in being prepared for the very thing the solar system is supposed to save him from: An EMP.
No one type of preparedness is going to save us. Power alone won’t keep our grid running. Food might keep us alive for a few months, but without a way to defend the food, we don’t truly have anything. And if you never take the time to learn and practice the skills needed to prepare, those books might not hold the key to solve your problem when things do fall apart.
Balance is important.
Even a small number of resources wisely balanced can get you much farther than lots of a single item. Maybe this month you purchase a bunch of extra food. Next month you focus on ammo. The month after, water filtration and storage. Or maybe you do a bit of all at the same time in smaller amounts.
The key is keeping your proverbial stool in balance without any long legs. Because no matter how hard you try, you will fall when one thing gets out of proportion.