Time of trouble...
@terganftp
Posted 5d ago · 9 min read
I grew up reading the Bible
Ever since I was little I read my bible. Not just the nice stories but the whole thing and there are parts in it that are scary. At least for an 8 year old. There are parts where civilizations are destroyed. There are parts when people are taken as slaves. There is injustice, famine, plagues, war and more. Then there is the final book of the bible.
Revelation.
A confusing book that is said to tell about the end of days. If you hare ever heard of Armageddon it is based on the book of Revelation. Ever hear about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Still from the book of Revelation.
As an eight year old reading about the end of the world where famine, disease, war and death are given free reign over the world it is scary stuff. Reading about goodness leaving the earth and evil and strife going unchecked...it is the stuff of nightmares. In addition to hearing the Bible telling about things getting very bad there was my Grandmother who told me stories about growing up in the 1930's and the Great Depression. How things looked great in the 1920's and there was optimism and wealth but after that? Everything crashed and society more or less broke down. Of course, after that? World War 2 where both of my grandfathers fought. They didn't like to speak about it much other than to say they hoped it Never happened again.
Of course that left me skeptical of societies ability to provide for their population. War can bring everything crashing down in a heartbeat. Economic collapse bring bad times after a single stock market crash. Then my father went bankrupt in the 1984 economic depression. My step-father went bankrupt in 1993 in a different economic depression.
End result: For my adult life I've taken a "Be Prepared" mentality. I absolutely enjoy civilization and the benefits that come with it. However, I never ever take it for granted. I have always "Prepared for the worst" while doing my best not to live in fear of it.
A prepper without the fear
What do my preparations look like? Mostly just building a life designed for stability instead of luxury. A life where I can be self reliant instead of dependent. In reality it is a lot of little changes with a few backup plans. However, if you are curious here are some of the things I've done.
#1 Buy an electric vehicle.
Transportation is important. Most people like prestige or luxury cars. Personally I have an Imiev. It really is an ugly vehicle. Poor range, very basic, not luxurious at all. However, it was cheap to buy, cheap to run, cheap to maintain and basic enough that I can actually charge it with a small solar system.
Have you noticed that gas prices have spiked recently? I have even heard of some places where there was no fuel at the pump. In my case? as long as my electricity runs I can power my car. If my electricity doesn't run I can still power my car to get to work using sunlight. My SUV? I can power it from solar or gasoline and in an emergency it can send that power out to electronics around the house. I could cook my food, purify my water, keep myself warm or must charge my phone and laptop from my SUV and a small solar system.
#2 Have an off grid homestead.
When I got an inheritance from my Grandfather most people would have seen it as bonus money and had a little shopping spree. As for myself? I bought a large piece of land so that I could have a nature retreat for my kids and the family. We had camping adventures on the land and generally enjoyed visiting as a family. When I retire it is a beautiful, inexpensive, and quiet retreat. It has a nice little container home. Electricity, solar electricity as backup and its own water source. I need to pay virtually everything to live there. Add in wild fruits, fruit trees and a garden mean that I can quite happily live on my own food.
Here is the unspoken side benefit.
If war comes? I can leave civilization and hide out in a remote location. If an enemy shuts down the power? I'm ok. If fuel becomes scarce? I'm ok. If food is in short supply? I'm ok. If there are mandatory curfews or stay at home orders? I have a fairly large "home" to explore so I won't go crazy in a small apartment.
If COVID happens again? I'm fine. If fuel prices go crazy? I'm fine. If Canada gets invaded? ... well, who knows.
However, typically armies go after cities. One city and you stifle a large portion of the economy and corral millions of people.
If you go after me on the backside of nowhere? You stifle nothing and capture one family while using up a lot of resources. I'm saying it is likely too much work to bother with.
I'm not safe by any stretch but at least I believe I'm less likely to be targeted
And learn skills
It may seem like a little thing but...
... I've learned to cook from scratch and I've learned to preserve food.
Flour, sugar, oil, beans, rice, salt, canned vegetables and fruit, dried vegetables and fruits...... stuff all good in the house for months to years. By keeping the in the house I accomplish a few things. First: I can feed my family cheaply and nutritiously. Second: I can buy farm fresh and preserve so that I never pay a huge premium for my food. The sneaky Third: If there was ever a war and food shortage? I would be able to keep my family fed for a long time to come.
Also investing in "camping item" mean that I can camp with my family but also mean that if I ever had to leave my home and live rough I would be able to live a fairly decent life even away from the safety of home. At least if I was in the woods...in the city all bets are off.
I'm not a traditional prepper
Unlike those people you usually see as preppers. The ones with bunkers. The ones with a stockpile of food and fuel to last years. The ones with multiple guns to protect what is theirs at all costs. I take a little more practical route.
I buy things that are practical now and useful if things go sideways.
I learn skills now that can help keep my family fed and the pantry full for now ... but that could also be useful if I ever have to live year round from a garden.
I buy a vehicle now that is economical and practical but one that can also keep me mobile if fuel becomes outrageously expensive of unavailable.
But when I see some people they are very much "Stand my ground and shoot whoever comes for my stuff". That isn't me. Just like some people learn martial arts in order to win a fight, I learn how to run away and avoid the fight. If Canada goes to war I'm old enough to not be drafted. I would run and not be anywhere near the fighting would be. With tools small enough and portable enough that I could take them with me. With a mindset that I can do without and not be unhappy.
Overall if you saw my life it wouldn't be glamorous. It wouldn't be extravagant. It wouldn't be "large and impressive". Just look at my secondary backup house in the Philippines that I wrote about a while ago on the @cinderclaw.gld account. I live small. But I live independently. If society breaks I'm fine. If society functions well... I'm frugal (so I have more cash available which is also a good thing).
The Bible shaped my present
Sure the Bible scared me when I was small. Yes, I lived in fear and made decisions based on that fear when I was younger Now that I'm older? I'm not afraid anymore. I don't trust this world not to do bad things. I don't think I'm immune to war, famine, disease of unrest. I just think that I'm as prepared as I can be while still leading a normal life. I have a mindset and skills that allow me to do well with less. Plus I trust in God which gives me hope and direction when things inevitably go wrong.
The Hive learners post was what would I do if there was a world war? What measures would I take. Would I fight? No.
Would I pray? Absolutely.
Would I flee? Yes, ASAP.
But more than that. I've learned skills, I've prepared tools, and I've prepared two places in Canada and one in the Philippines that would make excellent hidey holes during an armed conflict. However I didn't make bunkers. I made investments. Ones that give me time with family, monthly income, and places to enjoy in retirement. Yes, my Bible taught me that bad times are coming. They always do. However, it also taught me to be diligent in my spending, to live for today, and to trust in God. Honestly I like that balance.
Of course I'd love to get other opinions. I know my viewpoint is skewed compared to many so I'd like to get comments from people with other ideas. Of course if you don't feel like commenting? I would still like to say Thank you for reading down this far.