Frugal Garden Girl: Less Panic, More Preperation

First let me start by saying that I hope that you are doing well and staying safe. The corona virus crisis has made life very different for all of us, and we are all trying to navigate the new normal that we are all in. My family and I are doing everything that we possibly can to stay home (per state recommendations) to minimize the risk of contracting the virus and spreading it to others. This has freed up lots of time for family, spring gardening, arts and crafts projects, organizing drawers and closets, catching up with friends via email, and, lastly, a bit of blogging. I guess there is a silver lining somewhere in all of this.
One of things that has surprised me the most about all of this is the panic that ordinary people are feeling. Yes, these are scary times. Yes, we need to eat, drink, work, socialize, etc. Yes, we're all suffering from cabin fever and looking for an "essential" reason to go outside, however, spending time at the grocery store should not be your activity of the day. Many stores are sold out of paper and sanitizing products, and people have had to search through multiple stores just to find everyday essentials. Hoarding seems to be the new normal. And yet, there isn't a real food or paper shortage in the nation. We haven't run out of toilet paper, paper towels, soap, produce or most of the other things that we shop for each week. It's more of a "panic hoarding" shortage. We don't know how long this pandemic will last, or how much we will need to get through this. Shopping for essentials seems to be the only control that we have, and people have embraced this control. But the long lines of people at the grocery stores are defeating the "stay at home" directive. Each trip to a crowded store increases your chance of coming in contact with the virus, and possibly sharing it to those who come in contact with you. Do we need to shop? Yes. Do we need to stand in line so we can stock up on 36 packs of toilet paper? Probably not. So, how do we get through this? How about taking stock of what you have, for starters. Start with your refrigerator and freezer. If there is ANYTHING in it, you don't need to go to the market today. Yep, you have a meal. You can avoid the store one more day. Do the same with your cupboards. Think about the price you've paid for your grocery store purchases. You drove to the store (time), bought the products ($), stored it in the refrigerator/freezer (energy cost) or cupboard, and it's sitting there, unused. Do you really want to risk your health just because you'd rather have something else to eat? How about pretending you're on "Chopped" and make something out of your odds and ends. Do you really need more hand sanitizer? Many doctors say soap and water is all we need. Hand sanitizer is great for when we are out and about and don't have another option, but it isn't a better option than soap and water. More paper products?? Only you can answer that, but I'm using less and relying on the 12 pack I bought 2 weeks ago to last me until next week.
I know that we'll get through this, in time, but we all need to be prepared for the next emergency, whatever that emergency is. Think about it...no matter where you live, there is potential for a life changing event. Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, oh my. We all live in a potential danger zone. In California (where I live) it's earthquakes. After every earthquake, we are told to prepare. We are reminded each year during "the great shake up" to be ready, that it's not "if" it's going to happen, but when. We are told that "the big one" is coming. We're told we need to Be Prepared!! For may of us, it falls on deaf ears. Right now, the roads are clear, the stores are open, the shelves are (mostly) stocked. If the "big one" hits, all that could change. We really do need to be prepared to the best of our physical and financial ability. Don't wait for the next "big one" to start preparing.