Some of my friends ask me what the point of all this prepping is. They tell me that if we are facing an economic collapse, then isn't it pointless to prepare for it? They point out that any supplies I stock up on would either be used up in a few months or that they would be confiscated or stolen.
Of course they are correct in the estimation that anything I have stockpiled would eventually be used up. Whether or not they are confiscated depends on how visible my preparations are. I would not make any of my extensive stockpiling public knowledge. As to it being stolen, well that is one good reason to harden your homes defenses and to get yourself some items for self protection. A good firearm will be invaluable in the case of a total collapse. Those who have been through monetary collapses like those that happened in Argentina, Zimbabwe and the former Yugoslavia can attest to the necessity of guns for self protection.
Still there are those who repeatedly shake their heads when I mention prepping for disasters both natural and man made. I suppose those who have a fatalistic attitude are not the kind of people who like to prepare for the worst. I have always had the belief that you should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. One thing I do not recommend is to go it totally alone in your preparations. You should make strategic alliances with other like minded people. You may be uncomfortable with the idea of a Survivalist Group and I can understand why you might feel ill at ease with the idea. The media likes to paint a picture of those who believe in being prepared as kooks, alarmists and just maybe a bit dangerous. After all the government currently is of the opinion that people who stockpile food and supplies are possible terrorists.
Instead of thinking of your group as a survivalist group, it may be better to think of it and refer to it more of a mutual aid group. If the subject comes up with people you may want as part of your group, it is usually much safer to refer to your group as preparing for natural disasters and possible terror attacks. This is the acceptable kind of preparation that even the US government recommends. Keep any conversations about economic collapse, hyperinflation, guns, gold, etc to those who you are sure about.
The point of prepping is not just to survive. Survival is just the first step. The idea is to survive the initial shocks and then to go on to thrive as an independent community.
Showing posts with label self reliance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self reliance. Show all posts
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Friday, December 16, 2011
How I got here and where I am going
Are you prepared for a general collapse of our economic system? That's not a question most people are used to hearing or thinking about. However that question is one that more and more people are beginning to think about.
When I lost my job over one year ago, I fell into a pit of depression. I tried to find work in my field but was unable to find any work that was even close to paying a wage that would cover basic needs. I have a wife and a 5 year old son. My wife has also been trying to find work but it is just as rough going for her. When you are raised in a society that values full time employment and hard work, it can be a huge blow to your self esteem when you are unable to find any work at all.
What is really upsetting for me is that I should have been better prepared. I saw this economic collapse coming years ago and I did nothing. I guess I always hoped that I would be wrong. That somehow, the economy would magically turn itself around. Back in 2000 I KNEW I should be buying gold and silver, but I didn't do it. I told myself that there would be time later. Money that I should have spent preparing for economic turmoil was spent on fast food, Christmas gifts, going to movies, etc.
Every day I saw things getting worse, but hey, I had a good job with a company that seemed to be doing very well in spite of the economy. I actually liked my work! Which is a big deal for me. I have always felt that working for a living was a kin to slavery. I still feel that way, but it was easier to ignore that feeling when you are doing something you like and working with good people. That all changed for me when my department changed the scope of our work and i got a new manager with less than stellar people skills. He drove me nuts! I was the only guy who stuck it out that was part of the original staff of our department. I needed the job and I felt that if I just tried hard to get along and do things his way, that eventually I would be rewarded.
I was rewarded. Rewarded with having to take crappy shifts and work weekends because I was the only guy left in the department after everyone either quit or was fired. But I stuck it out. I figured that I was helping my manager out of a bind and that he would remember that when it came time for raises and promotions. Well, that didn't happen. Instead, I ended up having to take a few sick days because all the extra work started to take a toll on my health. I didn't have health insurance, I couldn't afford it on my income. So I just stayed home sick for a few days as possible. Of course company policy said that without a doctors note those 3 sick days over 3 months were grounds to put me on probation. That is exactly what happened. All my extra work and helping out didn't mean anything.
I guess you could say it was my fault I got fired. I was so mad that I was put on probation that my work started slipping and I started cutting out early from work. Eventually that caught up with me and I got fired. And no, I didn't get unemployment. I applied for it but was told I didn't qualify because I had essentially abandoned my job. So there it is.
That was over a year ago. What have I done in the mean time to make ends meet? Well I stared a garden at home to help feed my family. And I have a nice flock of chickens on our property. Well not exactly our property, we ended up having to move in with my wife's parents to make ends meet. Good thing I get along well with my inlaws. I am also in the process of building a wind generator and a wood gas generator to help get us off the grid. I took on some freelance computer work and I also create videos for area businesses.
Here are a couple examples:
So that has been going pretty good. Not that we are making as much as we were and there have been months that we had to go on food stamps so we could feed our son. That is what gripes me the most. I hate food stamps! I hate welfare! It is degrading and I feel bad because I am taking part in a government program that I actively argued against. I still argue against it but its hard to be taken seriously when people are pointing our your hypocrisy. Thankfully we are currently NOT on CalFresh, that is the new term for California's food stamp program and I am determined never to do it again.
Did I mention that I am also teaching self defense? I got my black belt years ago in Shotokan Karate and Jujitsu and I have been thinking about teaching for years but I just didn't have the motivation. Money and survival are a good motivator I suppose.
I am going to be posting some videos on what I have been doing on this page and on youtube in a few days.
I guess I am one of those people who have always had lots of different interest but just never had the motivation to make any of them into businesses. I have a background in computer repair, video editing and effects, audio editing, online and offline marketing, martial arts, and I have been a garage tinkerer for most of my adult life. Maybe I will post some pictures of things I have made in my Mad Scientist Laboratory (AKA my garage lol)
Well that is my story. So what has all that to do with the name of this blog? Well I am using this blog as a platform to start writing about how people need to upgrade their skills. In case you haven't noticed, this country and most of the industrialized world is going to shit really, really fast. We are quickly entering a time when we are going to have to rely on ourselves, and our local communities in order to survive and thrive in the coming lean times. Pick a new skill like a craft or hobby you have always wanted to try. Weaving, sewing, crocheting, knitting, silk screening, glass blowing, metal working, welding, raising chickens, self defense, ceramics, jewelry making, cheese making, food preservation.... the list can go on for many more paragraphs but you get the idea.
We are not just facing a depression like in the 1930's this collapse is much, much worse. Hopefully it wont last as long or end up in another world war, but you must be prepared. Luckily we have something our grandparents didn't have. We have computers and the internet. That is the great equalizer. By communicating with each other and by sharing our skills we can all help each other survive and thrive. I hope you keep reading my blog and please feel free to comment or ask questions.
Thanks
Michael
When I lost my job over one year ago, I fell into a pit of depression. I tried to find work in my field but was unable to find any work that was even close to paying a wage that would cover basic needs. I have a wife and a 5 year old son. My wife has also been trying to find work but it is just as rough going for her. When you are raised in a society that values full time employment and hard work, it can be a huge blow to your self esteem when you are unable to find any work at all.
What is really upsetting for me is that I should have been better prepared. I saw this economic collapse coming years ago and I did nothing. I guess I always hoped that I would be wrong. That somehow, the economy would magically turn itself around. Back in 2000 I KNEW I should be buying gold and silver, but I didn't do it. I told myself that there would be time later. Money that I should have spent preparing for economic turmoil was spent on fast food, Christmas gifts, going to movies, etc.
Every day I saw things getting worse, but hey, I had a good job with a company that seemed to be doing very well in spite of the economy. I actually liked my work! Which is a big deal for me. I have always felt that working for a living was a kin to slavery. I still feel that way, but it was easier to ignore that feeling when you are doing something you like and working with good people. That all changed for me when my department changed the scope of our work and i got a new manager with less than stellar people skills. He drove me nuts! I was the only guy who stuck it out that was part of the original staff of our department. I needed the job and I felt that if I just tried hard to get along and do things his way, that eventually I would be rewarded.
I was rewarded. Rewarded with having to take crappy shifts and work weekends because I was the only guy left in the department after everyone either quit or was fired. But I stuck it out. I figured that I was helping my manager out of a bind and that he would remember that when it came time for raises and promotions. Well, that didn't happen. Instead, I ended up having to take a few sick days because all the extra work started to take a toll on my health. I didn't have health insurance, I couldn't afford it on my income. So I just stayed home sick for a few days as possible. Of course company policy said that without a doctors note those 3 sick days over 3 months were grounds to put me on probation. That is exactly what happened. All my extra work and helping out didn't mean anything.
I guess you could say it was my fault I got fired. I was so mad that I was put on probation that my work started slipping and I started cutting out early from work. Eventually that caught up with me and I got fired. And no, I didn't get unemployment. I applied for it but was told I didn't qualify because I had essentially abandoned my job. So there it is.
That was over a year ago. What have I done in the mean time to make ends meet? Well I stared a garden at home to help feed my family. And I have a nice flock of chickens on our property. Well not exactly our property, we ended up having to move in with my wife's parents to make ends meet. Good thing I get along well with my inlaws. I am also in the process of building a wind generator and a wood gas generator to help get us off the grid. I took on some freelance computer work and I also create videos for area businesses.
Here are a couple examples:
So that has been going pretty good. Not that we are making as much as we were and there have been months that we had to go on food stamps so we could feed our son. That is what gripes me the most. I hate food stamps! I hate welfare! It is degrading and I feel bad because I am taking part in a government program that I actively argued against. I still argue against it but its hard to be taken seriously when people are pointing our your hypocrisy. Thankfully we are currently NOT on CalFresh, that is the new term for California's food stamp program and I am determined never to do it again.
Did I mention that I am also teaching self defense? I got my black belt years ago in Shotokan Karate and Jujitsu and I have been thinking about teaching for years but I just didn't have the motivation. Money and survival are a good motivator I suppose.
I am going to be posting some videos on what I have been doing on this page and on youtube in a few days.
I guess I am one of those people who have always had lots of different interest but just never had the motivation to make any of them into businesses. I have a background in computer repair, video editing and effects, audio editing, online and offline marketing, martial arts, and I have been a garage tinkerer for most of my adult life. Maybe I will post some pictures of things I have made in my Mad Scientist Laboratory (AKA my garage lol)
Well that is my story. So what has all that to do with the name of this blog? Well I am using this blog as a platform to start writing about how people need to upgrade their skills. In case you haven't noticed, this country and most of the industrialized world is going to shit really, really fast. We are quickly entering a time when we are going to have to rely on ourselves, and our local communities in order to survive and thrive in the coming lean times. Pick a new skill like a craft or hobby you have always wanted to try. Weaving, sewing, crocheting, knitting, silk screening, glass blowing, metal working, welding, raising chickens, self defense, ceramics, jewelry making, cheese making, food preservation.... the list can go on for many more paragraphs but you get the idea.
We are not just facing a depression like in the 1930's this collapse is much, much worse. Hopefully it wont last as long or end up in another world war, but you must be prepared. Luckily we have something our grandparents didn't have. We have computers and the internet. That is the great equalizer. By communicating with each other and by sharing our skills we can all help each other survive and thrive. I hope you keep reading my blog and please feel free to comment or ask questions.
Thanks
Michael
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