I rarely write on the subject of survival in a crisis, because there are so many better qualified to handle that subject, i.e., Jack Lawson, Trooper and to some degree The Path Forward (which is better yet at other things), all excellent, all knowledgeable and trustworthy.
There are no Rambo's that will hold out alone. There is no one coming to rescue you, you are on your own unless you build a group of fellow citizens to help each other when trouble calls and it will. The first trouble will be with your family that has nothing and expects you to supply them with what ever you have saved just because "Family" once you deal with them the others will be easer if you deal with the family that think you saved stuff to give them. You will have to do it and it may suck but you will not survive if you don't. If you help your family they will think your stuff is theirs and will start making friends giving your things away.
Entitled unprepared bums will do you in if you let them. They will say but they needed help well just about everyone will need some help it is not your job and they could have been ready if they wanted to but choose not to.
Don't tell any one what you have or where it is when their family if desperate they will come for you and the thing you will need to do will be unsavory at best. No matter just how much you think you can trust them when their kids or wife are starving you will be a source of relief not a friend. Don't put them or yourself in that position.
The world has always been this way we just after WW II had an unnatural condition because we had just defeated the rest of the world without taking any real hits on the homeland and every one was scarred of us and for good reason. Find people to help defend the neighbor hood and leave it to that. You don't have enough food or water to supply an army so don't
It's a difficult road, and it's just as you say. Yes, know your neighbors, but how well? How quickly and how closely? What do you reveal, and what do you hold close? How many of them can keep their mouths shut? Can their relatives be trusted? Knowing your family may be an easier call, because you (theoretically) know them better, but it may be tougher telling them to F.O. depending on relationship.
As the old saying goes, "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail".
The good news is that preparation for one eventuality is also preparation for many. That said, no one can prepare to survive everything. The Yucatán Chicxulub event is one example. Somewhere in the middle, between zero and doom, can be an ever expanding sweet spot. As one expands their knowledge, skills, and infrastructure, chances improve. There will always be a need to satisfy Maslow's hierarchy https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html, and the prepper "Rule of Three" also applies https://www.saltandprepper.com/learn/skills/rule-of-threes. What has surprised me is the number of people who learned NOTHING from the covid scamdemic. Now, even after the details of the crime have been so well documented many don't care or don't believe it. They still trust government, media, academia, supply chains, etc. For them little can be done. Distancing oneself from them is also survival skill.
When it comes to civil disobedience one must be careful. The book "Three Felonies a Day" (along with many other such books) should be a cautionary tale. Both Beria in the USSR and Richelieu in 17th century France said some version of “Show me the man, I’ll find you the crime”. If the deep state can screw a billionaire and a former president, the common man has no chance. Don't be the nail sticking out. The hammer is waiting.
What has worked for us has been less government. Nearly 20 years ago we moved to a rural location. That in itself reduced the number of busy-bodies in my personal business. We have neighbors who mind their own business. No HOA. A smaller bureaucracy generally means smaller intrusiveness. Keep a low profile. Be a "gray man". We have also made an effort to stop feeding the beast. We take every legal deduction, and have done our best to have the least taxable income possible. We buy in bulk. We have reduced our public physical dependence to some food, propane, diesel, and buying spare and repair parts. Not off grid, but during sunny months the PV production and grid are a wash. This is not secret squirrel stuff, it just requires awareness, research, planning, and work.
Do I believe, despite my earnest wishes and prayers, that the ongoing invasion and cultural deterioration will ultimately be decided in a kinetic fashion? Sadly yes, even though (being an old guy) I'll probably not live long enough to see it. What I do see is too many people either asleep, ignorant, or misdirected. Too many who would rather (for whatever reason) hate Trump, will not vote, or will vote to hand the country over to the leftists. I see too many RINOs in Congress who are working hard, but not for the good of the country.
That way, as we have seen, lies chaos.
I do my best for me and mine, and try to enjoy the show.
One of the sad issues we old people are facing is the diminishing numbers within our Prepper groups. Not because we feel safer now, but merely because we have been doing this for so long that we are losing like minded souls to old age and death.
If you started preparing for when the balloon goes up when Clinton was elected then by now you are no run-and-gun operator any more. At best, we can only be a sit on the porch and pick the bastards off until they get us.
With the level of surveillance in use today I doubt there are many "gray men" in existence even those who think they have been careful. AI will root them out in a microsecond.
Our hopes were that we could pass on our knowledge, foresight, and training methods to the next generation to pick up the torch. It appears that generation has been brainwashed into thinking socialism is the path to free stuff. The result is that where 22 people showed up to train, in a few years it dwindled down to 5 old guys that hadn't died off yet.
The future of the republic is unknown, but its promise is on shaky ground. One thing we old farts can do is devote a day to resist. Let's do it. Someone pick a relevant day!
What you are saying is what gets me on the treadmill at night and out on the range. Unlike the song, I'm not only not as good as I ever was, I'm not as good ONCE as I ever was either. However, even though the Corps is 50 years in the rearview mirror, for now I can still move and shoot. Can I hump 20 miles with a ruck? Don't know, but maybe... for my life... but not quickly!
If it's a choice between going quietly, or on a pile of spent brass, most of the people I know, particularly the veterans, have already made the decision. The recent Twin Falls incident is just one more verification of the principles I've held since I was a kid. Keep your safety equipment handy, and be handy with it.
“A man who is no good with a gun is likely no good without it either."
Outstanding essay Mr. Davis! Well-reasoned and written. I am certainly going to pass this essay on to friends and Family. I look at being prepared, as much as possible for as many events/situations as possible like a defense in depth. With small groups and networks of like-minded folks that defense in depth takes on real dimensions.
Somewhere deep down inside of each conservative voter, they understand the system is shot through and nothing short of an honest-to-goodness revolution is going to fix it, but we're all still fairly comfortable. Few are going hungry relatively speaking. Basic services are intact. A lot of the lower echelon is still able to pump the state for freebies. And most importantly, 'sportsball' is still alive and well. So it's easier to wish upon a savior to do the heavy lifting for you.
Given all that, there's no reason to act up....yet. Unfortunately history is quite instructive on this. When the "time to act" is finally upon us, it will already be too late....A common human foible.
There are no Rambo's that will hold out alone. There is no one coming to rescue you, you are on your own unless you build a group of fellow citizens to help each other when trouble calls and it will. The first trouble will be with your family that has nothing and expects you to supply them with what ever you have saved just because "Family" once you deal with them the others will be easer if you deal with the family that think you saved stuff to give them. You will have to do it and it may suck but you will not survive if you don't. If you help your family they will think your stuff is theirs and will start making friends giving your things away.
Entitled unprepared bums will do you in if you let them. They will say but they needed help well just about everyone will need some help it is not your job and they could have been ready if they wanted to but choose not to.
Don't tell any one what you have or where it is when their family if desperate they will come for you and the thing you will need to do will be unsavory at best. No matter just how much you think you can trust them when their kids or wife are starving you will be a source of relief not a friend. Don't put them or yourself in that position.
The world has always been this way we just after WW II had an unnatural condition because we had just defeated the rest of the world without taking any real hits on the homeland and every one was scarred of us and for good reason. Find people to help defend the neighbor hood and leave it to that. You don't have enough food or water to supply an army so don't
It's a difficult road, and it's just as you say. Yes, know your neighbors, but how well? How quickly and how closely? What do you reveal, and what do you hold close? How many of them can keep their mouths shut? Can their relatives be trusted? Knowing your family may be an easier call, because you (theoretically) know them better, but it may be tougher telling them to F.O. depending on relationship.
As the old saying goes, "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail".
Hi T.L. I am in TN. Middle TN. If I can add value to the efforts….reach out.
Ya know I’ve been circling the wagons a long time. 😀
We might have occasion to meet outside of this, though. I have some interest in Tennessee on another matter.
The good news is that preparation for one eventuality is also preparation for many. That said, no one can prepare to survive everything. The Yucatán Chicxulub event is one example. Somewhere in the middle, between zero and doom, can be an ever expanding sweet spot. As one expands their knowledge, skills, and infrastructure, chances improve. There will always be a need to satisfy Maslow's hierarchy https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html, and the prepper "Rule of Three" also applies https://www.saltandprepper.com/learn/skills/rule-of-threes. What has surprised me is the number of people who learned NOTHING from the covid scamdemic. Now, even after the details of the crime have been so well documented many don't care or don't believe it. They still trust government, media, academia, supply chains, etc. For them little can be done. Distancing oneself from them is also survival skill.
When it comes to civil disobedience one must be careful. The book "Three Felonies a Day" (along with many other such books) should be a cautionary tale. Both Beria in the USSR and Richelieu in 17th century France said some version of “Show me the man, I’ll find you the crime”. If the deep state can screw a billionaire and a former president, the common man has no chance. Don't be the nail sticking out. The hammer is waiting.
What has worked for us has been less government. Nearly 20 years ago we moved to a rural location. That in itself reduced the number of busy-bodies in my personal business. We have neighbors who mind their own business. No HOA. A smaller bureaucracy generally means smaller intrusiveness. Keep a low profile. Be a "gray man". We have also made an effort to stop feeding the beast. We take every legal deduction, and have done our best to have the least taxable income possible. We buy in bulk. We have reduced our public physical dependence to some food, propane, diesel, and buying spare and repair parts. Not off grid, but during sunny months the PV production and grid are a wash. This is not secret squirrel stuff, it just requires awareness, research, planning, and work.
Do I believe, despite my earnest wishes and prayers, that the ongoing invasion and cultural deterioration will ultimately be decided in a kinetic fashion? Sadly yes, even though (being an old guy) I'll probably not live long enough to see it. What I do see is too many people either asleep, ignorant, or misdirected. Too many who would rather (for whatever reason) hate Trump, will not vote, or will vote to hand the country over to the leftists. I see too many RINOs in Congress who are working hard, but not for the good of the country.
That way, as we have seen, lies chaos.
I do my best for me and mine, and try to enjoy the show.
I think of the lyrics to Emerson, Lake, and Palmer "Karn Evil 9" (Come and See The Show) https://www.songlyrics.com/emerson-lake-palmer/karn-evil-9-1st-2nd-3rd-impressions-lyrics/
One of the sad issues we old people are facing is the diminishing numbers within our Prepper groups. Not because we feel safer now, but merely because we have been doing this for so long that we are losing like minded souls to old age and death.
If you started preparing for when the balloon goes up when Clinton was elected then by now you are no run-and-gun operator any more. At best, we can only be a sit on the porch and pick the bastards off until they get us.
With the level of surveillance in use today I doubt there are many "gray men" in existence even those who think they have been careful. AI will root them out in a microsecond.
Our hopes were that we could pass on our knowledge, foresight, and training methods to the next generation to pick up the torch. It appears that generation has been brainwashed into thinking socialism is the path to free stuff. The result is that where 22 people showed up to train, in a few years it dwindled down to 5 old guys that hadn't died off yet.
The future of the republic is unknown, but its promise is on shaky ground. One thing we old farts can do is devote a day to resist. Let's do it. Someone pick a relevant day!
Amen Marine!
What you are saying is what gets me on the treadmill at night and out on the range. Unlike the song, I'm not only not as good as I ever was, I'm not as good ONCE as I ever was either. However, even though the Corps is 50 years in the rearview mirror, for now I can still move and shoot. Can I hump 20 miles with a ruck? Don't know, but maybe... for my life... but not quickly!
Same situation for me. I can at least be a stubborn rear guard for a time. Maybe from that porch.
If it's a choice between going quietly, or on a pile of spent brass, most of the people I know, particularly the veterans, have already made the decision. The recent Twin Falls incident is just one more verification of the principles I've held since I was a kid. Keep your safety equipment handy, and be handy with it.
“A man who is no good with a gun is likely no good without it either."
-Wyatt Earp
Great!
Outstanding essay Mr. Davis! Well-reasoned and written. I am certainly going to pass this essay on to friends and Family. I look at being prepared, as much as possible for as many events/situations as possible like a defense in depth. With small groups and networks of like-minded folks that defense in depth takes on real dimensions.
Somewhere deep down inside of each conservative voter, they understand the system is shot through and nothing short of an honest-to-goodness revolution is going to fix it, but we're all still fairly comfortable. Few are going hungry relatively speaking. Basic services are intact. A lot of the lower echelon is still able to pump the state for freebies. And most importantly, 'sportsball' is still alive and well. So it's easier to wish upon a savior to do the heavy lifting for you.
Given all that, there's no reason to act up....yet. Unfortunately history is quite instructive on this. When the "time to act" is finally upon us, it will already be too late....A common human foible.