frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Dec 8, 2019 14:49:00 GMT 10
Every year about this time I reflect on what I have achieved throughout the year, and set goals for the following year.
2019 has been a particularly successful year personally for me, having already achieved some major goals iniitially set for 2020. I have made substantial improvements to my retreat and held a number of gatherings there with close friends, family and a select group of fellow preppers. Building friendships, networking and testing how the retreat copes with the number of people I anticipate living there if there was a collapse.
2020 is the year I plan to work on my weakest area - medical skills. I've already booked into a TCCC course early next year as a start to improving tnis deficiency.
How has 2019 turned out for everyone else? What plans for 2020?
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Beno
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Location: Northern Rivers
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Post by Beno on Dec 8, 2019 15:54:17 GMT 10
2019 was a cracker for me, higher paying job in a fantastic location, new property that will be kitted out to be a great doomstead retreat. Mrs finished study to put her in the 6 figure pay range, one kid who has developed a keen interest in fishing, hunting and shooting and another who packed her BOB in less than 3 min to evacuate from a fire that appeared to be close by....i didn’t even ask her to do this it was just time for her go get going😂. I was still looking and assessing the situation when i heard the suitcase wheel up behind me lol. Alas it was just a cane fire but what a good drill!
2020? debt reduction on a hardcore scale. kitting out and stocking the doomstead. Keeping in touch with friends and family a lot more. Learning how to chill out a bit more and focus on more on the real things in life.
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Post by milspec on Dec 10, 2019 6:35:30 GMT 10
2019 was a pretty significant year for us. We cut ground on our security optimised doomstead, we improved our water supply options, we addressed shortcomings in our veggie growing arrangements. We acquired and raised livestock, We networked with our neighbours and expanded the circle of people who'd be helpful to us in a crisis. We added gear and stores that we'd need in times of crisis.
In 2020 we will move into the new doomstead and go off grid solar, hopefully acquire more land, plant and learn about managing a broadacre crop (in drought conditions). Plus the ongoing goals of adding supplies and improving our farming and other skills.
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dadbod
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Post by dadbod on Dec 10, 2019 19:09:49 GMT 10
2019 was a good year. we reached our financial goals and seem to be happier than ever.
2020 will be a different year, as my business is dynamic and hard to predict its successes beyond a couple of months. i am willing to sacrifice a lot of hard word this year as both kids are settled in school to keep progress going.
my personal 2020 intentions: save 50k. go camping each month. get the missus to shoot a deer. get to as much footy as possible. walk the dogs 5 days a week. get the kids riding to school.
as for 2020 predictions: trump 2020. scomo gone. bulldogs for afl premiers. bullish stock market. duck hunting banned. drought to continue. veganism to rise. more loss of privacy/freedom.
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Post by Joey on Dec 10, 2019 19:40:05 GMT 10
It has been a pretty dismal year for me, plagued with financial issues and close to major health issues so nothing much has really moved for me. Although my business has gone gang busters so far this financial year and has really taken off, so much so that I might actually reach my goal by June to the level of sales that I can start getting some of the tens of thousands that I've invested into the business back again finally.
Next year I need the business to continue to grow and I'll prob be looking for another job that is a bit more financially sound to meet the levels of my debts
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Dec 11, 2019 4:16:50 GMT 10
There's usually no magic cure when you are drowning in a sea of debt. I worked 65hrs a week for 6 years, lived frugally and put every spare cent on my mortgage. That and some really good property investment decisions eventually got me where I wanted to be.
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Post by SA Hunter on Dec 11, 2019 9:17:09 GMT 10
as for 2020 predictions: trump 2020. (possibly)scomo gone. (very possible-but who is the ext PM?)bulldogs for afl premiers. (Pfft - St Kildas turn. Oh, and Penrith for NRL Premiers, and NSW Blues clean sweep SoO)bullish stock market. (thinking down not up)duck hunting banned. (only quack pots want this to happen)drought to continue. ( yeah, and cotton farmers and adami get given more and more water )veganism to rise. ( radical veganism will be more radical, but they are shooting themselves in the foot. I see more radical lefties disrupting our lives)more loss of privacy/freedom. ( yes, slowly, quietly, and slyly )Read more: ausprep.com/thread/5894/2019-report-card#ixzz67kUWGPzJ
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dadbod
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Post by dadbod on Dec 11, 2019 9:44:50 GMT 10
as for 2020 predictions: trump 2020. (possibly)scomo gone. (very possible-but who is the ext PM?)bulldogs for afl premiers. (Pfft - St Kildas turn. Oh, and Penrith for NRL Premiers, and NSW Blues clean sweep SoO)bullish stock market. (thinking down not up)duck hunting banned. (only quack pots want this to happen)drought to continue. ( yeah, and cotton farmers and adami get given more and more water )veganism to rise. ( radical veganism will be more radical, but they are shooting themselves in the foot. I see more radical lefties disrupting our lives)more loss of privacy/freedom. ( yes, slowly, quietly, and slyly )Read more: ausprep.com/thread/5894/2019-report-card#ixzz67kUWGPzJregarding duck hunting, i think that with the drought and animal justice party reps it will be as good as gone. maybe just in victoria.
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Post by spinifex on Dec 11, 2019 19:17:22 GMT 10
Had some very successful experiments in the garden trying some new varieties and different seasonal sowing times. Also learnt from a couple of failures. Added a pilot to the group. Improved the length of time I can spend submerged while free-diving for rock lobster and scallops. Spent some good time back out in the desert dusting off tracking and plant identification skills. Also some pretty cool 4wd work in the dune-fields. Updated my first aid training. re-invigorated an old acquaintanceship with a really skilled doctor. Got back into doing home-brew cider.
For next year: looking to organise fly-away weekends to the desert country. The plan is to fly out, recon for camels from the air, land on nearby claypans and hunt on foot. 3 days of driving can be reduced to a 4-6 hours flying. Am going to update my butchery kit and get more use out of my .308 and .44 Intend to spend a lot of this summer in the water hunting seafood of all kinds. Agonise further over wether or not to fork out for a stand-alone solar setup.
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dadbod
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Post by dadbod on Dec 12, 2019 10:50:17 GMT 10
Had some very successful experiments in the garden trying some new varieties and different seasonal sowing times. Also learnt from a couple of failures. Added a pilot to the group. Improved the length of time I can spend submerged while free-diving for rock lobster and scallops. Spent some good time back out in the desert dusting off tracking and plant identification skills. Also some pretty cool 4wd work in the dune-fields. Updated my first aid training. re-invigorated an old acquaintanceship with a really skilled doctor. Got back into doing home-brew cider. For next year: looking to organise fly-away weekends to the desert country. The plan is to fly out, recon for camels from the air, land on nearby claypans and hunt on foot. 3 days of driving can be reduced to a 4-6 hours flying. Am going to update my butchery kit and get more use out of my .308 and .44 Intend to spend a lot of this summer in the water hunting seafood of all kinds. Agonise further over wether or not to fork out for a stand-alone solar setup. same boat on the solar set up. also considering building a grey water system to put under our house for garden use. will also look at a water bladder underneath the house.
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bug
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Post by bug on Dec 15, 2019 15:20:54 GMT 10
2nd son on the way. Finally got the vege garden going. 20% pay rise and promotion (constant headhunting attempts to boot). Solar panels put in. Generator bought. Electric bike bought. Other than the Victorian state government trying to ruin my suburb, a pretty good year.
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Post by SA Hunter on Dec 18, 2019 22:21:03 GMT 10
This year - fairly slow in terms of prepping, but some progress;
* Got the main supports up at my bol, and started to lay the floor. * Increased food stocks, but not by much, maybe another 2-3 weeks. * Read a lot of books on prepping, as well as watched a lot of videos, and got some good ideas I am putting into practice. * Found a few people like minded, and have worked slowly on setting up our community if it hits the fan.
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Post by Peter on Dec 24, 2019 22:57:35 GMT 10
2019 was an utter sh*t of a year in our family, due to older members doing very poorly.
On the positive, I've started a new business, grown it to a level far beyond what I could've reasonably expected in the timeframe, plus planned a heap of stuff for the future.
Bring on 2020. And while you're thinking of that, just remember in a few days it'll be the "Twenties".
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Post by selfsufficient on Dec 28, 2019 2:24:33 GMT 10
Mmmm, divorce is still ongoing, lawyers dragging it out to make more money. still living on the boat, but have been reducing my debt levels pretty good. 2020 should be a big one for me, as I should be able to get onto the farm again before winter (maybe). Once there I can make updates as though I am achieving something
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gopher
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Post by gopher on Dec 29, 2019 5:02:26 GMT 10
Graduated MFA, did an OE, survived the NZ Gun buyback, acquired the reloading stock from a couple of retiring shooters, got heavily into .22 Centrefire rifles, learned the hard way that black powder residue is extremely corrosive, got Jacindabux for the write off, still looking for a 45 Colt Lever replacement, perfected my speed steel mag change for my Shadow II, failed to plant potatoes bags this year as need access space to do basement development next few mths. Survived Christmas. Found I could walk 5km in 50 min carrying 25kg in front/backpacks and pulling 10kg wheelie on urban streets/paths and could have done 5 km more, reasonably easily, in 32 degrees C heat. Changed kitchen practice to include low meat options, thin base pizza & flatbreads - all from scratch. Moved to a scoped rifle for goat meat obtainment - can choose young females over big-balled males more easily. Found I could carry 3 field butchered medium weight youngish goats out of the hills in my meat bag that has pack-straps along with rifle and day bag. Got a PLB to keep grandkids happier that I still go off into the hills on my own. Have a plan to get onto venison and wild-pork this year. Variety being the best kitchen spice. Got my BOL reloading bench finally setup and stocked to my satisfaction.
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gasman
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Post by gasman on Dec 29, 2019 6:07:51 GMT 10
Whole year seems to have revolved around our March bushfire Lost all fences few sheds and container full of preps Repairs will be on going for years The positives were my preps gait a whole new level of respect from wife and neighbours Food water first aid generator s and general equipment were vital in the following 2 weeks of no power and road blockades Fire preps also work well Haven’t bred any stock or done veggies this year as still repairing fences/ veggie area Our community was amazing and the resources/ skills and teamwork we put together was great Got to have stores on hand as when disaster strikes u won’t have time to tend crops raise livestock etc in the initial mayhem stages Was an amazing experience to live thru and my heart goes out to those experiencing it at the monent
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Post by milspec on Dec 29, 2019 6:24:17 GMT 10
One late goal we wont achieve is growing a feed crop. With the drought as severe as it is we've chosen not to prep and plant the paddock. As we think it's likely to be a waste of money.
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Dec 29, 2019 8:50:49 GMT 10
One late goal we wont achieve is growing a feed crop. With the drought as severe as it is we've chosen not to prep and plant the paddock. As we think it's likely to be a waste of money. A wise person does not invest in something that will most likely not show a return.
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bug
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Post by bug on Dec 30, 2019 18:55:44 GMT 10
Well, scratch "bought a generator" off that list. Add "bought a piece of shyte". First actual power outage. Thing conked out mostly within 10 seconds, and when it did run, died the instant a load was put on it. Am taking it back for a refund tomorrow.
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ml8300
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Post by ml8300 on Dec 31, 2019 2:48:21 GMT 10
Well, scratch "bought a generator" off that list. Add "bought a piece of shyte". First actual power outage. Thing conked out mostly within 10 seconds, and when it did run, died the instant a load was put on it. Am taking it back for a refund tomorrow. What brand, out of curiosity?
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