Like Chaosmagnet, I don't really know when I started or why, but as a kid I endured two major earthquakes, several hurricanes/typhoons, evacuations for wild fires, three tornadoes and 1 major riot. That was all before I turned 17. My father was Air Force and we moved a lot, seemingly to the wrong places. It has always been there as far as I can remember. Spending 24 years in the Army, 21 in Special Forces, attending multiple survival schools, enduring more natural disasters, participating in rescue efforts, and numerous wars, riots, and other man made disasters did not alleviate my need to prepare. Now I am a scoutmaster and teaching the kids (and parents). I am too far gone to stop now.