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My grandparents didn't go from a life of ease & luxury to deprivation.  They got thru WWI, the depression and WWII as they always did in life by adjusting and making do. But today's society is living a whole different way. They have nothing to fall back on because they never did those things my grandparents did or know anyone who did. 

You are quite right- folks should know about these things.  Sadly, I think many prefer the ostrich method (head in the sand) to what’s going on and the possible ramifications. 
Even when we were renting and had only electric, we still kept a few rounds of good firewood- just in case. 
I also have a 1924 kerosene stove that works :-).  It was an everyday thing back then.  It also puts off heat which is nice in the winter.  It didn’t come to me all nice and shiny. I had to clean it up but am glad to have it. 
Food and heat are important to me- haha. 

The problem isn't just "other people"; it's my own family!

Unfortunately,  I live with ones who have to learn the hard way and even then it might not stick.

I do what I can on the down low and hope I'll be able to help if the time comes for serious adjustments. 

We are woefully unprepared when it comes to water storage, something I hope to rectify this month.  I plan to order 2 160 gallon emergency water storage tanks that can be connected, giving us 320 gallons plus the 20 or so we have already.  Over time I want to add to the storage, and to devise rainwater collection and purification, but for now, 320 gallons would get us through a month with careful usage, in an emergency.  But to set up the tanks we need to clear the weeds growing on the side of the house and lay down sand or decomposed granite, or have concrete put down.  I’m already considering how that little area can be a preparedness area.

We put the solar on the house last summer, and since then we have made enough for our needs every month, even with clouds and rain, except when the batteries have to drain and recalibrate themselves.  To get through the lean months we’ve learned to use much less electricity — I rarely use th oven in December and January.  Solar is our biggest prep, because our home would be unlivable without electricity, and also because we wanted to hedge against rising electric costs.

The cheapest gasoline near me is $5.049 per gallon and that is no-name gas.  We only get gas at the warehouse stores now as they are cheaper.  Tuesday we put gas in the van at $4.579 per gallon and by the time we finished shopping they had raised it to $4.699 per gallon — I’m sure the prices have gone up again as they are going up everyday.  Clearly we are being mindful of how much driving we do in the gasoline engine cars vs. the electric car.  I did fill the gasoline in the small car, just because I expected the gas to go higher and it did.  We don’t drive it often but realized we need to drive it more as once again the battery died from not driving it.  Gasoline is the area I think we might see shortages and rationing first, if this war brings rationing.  But all prices will be impacted, regardless, as the increased gasoline and diesel prices for transport are pushed to the consumer.

I have a propane cooktop in the campervan and have cooked with it many times.  One reason we chose an electric stove when our gas stove needed replacing was because we knew we would be installing solar.  When the time comes, we’ll put in an electric water heater and then eventually a heat pump situation for heating and cooling (or other options that only require electricity).  We don’t want to be reliant on natural gas at all, the prices can really fluctuate, it’s a non-renewable resource and could run out, and it would be easy for the supply to be attacked.  Natural gas also affects electricity generation by power companies, as more than 40% of electricity in the USA is generated with natural gas.

We still aren’t growing food, but I do buy the basics in bulk and store quite a bit.

I worry about my youngest and am trying to figure out how we might rearrange things if they can’t afford to live on their own anymore.  It’s hard to pay these gasoline prices and commute to minimum wage jobs, plus the utilities go up.  They were barely making it as it was.

The rest of us live a small life.  We live in a multigenerational household.  My oldest bikes to work, my husband and I are retired and don’t have to commute to jobs.  We live near our downtown in an area that is “very walkable” Walk Score and a “biker’s paradise” Bike Score.  If we wanted we could change our medical providers to some within a mile of our house.  Our dentist, post office, church, and library are all less than a mile away.  We have several grocery stores within a mile, a pet supplies store, and the pharmacy too.  The bike store is within a mile, the bank is exactly a mile away.  Within 5 miles we could realistically have access to every service we need.  We stopped shopping online and have found Walmart usually has what we need if we can’t find a local business that carries it.  But we did recently have a local hardware store open, and they have a lot too.  We all have bikes (mine is electric), so if gas gets too expensive, we’ll walk and ride and use the electric car.

I’ve washed clothing in the big clawfoot tub and could do it again.  We already hang everything to dry.

Hideously frightening times indeed.  I have been stocking up and thinking ahead.  Also encouraging our grown daughters to make plans Both live in cities that could be targets. We need to fly to a big city this Sunday and we are feeling unsettled.  The most powerful urge is to have my grown ducklings and the baby ducks here home with us.  

 While  not trying to be partisan, I do want to express my opinion that, in addition to preparing at home for distressing times, it is vital to take part, in tiny ways or larger ones,  depending on your abilities, interests and stress, in letting elected officials know your opinions.Sometimes  they seem to forget who they are supposed to be representing.   It’s easy to feel that our own tiny voice has little impact, but joining together in our democracy is more important than ever.  It can also help combat feeling so overwhelmed. One thing I like to do is read books about women who made enormous differences during terrible times:  Francis Perkins, Jane Adams, and of course the amazing Eleanor Roosevelt. 

Thank you for addressing this apolitically. I, too, am concerned about the war. Gas prices are only going to get worse, but it feels like it's the least of our worries. 

My husband travels around the country for work, and I'm afraid something bad will happen and he won't be able to get home. Being separated without contact is frightening. 

We have plenty of food, but I only have a grill for alternative cooking. I need to work on this. The kids and I no longer eat meat for health and ethical reasons. That has helped the food budget so much!

A very thought-provoking post.  I've tried not to read the news very much but I do need to know what is going on and I am very concerned for myself and my family.  I live in a small 2 bedroom apartment in a senior building.  Everything is electric.  I live very near downtown in a mid-size city.  There is a small neighborhood grocery store, courthouse, post office, library, church and my dentist office within walking distance. My doctor is farther away but they provide transportation service for those who need it.  ( I don't, I have a car.). I am blessed to have a daughter 30 minutes away and a sister 1 hour away who both have fireplaces, gas cookstoves and large yards for gardening.  I know how to do lots of things that our ancestors did such as, sewing, knitting, and other needle crafts, make bread, butter and noodles, make soap and other toiletries.  I don't use my clothes dryer or dishwasher but I have no alternate heat or cooking source. (That is where my family would come in, I guess.). I am in the process of stocking up on non-perishable food and will start stocking up on water very soon.  My storage space is limited but I plan to make the best use of it that I can.  I will do my best to take care of myself and trust God for what I can't do.  This is a worrisome time, indeed.

It is indeed a worrying time.  Here in Australia for the last week we've felt the results of this turmoil.   Fuel is scarce - we only have so much in store for the entire country although the politicians would have you believe we have plenty.  This isn't so.  Already agricultural areas cannot get diesel fuel and petrol is being rationed at a lot of the service stations.  Travel is off the agenda unless close by.  The lack of diesel in particular is frightening as farmers need that fuel to operate their machinery, trucks need it to transport food and it's a follow-on effect - prices have already risen in the shops and people are preparing for drastic shortages some of which are already visible.  Essential services are being interrupted and it just goes on and on.  Heaven only knows where it will end - I certainly don't.  All we can do is make sure we ARE prepared as best we can - the big worry is that the power network will go down and then there'll be panic - no electricity, no power and we as mere homeowners won't be considered to be at the top of the list to have any supply, that will go to essential services first.

I'm canning. Mostly soups.

When I go to the fruit and vegetable store I search out reduced to clear or marked down goods. The other day I got 2 boxes of various fruits . $4 for one and $5 for the other. Ended up with 17 jars of bottled fruit. The equivalent of brought commercially canned fruit would be 2 cans in each jar and cost nearly $8 just for those 2 cans ..... It's a no brainer. 

Fuel.. not panicking.  Currently where we live around $12 gallon ( for the American readers)  We live rural. We cannot change what's happening by fretting. Am being careful and not going out any more than I used to. Everything done on one day per week. I feel for people who have to drive to their workplace or take children to school.

I've always grouped my errands together so of course will continue to do that and will continue to accomplish as many errands in one outing as I can. I rarely if ever drive somewhere just for something to do. I can go a week before I need to go anywhere. 

I will be reorganizing my pantry and freezer so I can make a list of needs.

There's plenty to do to stay busy and not fret.