Good post MerCop.
Due to health reasons, despite being in good shape, I've had to face the fact that I won't be running and gunning like I used to. In times past, I could really give bad guys a problem. These days? Time to switch to more of the "old dog" tactics.
I think what we have is 3 generations removed from the last Crisis. We had a great depression, a world war, and a crises of self all in the span of 30 years. All of that has been largely forgotten by my current generation, and the one behind. I had a grandfather who stockpiled canned and dry goods in his basement, and slept with his Mark I Navy issue knife next to his bed. He was first Generation American, fought at Leyte, and survived the Great Depression in part by making wine for fine restaurants during Prohibition. His generation knew how to "survive" in a way that we have forgotten, and it has little to do with guns and gear, and more to do with mental grit. Resiliance is in the heart and mind of a man - that is what needs to be clutivated. Last crisis we had around these parts, while others were runnign around screaming about where they were going to get clean water, I was already 100 steps ahead, and I don't consider myself special.
Consider one thing that is necessary to survive is willingness to do thing you otherwise wouldn't. Such as breaking the law.
During my hobo days, I know I did some things that I wouldn't make a practice of these days. But, it was do it, or I might not see tomorrow.
It might mean leaving your family to the wolves. I don't mean immediate family. But, like MerCop stated, there's family members that have no interest in being remotely prepared, think you're an idiot, but yet will
demand you give up what's your for them come a crisis. Seriously, you might just have to skip town without telling them where you are going.
I think the biggest danger to "survivalists" isn't the tendency to want to load up on tactical gear, but the mindset that it's going to be fun, adventurous, and a change for some "grand, new beginning". Reality it's going to be frightening, boring, and a lot of work. Usually, any bright new beginning comes to the next generation, not the one going through the crisis.
BTW, I also grew up with depression-era parents. When my mother died, we found out how much of a packrat she was. We found food everywhere. Canned goods hidden under the stairs, in the box with her old vacuum cleaner, under her bed, behind her books on her bookshelves. She was no joke, man. When we got it all out, we were like "How the hell did she get it all in there?"
I recently found out I'm the same way. I cleaned out all of my closets and kept finding small boxes here and there. Looking in to see what was in it -- food. Here's another, what's in it? Food. Box with an inch of dust on it -- food. WTF? I don't even remember buying this!
