Sequestration Shock

Life under sequestration will present us with major changes.  Perhaps it might behoove us to go beyond the important considerations of meal preparation with only prep items, or living off the grid for a weekend, etc.  If we have given thought to what new rituals and responsibilities might  be part of our new lives beforehand, we will be ahead of the game.  What I am talking about are things like having one meal a week where a greater amount to food is prepared, using greater amounts of fuel to prepare, can  be something to look forward to, could be a new ritual.  An example of new responsibilities might be to assign  someone be a clock watcher to give an alert that it is time to listen to a news broadcast, rather than leave a radio on constantly and using up precious energy.  Other thoughts, Wednesday is laundry day, scheduling those tasks that require good lighting during daytime hours, rather than trying to create enough light at night to perform  them, etc.  Any other suggestions or ideas would be appreciated by this prepper.

this kinda sounds like life back 100-200 years ago. Your Rouster outside was the alarm clock, everybody in the house had a job to do. you work all day long come home somebody had dinner ready , you eat ,talk , and plan for the next day . when dark came you went to bed (good nights sleep). you didnt stay up all hours of the night. couse you didnt have many candles or oil to burn ( those cost to much).

We have made alot of changes in our life style so that we can get use to not having everything that we need. This way it will not be so hard on us if something does happen. It is good for our climate and makes us thank about not having it. We do cook large amounts of food at one time and then freeze leftovers. I have not found away to get around not using a freezer any suggestion?

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Satomick, refrigeration is the only thing that really concerns me.  We have enough propane and gas for at least 6 months but after that, if things are still bad, if you live in a cold winter location, you can make your own ice blocks and ice house.  If done correctly, it will store for a long time.   If we are talking about going back to the way our great grandparents lived, it wouldn't matter.  We would only cook what we needed.  No leftovers if they needed refrigeration.  We would learn to smoke meat and have root cellars.  How to books should be a major prep item. 

I remember those Fried chicken, gravy, eggs,biscuts the hole works ...what a great memory.that could work.qqhugs, that bothers me to.. we have solar to run the refrigerator with battrie backups and propane ,but how long will this all last.

For those interested, Lehman's Hardware (online) has an old fashioned indoor laundry hangar. It's fashioned after an old Victorian model. It doesn't look too hard to install.

We have an indoor clothesline that "Z's" back and forth through our living room where the woodstove is. It's not very pretty, but very functional. I usually hang items at night and they're dry by morning. This way we don't have to look at the clothes all the time. The line is hooked to the wall with molly-bolt style hooks.

As far as refrigeration goes, there's always the old fashioned method of a wooden or metal box with wet towels placed over it. This works especially well outside or near a window where there's a breeze. If things are really bad, you aren't going to have to much to worry about being cold. It's not like youll be running to the store for a bottle of milk and then not having a way to keep it cold.

We have an old fashioned clothesline in our backyard, it was here when we bought the house. Of course the house was built in 1930. The only time we have ever used it was when we tie dyed this past summer and hung the wet shirts on it. Of course if we don't have electricity I guess we will use it, I did buy clothespins for it. I'm afraid my dogs might think the clothes would be fun to pull off the lines.

Thanks everyone for responding.  I was trying to get at what kinds of routines we can think of now that would be helpful when TSHTF, ie. filling kerosene lamps, planning the weeks menu, Rockhound mentioned planning the next day's activities, keeping log of prep items used, maintaining journal, replenishing water supplies (keeping items needed for catching rainwater close to hand, filling hot water bottles etc.  

We are planning on eating 2 meals a day. Brunch, and an early dinner.
Beans in some form for 2 dinners a week.
Rice with some veggies for 2 nights per week.
Veggie soup 2 nights (make a large pot to last 2 nights.
Then, for the 7th day we have a "fancy" dinner- one of many other dinners we have set up.

Breakfast will be homemade granola (we already use rice milk in those containers that are good for a year or so), oatmeal, cream of wheat...

That's the basics, but have added lots of nutritious things.

Some of my "fancy" dinners:
Green chili soup
Peanut soup
Pasta and sauce
Veggie tacos (we're vegetarians already)
Hummus sandwiches
Chili
etc...

All of these things we already eat on a regular basis, and are very nutritious.

Anyone who doesn't already eat beans but is planning on having them as a staple in the event of a pandemic:

Start eating them now so your body gets used to them!!!

I remember when I became a vegetarian 18 years ago, I could not eat beans if I had any social engagements for the next 36 hours!! But now I can eat beans many times a week with no discomfort, and actually crave them. They are cheap and nutritious, and great for storage situations. But I think it would be very stressful to make them a main part of your diet if you're not use to eatting them.

We'll also work out every morning and each have a daily chore (or three...).

Would love to hear others ideas.

FYI, Lowes has the wheels, brackets, and line for a clothes line.  They're 2 0r 3 bucks for the wheels, and a little more for the line.  Several different sizes.  Roxy, we've had that wooden rack for years.  That's how my wife drys the delicate clothing, and her jeans after the holidays when they are a little snug! 

I'm lucky in that aspect.  The guy on the property across from me runs about 100 cattle, and a couple hundred bee hives.  He says the bees make him a lot of money during pollination season.  LOTS of honey over there.

Hi, I am new here. I have been prepping for 9 months or so. I am worried about an outdoor clothesline for a couple of reasons. Won't birds be able to poop or "sneeze" on your clothes outside? How do we know it would be safe to leave clothes outside? Couldn't the ignorant neighbor kids run into your yard and play in the clothes spreading their flu germs? But inside you do have the concern of mold and mildew. Laundry without power is a real dilemma IMO. Perhaps we will have to just stay in the same clothes until they are no longer wearable and then throw them away!

OK,OK you are going to wash your clothes sooner or later. We moved up to the mountains 3 years ago and hanging my clothes on the line is big deal. I lived in denver colorado for 26 years and their is NO way i could hve done this. Anyway if this thing really takes hold i guest we will all be drying our clothes all over the house huh?

Rockhond, I lived in littleton in Ken Carly ranch and i reallyyyyyyy miss it. You know it changed so much in the last 10 years. I moved to north carolina and live near boone. It is green,no fires and I can get somewhere in 10 to 15 minutes. I have alot of friends their. YOU ARE GETTING ANOTHER SNOW STORM don't ya know. Its is nice to find another friend.