How long have you been forecasting gloom on this forum?

[francismilker]

I've been following this forum from the cattle side for a couple of years now. This whole time I've jumped on Survival and Emergency Preparedness from time to time to check things out once in a while. What I've read gives me the thought to ask this question:
How long are the doomsday prophets going to keep rambling on about "the end is near" or "it won't be long now"? Folks were also saying this back in the Great Depression and we're still here.
The simple fact is this: At some point if and when the "shtf" as you call it does happen you're not going to be able to outlast it with all of your preparedness. Sooner or later you're going to run out of supplies and then what?
While I'm not arguing with any of you that times could get worse and it's good to be prepared for these things, how far does one feasibly take it?
It's a great idea to have a "nest egg" and being prepared. It's just that it seems some folks' lives are consumed with the "what ifs". This mindset could possibly be robbing you of some sure joy and satifaction of life. If being prepared and stocking things up is what floats your boat, by all means, have at it.
We've heard the ol' saying, "the early bird gets the worm". Well, what about this one, "the second mouse gets the cheese"?

[palani]

As an alternative consider these folks who didn't plan ---
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009...we-secret-film

Starving children eat rats, families turn on each other and farmers kill their own livestock to survive. Smuggled film brings Mugabe nightmare to world's attention.

A Guardian film smuggled out of Zimbabwe brings home the economic devastation and deprivation Robert Mugabe has wreaked upon his own people. With Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader, preparing to take up the post of prime minister in a unity government, Sam Chakaipa, at considerable risk to himself and as an act of resistance, returned clandestinely to his village, 125 miles from Harare, to document the plight of his former neighbours.

The opposition activist has produced extraordinary footage of what Zimbabweans have to do in order to survive in a wrecked economy. As money is worthless – Zimbabwe is plagued by the world's highest inflation rate – the villagers are reduced to panning for gold in rivers. Instead of attending school, youngsters from the village scrabble knee-deep in muddy water or dig ever deeper holes in a desperate search for a few grains of gold.

These small supplies of the precious metal have thus become a crucial commodity Zimbabweans can trade for food; a loaf of bread is worth 0.1 grams. But only the young have the strength to dig and pan for gold; the village elders must go hungry, unless they have friends or relatives they can rely on. Some parents have been forced to feed rats to their children, and hunger has turned family members against each other.

It won't be the second mouse who gets the cheese. It will be the prepared person who gets to eat the mouse.

There will be no cheese.

[Callieslamb]

What gloom and doom are you forcasting?

When others post "be watchful, be careful" I appreciate it. It doesn't mean I think the "end" is near. Thank goodness someone preached 'the end is near' to me. As far as I am concerned, if it happens in 50 years, it will seem 'near'. I will take every whacky warning of gloom and doom and be prepared as much as you can - over anyone making fun of those that do so.

[wvstuck]

It seems even the blind eye of the media is starting to see the light... Many articles in Liberal and Conservative print are preaching the benefit of preparedness. The media has always been quick to point fingers and laugh at the funny people with the tin foil hats. Now they are talking about being prepared.... Hmm

One thing you should have learned by reading all these forums... Some will not run out of supplies anytime soon, I have been building a 'self sufficient lifestyle" as have many others. I save seed from one garden to plant the next, I hatch eggs from my chickens to keep the flow moving and food is being renewed and replaced constantly... I have two wells, I am planting even more herbs this year for flavoring food and working as a double in the medicine department. If the SHTF, I will not be able to produce my own plastic, nor can I create a CAT scan machine with spare parts from my barn. But you are living proof that the old ways worked, if you are posting in this forum... it means your ancestors survived without plastic, chemicals, or an emergency room... They didn't have cars, microwaves or space programs... yet they survived one generation to the next with hard work and some luck.

We'll make it, and so will others. You should plan to be self sufficient, don't plan to be stockpiled... Stockpiling only goes so far, self sufficiency goes on forever. Yes you can die of cancer without treatment, but luck and hard work maintained the planet for thousands of years... With no welfare, people ate if they worked... They didn't work they starved or were killed for stealing. Different rules, different times.

[horselover.com]

Originally Posted by palani

As an alternative consider these folks who didn't plan ---
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009...we-secret-film




It won't be the second mouse who gets the cheese. It will be the prepared person who gets to eat the mouse.

There will be no cheese.

I had not seen that video - thanks for posting it

[ejagno]

Francis;

I've never viewed the prepardness posts as "the end of the world". I see them as bringing forth daily news, potential disruptions or new ideas to help stay ahead of the masses or in my case enough to outlast the troubles. You see, each of us plan according to what our immediate threats are. I'd never think of prepping for a blizzard here along the Gulf coast but you can bet that I've got generators, fuel, food, tarps and alternate housing for the threat of hurricanes.

What about an injury or illness? In 1995 we lost our home in Rita, my son broke his leg at the growth plate, same son had cancer surgery twice, husband was diagnosed with cancer and my place of business was heavily damaged and sales severely hampered following Rita. Okay, so no home, no work and no one to help as everyone was suffering. It was preparing ahead of time that saved us that year.

Again in 1997 I almost lost that same child in a very serious accident that left him with 17 broken bones and internal bleeding. We had no insurance because he had to be cancer free for 5 years before they would cover him. Many surgeries later and still rebuilding our home he was diagnosed with cancer again. Let's just say that when I walked out of my business and locked the door permanently to take care of my child everything was paid for with the exception of the small mortgage on my home. He just had the final surgery to repair more injuries from that accident this year.

The prepardness allowed me to take care of my child, feed my family and not have to worry about having huge debt such as credit cards, car payments and huge mortgages on the business, property or the home. My business and commercial property were paid for, credit cards were paid in full, both vehicles are 4 years old and paid for. Utilities and my small home mortgage allowed us to survive on minimal thanks to a good food storage.

Understand that "the end" is simply an abbreviated term for "the end of our way of life as we know it" whether it be disaster, injury, illness, drought, war, unemployment or anything else that changes the way you live today. And I'm here to tell you that it can happen in the blink of an eye.

My pantry has suffered tremendously but we are back on the upswing and I'm preparing like crazy with every opportunity I have. It was invaluable.

[uyk7]

IMO, some people are called of God to warn others of future crisis. Some people will listen and prepare themselves as best they can. Some people will ignore the warnings. Some people will just make fun of the person warning of problems along with the people who are preparing. I would much rather be prepared than not. It certainly doesn't hurt to be ready even if nothing comes of it.


.

[7.62mmFMJ]

I don't understand the question.

If you wish to judge, then I will admit that I are "one" of dem survivalists. I enjoy it. Working toward self-sufficiency and building supplies of things that I can not provide is a great hedge.

Would you prefer we all adopt the new American Way and have 3 day's food, no preparation, and sit on our butt and watch American Idol and Dancing with the Stars?

[PhilJohnson]

Originally Posted by francismilker

How long are the doomsday prophets going to keep rambling on about "the end is near" or "it won't be long now"? Folks were also saying this back in the Great Depression and we're still here.

I think for most people here it isn't a matter of the world turning into a zombie filled post nuclear disaster zone as much as it is about preparing for local climatic events, job loss, and illness. I find a certain level of personal satisfaction in trying to become more self-sufficient.

The whole economy could blow up and the government could collapse tomorrow and I wouldn't consider that the end of the world. I think people who prep to the point of constant worry and cause themselves health troubles because of it perhaps take it too far. But I think for most folks prepping makes them at ease about the future instead of being afraid of it.

[Ernie]

I also missed your point in that initial post. Are you trying to warn us, enlighten us, or bash us? I just can't tell.

Ultimately if we can't outlast an emergency, we die. That's the way of it and you'll find that most of us have made our peace with it. You also pick a weird time to come in and try and poke fun at our concepts, when the whole situation of the world seems to be bent on proving us right.

[Explorer]

Originally Posted by Ernie

You also pick a weird time to come in and try and poke fun at our concepts, when the whole situation of the world seems to be bent on proving us right.

Isn't that when the bottom feeders start to show up?

[Sam_Luna]

Originally Posted by francismilker

How long are the doomsday prophets going to keep rambling on about "the end is near" or "it won't be long now"?

The simple fact is this: At some point if and when the "shtf" as you call it does happen you're not going to be able to outlast it with all of your preparedness. Sooner or later you're going to run out of supplies and then what?

It's just that it seems some folks' lives are consumed with the "what ifs". This mindset could possibly be robbing you of some sure joy and satifaction of life. If being prepared and stocking things up is what floats your boat, by all means, have at it.

We've heard the ol' saying, "the early bird gets the worm". Well, what about this one, "the second mouse gets the cheese"?

Thank you for expressing your opinion on our preparedness, obviously you don’t approve of our lifestyle.

Preparedness or Survivalism is more than supplies, it is a mindset / lifestyle. I know how to make fire many different ways, build shelter, find water, catch and find things to eat. That’s the base level knowledge. From there one expands out to learn more and more to the point of knowing how to operate a pre industrial age farm. Supplies just cushion you while your setting up systems to replace what is no longer available.

As far as Preparedness or Survivalism “robbing” me of the joy in life, it has led me to learn many skills, spend more time outside with nature, enriched my life with the wonder and beauty of nature, discover and build lifelong friendships, and much more including mentoring teenagers that otherwise would be running the streets. I don’t feel robbed in the slightest.

As Callieslamb has said, no one is crying doom or gloom, just be aware, make plans. You say that you visit the cattle forum; do you have insurance on your ranch, car, home, and health? How about treating your livestock with preventative medicines? All of this falls under being prepared, and surviving a catastrophe. You’re probably more like us than you may realize.

The end “could be” near!

Sam

[AngieM2]

Hmmm -
How long will we forcast 'disaster"? Forever - as things from job losses to health problems, etc up to THE END, do happen to someone you know, every day. How well prepared to bend instead of break, decides how much stress that you are under.

All this Survival stuff is, is modern version of your great granny and grandpa's storm cellar, pantry, garden, and farming. It's what America and most other countries grew from, sorta like learning the alphabet before you can read.

Angie

[Sam_Luna]

Originally Posted by AngieM2

All this Survival stuff is, is modern version of your great granny and grandpa's storm cellar, pantry, garden, and farming. It's what America and most other countries grew from, sorta like learning the alphabet before you can read.
Angie

Well said!




Sam

[Razorback21]

I've been posting on a business news forum and while I wouldn't say I was predicting what would eventually happen as I read my threads, I was repeatedly expressing concern why the banking industry's non-borrowed reserves slipped into the red, yet no banks were failing. This was back in November, 2007. It just didn't make sense, that is until Bear Stearns failed over the weekend in early 2008.

Concerning your thoughts that preparing is of little use, since when you run out of food its over anyway. We don't keep enough food stored to see us for 3-4 years. We only need to see us until the following harvest. They say only 1% of the American population has the skills and knowledge to able to feed themselves on a sustainable basis. I want to make sure I'm in that 1%.

I don't think the end is near. I do think life will be vastly different five years from now than today. I'm not the type to "let" things happen to me. I want to make things happen. I want to make my own luck and in turn, my future.

We do not spend every waking moment prepping. We invest time and money in it like the yuppies invest time and money in investments. We maintain and do as needed. We try to invest in items that can help us now and if the SHTF. Of the 112 waking hours every week, if I spend 1 or 2 hours prepping, that would be pushing it.

As for the second mouse getting the cheese, he'll have to dodge a lot of flying lead if he intends to get it from our farm if the SHTF.

[elkhound]

my life has great joy in it......i love to garden,raise livestock,can, fish and hunt,butcher animals for my own use,save money,spend money on good deals...etc.it jsut dont get any better than this.

besides i was brainwashed while growing up with my depression era grandparents.they never even threw away anything,includeing the bread wrapper tie thingy.

i love my life !!!!!!!

[Terri]

The end is NOT near!

But the recession we are in is going to hang around for a while!

I was appalled to see a small can of green beans for $1.27 at the store: to my relief most of the OTHER veggies were not at that high price!

I will, of course, have a garden this year but it the OTHER veggies go up, I will draft the kids to make it bigger! I have until May or June to plant for my area!

[hintonlady]

It honestly sounds like you have your mind made up before even asking. If you feel like you need proof or understanding about feelings that are worrying you great, you came to the right place.

If you came to point out the opinion that we are crack pots I would be glad to show you where general chat is on the forum. You won't learn a lot in here by coming in with a closed/made up mind.


I don't prophesy doom. In fact I prefer to put my head in the sand, life is easier that way. Ignornace is truly bliss. I may be quirky, eccentric and border on paranoid, doesn't mean fanatical prepping consumes my life. Mostly I have a well stocked pantry and an even better stocked working knowledge of basic survival because it is a hobby. Living sustainably just so happens to mesh harmoniously with a preppers lifestyle.

Sure, you got those types all through time who needed a fall out shelter, y2k supply and now stock pile things they may never use. We aren't all like that though. Most of us are quite normal and average. We just happen to collect water filters and garden seeds instead of designer purses or WWII memrobelia. As long as it doesn't take on addictive qualities (spending out of budget or an unhealthy preoccupation) there is no harm in it.


When did I start thinking about changing my lifestyle? It came slowly, wasn't like I woke up one day stricken with a message from some spirit guide or other ridiculous thing.

I lived in AZ and witnessed katrina over the television. Aside from the fact that the area had changed for the worse over the years (more crime, more traffic, worsening schools etc.) I concluded that living in the middle of a darned desert is unatural. Without natural food sources or a means to grow them people are at the mercy of imported needs. That just felt unsafe to me. NOT A SINGLE citified person would survive the treck out of a desert on foot to get to an area where they could live in the wild long term. Native Americans who have resided there for generations and live the old ways have a hard time making it as it is.

I always loved rural life and always wanted a farm. It made sense to me to pursue that. It also made sense to me to not be at the mercy of situations like Katrina. Life isn't a fairytale. All through time societies have emerged and collapsed, wars have ravaged countrysides, diseases and plagues have wiped out populations and natural disasters have well.......destroyed. You have seen the news lately right? (wanton debauchery, epidemics of drug addiction, economic turmoil....)

Deluding ourselves that these things could never happen to us is much more insane that believeing they can. I am sure that when Gallileo mentioned the world wasn't flat everyone thought he was a cook too.

So don't prep if you think it's silly. Don't come asking for help if you are left wanting either. To each their own.

[pickapeppa]

Survival is human nature. Those who haven't been watching the trends have slipped into the entertainment/consumerism mentality, and poo poo the tried and true. They're living in a fantasy world.

The people on this forum are informed and aware. And many of us prefer spending time with like minded folks.

This is a great community of people. We have some who live the lifestyle of the old ways and some who have one foot in modern times and one in the old ways.

But all of us have one thing in common, that being we all want to survive whatever comes our way.

Human nature. Make of it what you will.

With the doubling of our money supply, it's predictable how that affects our spending power in the coming months/years. It only makes sense to spend now on the necessities in order to save later.

Having a large supply of necessities on hand for whatever befalls us is a side benefit.

Seems like a smart personal strategy to me. It beats investing in cd's.

Mmmm, crow. The other white meat.

[beccachow]

Have you even considered what a small change it would take to create a SHTF scenario? Stocks fall. Money is lost. Increase in prices of day to day living basics. Increase in unemployment. Increase in prices paid for utilities. Rioting, looting and so forth (the usual American way of dealing with losses). Would I continue to commute to work in an area that will inevitably be one of those areas? Bam, my very own SHTF scenario caused by a drop in stocks. Who'da thunk it?

SHTF scenario with weather: Has happened to many of the people on this board. A Katrina would be considered a SHTF, now, wouldn't it? Gee, the dam didn't hold. Again, who'da thunk it?

I have learned a great deal from these good people. While I highly doubt that Aliens from the planet Mars will be coming down to enslave the human race, it certainly doesn't hurt to be prepared for even the most mundane of SHTF scenarios. I would like to know that I could hunker down on my little property and keep my family safe, protected and well fed for a decent amount of time from "(insert whatever threat here)."