How self-sufficient are you?

19 Comments

Do you pride yourself on having a good base of knowledge AND SKILL(!!) vital to life (basic emergency medicine, gowing/hunting food, finding or making good shelter and otherwise making good use of resources for long term survival)?

Or would you be completely lost if you didn't have electricity, a grocery store and everything readily available to you as far as services for an extended period, or even indefinitely?

I'm prepared very well. I'd be in HIGH demand. 25
I might have skill in one area but not others. I'd barter I guess. 29
I would have to rob and steal to survive, that's my plan. 15
I don't know what I'd do, I'd be screwed. 11
If society completely crumbled I wouldn't want to go on living anyway. 4
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Comments ( 19 )
  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    I'd like to think I am but about a month ago I called tech support to find out why my un-plugged DVD player wasn't working.

    Yeah I'm that guy.

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  • howaminotmyself
    13 years ago

    These are skills I value very much. This is partially why I help people build gardens in their back yard. We need to figure out the transition.

    I can make soap and medicine. My best friend can sew, and my husband can herd cats...wait, he can build solid structures for living while teaching you to be self reliant.

    What can you do?

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      13 years ago

      I can do anything and everything I'd ever need and then some.

      This is my forte, it's what I love, almost every moment of my life is spent learning and putting to practise anything of REAL value. I got the basics down long ago and now I get to practise all the extras, the frills, the fun stuff.

      I'm not a survival nut nor do I have any impending doomsday beliefs, I just don't believe in being totally reliant on anyone or anything but myself. I think it's sad that people are so disconnected and that iPhones are more important than basic living skills, but oh well. What can ya do? I'll help anyone who wants help, gladly, but unfortunately it's rare that someone is interested or sticks with it.

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      • howaminotmyself
        13 years ago

        I think you'd be surprised at how many are interested. I think it's more about what you can teach. It's great to have the knowledge and skill sets but pass that knowledge on to someone in need. There are a lot of people who don't care but there are more people who don't know they need to care. Attacking them for ignorance won't solve the problem. Teach them your values. Help them build a latrine and teach them the importance of clean water, collect rainwater in barrels, and share what you can. When tough times hit, we will need the support of our community. Being independent is good, but it isn't enough.

        This is why I build gardens. Food will really be the biggest issue. We can survive without phones, but not without food. And life isn't very fulfilling without people to share it with. At least it isn't enough for me.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          13 years ago

          I think people know very well they should be more proactive in this regard but in typical "people" fashion, they don't worry about it untill it's too late. I agree our skills should be shared at every opportunity, it just saddens me to see people not stick with it or not care, and then when things get really tough they expect you to help them in a pinch. I have a problem with that.

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          • howaminotmyself
            13 years ago

            I'm being defensive because my parents fall into this category. My mother causally states that she will use a paper towel instead of a clean plate as to not "waste" the clean plate. She thought she was doing me a favor. I had to then tell her what "waste" meant to me. She tries, but her perception is hard to change. And then my dad sends me an email with a "newsflash" processed canned foods made in China. They are slowly getting it. Really slowly.

            But they are boomers, some of the hardest people to teach anything that they don't think they already know. This saddens me too. I've spent much time dealing with the apathetic public as well as the ill informed trying to educate and motivate people. I've nearly lost hope many times. But then my nephew yells at me for referring to a plastic tub as "trash." He is an expert at sorting the recyclables and this makes me happy.

            So I am glad that you see and know what potential badness that is out there. And trust me, I am surrounded by people who all agree. I am where people will flock when the shit hits the fan. But when all is said and done, I will help people out in a pinch. Why, because I can and that's what I do. This will not be the time for "I told you so."

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  • BoredGuy
    13 years ago

    Only thing that concerns me he most, is where i could find shaved pussy if society crumbled.

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    • [Old Memory]
      13 years ago

      I've had complete electrology just so I don't have to worry about events like this.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      13 years ago

      Somebody's stockpiling razors, I'm sure. Well, there's always the old straightblade, maybe keep a couple on hand, they last forever.

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    I'd have my staff work it out.

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  • dappled
    13 years ago

    You'd be surprised how much you learn when you find yourself in a difficult situation. Although, for me, being self-sufficient in an urban environment was a lot easier than those people who do it in the wilderness.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      13 years ago

      Well you wouldn't last too long in an urban environment!!

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      • dappled
        13 years ago

        You'd be surprised where you can live when you don't have a choice in the matter. And you'd be stunned at the quality of life you can maintain. I did it for seven months.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          13 years ago

          You had no services such as water, a heating system other than firewood you cut yourself, no electric, you produced or bartered for all your food, no doctor, no nothing?

          You forget all of your enemies in an urban environemnt without any services. Water and sanitation is a big one, you simply couldn't live there long for those reasons alone, at least untill things settled down and people died off or left, then you may be able to return and try again, who knows. There's reasons why people leave cities in droves when disaster strikes.

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          • dappled
            13 years ago

            I was being subtle because I hate the "H" word. But, being more blunt, I was homeless. So no, I didn't have any services other than the fact that society throws away a lot of things I could use.

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    I can create a one-man civilization with nothing but a knife. Shelter, fire, food, water, clothing...I can do it all on my own; I don't strictly need civilization. I'd certainly like to at least have my shotgun though.

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    Honestly, I am not prepared for the long haul in a "state of nature". People are pretty insufferable now. Fighting for my very life (and with scarce resources) every moment of every day for the rest of my short,horrid life would not be to my liking.

    Some "survivalist" enthusiasts are stockpiling food, weapons, and other useful items and resources at this very moment in order to be Sauron of Mordor when the shit hits the fan. I, however, do not have the hardiness of a cockroach or the ruthlessness of Richard iii, to make a go of it. Additionally, "Long Pig" could never be on "my" menu.

    Some wealthy folks have bought compartments in underground, modern bunkers in the desert. These "ant hills" are a very interesting alternative for sheltering a large amount of people after Doom's Day. However, I would never buy into one b/c there are too many fails in this sort of living system. An obvious one would be if they became trapped down there and were short on food. What's for dinner next? I would never lock myself up with a bunch of people without a reliable means of immediate escape. And, I would never join some "Know It All's" above ground camp either. If the said authority or "Go To Survival Guy or Girl" is apeshit crazy, I would be screwed in that environment, as well. Think of The Reverend Jim Jones or "Christabella", from "Silent Hill".

    A group that I can envision surviving this sort of epic crisis very well (if they were secluded from marauders) would be the Amish. Their one fatal flaw would be their belief in nonviolence.

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    I am good at surviving and know alot of things which would benefit me.

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  • Faceless
    13 years ago

    I only know how to survive a zombie pandemic. Im pretty much fucked for anything else.

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