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Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Are you looking forward to the collapse?



Someone recently asked me that. In short, heck no. Just because I have a few more preps than most people doesn't mean I want it to happen. For goodness sake, I'm 59 and fairly comfortable. I've figured out how to get by in the world we have. I could probably go a long ways in a fast collapse situation, but that would be by virtue of my isolation and keeping my head down. That, and the ability to live on bugs and tree bark if necessary.

It might have been more interesting back when I was 18 and full of myself. Of course, I'd probably have ended up dead within six months -or some kind of primitive warlord. That's how things shake out in a fast collapse situation. The most likely outcome would have been dead. Young idealist people who take up arms don't usually turn out well.

For large segments of the population a slow collapse is underway. The middle class is running faster just to stay in place. Young people are really getting the short end of the stick. Working low wage jobs while carrying a large student debt is not sustainable. They have little investment in the system. Heck, if they organized they could crash the financial situation by not paying their student loans all at once.

Income disparity is very bad right now. When 8 people have more wealth that the poorest 4 billion, something is broken. It's been getting worse. Fewer and fewer people will continue to control more and more -if this goes on.

There are some serious challenges, economic, environmental, energy issues, disease, and so on. In a lot of sectors we are already in a slow collapse. It's not everywhere and everybody, but problems have a way of worsening each other.

Is there no hope? Actually, there are some positive signs. People are fighting the good fight, searching for patches and fixes. Solutions tend to be incremental over time and aren't particularly sexy. Often they aren't very satisfying, but as long as they are good enough, we keep on keeping on. Gradual change over a long period of time is change I can believe in.

While I have preps, I'm hoping to only need them for fairly normal disruptions, things like storms and financial set backs. While the whole world crashing and burning is exciting, I'd rather have a nice cup of coffee and a good book.

-Sixbears

16 comments:

  1. As you know, some folks don't have a lick a' sense!

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    1. Some folks are like dogs that chase parked cars. They keep bashing their heads and can't figure out why.

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  2. I'm with you, I have no desire to be suddenly thrust back into the 1850's.
    I don't own a Delorian either.

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    1. Flux capacitors aren't standard options either. Heck, just the level of dental care back then is enough to freak me out.

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  3. I'd make it for a while but would rather not have to. The ones who wouldn't make it are the ones who have the "gimme" attitude that don't want to earn their keep.

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    1. The death toll would be high, and who wants to see that?

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  4. Learning to live on make you currently earn is the biggest hurdle millenials have. When I was a kid (1970's), young couples lived in a starter home and a single, maaaybe his/her vehicles. And that was it until you either saved up enough to buy a modest home or started up a brood that required you do that.

    Not now. Newly minted couples now buy the 'McMansion' in exclusive gated community, dual vehicles and spend the next 40 years paying it off. IF everything goes without a hitch (accident - sickness - divorce), you might pay it off. Or be required to downsize your dreams, feeling like you were a failure.

    You didn't fail - you just did stupid things to get yourself in that position.

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    1. I see now that McMansions are a glut on the market and very hard to sell right now. However, that's what people were being advised to buy -as an investment. Lots of bad advice out there.

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  5. i don't see you as warlord, but rather as sachem, right hand pandit to the chief.

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    1. Much better role to play. I was an idiot at 18.

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    2. By the time I was 20, however, I was living like a responsible adult.

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  6. Being a Euel Gibbons fan, I could survive but it wouldn't be easy.

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    1. People who haven't lived off the land have no idea how much time and effort that takes.

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  7. Its just freakin' crazy scary. You're waiting for the other shoe to drop and praying its doesn't. Prepare the best you can I guess. But even with all the preparedness we do will it really be enough?

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    1. It can get to you if you let it. Preparing may not save you, but being unprepared definitely will doom you.

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