Emergency Survival Kit

"I hate to say this but for long term survival the only guys that will make it are the preppers."

Couple points. Long term survivors will also include those who fast become preppers (form their own communities, join existing ones, et cetera).

Second point. Don't discount the value of short-term survival.

Long term survivors will also include those who fast become preppers (form their own communities, join existing ones, et cetera).

Okay, I'll agree to that one but it will be a remote option. You don't just wander into a small town and say "I'm here to survive do you want me?" especially AFTER the disaster has gone down.... Small towns just aren't that trusting. Ask folks who've moved to one even in the best of times. Folks are nice enough but you're ALWAYS an outsider even sometimes after 20 years. Anyway, just so long as you agree that the Jeremiah Johnson scenario isn't viable for long term survival.

Don't discount the value of short-term survival.

On the contrary, it's critical, especially if the disaster is also short lived. But in the proverbial 2012 TEOTWAWKI scenario or more accurately in the Luicifer's Hammer plot line (read the book by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle) where it's not assured the world will end, but it's not coming back full strength for decades.... the preppers have it cold.

" You don't just wander into a small town and say "I'm here to survive do you want me?" especially AFTER the disaster has gone down...."

I am not sure that this is a remote option as you put it. There are many skills that would be needed in a TEOTWAWKI scenario.

Would this "small town" refuse a doctor, a master carpenter, gunsmith, and so on? These sorts of quality people will be looking for safe-havens, places, groups to join. On the balance sheet of "another mouth to feed" they come up way into the black.

Would this "small town" refuse a doctor, a master carpenter, gunsmith, and so on? These sorts of quality people will be looking for safe-havens, places, groups to join. On the balance sheet of "another mouth to feed" they come up way into the black.

Another good, valid point but a small one. Unfortunately we are no longer a society of craftsmen. What are the percentages or numbers of folks like this who will be seeking safe havens versus the businessman or the computer tech whose sole skill was fried when the grid (along with the internet) went down or the McDonald's Cashier and his nine kid brothers? The people who have a really marketable skill that are available in significant numbers will be the combat experienced veterans who will be able to sell their skills as a potential security force in exchange for food or shelter or safe haven. Ever see the short lived series on called Jericho? When a small town in the midwest had to survive following widespread WMD terror attacks. I suspect the series died because it presented a vision that struck too close to a possible future reality that nobody wants to contemplate. Jericho faced similar issues as we're discussing.

I spend alot of time taking things apart and fixing/upgrading them. For instance, I recently got done converting a floor lamp from flourescent to quartz/halide, because the ballast blew out and I couldn’t find another one.

I am a firm believer that if the SHTF, people who can fix fans will be in high demand!

There is TONS AND TONS of stuff thrown away in this country every day that with a little cleaning, refurbishing, lubricating, TLC, whatever, might have another five years of good use.

But we live in a throw away planned obsolescence society. You can bet that’s gonna change!

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