A different view of ''survival''

upnorth

upnorth

Joined
Nov 25, 2006
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For most of my life I have thought of the term ''survival'' as being able to make a fire and possibly gather food in a remote place, because I was stuck somewhere in the bush. I always thought of the people that squirrel away supples etc. ''in case it all collapses'' as the lunatic fringe. Well I guess that I am now joining the fringe. I now consciously keep my canned goods stocked up and bought a separate 50 lb. bag of rice.....just in case. And I may start building on that bulk bag. I never thought that I would start thinking like this but the political climate\economy in the U.S., Canada's major trading partner, scares me. Nothing seems to be changing and the train wreck is coming. Then on top of that the general world (economic) climate is turning to crap. I wonder if it will get to the point were we are snaring rabbits and poaching deer on the sly, as a serious food supplement ? Maybe I should take these survival skills more seriously because we may be heading into a multi year depression, like the dirty thirties............................. ?
 
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You want some more doom and gloom?

Fresh water is running out.

Most of the earth's fresh water is frozen and currently melting away into the sea at an unprecedented rate.

2 million people die annually because of lack of water and sanitation.

I'd stock up on water too if I were you. I don't know anything about the logistics of storing water, but it probably isn't that difficult.
 
The world ain't gonna came crashing down.
Realistically, the thing to adjust to is the idea that most of us will have to survive on minimum wage jobs, and forget about luxuries like cars, or retiring.
 
I think you're pretty close to what most people think of as survival, a just synonym for living. Pantries, larders, store cupboards, livestock in smallholdings, vegetable gardens, hay lofts and grain stores were just part of life for most people. It was only after strains of folks became estranged from that and expected other people to produce stuff for them that living in such a manner became so alien to them it was labelled “survival preparedness” when they stood on shoulders of giants and rediscovered it. Whilst I recognise there are the basement bunker brigade that are “survival preppers” or whatever epithet they prefer I'll exclude them as rogue for reasons I'd rather not expand on. For me I see as much sense in considering having a good amount of provisions at home as survival as the “survival cat food tin”, or “survival refrigerator”, or “survival chest freezer”. Maybe it's because I have never set foot in a Starbucks but it seems quite clear to me. It's just life.
 
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baldtaco-II said:
For me I see as much sense in considering having a good amount of provisions at home
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It DOES make sense.
Having a month or two of food reserves serves you very well if you become unemployed; it's much easier to pay the rent when you don'y have to pay for food right then.

Also, it's food. As long as you aren't hording it to the point where it impacts on your living space, having extra around is smart, not stupid. I mean, none of us are going to stop eating anytime soo.
Might as well have some extras of ither things we use on a regular basis, like toilet paper and soap. You don't want to have to stink and be unable to wipe your rear end because your boss had a hissy fit and you lost your job, or that big snowstorm hit and you're stuck in the house for two weeks.:cool:
 
The world does not have to come crashing down...it could be something on a much smaller scale. The "haves" vs. the "have nots" is something to think about. Katrina was just a small example of this. People already kill people for a number of reasons like drugs, money, anger etc..during peaceful, stable times. Hungry, scared, desperate people will kill for food, water, gas, guns, clothing and any number of other resources. It seems fashionable to use the term "zombie" but "neighbor" is a bit more realistic.
 
Upnorth, I've been thinking like that for a couple years, and its not a paranoid state of being, I just like thinking of it as being prepared.

I put an extra watertank on my property, stock extra food and firewood, generator and lots of gas, and have built a solar system and have a well.

I work in the Bay Area quite a bit and my "survival tin" and BOB is actually just geared towards getting me to my rural property in case of an earthquake or other catastrophic event. I focus on things like having a breather, calories, water filtration and storage, fire making, and nightlighting, collapsible bags to salvage and forage and be able to carry things i find along the way. I know my native edibles, and am trying to always learn more.

It seems those of us studying these skills and gaining knowledge and preparing ourselves are going to be a step ahead when and if things do the fan. Like the saying "what knife do you use for survival, the one you have with you." I am trying to have tested tools and knowledge with me (in a lightweight package) ALWAYS- and a larder of goods waiting for me at my destination. I don't think I'm going to stop and fish along the way home, so I don't carry tackle. I have a a couple salami and dried soup and coffee and electrolytes to get me there where I have my hunting rifle and a hell of a lot of grain and canned foods.

I'm prepared to trap rabbits. I'd gig frogs, I'd shoot wild turkeys, quail and woodrats. I also keep a large seed collection and keep an abundant home garden, this is the other part of the equation to me. I like practicing off the grid living because at some point, even for a short amount of time, we will all be living off the grid. And if nothing catastrophic ever happens, great. Its been a hell of a good time - and rewarding.
 
stabman said:
It DOES make sense.Having a month or two of food reserves serves you very well if you become unemployed; it's much easier to pay the rent when you don'y have to pay for food right then.Also, it's food. As long as you aren't hording it to the point where it impacts on your living space, having extra around is smart, not stupid. I mean, none of us are going to stop eating anytime soo.Might as well have some extras of ither things we use on a regular basis, like toilet paper and soap. You don't want to have to stink and be unable to wipe your rear end because your boss had a hissy fit and you lost your job, or that big snowstorm hit and you're stuck in the house for two weeks.:cool:
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You missed my point amigo. I am not in disagreement with you. My point concluded on the tone that it was normal - “It's just life”. My contention was that no special sense - “survival”- was required. In the same way you have to have an abnormality somewhere to have the “survival cat food tin”, or “survival refrigerator”, or “survival chest freezer” concepts. However, if you lived on takeaway food perhaps the chest freezer may be as abnormal as keeping chickens or having a flour bin that holds several kilos. Then my huge flour bin could be regarded by them as my survival flour stockpile. To me it's just a thing in my kitchen 'cos I bake. :)
 
One guys giggin frogs and another guys got flour. All we need now is a skillet, some oil and beer and there is nothing else to worry about....maybe some hot sauce...anybody got an unarmed neighbor with hot sauce?
 
baldtaco-II said:
However, if you lived on takeaway food perhaps the chest freezer may be as abnormal as keeping chickens or having a flour bin that holds several kilos.
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I knew people for whom that was true. If it didn't come in wrapper, it wasn't food.:D
 
Wilderness survival knowledge and skills can also help you deal with emergencies at home or traveling. Natural disasters like floods, tornadoes, severe winter storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, and serious power outages create conditions, like the wilderness, where you may be thrown, more or less, on your own resources for a time.
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grafton said:
One guys giggin frogs and another guys got flour. All we need now is a skillet, some oil and beer and there is nothing else to worry about....maybe some hot sauce...anybody got an unarmed neighbor with hot sauce?
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Mexico??? :)
 
russamurai said:
Mexico??? :)
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Screw that they have Edwood7. :eek:

I used to feel the way you do but I've noticed the more skills I obtain the less anxious I am about things. I don't believe in doomsday scenarios but I do prepare for things like storms and quakes. To me that's not being a survivalist it's being prudent. Now, if you have a couple safes of guns and spend your time buying stuff rather then learning stuff you may be a survivalist.
 
My grandparents were survivalists. They survived the great flood of '27. Granpa cut their back porch off with an axe and used it to raft the family to high ground after the levee broke. Then they survived the depression and the shortages of WWII. Chickens, hogs, a garden, hunting and fishing, pear trees. I guess I had good mentors.
 
crktm1612m said:
You want some more doom and gloom?

Fresh water is running out.

Most of the earth's fresh water is frozen and currently melting away into the sea at an unprecedented rate.

2 million people die annually because of lack of water and sanitation.

I'd stock up on water too if I were you. I don't know anything about the logistics of storing water, but it probably isn't that difficult.
Click to expand...

Fresh water is not running out. It's a renewable resource.
 
stabman said:
The world ain't gonna came crashing down.
Realistically, the thing to adjust to is the idea that most of us will have to survive on minimum wage jobs, and forget about luxuries like cars, or retiring.
Click to expand...

So yer sayin I won't know the difference if it comes to that?:)
 
For me i did start slowly to put food away about 3 gallons of cooking oil. Other basic supplies. Over here its earthquake I want to get enough to last me min for a month for 6 people. My goal is more for 2-3 months including water. Got tarps to make shelters..slowly working on all of it..
 
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