My intentions with my articles are never to mock anyone. This article is no exception. On the contrary, I give kudos to those who (finally!) understand and have jumped onto the self-sufficiency wagon.
I know many funny memes are going around the prepping community regarding how “happy” some preppers are after finally getting the chance to face “the real thing.” It’s not that easy.
Many of Us Are Deeply Concerned About the Future
Sure we are better prepared to face all the hype and to sail the muddy waters. But, not even the most ignorant prepper (if someone who preps could be labeled as such) would be “happy” to endure any difficulty.
We have not even ended the first quarter of the recession. Yet, most of the world is feeling the devastating effects of the current economic situation.
I find it unnerving how many people had to be continuously bombed for months and months with the need to prepare and understand the real threat. Even though this happened on a worldwide scale!
The most visible indication of sheep getting “prepared” for Doomsday and SHTF is…toilet paper running out worldwide! W.T.F.?
Related: Can’t Find Toilet Paper? Here Are 12 Alternatives
I am sure whoever planned all this stuff has had a good laugh every time they think about this. And yes, I chuckle now too. Can’t avoid it.
Where Would I Be Without Prepping?
I don’t know.
My initial prep-steps were taken (two decades ago, maybe more, the mind setup was always there) to overcome problems on an extended motorcycle road trip. Still, at 12 years old, I took my Rudiger Nehberg’s book “Survival” with me on every trip. And the U.S. Army Survival Manual Spanish Edition from those years.
A deep and lasting impression was made on me. However, recent times have caused me to reevaluate how crucial hard cases are to keep gear intact and dry, for instance. And, the need to have the most resistant rope (tightly packed) and a tarp. And how necessary it is to learn how to tie a good knot.
While researching ways to financial freedom (so I could afford to ride all over my beautiful country), I discovered many websites. I found websites on permaculture, motorcycle trip planning, survivalism, B.B.S., and more.
This is where I am now. Grateful to be a prepper.
Having a kid of my own has made it easier to make decisions for essential provisions, like water and power for fan, fridge, freezer, and lights. Now, I carry a good, unbreakable water bottle on me at all times. My boots, perfectly waxed and cleaned, are near the door, and my backpack under the bed ready to go.
Going further with my prepping would mean to get my B.O.L. to the stage I intend to and acquiring a diesel-retrofitted Pinzgauer. It would be a BLAST to run a business transporting people in Venezuela. I could be making good bucks without too much effort.
SARSCov2: What we have experienced so far is not even the real thing.
This pandemic has been an absolute shock for most. The bad news, as far as I see it, it is not even remotely close to being over. Sorry.
I can smell it. I can perceive it. Why is this? Because I have seen the evil behavior of the gangs ruling a country. Chasing families of anyone they consider their enemies. They are the same gang orchestrating all this scenario. They will do anything within reach to achieve their goals. It will not be over until they do so.
Most of those grey back wolves all over likely agree with me: too much noise, too much nonsense. Other diseases were far worse, and the media handling of those diseases was not even close to this shameful parade.
Is the bug dangerous? Sure it is. It was designed to produce a death toll to scare sheep and force non-sheep to stay put. But you can’t, or shouldn’t jump into a crystal bubble. Ahem…especially being 3000km away from the place chosen to set up your B.O.L. And…the borders are closed.
All that is left to do now is face it bravely. So far, so good
Regarding the above scenario, I was never terribly nervous or excessively afraid. Yes, I had some bad moments, as usual. Maybe the lack of sun or vitamin C in those days. I couldn’t say. Being unemployed in your own country sucks. Without anyone to ask for help or invite you and your kid to have pasta…well, you get the picture.
I started to check how the media had invaded the entire public attention with the SARSCov2 stuff. Just like you indeed did. I have no T.V., but two stories under me, I could listen 18 hours daily. My neighbor Mr. Hernan has Chief of Artillery ears! Almost every channel barks the same stuff on the disease. Mostly the same recycled material.
Not once did I hear about the M.D. in Moquegua, who started to use Hydroxide to treat it and achieved a healing rate of about 90% or greater. Even though the video was from a T.V. news channel, I received it via my social media.
There were too many inconsistencies, too many shades, too many phrases, and too many M.S.M. rewording: “The New Normal.” (Yuck) There were very few REAL answers and almost no real scientists getting involved and exposing themselves.
Too much F.E.A.R. (false evidence appearing real)
I am a “thinker.” The bad thing is I am too broke and too busy trying to survive to hire some air time and make public my hypothesis for the greater good. The evidence is plentiful. We have sites like F.B. covering up and censoring everything they can.
And a racial revolution war in the middle of a deadly pandemic? Give me a break.
I still don’t see many younger people trying to understand what prepping is about. I can’t speak for the U.S.A., but I have people in Spain telling me those who can (usually those working online) are getting low priced properties in faraway little towns. They are doing so in the hopes of getting away from the city hazards, infections included.
But watching them complain about how impossible it is to get a good coffee with vegan milk, or carrot buns made with un-traumatized vegetables, or some other silly stuff modern generations seem to be unable to live with, I think “Oh, Lord! These guys are just at the first step. They will fall on their backsides many times before realizing the need to re-shape themselves to make a decent living these decades to come.”
Related: Teach Your Children Prepping and Survival Skills in a Way They Will Love
What if someone goes ahead with “The Schedule”?
There are worse things to come. Of course, you all know that I only write about these things to inform, not spread fear. By learning, understanding, and assimilating the possible scenarios, we can react quicker and more efficiently.
I had the feeling this was coming, but I imagined we had like 10 more years to prepare. Or even 15, maybe 20 with luck. I would be a senior guy and perhaps wouldn’t survive it. But, I would have left relieved, knowing that my family was prepared.
Silly me…caught with my pants down in the worst economic position in life I’ve ever had and with a small child to support.
I have made investments toward early retirement, in the form of a small patch of land and some improvements to a cement hutch my father built over 35 years ago. The hutch could quite possibly be where we are headed for a while until the economy recovers.
Related: 3 Compelling Reasons Preppers Should Buy a Patch of Land
When I see people waiting for the “New Normal,” I get uneasy. (Double yuck.) Something is happening right before our eyes, and people are willing to just get the shot and continue as if nothing happened?
I had hoped to have another child before closing up the factory. Now? I am seriously thinking about a vasectomy after all this!
Sheep continue to be asleep.
That’s a potential problem for all of us. A lot of people have opened their eyes, I feel. But, many have become numb to it all. Maybe we should let Darwin’s law do what it does best and prepare to hunker down as deep as possible once the real thing hits.
Dire predictions aside, time could prove my wildest fantasies (or nightmares) to be a picnic day. The universe went all Jumanji. I was waiting for the giant mosquitoes and the flooding with alligators included in the building’s lower stories. I even dreamt of those dang monkeys stealing my bike!
If you even started thinking about prepping before the pandemic, you are way ahead of the game. With great satisfaction, I give myself kudos! I escaped my country’s collapse, and I have been slowly crawling out of this rare disease plot practically unharmed.
It’s not over. We have a tyranny yet to overthrow. That is if the bio-weapon doesn’t prey on them first.
Stay tuned, and be safe!
Jose
About Jose
Jose is an upper middle class professional. He is a former worker of the oil state company with a Bachelor’s degree from one of the best national Universities. He has a small 4 members family, plus two cats and a dog. An old but in good shape SUV, a good 150 square meters house in a nice neighborhood, in a small but (formerly) prosperous city with two middle size malls. Jose is a prepper and shares his eyewitness accounts and survival stories from the collapse of his beloved Venezuela. Thanks to your help Jose has gotten his family out of Venezuela. They are currently setting up a new life in another country. Follow Jose on YouTube and gain access to his exclusive content on Patreon. Donations: paypal.me/JoseM151
“Un-traumatized vegetables”! I love it! Here in the USA, we are experiencing justifications for looting- apparently these young people need to destroy small businesses because its an act of joy! (Sarcasm intended, but a paraphrase of several articles- see citations below.) Or, they have a need for Gucci handbags because it puts food on the table and brings beauty to their lives. Ugh.
The selfishness of so many people, and the rampant exploitation of fear has been both eye opening and disgusting. It took so little to reduce the actions of so many to such a base state. Here in the USA we have a saying- take the warning labels off and let nature take its course. I say we give Darwin a fair shot.
Pressed “submit” too soon:
Citations:
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/08/27/906642178/one-authors-argument-in-defense-of-looting
https://thenewinquiry.com/in-defense-of-looting/
https://thepostmillennial.com/a-california-district-attorney-asks-police-to-consider-looters-needs-before-charging-them
Dear GhostViking,
I´ve seem the EXACT same pattern in Venezuela and YES, this is a fair, straight-shot, wide-on-the-open WARNING.
It´s part of a SCHEDULE. The exact same speech with Hugo justifying robbers and thieves with things like “If a man is a family father and has a starving family, it is understandable he goes to the streets and steal something”.
Justifying looting is JUST another milestone in the Socio-Communist agenda. Don´t want to get too much into politics, but it´s clear to this point, our particular apocalypse is because of Socio-communist geopolitics.
Jose, you mentioned and linked to the Nalgene water bottle. While I completely appreciate its importance, it is made of plastic and so can’t be hung over a fire to boil water in case there’s any doubt of bacteria contamination. My favorite is a single wall steel bottle, but the problem has been its plastic screw-in lid. Then I spotted this video just a few days ago which solves the hanger problem.
Make A Water Bottle Hanger For Fire
in this 7:38 minute video, from Far North Bushcraft And Survival on 27 Aug 2020:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyg8lCF5HxQ
There are multiple manufacturers of steel bottles, but some are sold to a different market. The KRU bottles for vodka come from the Netherlands and often show up on eBay. When cleaned, they make excellent water bottles. Again, they have the plastic screw-in lids which the video above solves for hanging over a fire. It’s nice to know that you have options.
–Lewis
Dear Lewis,
You´re right on the spot. I love Nalgene because it´s light and cheap. I´ve been trying some other means to store and carry water like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ2Q9ihduFk , and I must tell you, it has worked quite good for over a year of abuse. But of course everyone needs different stuff and must choose whatever works for oneself. Our focus is to inform about the wide variety of options to choose from.
Netherlands stuff rocks! LOL. My grampa was a dutchman. I should know.
At the present my means to boil water is a stainless pot. Maybe heavy for backpacking, but under the present circumstances, is what I´ll use, as I´m not backpacking either. My luggage is a wheeled hardcase. Maybe I will built some sort of a one wheel cart with a harness as my next prototype. Lack of space and tools are a serious restriction here for me.
I have always tried to be self reliant, not because of any macho posturing, but because
A) Anything can happen, and bad stuff usually happens when you’re least expecting it
AND
B) Most people, most of the time, are mostly not paying attention
So you see, I do not consider myself a “prepper”. That makes it sound like you’re getting ready for something bad to happen. I am a free man, an American. I sleep soundly because I know that no matter what happens, I am very much less likely to be affected by it.
Life’s too short to be getting thrown by random freak events, or the malice and stupidity of others
Dear Sammy,
It´s a real pleasure read the words of a wise man. Or woman. LOL. Thanks.
Real preppers and survivalists cannot be happy about the current situation. Yes, we prepare and study and put in the work. But I never prepared in order to fulfill some fantasy, to play a game. I prepare because I know it gets ugly once the SHTF, (I live in Brazil, one of the lands of SHTF along our other south american brothers from Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia…), and I want to alleviate the whole situation by maybe being able to survive and perhaps help others if I can.
What we´re about to witness on a global scale won´t be a good show. It will be suffering, loss, sacrifice and destruction, for people and institutions and animals and all (most) living beings. It´s already happening. That saddens me, but I´ll do whatever I have to do to keep going as best I can.
Most people I know are not aware, or just in denial. “Nah it will be fine”, I hear that a lot. Yeah, I´m sure it will be fine – just not in the near future, ´cos it´s about to get a lot worse before it even starts getting better again. It´s just a matter of connecting the dots.
Such disorder in society and economy have never been corrected before in history without serious turmoil, destruction and conflict. To imagine things will be different this time is to believe in fairy tales, to have full faith in the kindness, good sense and conscience of men.
We´re animals under a thin coat of civilization, the very reason we´re deep into this is that we can´t help ouserves in the first place. At 50, I´ve lived and seen enough to know we´re capable of awesome things, but we´re also capable of the unimaginable bad.
We´ll have to go through this Fourth Turning, as you said by working and moving on. Let´s face the challenges that have been served to our generation, it´s our duty.
Hope you all stay well and safe!
A lot of people feel that folks into preparedness live in constant fear. They have told me that they don’t want to live their life that way. Yet when something happens like this pandemic they are in complete fear running around like madmen trying to find brand name things to maintain the exact lifestyle. One told me ” I bet your just loving this” to which I replied no I’m not but I’m not panicked like you either. Another told me “You are built for this” To which I didn’t respond but did think yeah kinda.
I don’t stock up on XYZ because I’m afraid. I stock up on XYZ because I think there is a PROBABILITY that I need to for a reason. Did I know those surgical masks were going to be used? No but I had thought they might.
I don’t learn skills because I live in fear. I learn skills so I don’t have to.
It’s no different than my job. I didn’t learn fighting because I was totally scared of criminals. I learned fighting so when I did fight them I’m not uncontrollably scared and have the skills needed to win.
You learn to purify water not because you fear never drinking again but so that you can drink when you have the ability to.
Jose, you wrote:
“I´m not backpacking either. My luggage is a wheeled hardcase. Maybe I will built some sort of a one wheel cart with a harness as my next prototype. Lack of space and tools are a serious restriction here for me.”
Jose, I might suggest that you run a search on YouTube.com for DIY HIKING TRAILER. That will pull up a variety of videos that might give you some useful ideas on both building or buying. There are both one-wheel and two-wheel designs featured. Personally, I use a small folding luggage cart with two 6“ diameter wheels. It’s rated for up to 150 pound loads, and cost only $22 here. If you run a search on eBay for FOLDING LUGGAGE CART, that will pull up a great variety of such gadgets — some with much more load capacity, and some with even less than my cheapo. For short hikes, no shoulder rails or side rails with hand grips should be needed, although for long trips either of those configurations would be of great benefit. It should be fairly easy to fabricate a pair of side rails to be clamped or bolted onto a folding luggage cart. There are stories on YouTube from a Netherlands business called Radical Designs in which they mention using their hiking trailer (very expensive, however) for a 2,400 km trip. I found that impressive.
I’m not trying to tell you what choices to make. I’m just trying to expand the list of possibilities so you can make the best choices for your unique circumstances.
I do understand what a shortage of tools means. I grew up with hand tools in my father’s non-electric workshop. Many years later I spent some time machining out aircraft and missile parts. That’s why I suggested some of those ideas above that might be DIY possible with minimal tools.
–Lewis
Dear Lewis,
Those are great suggestions! I´d like to build something I could tow with a motorcycle, or attach it to a harness and tie my hardcase on top. And if I can make it suitable for air travel,the better.There are incredibly light alloys these days as you already surely know. Yeup, I think that is going to be one of my priorities. If you have read my fictional story in Patreon, by the way…I´m afraid that it could very well become a harsh reality but without all the death and desolation part. Which would be fine with me, because that would mean not having to face evil side of humans while travelling back home.
Thanks!
It is prudent to be prepared for tornados if you live in OK, or KS, or those surrounding states/areas.
It is prudent to be prepared for hurricanes if you live in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Eastern sea board.
Preppers just take being prepared as prudent for not only bad weather, but for a larger pool of possible disasters, to include economic (be it personal job loss or nation wide like the housing market crash in 08-09′ and everything that went with it), to pandemics.
Just a different way of thinking from a micro to a macro scale.
If trump had taken the panademic virus seriously; we would not have as many people dead from it.
An Indian reservation medical agency asked the Fed. Govt. for assistance to fight the outbreak. They were sent BODY BAGS. He brags about how fast we created the Vaccine. But We failed in it’s distribution. Look at how many people were vaccinated 100 days after he left office