What did you do today to prepare?

[Crimson_Phoenix]

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In lieu of attending Wintergheddon this weekend (no snow), I dried some pineapple and pears for snacking this summer.

I also got my walk pad out of storage and walked a bit in preparation for spring walking season.

How do you go about storing the dried fruit after it's done? Local shop has dehydrators for both general purpose and dedicated to making jerky, plus vacuum sealing machines I've been considering.

[Grailseeker]

While I do have a vacuum sealer, which is nice for jerky and such, for the dried fruit I just toss it in a big baggy as shown and into the fridge. It stays good for months. I usually dry it in the cold months and eat it in the warm months but no real set schedule.

[echo83]

Went to an awesome pistol event at my local range today. 

A few times a year, we set up a bunch of barrels and hang steel targets at the end, and members (and their guests) practice shooting, moving and reloading, while a range officer trails you with a shot timer. It's the closest thing we do to to USPSA or IDPA. 

It's only the second time I've done it, and it was an absolute blast. There were some really experienced folks, some brand new folks, and a whole bunch in between. I'm in a mag restricted/no fun state, so I used a S&W Shield 9mm with 8 round mags. Anyone with higher capacity mags down-loaded them to 10 to even the playing field. 

The course of fire was three steel targets that we had to double tap a number of times from different positions, so reloads were mandatory. I had to leave early, but they even had a "hostage stage" where the plates are partially obscured and you're docked points for hitting the wrong target. 

I wish my club did them more often. I think it's way more fun than shooting at paper targets in stands, and I usually score much better than plain old target shooting. 

[eugenenine]

Today I'm off work waiting for the wife to finish at the surgery center so its gear cleaning day. Emptied out the bug out bag and its in the washer while i clean and inspect all the gear.

[Crimson_Phoenix]

Earlier this month I revived the family Sam's Club membership and picked up some pantry stuffers, paper goods, and cleaning supplies. This last weekend I ordered new tires for the car there and got them mounted today. Gonna get the oil and filters changed over the weekend. Gonna meet up with a childhood friend for some range time next month.

[Uomo Senza Nome]

I put a contract on a new to me home. It is a rural home located on a hilltop.

The basement was of particular interest to me. It was blasted out of limestone rock and the basement is 12' below grade and 15' below the main level. The main level has a poured concrete floor essentially making the entire finished basement a storm shelter/ fallout shelter, which is about 2300 sqft.

I think the concrete floor is about 3" but when combined with the overall  roof height it appears to provide enough protection to keep things low rad.  It still needs a decent over pressure ventilation system. The support pillars are carbon fiber wrapped.

Other nice features:

500 gallon cistern
5 acres of rich arable land, 6 acres wooded
28000 gallon swimming pool (also blasted out of the rock)
1200 sqft shop
Tractor shed
Wood burning fireplace and a separate gas log fire place
Additional detached three car garage
Great lines of sight in all directions, yet the house is hidden from the road
Gated, fenced and cross fenced
There is an existing concrete pad suitable for a very large greenhouse. Current owner was using it for a basketball court
Located very near a private tactical training facility that I have access to
Because the basement is so deep and surrounded by limestone It stays 65 degrees year round without heat or AC
Enough room to house all of my family and most of the extended family comfortably
I already know the closest neighbors. One is a chief of police for a nearby town and the other is an ER doc at the local hospital.

I have that new house excitement

[majorhavoc]

I put a contract on a new to me home. It is a rural home located on a hilltop.

The basement was of particular interest to me. It was blasted out of limestone rock and the basement is 12' below grade and 15' below the main level. The main level has a poured concrete floor essentially making the entire finished basement a storm shelter/ fallout shelter, which is about 2300 sqft.

I think the concrete floor is about 3" but when combined with the overall  roof height it appears to provide enough protection to keep things low rad.  It still needs a decent over pressure ventilation system. The support pillars are carbon fiber wrapped.

Other nice features:

500 gallon cistern
5 acres of rich arable land, 6 acres wooded
28000 gallon swimming pool (also blasted out of the rock)
1200 sqft shop
Tractor shed
Wood burning fireplace and a separate gas log fire place
Additional detached three car garage
Great lines of sight in all directions, yet the house is hidden from the road
Gated, fenced and cross fenced
There is an existing concrete pad suitable for a very large greenhouse. Current owner was using it for a basketball court
Located very near a private tactical training facility that I have access to
Because the basement is so deep and surrounded by limestone It stays 65 degrees year round without heat or AC
Enough room to house all of my family and most of the extended family comfortably
I already know the closest neighbors. One is a chief of police for a nearby town and the other is an ER doc at the local hospital.

I have that new house excitement

That's like a deluxe buffet of preparedness!

[Uomo Senza Nome]

MAJH - I spoke at length to the owner, a retired Field Artillery Officer and businessman who said he never planned on moving. His wife split, the kids went off to college and then his parents became sick in another state so he is moved there to take care of them. He had planned on living there till he died and then be buried there.

He had 15 more acres but sold them off when he moved. The new owner put them back on the market at double the price. The interesting thing here is that they are essentially the side of the hill, most of which has a 10-15 degree slope. I'm not sure I would buy a steep hillside unless I was raising goats. So a new builder would have to spend a fortune on site prep or build at the bottom of the hill.

[majorhavoc]

Hopefully that'll keep those adjoining acres undeveloped for a good long time.

[Crimson_Phoenix]

MAJH - I spoke at length to the owner, a retired Field Artillery Officer and businessman who said he never planned on moving. His wife split, the kids went off to college and then his parents became sick in another state so he is moved there to take care of them. He had planned on living there till he died and then be buried there.

He had 15 more acres but sold them off when he moved. The new owner put them back on the market at double the price. The interesting thing here is that they are essentially the side of the hill, most of which has a 10-15 degree slope. I'm not sure I would buy a steep hillside unless I was raising goats. So a new builder would have to spend a fortune on site prep or build at the bottom of the hill.

Reminds me of my uncle who's a retired CWO5 (yes, a unicorn). He and his wife got willed a parcel of land maybe 30 minutes outside of San Antonio and it has amazing views. It's not built like a bunker as yours, but he's noted the sightlines and views of the approaches are phenomenal. You can watch the main highway 5 miles out all day from the porch. He asked if I can find him some topo maps of the surrounding area and if I can find a shop that still sells or prints them. I kidding him if he was planning on setting up a range card or not. He didn't laugh.

[Uomo Senza Nome]

CP- that is a really beautiful area. 

My sister lives in a gated hilltop community near Boerne so it is quite possible they are neighbors or at least within a few miles of each other.  Her husband is a retired Army O5 (lots of those out there). They both work from home now. The lots in their community are 5-25 acres each so people aren't right on top of each other. 

I visited them last summer after the flood (it was pre planned) and the whole town had kind of a pall on it. There were still out of state crews doing body recovery. But we did go by the BRC Coffee shop and gun store and I picked up a free cup of coffee and window shopped. 

[NT2C]

I put a contract on a new to me home. It is a rural home located on a hilltop.

The basement was of particular interest to me. It was blasted out of limestone rock and the basement is 12' below grade and 15' below the main level. The main level has a poured concrete floor essentially making the entire finished basement a storm shelter/ fallout shelter, which is about 2300 sqft.

I think the concrete floor is about 3" but when combined with the overall  roof height it appears to provide enough protection to keep things low rad.  It still needs a decent over pressure ventilation system. The support pillars are carbon fiber wrapped.

Other nice features:

500 gallon cistern
5 acres of rich arable land, 6 acres wooded
28000 gallon swimming pool (also blasted out of the rock)
1200 sqft shop
Tractor shed
Wood burning fireplace and a separate gas log fire place
Additional detached three car garage
Great lines of sight in all directions, yet the house is hidden from the road
Gated, fenced and cross fenced
There is an existing concrete pad suitable for a very large greenhouse. Current owner was using it for a basketball court
Located very near a private tactical training facility that I have access to
Because the basement is so deep and surrounded by limestone It stays 65 degrees year round without heat or AC
Enough room to house all of my family and most of the extended family comfortably
I already know the closest neighbors. One is a chief of police for a nearby town and the other is an ER doc at the local hospital.

I have that new house excitement

I am eagerly awaiting my housewarming invitation! 

[NT2C]

CP- that is a really beautiful area.

My sister lives in a gated hilltop community near Boerne so it is quite possible they are neighbors or at least within a few miles of each other.  Her husband is a retired Army O5 (lots of those out there). They both work from home now. The lots in their community are 5-25 acres each so people aren't right on top of each other.

I visited them last summer after the flood (it was pre planned) and the whole town had kind of a pall on it. There were still out of state crews doing body recovery. But we did go by the BRC Coffee shop and gun store and I picked up a free cup of coffee and window shopped.

@12_Gauge_Chimp and I were in Boerne just before the flood as part of a trip to San Antonio and Hondo.  I went back through just north of the area with my Jeep during the rains, and it was coming down buckets. The local hams had a net going, and I gave a few spotter reports that were passed to NWS. I detoured north after that, abandoned my plans to meet a friend in Longview.  Detoured up to Ft. Scott and went off-roading in the mud and rain.