Dealing with the wait

What's a guy to do? Live your life! You've made the preps. Increase your skills in areas that you think need improvement, or in areas that you haven't quite perfected yet, but above all, enjoy the time between now and when "IT" happens. "IT" may be longer than you think in arriving, but the mindset and the skills that you  acquire between now and then, and the "joie de vivre" that you experience now could be the most important part of your preparations. Survival is a mindset, and a positive one. If you dwell on the negative, and don't look at things in a positive manner, you've cut your chances of a more "harmonious outcome". Live life to its fullest, and it will repay you in the future. Consider life's enjoyment and a positive outlook as your mental "precious metals". Keep stacking for a rainy day. Just my .02, take it for what it's worth, but that's how I handle the waiting game.

Today I completed a storage shed for all of my food. It has taken all summer and it looks great with about a years worth of food in it for my family. We have enough bullets, bullion and band-aids as well. I am taking what time we have left to learn everything and anything I can. We are canning for the first time and wow what a skill that is! I have watched the back to eden video someone posted here awhile back and am working on locating woods chips for the spring. Once it cools a bit, I will start putting in more firewood. We also search the real estate listings for property that will meet our future needs. We help our extended families and friends and love a good bbq. It's all going to work out well for us because I desperately want to be there when the dust settles to make absolutely sure that the people in charge don't bugger things up again. 

I agree with many of the responses already posted.  But I'd like to approach mine from a different angle... with an analogy.

Picture a man in his 60's who is the picture of a modern success story.  He has multiple advanced degrees, has launched successful businesses and stood at the helm of even more.  He has more money than he could possibly need for the rest of his life.  He has children, grandchildren and each looks fit to carry on his legacy with pride.  He answers to no one, and no accomplishment among his life goals has been left undone.  But he is bothered because he doesn't know what to do next.  He has done everything, and is literally a model for human achievement.  There is nothing left to aim for.  Does he simply wait to die?

What would you or I say to him?  I would tell him congratulations... now live, enjoy life and be happy every moment because nothing can stand in your way.  Watch a sunset, see a natural wonder, laugh with family and sit in silence.  Reminisce with old friends and share your wisdom with your children.  Give... and receive... fully until the end of your days.  And thank God for such a wonderful opportunity.

The criteria may differ but I think that if you are as wealthy in your preparations as this man is in his own sense, then I would say the same to you.  Congratulations.  Be happy now, there is no reason to wait.

My wife and I prepare ardently for anything that may come our way.  I consider it the adult version of the Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared".  But sometimes you just gotta take a week off, go sit on a beach somewhere, and veg out, eat some good food, listen to a little Jimmy Buffet, play in the waves and don't worry about that freight train heading our way.  It won't get here next week.  Or the week after.

Just make sure you have a full tank and a little bug out bag in case the SHTF while you're getting that tan :).

It really helps one keep proper perspective by taking extended time away from any source of US and world news. The human nervous systems accommodates to stimulation so that more and more dramatic stimuli/news will always be required to give one the same vigilance one had at earlier levels of prepping when it was "all new." Hence the waiting can be somewhat of let down, not necessarily because one wants things to collapse, but because the earlier level of vigilance has diminished in intensity. 

Also keep in mind that compared to other places in the world the USA, in my opinion has a long ways to go before things get more dicey here. They are destroying the value of the dollar but it is relative to other countries in this race to the bottom. The USA still has among the best natural resources, security, rule of law, innovation and engineering, Take advantage of the time offered by virtue of your excellent efforts and results in prepping to stand back a little and enjoy some exercise, recreation, work, study and family time. This practice will keep your perspective sharp, and most importantly will keep yourself in the best shape possible not only for what might or might not come, but to enjoy your life.