Russell,

She sounds very promising. Now just make sure she can cook. If she is not a good cook, but her mother is, there's still hope. It's also helpful if she comes from a shooting/hunting family. And if she has a good hunting dog, grab her quick. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

John

As all our kit is arranged and stored in one place, SWMBO's attitude is "That's your job!!!"

Ddraig:

We have the reverse situation here also. I am the one in this household who is ever thoughtful of being prepared. We have lived in several places that were potentially dangerous because of earthquakes, tornadoes. We have also lived in situations where we noncombatants were always briefed about having to prepare to get to a safe place to be taken from that country. That was when I became very interested in survival scenarios.

I often read posts from this board to my husband. I point out new products that one of the members has discovered, or is recommending. While my husband is interested, he pretty much leaves the decisions about such things up to me, and what I feel might be useful.

I am the one who has furnished flash lights (and batteries) to the whole family. I'm the one who never gets on an elevator without the thought that a simple elevator ride could turn into an episode of Gilligan's Island.

I am the one who has supplied lists of emergency preparedness items to friends and family, and who reminds them to review the items and update any lists. I hope that I will never be in the position to say "I told you so," but I hope that being the preparedness-wonk will rub off on the others.

In all of this, I've pretty much accepted that it might only take one dedicated person directing the others. If you can get your family to understand the importance of a few simple preparations, then being the chief planner is much like the division of any other household/family duty and responsibility.

A couple of thoughts. Last year, when a hurricane was out in the gulf, my wife and I were discussing what to do in an emergency or evacuation. Her comment was "well first I'd get our survival gear" OUR? OUR? It seems that when reality strikes, she subtracted the "Y". It always has been YOUR survival kit cluttering the floor during repacking, YOUR new toy that you haven't put away, etc. Suddenly it's OURS.

Secondly, the day we closed on our farm last year, it was at the peak of Tropical Storm Bill. (I know, it was dumb!!). I had to go to work after the closing, the wife tried to go home (we'd already moved). Downed trees blocked the road, and our power (and water) was out for a few days. Amazingly, new mini-blinds gave way to chain saws and generators, all at the wife's insistence. Nothing like a little reality check. Currently, she's after me to build a new shed/barn to hold all the tools. Life is good.

All this preparedness stuff is having an acceptable tool, at the right time, with the right knowledge. One can never have too many books, tools or guns.

Peanut

Well my wife has allways been perplexed at my attitude towards survival. However since the birth of our son I have now got her to carry a small FAK, maglight, and classic SAK. all of which she has used. I'm not saying getting your other half pregnant is a good way to steer them into a state of preparedness but it tends to change your outlook(in more ways than one)!