Sorry I could not be on last night. I just was not up to it. I have an infection in my upper left gum and am having a hard time controlling it with homeopathic treatments. More extra pain that gets worse if I talk. And you know I am not going to not talk if I am listening.
So, here are some of the things I do relating to hiding preps in plain site:
1) I did away with my bed frame and use 20 Rubber Maid Action Packer 8-gallon totes in two rows of five side-by-side two high. They are covered with a simple throw and my twin size mattress is on top. Unless one knows to look, there is nothing to bring any special attention to them. While the Action Packers have worked very well for this, I am finding that as time passes, they are beginning to sort of deform just a bit, creating some trouble with the lids latching properly. This could be in part because I got into the (bad) habit of not latching the lids, just setting them on the tote and stacking the second row on top.
2) In a like manner I do the same thing with more of the 8-gallon, as well as a few of the 24-gallon Action Packers, using them as side tables to my recliner. As the lids have a bit of a pattern on top so they nest well, I put a piece of plastic cardboard cut to size on the lid before placing a cloth cover over them so I have a smooth surface.
3) I use MTM Ammo Boxes and MTM Ammo Crates in similar fashion.
4) As my Action Packers age and continue to deteriorate under the strain I inflict on them, I am adding Plano Storage Crates to my storage supplies. They are more stout, have straighter sides, nest better, and seal better. And a Cabela's version uses an O-ring seal in the lid for even better water resistance. The Action Packers will be rotated into deep storage where it will have much less stress and strain, with the Plano crates used for the heavier duty needs.
5) Many of my preps are essentially every day items, and as long as they are not being shown in a way that empathizes the prepping aspect of the item, they are just another everyday item.
6) As others have stated, I avoid the use of emblems, bumper stickers, AM/FM antenna decorations, window decals and such that are in any way suggestive of prepping, of having items that might be useful in an emergency, or that can be used by civil authorities to suggest I am 'inclined to, want to, hope for', or in some other way generally inclined to use violence in some way in response to anything that I can to justify that use in my mind even if 'reasonable' people would not do so. Such as: Insured By Smith & Wesson. Go Ahead and Make My Day. And there are many others that will cast a person in a bad light if they must defend themselves in today's society.
7) While I will not use clandestine methods to break the law under ordinary conditions, I just might, under certain circumstances, walk the edge in order to have something with me useful in a prepping situation that I would otherwise never do. I will not mention the methods here, but anyone interested can PM me and I will discuss the subject in e-mails.
One of my main methods of having preps hidden in plain sight is to simply have and use common items in ways that the overwhelming majority of people would never think of as being useful. One is something I have mentioned before. The use of a safety or side cutting can opener to create very useful containers out of basic metallic cans that leave a smooth edge on both the can and the lid, which allows the reuse of the lid for storage of the original contents for a day or two if food, and much longer if used for non edibles. There are many more, and like the clandestine methodologies mentioned above, I will not discuss them in the open forum, but if anyone would like more information just contact me by PM and we can go to an e-mail conversation.
9) Similar to a couple of the other methods, or variations thereof, are my use of common items for uncommon tasks. By adding a small 2x to 4x Fresnel lens to my pocket notebook I not only can read things that just happen to be in smaller print, but create some things intentionally using a very fine print so people will not be able to read them without good magnification, but also start a fire using the sun. And do a couple of other useful things, too. In a like manner, I carry a small pill bottle for my daily medications just like many others do. But in addition to the daily meds I might add a tightly folded one-dollar or two-dollar bill, as well (if you get my drift).
10) Probably my most useful method of hiding things in plain sight is simply thinking outside the box, and then looking at an idea from several angles. In ways that you know other, specific, people tend to see things.
I have many additional ideas that simply not coming to me at the moment. So, if you have any questions about something specific just ask, as it might trigger a memory.
I do not advocate doing anything illegal anytime that the rule of law is in effect, and not at any other time either, as a matter of fact.
Just my opinion.
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