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Sunday, July 31, 2016

. . . and I feel fine



It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

-R.E.M.

It's a great song. Pretty much sums up how I'm feeling. Change is happing so fast now that it doesn't take decades for things to look totally different. The changes happen in a matter of months, days sometimes.

The world is always ending. Arrangements that once held value and made sense have their time and then time moves on. Hundreds of years ago, the pace of change was so slow that people could barely notice it in a single lifetime. Now the changes happen so fast it could blow your hat off.

Right now there's an awful lot of complicated stuff happening. An engineer will tell you that the more complicated a piece of machinery is, the more likely some critical part will fail. Our very civilization is like a very complicated machine. This particular machine's been running a bit too fast without enough lubrication and maintenance.

The world has complicated trade, military, religious, social, legal, and political arrangements. Globalism has delivered in some ways, providing cheap goods and services. The masters of the system: the capitalists, regulators, and political leaders have done very well. The average guy, not so much. There are winners and losers, but labor has made a quick race to the bottom. Even the Chinese workers are getting too pricey for today's markets.

Add in some real environmental issues and things get ugly. How many people know one of the main causes of the Syrian conflict is a prolonged drought? Crops fail. People get angry. There's blood in the streets.
The threat of war is higher than it's been in years. There are troop buildups that we haven't seen since the Cold War. The Chinese Navy is patrolling disputed waters. Don't forget N. Korea or even the Pakistan/India issues. Africa is a mess. The Middle East is always in turmoil.
Whoever becomes president is going to have their hands full. I've serious doubts about either candidate's ability to handle the problems. Hillery worries me because of her track record. Donald worries me because he doesn't have one -zero experience.

Yet with all this stuff going on, I feel fine. Financially I'm just getting by, but I am getting by. Certainly haven't missed any meals. I've family and friends who are darn good people. My basic needs are being met, along with most of my higher order needs. Things have been a lot worse for me. Heck, I even got a clean bill of heath from the doctor. No mean feat for an aging fat guy.
So I take precautions for tomorrow, but don't let it kill today's joy. Not an easy thing to do sometimes, but can be done. It helps that so many of my preps: my own well, country home, garden, alternative energy systems, improve my life today.
It helps that I've looked death in the face before. We got toe to toe, shook hands, then went our separate ways. Sure, he'll be back, but having been close to death before, I no longer fear it. Instead, I'm enjoying the days and hours granted to me now. They are all the more sweet for being a kinda bonus round.

I feel fine.

-Sixbears

15 comments:

  1. Glad you got a clean bill of health from you doctor! When you are healthy, the world does seem to be a better place.( And you are well enough to handle any problems). There isn't much the average person can do to change what's going on, but we should be aware of them. Being prepared is a great comfort and allows us to enjoy living.

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    1. I think I lucked out on the genetic lottery. Missed the major problems on both sides of my family.

      Having some preps is a darn good insurance.

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  2. And, most survivalists/preppers could due with this particular reality check. The constant Chicken Little routine isn't necessary.

    It makes sense to have more than 3 to 5 days worth of grub in the cupboard, and some camping gear for when the power goes off. Extra water stored cause I live in the desert. A way to protect yourself, for anybody north of me a way to stay warm, and beyond that, enjoy your life.

    Which is the best revenge against the power-hungry at the top of the dung heap called life. When you think about it, is one precarious position to be in. If the bottom of the dung heap stops supporting the top and walks away, they will no longer be up there.

    Good to read you got a clean bill of health! Now keep enjoy life.

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    1. A lot of "preppers" have a narrow focus on the disaster they are planning for. Makes them blind to other threats. Better to concentrate on providing basic needs than planning for the zombies.

      Rich folk hate it when us poor folk live better.

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  3. Despite all the end of the world type stuff that I repost on Facebook, I'm a bit like you. I know where I'm going in the next life, so this one isn't quite as dear as it once was.

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    1. We all have to die but that's no reason not to live.

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  4. Was it you that won the Power ball???? :)

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  5. Glad to hear that you are doing so well. Keep up the good work, what ever it is.

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    1. Thanks Dizzy. Not easy to keep a fat guy healthy, but so far so good.

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  6. death complained you need a shave and breath mints, otherwise she likes you

    Wildflower

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  7. Well stated, Sixbears, very well stated. And I concur.

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  8. If Hillary wins, my new end of the world song will be "It's all over" by Insane Clown Posse. Some really bad language, but the song says it like it is.

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    1. "I will survive" That could work. :)

      Now I've got to look that up. Thanks to comments on your blog I had to download and read "Castigo Cay." Loved all the bits on the water. The land stuff, not so much.

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