“Let Me Find Something To Write On”

“Let me find something to write on.” How many times have we said that? We need to jot down a phone number, write directions, or make a list. These days thought, ‘paperless’ is the new buzz word. Paper, and the related pens and pencils, are almost becoming obsolete. Almost everything is done on the computer; we don’t even print out as much anymore now that digital storage is secure and almost unlimited. Think about how much you actually write each day. Because of that, how much paper do you even have in your home?

In our digital-age, paper is something we use less and less. If that’s the case, why would we think about adding paper to our preps? Because we’re preparing for a time where we might have to do without many modern conveniences. What would you do in a collapse without paper? All of the sudden everything would have to be written out by hand (or old typewriters): letters, instructions, directions, school work, financial records, business records, agricultural records, medical records. Nothing would be digital anymore; it’d have to be written and filed (remember the old days? Like the ‘80s?). What are you going to write on then?

The Chinese began making paper in the 2nd Century AD, from there it spread to the Arab world and to medieval Europe. It is recognized as one of the greatest communication tools ever invented. It’s development allowed education, record keeping, and correspondence to thrive like it never could before. Its said that the printing press ushered in the Industrial Revolution and the Renaissance, but they had to have paper to print on first.

Paper making today is a large-scale, completely automated process (as described in the Paper University). Sure it can still be done by hand, or on a small-scale, if people have the knowledge. Probably the best way to do it in a collapse world is to make paper by recycling old paper (there will be plenty around). HubPages shows how to make recycled paper at home. Again it’s doable, but look at the steps and the time involved and realize that’s what it takes to make ONE piece of paper.

Today paper is cheap and available. I recently spent $40 on two boxes of 5000 sheets each; yes, Sarah shook her head when I came home with that much paper. But it’ll be good to include in our long-term storage; and, of course, we should have paper in our BOB*, car, and maybe even EDC. It’s easy to store, doesn’t take much space and, unless it gets wet, it’ll last for a long time.

(Friday: What I Did This Week To Prep)

*For my list of abbreviations and other information, open the above ‘Check Here…’ page tab.