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Monday, December 31, 2012

Disappointed in the Mayan Apocalypse?



Are you one of those people that might be even a tiny bit disappointed that we didn't have a Mayan Apocalypse? Did you have your hopes up for some zombie shooting? Fancy yourself a survivor type?

What is it about your current life that makes an apocalypse look like an improvement?

There's good news. You don't have to wait for a total systems failure to radically change your life. All you have to do is to change your life.

What's the matter? Can't do that?

Why not?

Afraid that maybe you aren't the survivor type you think you are? Now would be the time to find out for sure, when we are not in a total collapse. It's easier to recover from any mistakes.

Can't run away and hide in the National Forest because you'd get arrested? Did you think it would be easier dealing with the biker gang warlords that would control the area in a real collapse? Maybe you have to reconsider the whole run away to the forest daydream.

It's easy for life to slip into a rut. Your life might not be all you wanted, but it's not too terrible. TV and a few beers numb you just enough to get by. Positive change will just sneak up and happen to you one day. Maybe an apocalypse is more likely after all.

Do you really need that drastic of an excuse to change your life? Bothered by the potential criticism of friends and family? Don't let that stop you. Most people hate to see someone escape the life of the mundane. It's funny how often middle aged adults make major life changes after their parents die. They might be 50 years old, but are still afraid of doing something to disappoint their parents. Two things happen when the parents pass on. That potential disappoint is gone, and it's a reminder that you aren't going to live forever.

What if you set out on a new life adventure and it fails? I've news for you. At least part, and maybe all of your new plans will fail. Doing anything new has a steep learning curve. However, you will learn something. Maybe that's better than never doing anything new?

A fast collapse forces people out of ruts. The slow grinding collapse we are in sneaks up on people and they slowly adapt to feeling miserable. Breaking out of that takes work. Most people won't admit that anything really major is wrong. I'm old enough to remember when every building and street corner did not have a surveillance camera. A blue collar job paid as well as a college professor. Your boss didn't live in a high priced gated community but across the street from you. The collapse takes decades, not days.

If you do break free, much of what you do will be on your own. However, you will meet other adventurers along the way. They will be your tribe. These are the people you can trade knowledge, goods, skills, tools, and party with.

You've been shackled with debt, responsibilities, expectations, laws and shame. Look at your chains. Will it take an apocalypse to break them or can you slowly file them off yourself?
Freedom might require any number of disguises. You aren't a wandering vagabond; you are hiking the Appalachian Trail. You aren't living in a tent -it's an extended vacation. You are not an unemployed bum, but an artist, musician or a writer. You aren't a trash picker but a radical recycling environmentalist.

You are fighting your oppressor, not with a gun, but with something that really hurts. You are living free and easy on the land, outside of normal controls. Leaders need followers to survive, and you can be your own leader, no apocalypse required.

-Sixbears

27 comments:

  1. been smashing the glass house for decades

    it is tough being free against so "many concern experts" but am refusing to be their lab rat running their structured mazes

    am not ever their pet or slave

    am Shandidorcan Wildflower

    LIVE FREE FOREVER!

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    1. Live Free!

      A few of us lab rats have chewed through the walls.

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  2. For my 35th birthday, I bought myself a paperweight that asks: What would you do if you could not fail? I've tried to live with that as my motto ever since.

    The journey has been very interesting so far. Left the big city, drove a 36' Airstream across the US and Alaska by myself without having ever driven a trailer before, bought a farm off the internet, joined the Quakers, started homeschooling, started writing a book...the list goes on. Half my relatives think I need medication, the other half worry about saving my soul. Hoping the apocalypse/rapture/teotwawki doesn't happen anytime soon; I'm having too much fun with life, even with all the failures and mistakes I've made.

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    1. That's the point. You are living your own life and having fun doing it.

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  3. A great post to end the year Sixbears...

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  4. Excellent post! I must admit a little disappointment, not for a cataclysm, but for the New-Agey predictions of a sudden rise in everyone's consciousness. I thought it was extremely unlikely, but it would have been great, kind of like winning the lottery. So it's back to raising people's consciousness one-by-one, a little at a time.

    As far as a cataclysm is concerned, I was far more relieved when Israel backed down from their November deadline for bombing Iran. Every day we have before TSHTF is another day for me to prepare, for which I am grateful.

    Now on to Taxmaggeddon... it'll be interesting (as in the Chinese curse) explaining to middle class people why they owe the government thousands of dollars more than last year.

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    1. Thanks John.

      What? Am I the only one who felt a rise in consiousness? :)

      I'm with on Isarel. I think there are some serious shake ups going on behind the scenes.

      Taxmaggeddon! Good name for it. Glad I don't have to pay taxes or even file a tax form.

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  5. Partly hilarious, partyly inspiring, every word true. Excellent post!

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  6. Phyllis (N/W Jersey)December 31, 2012 at 7:08 AM

    Good post to end the year with, Sixbears. And so true_ - you always learn something valuable from change. Have a Happy, Healthy, Fun New Year!

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  7. Great post. For 25 years I lived as a "free man", meaning no 40 hr. week job. Then last spring I decided to see what a regular paycheck would look like. For 5 months I put in the 60 hours a week thing. I learned that a steady paycheck is overated, by far, when compared to freedom. I quit that job & now live off the seat of my pants like I always have. The main key to "freedom" is owning a home and being debt free. Live free or die!

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    1. Thanks. Owning a home and being debt free is one route to freedom.

      Smart of you to not pick up any long term debt while doing your job experiment. That would have shackled you.

      Live free or Die! The NH state motto. Love it!

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  8. That was a great post Sixbears - Thanks! You are correct about pointing out changes occurring right after a personal loss or crisis. No one lives forever and the word IF is such regrettable word.

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    1. Thank you. Let's keep regrets to a minimum. Happy New Year.

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  9. Can't argue a single point, good post.

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  10. Chuckle. So very true. I know one of that 'type.' Always with the, 'it's time, run.' Silly.

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  11. I'm glad I don't have to wait til you die, before I radically change my life. ;) <3

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    1. I know, that's what I'm saying! <3 Love ya Dad!

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  12. Good thing my normal is exciting enough!

    Excellent post today, my friend!

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    1. Nothing wrong with enjoying your normal life.

      Thanks Hermit Jim. You have a good New Year.

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  13. I have lived out bush for many years now, but to be totally self-reliant & self-sufficient whilst still having to pay rates & the PP board for services we don't get makes it kind of hard. I have fought off raiders, I know what it is like. If you have not had this experience yet, then you are lucky. But to be honest, I worry more about being able to pay the rates & the PP board so I can stay on my own land, than I am about TEOTWAWKI.
    Take care.
    Regards, Keith.
    http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com.au

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    1. It can be tough, but you are doing it. Congratulations! Yeah, it appears the tax man will be the last to go.

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