Discouraged about your prepping?

OK, if this is in the wrong section then I hope an Admin can move it to the correct one. I have noticed, a lot lately, that a LOT of people are beginning to get discouraged at their attempts at prepping. * They can't collect enough 'things.' * They can't convince their family. * They can't afford the latest, up-to-date, ultimate doodad. Let's put some of those worries to rest, where they belong. First off - ANY preparations that you make, including just knowing what is coming, gives you an edge over the people/sheeple around you. Preparations are NOT about being 100% ready because that is not possible. Nobody can plan for every contingency and every state of collapse. Anybody who believes that their preparations are 100% complete is just deluding themselves. There will ALWAYS be 'something' that you will wish that you had put into your preps before the SHTF. You couldn't possibly carry, in a semi-trailer, all the things that you will wish you had packed when it all comes down the pipe. Preparation is really about your state of mind. When the SHTF, a LARGE percentage of the population will sit numbly in their houses while waiting for the Cavalry to come riding in and save them at the last minute. These people will be still there, weeks later, when they have run out of everything and it's too late to do anything about it. Some will run rampant, with no coherent plan, grabbing what they can find off of near empty shelves and THEN they will go home and sit numbly while they wait for the Cavalry. They, too, will run out of time. Others will see it as a chance to do the things that they have always wanted to do, i.e. burning down the local police station, et. al. They will achieve nothing except, possibly, destroying some of the preps that they 'should have' been collecting. They, too, will find themselves running out of everything just when they REALLY need it. A few will see what has happened, collect what supplies they have, and get the Hell Out Of Dodge. These are the ones that are increasing their chances. How much are they increasing their chances? Who knows? The point is to give yourself a BETTER chance than those around you. If you can react in the first day, or few, then you will be a long way ahead of the crowd. As far as convincing your family ... it isn't necessarily required. Point out to them what is coming and let them rag you about it. Believe me, I am the butt of a lot of jokes about the crazy man predicting the end of the world. There is ONE thing that you will be achieving however. When it comes down the pipe, in their general direction, they will 'recognise' what you have already described to them, see what is happening, and they will also be able to get the jump on the people around them. At least, that's all you can really hope for. Giving yourself, and those around you, a fighting chance when everyone else is collapsing by the wayside is the best that you can really hope for. Don't be discouraged. Take a breather. Go out and enjoy a walk in the park. Know that we ALL get discouraged from time to time. Come back, a bit later, when you've cleared out a few cobwebs and think about all that you have REALLY achieved with your preps. Good luck to us all and keep your chin up.