On Hitting Your Milestones

Over the past couple of weeks, I made a few financial moves. Nothing crazy (ain’t a millionaire) but I turned some stuff into tangibles. Mix of cashing in investments, borrowing some of my 401K (ain’t gonna make it long enough to cash in, and if I do, the economy will have changed so much that it will look radically different), and selling crypto. Bought commo gear. Bought more food. Bought ammo.

As my commo gear arrived yesterday, I texted my best friend NC Scout yesterday and told him, verbatim:

I could honestly cry. A ten year journey. All the sacrificed vacations and fun cars and bs. Driving an 01 jeep with a muffle hanging. But I finally did it.

Now  it is connectors, coax, food, ammo…..I need to build up the emergency fund.

But I am ready to rain fucking hell on someone

I first got into preparedness when I saw a copy of James Wesley Rawles “How To Survive The End of the Word As We Know It” in Costco as I shopped with my mom the summer before my last semester at undergrad in 2012. I picked it up because I was an Eagle Scout and interested in survival. That book changed my life. The lessons I learned paid dividends less than three months later when, in my last semester, we got shellacked with Superstorm Sandy. I was good; my fellow students, not so much.

Since then, my goal was to secure myself and my family. I have a large family of people I was preparing for – minimum of 18 people. I never asked – probably stupidly – anyone for a dime. This was MY endeavor, MY hobby, and MY goal. I did my best to get them towards the goal, and I have mentioned it previously. I sent out almost weekly email newsletters since just before the 2016 election. I preached preparedness constantly. I mostly got eye rolls. When COVID hit,my family got more aware of what I was preaching. In the last six months? Serious money and time has been committed by people other than me making moves. I have close friends who I have bought copies of that book for, or offered to zero their rifles for, or buy ammo for.

I have ramped up a lot of stuff and sacrificed a lot – money, time, sometimes even relationships. My end goal has always been to get myself and the ones I love secure. I can finally say that I am comfortable.

I don’t make this post to gloat, or brag, or anything. Rather, I make this post to tell you that the sacrifices are WORTH IT. I don’t want you to become some recluse who never ventures out of their home. Anyone who has trained with me at NC Scout’s Brushbeater classes know I love craft beer, whiskey (or any hard alcohol, especially Georgia moonshine) and cigars. I am not saying don’t enjoy yourself. But those luxuries your forgo now WILL pay dividends. Never stop working. Enjoy your time – only the Lord knows how much we all have left – but always be making yourself better.

I have met some of my best friends along this journey. I am so thankful for the blessings that God has given me, and all glory to Him. None of the guys at AP would have met without him.

With that being said…

THE WORK IS NOT DONE

Continue grinding, brothers and sisters. We can always have more ammo, more food, more money, and more fitness. But be sure to congratulate yourself when you hit your milestones.

God Bless you all, and always be working.