Like this....

I need to be in alternative living an thinking mode.....its like a mini vacation for me.. clears my head and actually gives me some pleasure and personal satisfaction..

I got busy thinking about hay boxes... wrapping my crock pot in a sleeping bag and slow cooking for free.... lets take it a step farther.. I really like the Thermos cooker.. its about $200 and worth every dime to me...

But... if your finances are light and having top of the line vacum insulation isn't in the cards...

As an option Im thinking one of these.... filled with vermiculite pillows that pack all snug around your pot... plus if you need extra water storage... you kind of have it on the ready... I use the things as ice chests too... but only for pickled foods, milk and dairy stuff.. you dont want chicken stuff in your water... the coolers are cheap, effective and easy to deal with..

Then theres the ice chest or chilly box..... same insulation pillow space blanket liner trick.. I just like vermiculite... fiberglass is ok... I just dont want to deal with it... straw and hay breaks down.. and while it works..I want something more long term..

You can have more than one pot in this set up .. plus theres extra storage if you need it cause you got lucky foraging again.. cheap and effective, easy to handle... they look good and make the transition from normal to emergency pretty painless...and normal.... mentally ice chests are about camping, picnics and fun... its a comfort thing that can keep your head right and it really is all about attitude...

Then theres this option which is kind of sexy... and makes a nice addition to ones camp decor and can be home made if you wanna... insulate the floor and walls with bead board and another space blanket... add the usual vermiculite pillows and its all good... line with plastic sheet it'll even hold water.. besides you can sit on it.. the other stuff is good.... but this is kind of home made sexy... you can do the same thing with an ammo crate, a foot locker, a plastic storage bin, a cardboard box..

One last note the insulation pillows dont have to be vermiculite.. they can be polyfil, buck wheat, rice hulls, saw dust, wood shavings, pillows from the motel 8.... or a sleeping bag engineered to fit...

I have the chests and coolers NOW.... when things do go south even if its just a three day or week long power outage...getting supplies at Wallmart isnt going to happen... forget refilling your propane... getting ice or much of anything else... unless your snowed in...and I've done that for a few weeks at a whack too.. its not a big deal if you know the basics.. like where to get water.. and not die, get cholera, worms or dysentary from drinking it...  trust me sterilizing water is a priority.. which is another use for the rocket stove or solar oven...