Able, Differently Abled, Disabled

Many of the posts on Blue Collar Prepping over the years have addressed things such as Bug Out Bags (BOB), Get Home Bags (GHB), and the like. Several of us have also addressed physical limitations and pain management. However, one thing that hasn't gotten a lot of attention lately is actual disabilities and self-perception.

This was driven home to me recently when my doctor advised me to file for disability. I'm only in my mid-50s, and while I have health issues, I don't think of myself as disabled. One of the consequences of this image of myself is thinking I can manage more than I really can, frequently to the dismay of My Wife. One of the benefits of my doctor's recommendation is that I've started to take a harder, colder, and (I hope) more honest look at myself and my abilities: I'm not young, I'm not in very good physical condition, and my health limitations need to be taken into consideration when planning for disasters or emergencies.

I approached this self-assessment as if I was considering another person for a variety of jobs, mostly physical at different levels of exertion.

• Can they regularly lift twenty or more pounds multiple times a day? Yes, I can still do that.
• What about fifty? Probably not, or at least not as frequently.
• Are they able to carry a fifty pound pack for several hours? No, I'm no longer able to do that due to medical issues.
• What about a twenty pound pack? Possibly, though I'd likely be in considerable pain at the end of that time.
• Can they walk five miles? Maybe, but depending on the pace there would be a certain amount of health risk.
• Can they cover broken ground at a reasonable pace? No, I can't do that.
• Could they carry another person a short distance? As long as the person wasn't too big and the distance wasn't too far, probably. But there's a good chance I'd require medical assistance after.
• And so on.

Based on this assessment, at this time bugging out is pretty much off the table for me, especially on foot. I can no longer carry a significant quantity of gear, and I can't carry it very far. While physical conditioning may improve this to some degree, that's countered by my deteriorating health. I'm not planning on dying any time soon, but part of aging is accepting that I need to live within my limitations.

Moving forward, more of my preps will focus on bugging in and making sure our home can be maintained in adverse conditions. This is never a bad plan, but it's even more important now. 

I also plan on seeing what physical therapy can do with regards to some of my medical limitations. Of course, that will also be limited by my finances. 

I strongly recommend that all of our readers take a dispassionate assessment of their own health and abilities, then work at tailoring their disaster plans and supplies to that reality. No matter how mentally uncomfortable it is, it needs to be done to ensure optimum survivability.

Stay safe and good prepping.