As we approach what people are calling ‘the end of the world,’ people all around the world are preparing for Dec. 21, the date in which the world, as we know it, is supposed to end. In Stockport, England, a man named Simon Dillon,47, has a separate part of his house, dedicated for his stockpile of food and water. If there were ever a situation where he was not able to shower, Dillon is ready for it. Although people around town call him crazy, he thinks of it as having a plan, and being prepared for whatever comes toward him.

The stockpiling epidemic is not only in England. In Mesa, Ariz. family man, Dennis McClung, has diverse ways of preparing for the worst.

In his own backyard, McClung turned his swimming pool into an underground garden, where he raises chicken and tilapia. This resourceful man doesn’t have to worry about buying fish food. Chicken droppings provide nutrients for the fish, making this creation completely self-sufficient. The water in which the fish live in is pumped through various fruit and vegetable plants, providing the McClung family with the resources to live with as little need to go to the store as possible.

McClung is not selfish with his sufficiency skills. He created a website especially to buy survival products to prepare the predicted apocalypse. Funded by amazon.com, the website has everything from gas masks to water purifiers.

In an interview with The New York Times, McClung was asked what will become of his website when 2013 arrives.

“I hope 2013 rolls around and everyone laughs at me,” he said. “That would be fantastic,” McClung responded.

Stores such as Costco and Walmart are selling emergency pails for those who also want to be prepared for whatever hits humanity.

So, whether people believe in the world ending this week or not, preparing families and households is something that can either be extremely useful, or completely pointless.