Do you stockpile? Why or why not? - Page 2

[JTA Mom]

Thanks for answering my questions, InchbyInch!

I wasn't referring to you when I said I've heard people say it's 'immoral' to stockpile. It's come up in lots of different discussions about this topic, and I was trying to see some reasoning behind why it might be 'wrong' to stockpile.

As for me wondering how this mindset translates to other items of life, I was trying to be general. I think an example would be helpful.

Example: If stocking up while others are hungry is bad, then how is that different from shelter? I live rather comfortably, in that I have indoor plumbing, electricity, heat, carpeted floor, etc. This is more than the majority of the people in the world have. Is it immoral of me to have so much compared to others?

Similar to transportation. I live near bus routes, and use a car. This makes me better off than the majority of the people in the world. Is is immoral/wrong of me to use a car? To take a bus?

And so on & so forth.

Let me know if that last part makes more sense know, lol.

Ami

[InchByInch]

Originally Posted by JTA Mom

Example: If stocking up while others are hungry is bad, then how is that different from shelter? I live rather comfortably, in that I have indoor plumbing, electricity, heat, carpeted floor, etc. This is more than the majority of the people in the world have. Is it immoral of me to have so much compared to others?

Similar to transportation. I live near bus routes, and use a car. This makes me better off than the majority of the people in the world. Is is immoral/wrong of me to use a car? To take a bus?

I don't think that owning material goods is necessarily immoral. The question is, what value do you place on it? And second, are you willing to share it with others?

So let's look at your example of your house. There's nothing inherently wrong or immoral with it at all. Its basic qualities of plumbing, heat, etc., meet the human body's basic needs (to excrete, to stay relatively warm, etc.), and that's perfectly legitimate. It only becomes an issue if you form an unhealthy attachment to it, as in you place more importance on it than your fellow human beings. So what's immoral is not the materal good itself, but the love of it. I'm no theologian, but I say live in your house (and drive your car and ride the bus and so forth) and be glad of it-- while doing as much as you can to see your fellow man get his basic needs met, too.

[jrabbit]

I don't stockpile for one complicated reason: my grandparents stockpiled (depression thinking, probably) - and when he died, we had to clean out his house. It was seriously depressing to throw away so much because it had been kept for too long. Medicine, toiletries, canned foods, preserves, frozen goods, paper products, clothing & linens ... if it wasn't spoiled from age, it was ruined because the house had been infested with mice. Now, I realize that those of you who stockpile are probably better at rotating it and not forgetting what's in your pantries and closets, but ...........

DH & I have been notorious for impulse buying. (do we have cream of mushroom soup, dear? I don't know ... we should get some more just in case then ... oops, we have 12 in the pantry from the last 5 times we had this conversation) Right before Ike, I cleared out our pantry to see if we had enough canned goods "just in case" - and I had to toss 21 cans of spoiled beans, tomatoes, etc. THAT is depressing. (and, yes, they were like 4 years out of date) And, after Ike, we emptied out our fridge & upright freezer and found tons of 2+ year old food.

Recently, we've been simplifying our life, and that crosses over to everything in our home, including the kitchen. There are several reasons why we're doing this, which I won't go into - but our grocery shopping habits have been highly scrutinized. We are now learning to shop for "what we need, when we need it". Some might say that it seems less "green" to go to the store every few days instead of stocking up, but I say the opposite is true. We're buying what we *need* not what we *might* need. We don't lose track of food in the abyss of the pantry, fruit isn't rotting in the fridge, we're selling our upright freezer, and best of all, we have more space to *live* in!

best wishes!
--janis

p.s. on the paper goods: we don't use enough disposable products to warrant stockpiling them. No paper towels, napkins, plates, etc. Maybe one box of kleenex a month at the most.

[dancebaraka]

Hi. My name is Baraka and I am a moderate stockpiler

We stock a 2-3 month supply and use everything we stock. I *love* minimal design and live in a 600 sq ft apt flat. My stockpile is beautiful, well managed, and saves us $. Beyond stockpiling, we live within our means, strive to be self-reliant, and save $. We do not like to owe anyone $.

I am not scared or fretful about entering a major depression or other serious social catastrophy. But I also don't feel like it is crazy to think that it could happen. If it happens, you'll find me offering free counseling, homeopathic remedies, lessons on wildcrafting medicinal herbs, I'd like to think in a balanced and prepared state of mind. I won't think of it as the end of the world. Just the end of the world as we know it
and I'll feel fine....

Ultimately the most important thing we can stock is strong community ties, education, inner peace, and always, always, faith and trust in the Universe.

[MilkTrance]

The world needs more Barakas!

And less creamed corn. *sigh*



Update -- I do have a supply of feminine products now, so that I will not be running to the store the next time my Aunt visits. Just enough to get me by maybe a week!

[njeb]

We stockpile in the fall to prepare for winter. That way, if we have a blizzard, the electricity goes out, and roads are impassible, we can get by until things clear up.
My dh is a survivalist, too. But we do share with others.

The best things in your stockpile are friendship and community. With them, you can get through just about anything.