The scariest time for me in 2020 was in March and April 2020.  I wasn’t worried about a virus, but I was worried about the reactions to the virus hysteria, and I had good reason to be worried.

The shutdowns and stay-at-home orders dramatically changed everything.  It was a glimpse of totalitarianism in America.  I know libertarians often like to talk about socialism and authoritarianism, but Americans are still relatively free when it comes to most things.  The government is involved in almost everything, but we still have a degree of freedom that is underappreciated.

Although Florida has been open since September 2020 with few restrictions (there are still local restrictions in some cities, especially when it comes to masks), there were stay-at-home orders in April 2020.  I was calling Ron DeSantis a dictator back then.  As it turns out, he ended up being one of the best governors in comparison, which isn’t saying much.

I remember going to Publix (a grocery store for those not familiar).  I got there early in the morning, about 10 minutes before opening.  There was a line outside the door, going down the sidewalk.  It looked like a long line, but people were already “social distancing”, so it wasn’t as bad as it looked.

Mask wearing was not yet a big thing.  It wasn’t being preached by Fauci and company yet.  I have still never worn a mask into Publix, and I have never been questioned about it.  They are all about great customer service.

When the store opened, most people went straight to the toilet paper aisle.  I remember getting one of the few packages of toilet paper left.  One time we got this horrible organic toilet paper (yes, that exists), and it isn’t the most soothing on the body.

The really scary part was going to get meat and vegetables.  The meat aisle was the second place to go.  I was lucky to get a couple of chicken packages.  I believe the store was limiting purchases to two items for many products, which included meats.  The vegetables were also in short supply.

This was the scariest moment for me.  I am particular in what I eat (a mostly low carbohydrate, paleo-like diet), so I can’t just stock up on some potato chips and frozen pizzas.  It showed how delicate the supply chain is.  Of course, the government regulations don’t help, as food supplied to restaurants can’t easily be redirected to be packaged for grocery stores.

In one sense, it is amazing how delicate the supply chain is.  In another way, it is amazing that the marketplace, to the extent that it is free, adjusts so quickly and efficiently.  There were all of a sudden tens of millions of Americans who previously ate out at restaurants who were all of a sudden buying groceries and cooking all or most of their meals at home.  Some restaurants were still open for takeout.

Being Prepared Without Overdoing It

Since that time, our household makes an effort to stay at least one ahead on certain items.  Sometimes we fail, but at least the thought is there.  This includes things like laundry detergent, dish soap, hand soap, paper towel, and of course, toilet paper.

I know a true prepper would laugh at this.  We wouldn’t last more than a couple of weeks with these extra things.  But if something bad does go down again, at least it buys you a little bit of time and leeway.

I have actually recommended a strategy before of buying extra things, not just to be prepared, but also to save a little bit of money.  If you wait for sales or coupons, sometimes you can get a good deal on certain goods when buying in bulk.  And if you buy a lot, you can be almost certain that prices aren’t coming down in the future.  In today’s time, prices are likely to go up.

As long as the items you are buying in bulk last (don’t expire quickly), then it is a strategy that is almost guaranteed to not lose.  You may have to be creative with some storage, but you know prices aren’t going down.  As long as you will use the stuff one day, then it won’t be wasted.  If anything, you will save a little bit of money in the long run by buying in advance.  And you will get the benefit of being prepared, which can be a mental benefit alone even if nothing bad happens.

Although the prepper movement seemed to be almost vindicated in 2020, I am not a hardcore prepper at all.  I understand my place in the division of labor.  Unless you are planning to buy a farm and move out into the country, then you will be reliant on the division of labor to a large degree.  If the trucks ever stop running, then a large portion of the population is likely to be dead within 6 months.

This is the biggest fear with hyperinflation.  This is the biggest reason we never want to see the money we use destroyed virtually overnight.  If the truckers don’t want to get paid with worthless currency and the trucks stop delivering food to the stores, then almost everyone is in trouble.

I really hope that we never see anything like 2020 again.  I do believe we are in for tough economic times ahead, especially given what has been done by the federal government and the Federal Reserve since March 2020.  But as long as we have some semblance of freedom, people will figure things out and get along.  Times may be difficult, but most people will survive.

It is also important to realize that much of life just goes on.  Most things revert back to some form of normalcy.  We most likely won’t see hyperinflation.  If you own a house with a mortgage, you will still have to make mortgage payments to your lender.  Maybe it will be in depreciated dollars, but it will still be there.

I am saying this as a reminder to myself and everyone reading that you shouldn’t take any drastic steps that are stupid.  You should try to maintain a steady income, you should save some money, you should diversify your investments, you should pay your bills, and you should try to take care of your health.

Sometimes life just requires a steady hand.  It is better to turn off the news in most cases.  You can be aware of what is generally happening in the world by paying attention for five minutes out of the day.  Most things you can’t control.  You just have to look after yourself and your family.

You can make good decisions and live a somewhat normal life while just being a little extra prepared for rough times, whether it be more virus hysteria, or high price inflation, or a crashing stock market, or whatever life brings us.While I think there will certainly be rough times ahead economically when the “everything bubble” pops, I have some long-term optimism for the future.