The Superior Products

I was having a late snack with my awesome niece. I asked her what topic I should write about. She said I should write about how Peruvian coffee was the best coffee. I'd just pan roasted a good sized batch of it. Do you know why it's the superior product? It's because it's the coffee I happen to have left in the house. Nothing beats the product you actually have.

How many times have people looked down on something you have or are using? They claim some other item is vastly superior. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. However, the thing I actually have is better than some special something beyond my reach.

Never let the search for the ideal and best stop you from actually having the good enough. Take stored foods for example. There's a lot of debate out there about what makes the best stored food. Should you go for freeze dried food with a 30 year shelf life? That's great. It might be better than that bag of rice you got at the local grocery store. However, if the bag of rice is in your pantry and the freeze dried food isn't, the rice wins. In an emergency what would you rather have, real rice or hypothetical food?

I see this sort of thinking all the time with firearms. There are those who say you need the best assault rifle costing several thousand dollars. Yeah, that's great -if money is no object. While maybe I could by such a rifle it would be by not buying other essential things. Many people make those kinds of decisions. Some people feel they can't afford the high tech rifle, so they buy nothing.

Guess which gun I've gotten more use out of over the years? How about a $50 20 gauge single shot break action shotgun. Since it's so cheap I didn't mind taking it everywhere with me. It's the gun I throw in the vehicle when going to get firewood. Occasionally I shoot a grouse or a rabbit while gathering wood. It doesn't cost much to have a good supply of buckshot, bird shot and slugs. I never worried about anybody stealing it either.

Here's the thing, most of us don't have an unlimited budget. Sure, I've got some of that nice dehydrated food. It's light weight and great for travel. However, the bulk of my stored food calories are things like rice, assorted beans, and wheat berries. Would I prefer that more of my food storage was the freeze dried stuff? Sure, but better to take care of having basic calories first. I only bought some of the fancy stuff after my basic needs were squared away.

Get the basics for survival. You can always save up for the special things. Now I've got to go order more coffee.

-Sixbears