So we finally got our dining room pantry cleaned out for use as an actual pantry, which is a relief because I went on an "essentials" shopping trip a few months ago when I started reading about world-wide food shortages and that Sams Club and Costco were limiting flour purchases.
It didn't dawn on me until later that we've not used 5 pounds of flour since we got married, and we don't eat that much rice or sugar. Of course, history is not an indicator of future perfomance. My brother-in-law and wife were working around the house the other day, and my wife directed him to put something in the "apocalyptic pantry" in obvious reference to the stores of sugar, flour, and rice. I was telling Shane about this yesterday at lunch, and he said "man, I need to get one of those". Scott at work said "I think everyone should start thinking about that..." and my brother said "good, did you remember to get a small hand mill?" It's good to know I'm not the only one who thinks about these things, but I wonder if I'm the one of the few that actually sticks something aside for later "just in case". It's not like I've got a safehouse full of stored goods just waiting for our approaching doom. I just like the idea of at least being able to make bread if fuel gets so costly it becomes difficult to maintain regular shipments. I realize that sounds all gloom and doom, but certainly stranger things have happened.
Of course, my wife could be absolutely right...it could be that people just seem interested because they like getting me wound up to see what nutso thing I'll do next. If so, I bit hook, line, and sinker. Naturally, when I start canning goods this summer I guess that will give everyone a good laugh too.
I hope I'm not the one laughing later...but if I am, it'll be through the crumbs of my delicious apocalyptic pizza, made from the flour, sugar, and tomatos I saved before it all hit the fan. Maybe I'll give my wife a slice.