Organizer Boxes

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

I'm in the process of moving to a new bedroom in my house, and one thing which has been made startlingly clear to me is that if your preps aren't organized then not only can they be hard to find when you need them, but they also take up more space when they're arrayed all loosey-goosey. In this article I'll discuss some of my favorite methods of organizing and storing my preps. 

USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes

These sturdy carboard boxes come in four sizes (small, medium, medium long, and large) and are very stackable. Moreover, because they're white you only need a Sharpie or similar marker to label them. Best of all, they're completely free! Not only can you pick them up by the handful at any Post Office in the country, you can also order them in packs of 10 or 25 from the USPS website and have them delivered to your door, also for free. 

Car Seat Organizer

https://amzn.to/3IR7r8B

This versatile $20 PVC and cloth box can hold snacks, tools, baby supplies, or anything else you might need to store in a vehicle. I keep mine in my trunk and it stores my "oh crap" tools like a jump starter, electronic road flares, an air compressor for inflating tires, a high-visibility safety vest, a bottle of tire slime, and a basic toolkit. 

Travel Pill Case

https://amzn.to/4a9c0ak

I suffer from allergies and frequent headaches, and as I get older I've started to collect maladies like aching knees and a stiff back. In addition, I live with an elderly mother who has all that plus several prescriptions. This handy clamshell box allows me to carry many different types of pills without rattling like a pharmacy. It's a steal at 2 for $5.50, and it can hold a variety of items like screws, vehicle fuses, fishing lures, etc. 

https://amzn.to/4a9c0ak

What are your favorite organizers?

Organization and Record Keeping

We’ve all had that moment at the grocery store when we’re trying to remember if we have an item at home or if we need to buy more. We’ve also all experienced blanking on where we stored something, especially if we put it “in a safe place” so we could easily find it later. This can be irritating in day to day life, but the consequences get much worse in an emergency situation where we simply don’t have the time find the item or the ability to get more of some supplies.

Several of our contributors have talked about misplacing a prep item or rediscovering an item thought irrevocably lost. It happens to all of us; in fact, it happened to me recently when I was trying to find a particular item in my workshop (I had just put it down two seconds ago) and during my search I wound up finding a tool I’d thought long gone. Yes, I did eventually find the item I was originally looking for, and no, it wasn't a 10mm socket.

For another example, at my house we have a variety of storage tubs in the basement for seasonal decorations, yard and garden supplies, and the like. Each tub is labeled as to its general contents, but lacks a detailed list... which is how we wound up misplacing a pair of scissors for over six months when it was accidentally put in the wrong tub. Record keeping and organizational plans are important!

Something I put together, and my wife and I update on a somewhat irregular basis, is an inventory of our baking and spice supplies. I created a Google Docs spreadsheet with multiple tabs so we can reference the lists while at the store.

A sample of the author's spice inventory

I’m planning on doing something similar for longer-term food storage, adding "purchased on [date]" and "best used by [date]" columns. If necessary (and it would probably be a good idea), I may create another list of general preps and their locations. Having these lists on Google Docs adds to accessibility, but also increases the risk of discovery if my account is hacked. This is not a big deal with spices, but it’s a major violation of Operational Security (OpSec) for things like ammunition. Thankfully, there are a variety of software and hardcopy solutions available for record keeping.

When creating a list of this type, the Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS) principle should apply. What information is really needed about this particular group of items? Make sure to include all pertinent data, but don’t get too granular. It should be quick and simple to enter records. Once created, any lists should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

Of course, this is all easier said than done, but just like building up a food supply, it doesn’t need to be completed all at once. Start small and add items and lists as time permits. Once the lists have been created, maintaining them should be easier.

Keep calm and inventory on.

Pantry Organization Update

My pantry has become a mess. On the positive side, we're storing more food and a wider variety of foods; on the negative side, my old system hasn't kept up as our scale has increased. Being a good-ish Mormon is catching up to me somewhat.

Fall is a great time to check your supplies. Seasonal changes are a built-in reminder, and if you entertain like we do you'll need to inventory your stocks anyway with the holiday season pending. It was while we were doing this very inventory that we decided we're past due for some upgrades, which will be extensive. I have a huge amount of space in my pantry, but a lot of it is less than ideally usable.

As I mentioned in my previous article, boxed and especially bagged goods are still a nightmare for organization. My shelves are quite deep (in the neighborhood of 24") and make it a bit tough to see what is on the shelf. In short, my shelves are too deep front-to-back, a bit too short in vertical space, and generally lacking access.

The first thing I plan to do is remove a tier of shelving. It'll cost me a bit of space, but it's going to make space for a can organizer. I'm going with the largest unit they have, since I'm at the point that I need to store that many varieties of canned goods. If you're not at that point, you can go with a smaller model and expand later.

Boxed and bagged goods will move to under-shelf baskets. This will keep them from hiding behind other item, and allow me to better see what I do have. Also, elevating these goods frees pantry space below them for other items. I also have a fair bit of dead space at the bottom of my pantry that can be utilized with hanging baskets.

My preliminary math has me expecting a wash on actual space available, but a substantial gain on usable space. Knowing what I have available will ensure I not only don't run out of supplies, but also don't over-buy items that I already have because I can't see them when I make out my shopping list. I'll show pictures as I do the actual build so you can see the progress of the project.

Optimize your space to save time and money.

Lokidude

Protective Cases on a Budget

If you have gear that you want to keep dry and unbroken, you're going to need a protective case of some sort.

Pelican has been the standard for waterproof shipping/storage containers for many years. They make them in many sizes and shapes to fit just about anything you might want to protect, but they're not cheap. Pelican cases are also made in the USA if you're trying to avoid imports. My photographer friends don't have a problem spending a couple hundred dollars on a quality case for a camera/lens set-up that cost several thousand dollars, but they can also write it off as a business expense.

Amazon has their own line of hard cases and several of the “discount” tool stores like Harbor Freight (HF) and Northern tools offer alternatives to Pelican that are a lot cheaper. As an example, I went to my nearest Harbor Freight store and bought one each of their X-small, Small, and Medium cases for what a single Medium Pelican case would have cost.

https://www.harborfreight.com/2800-weatherproof-protective-case-medium-63926.html

For storing and shipping my electronics and a few other toys, I'm happy with the quality I got from HF. Here's what you need to look for when shopping for hard cases:

Size

Most lines offer at least a small, medium and large case, with Pelican having the most variety of sizes. Your mileage may vary, but I like having cases that are uniform in size because it makes stacking them easier. If you're only going to need a few cases, shop around to find the ones that fit the tools and toys you're looking to protect.

Foam

Most of the makers are now using “Pick and Pull” foam for the bottom liner with “Egg Crate” foam on the lid. The Pick and Pull foam is about 1.5 inches thick and pre-scored (cut almost all the way through) in a roughly 0.5 inch grid. You can trace the outline of what you want to store on the foam and then remove the foam blocks to make a custom fit. It helps to make the holes slightly smaller than the object to ensure a tight fit. Several brands are using a solid foam base and two or more layers of Pick and Pull foam in their cases to allow for basic protection and more customization options.

IP Rating

I think I mentioned IP Rating when I wrote a review of my new cell phone, but I'll go over it again. IP stands for Ingress (sometimes International) Protection and is a two-digit number. The first number is for dust, the second is for water, and the higher the number the better the protection. Anything with a rating of 5 or more is considered dustproof/waterproof, so look for at least that level. By the time you get a water rating of 7 it is good against full immersion A good chart for the various levels can be found here.

Pelican doesn't list their IP ratings, but most of the others are in the 55-68 range.

Just remember that waterproof means that water can't get out, either, so if you put something away wet it will sit in that moisture until you open the case and dry it out.

Material

Different manufacturers use slightly different plastics, with polypropylene being most common. Polypropylene is a good industrial plastic than melts at 266°F (130°C), so it should stand up to the heat you'll find anywhere in the world. It does get brittle at temperatures below freezing, so care must be taken in colder climates.

Pelican cases tend to have thicker walls than the cheaper models, so paying the extra money may make sense if you're protecting something really fragile and valuable. I have a friend who carries a pair of Glencairnwhiskey glasses in a small Pelican case when he goes camping, and the thin-walled crystal has survived several years of travel in that case.

Price

This is a sticky one, as some folks want to save a few bucks while others will pay a premium for a brand name and/or better protection. I fall somewhere in the middle; I will pay for better protection for the few things that are going to need it, but will put the pistols and other hardware in cheaper boxes.

Here are a few prices for similar cases listed by brand, dimensions, and price in 2019.

• Small
• Pelican 1200: 9x7x4 $55
• HF 1800: 8x6x4 $15
• Medium
• Pelican 1400: 13x11x6 $100
• HF 3800: 15x10x6 $40
• Amazon Basic: 12x11x6 $33
• Large
• Pelican 1600: 24x19x9 $200
• HF 5800: 20x11x6 $90
• Amazon Basic: 22x14x9 $125

I'm trying to get more organized in my storage, so I've been looking at a lot of cases and containers lately. Things like communications gear and some tools are going to find new homes in waterproof cases to protect them while keeping all of the cords, cables, chargers, and accessories in the same damned place. I'm not going to be five hours from home and find out that I forgot that unique cord for connecting my radio to an external antenna any more.

P.S.

Springfield, Sig and a few other gun makers are shipping a lot of their new firearms in hard-shell cases that can serve as shipping containers as well as storage boxes. They usually have foam liners that are pre-cut to hold the pistol and magazines shipped from the factory, with a little room for extras. The ability to put a lock on the case makes it a bit harder for the thieves in the back rooms of various shipping companies and airports to get to your toys. They usually have the gun maker's name embossed on the lid so they're not great for discrete shipping as the thieves will know what's in the box. While these cases offer some security and foam padding for protection against damage, they're not normally waterproof.

Gun Blog Variety Podcast #146 - The Jesus Number

Three contributors are on assignment this week. You'd think that would make for a short podcast, right? Not to worry, Erin fills the time with an Epic Rant.

• Beth, Barron, and Tiffany are all on assignment this week.
• A shooting somehow *leads to* violence on I-40. Sean helps you figure out how that's possible.
• It’s getting hot out there. Miguel uses his vast personal knowledge of heat injuries to tell you how to avoid suffering in the summer heat.
• In the Main Topic, Erin talks about Christianity, Pacifism, and "The Jesus Number".
• Last week was so much fun, and the Demanding Mommies' protest at the NRAAM was so long, that Weer'd gives us Week Two of his Protest Audio Fisk.
• And our plug of the week is Anova Culinary Bluetooth Sous Vide Precision Cooker. Yes, Sean is plugging cooking equipment. But in his defense, A) John Doughty recommended it to him, and B) Sean's wife really likes it.

Thank you for downloading, listening, and subscribing. You are subscribed, right? We are available on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, and Google Play Music!

Listen to the podcast here.

Read the show notes here.

Thanks to LuckyGunner and Remington for their sponsorship, and a special thanks to Firearms Policy Coalition for their support.

Blue Collar Prepping Transcript -

Event Preparation for Leaders

I don’t really have much to say on this topic, since I’ve been scrambling to find a new venue for the Free Community Seminar, but I’ve certainly learned a few things from what happened to me and I’ll implement these the next time I try to run something:

One: Thoroughly investigate ANY venue where Operation Blazing Sword plans to hold an event, to determine if they might find our politics objectionable.

Two: EXPLICITLY STATE that we are both pro-gun and pro-LGBTQ to the venue owners, because we can’t trust them to figure it out on their own in a timely fashion, or to keep their word if they find us objectionable.

Three: Do not advertise the event unless points One and Two have been checked off.

Four: Don’t have the venue be the sole point of contact for people making reservations. I don’t know how many people have tried to reserve a spot after FCCWP decided not to host, but I rather expect they won’t refer those people to me, but will instead say “We aren’t hosting the event” and hang up.

Five: Consider having our corporate lawyer draw up a quick contract, so that if the venue backs out on little to no notice, there is a penalty. I don’t know how well this will work, as suing a church rarely ends well, but just having a written penalty clause might reduce the chances of broken promises.

Six: Always, always, ALWAYS have a backup venue ready to go on short notice. I’m scrambling right now because, to be honest, I don’t trust churches any more; any LGBTQ-friendly church is likely to be politically anti-gun. At this point I’m going to find a secular venue.

And that’s all I have for this week. If it’s any consolation, I wrote about three pages of notes for the Main Topic.

Prudent Prepping: Budget Time

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

"Budget Time" is a bit of a joke for my best friend and me, as neither of us are sitting on piles of cash and there don't seem to be enough hours in the day to do what we want. In addition, things  have happened this year that are making me look very, very hard at both.

Money
With the purchase of a new-to-me car to replace the pickup truck I owned for almost 15 years, I have payments to make (the vehicles I could afford to buy for cash were in worse shape than the truck I had). Even though the car is much newer, there are expenses:

Oil Changes

On my truck, I could change the oil myself in the driveway or on any flat surface, due to the space under the truck. On my Honda, I would need a floor jack and 4 jack-stands to make enough room to get under the car. Since I don't have either of those, or a place to store them, I don't see me doing much of any of the regular services on my car.

Wiper Blades

Blades themselves are not that expensive, but the Honda has one blade that is so much bigger than the other it isn't funny, and since I buy better quality blades, they are a bit more expensive.

Savings

Yeah, about that... I have a little money saved, and a good part of that went to a down payment on the car to keep my payments as reasonable as possible with my credit. I am planning to take a real vacation this year, and so money for that is being set aside as well. Along with looking at keeping my preps up, money is tight.

Time
There are a bunch of profound sounding quotes about Time and what Man can do with it, but they don't seem to work on me. What I know is that I don't seen to have enough to finish all the things I'd like to do. What needs to change is how I use the time I have.

Work
I have a chance to cut my commute time by over half, if the company can find someone who can do the work (and not like the last guy who only lasted 6 days). If that happens, I have an opening in the original territory I covered.

Another possibility is an offer from an independent company doing tool sales. This would be a gamble, both with my time and money, since a big part of the pay is commission, and the benefits are much less compared to my current job either. I have to talk to them again and see what things look like for their current employees.

Play
I need to get outside more -- not just for exercise, but also to see friends more often. With my crazy schedule and commuting, when I get home it's time to fix dinner and relax, and soon after that I'm getting ready for bed about 8 pm. (I leave my place about 4 am to be at work by 5, so turning in about 8 is good for me.) Finding something to do in the late afternoon, with or without friends, is on my list.

Also part of the plan this year is to get more exercise. My budget doesn't look like it will allow for a gym membership, so this exercise will have to be on my own. Now that the rain has slowed down, I am getting out to the local parks, and this weekend I will be going on a short hike if the weather holds up.



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Number One with a Bullet: Keeping It All Straight with Bullet Journals

There's been a bit of discussion among members of our Facebook group about keeping things organized and in rotation with preps. There are countless apps to help you "organize your life and up your productivity."

Well that's great, but when was the last time you used whichever ones you have? And no, using them right now just because I reminded you that you have them most certainly doesn't count.

I hate to tell you this, but if you aren't using these apps to keep your non-prep stuff straight as well, then they aren't going to work for your preps.

I've been experimenting with a system called bullet journaling for use with keeping track of my preps. It's an old-fashioned, hand-written, pen/pencil and paper analog system. There are a couple of reasons for this.

Hand-Written Notes are Better
Don't believe me? Check out these links:

1. A Learning Secret: Don't Take Notes with a Laptop
2. Take Notes By Hand for Better Long Term Comprehension

"But Evie, those are for college kids. We're adults." Yes, adults that are getting older. And what happens with our memories as we get older, ladies and gents?

I do horribly with trying to keep track of things on anything electronic. I forget what I named my notes, where I put them, and even which electronic devices they're on. Some of our preppers in the Facebook group use Excel; more power to you, guys. This is for those of us trying to reduce our headaches.

They're SHTF-Proof
How many of you have complained about yourself, your loved ones, or your kids being too attached to technology? Hmm? Ah ah, no fibbing!

They're Easy
Once you get the hang of the system, you literally spend ten minutes while drinking your preferred hot beverage of civilized behavior inducement.

I've been doing this since December, and have decided that I will be bullet journaling for a long time.
However, the spreads for keeping track of preps are still an ongoing process of experimentation -- I still haven't found a method that I like best. I'll keep plugging away on it, though, as I do think it's worth the time and effort.

For those of you curious about the bullet journal and would like to learn more:

• BulletJournal.com
• Tiny Ray of Sunshine
• BoHo Berry
• A bullet journal board hosted by OverZealous Mom