I’ve been incredibly busy lately. The type of busy that involves being outside for 10 to 12 hours per day in very bad weather, wet / cold / hungry and generally wishing I was somewhere else. For those of you that have been there before you know exactly the progression I’m writing about.
- Damn it’s cold.
- WOW it’s cold.
- My fingers are starting to go numb.
- I can’t feel my fingers or toes.
- My fingers and toes hurt, and are wet.
- It’s been long enough and I can’t feel anything, might as well keep working.
That’s how it has been, day after day for almost three weeks now (sorry I haven’t been posting as much). I come home at night and throw myself on the couch, too tired to even crack a beer. My face is wind burnt, my Carhartt’s smell like a combination of diesel, sweat and suck.
I consider myself a pretty “in shape” dude (both physically and mentally) and I’ve been in situations where the suck is credible so that gives me something to utilize as a reference point. Yet I wonder how many of those screaming for SHTF (or a reset) to happen would really be able to survive, much less thrive once all the modern conveniences of life disappeared?
- “Sure I sit at a desk every day but if it goes down I’m quite capable”
- “I know I’ll be good because I served 3 years in the Army”
- “I go camping sometimes so I’m more prepared than most”
- “Sometimes I go shooting, I can do a cool tactical reload”
Right….your candy a$$ wouldn’t last 5 minutes once the S got real. Do yourself a favor and harden up now, your body and family will thank you later. You really think you are going to chop wood, build shelters and work a large garden? Hilarious at best cubicle boy!
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HAHAHA
I LOVE it. Great mini article, I have only three things to say
1st If I may suggest PJ; crack that beer before you hit the couch, LOL
2nd I’m heading my fat a$$ out for another day’s hard labor in the old Welding Shop, This 7 days a week “S” has GOT to stop. I want “my” time back. My poor Lab thinks I have forgotten what that Hunting Vest and Shotgun are all about
3rd For anyone that’s hoping for the SHTF——Don’t. If you want to play Rambo, go for it; just leave the rest of us that really give a “S” about this country out of your fantasies and your Macho game.
NRP
PJ
Hang in there, brother, hopefully things will get a bit more manageable soon and the needle of the Suck-O-Meter dials down for you.
I find it kind of amusing when the armchair warriors go on about how they would do things if the world went down the toilet. In their hypothetical situations, they are almost never severely affected by it, as everything happens just as they prepare for it and Murphy never seems to notice them.
Personally, I find that Murphy has taken a special interest in me and watches me continually, cosmic sledgehammer poised. I try not to provoke him 🙂
Hopefully, the type of person you are referring to will never get the reality check they seem to need; S doesnt usually land on only those that invite it.
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J
THanks for the kind words. I think we all need a little dose of hard work and kick in the ace every now and then. I’d rather be living in the suck than tapping away at keys in a cubicle like a good little drone. 🙂
Most people aren’t ready for a snow storm let alone a SHTF situation.
Author
Mike, So TRUE! Snowmaggeddon! Milk, eggs and bread!
Mike,
given the driving displays on my way to work this morning, I am inclined to agree with you!
I have said it before. There is no true way to simulate a TEOTWAKI scenario. Even during my exercise, I knew there was an “end” and I knew there was a safety net. Even during deployments, there was an ebb and flow the entire time and an ultimate “end” in sight.
While the physical aspects of post TEOTWAKI will be the most demanding thing that anyone (save for the few that have been in true long term survival scenarios) has ever seen, it will be the mental side of things that will cause most people to fail. You can prepare physically and still not be fully prepared for the physical demands ahead but at least you will be better off than being a couch potato.
Mentally, I am not certain that there is a way to even come close to preparing. The mental side will be the downfall of most people, even those in top physical shape with all the possible prepping bases covered. Stress, sudden loss, the feeling of hopelessness, constant fear, and no end in sight can simply be too much.
All I try to do through prepping is make certain that I and my family are as prepared as possible. Whether that is through supplies, skills, practicing, planning, or staying in the best physical shape possible (as I get older “top” has fallen down a rung or two) I know what I am doing provides a chance to survive and possibly thrive later. I feel confident in my and my family’s chance being better than 90% of the rest of the world but the mental aspects of surviving post event scares me and I fear for my family most.
Author
Agree on the mental aspect. One has to have the mental fortitude to drive on, I think much of that comes from prior experiences which shape one’s perspective. Although as you stated who can prepare for a true SHTF event, like a straight up no hold’s barred TEOTWAWKI? I doubt any of us truly know how we would react 1 week, 1 month or 1 year in (if we are lucky to survive).
I too worry for my family, it’s not that it is their fault but they just haven’t had to face much of the adversity that some of us have (thank God for that). Although I have to say that my wife and daughter are real troopers when they need to be, I’ve witnessed it first hand.
Isn’t it odd as we are here discussion being prepared for anything from Pandemics, to Fascial Collapse, to Nuclear Winters, loss of a job and so on and so on; I ponder the ability of most anyone to actually live through a real TEOTWAKI or simply put, “The end of the world as we know it”. We talk about Physical, Mental, and “Stuff” preparedness. Yea we all grow old and get some of that “up to down a rung or two” thing going on, and yea, the brain shorts out at times, more and more it seems LOL. But how many have actually lived through a TEOTWAKI. Well I’m here to tell ya no matter how much “stuff” you buy, no matter how much you work out each and every day, and no matter how much you meditate, pray or “whatever” each and every day. When that Oncologist walks into the room and tells you your wife of 25+ years has cancer and three years later of a truly life and death battle she passes away, that my friends is truly a TEOTWAKI. Now please don’t get me wrong I know all the words people say and that’s not the point. What I’m trying to say here is yes prepare for everything you can, but don’t be surprised if the good old “Murphy TEOTWAKI” blindsides you with a hell of a curve ball and knocks you right on you’re a$$. As J said, the “cosmic sledgehammer” is always there and at times just loves to take a whack or two at ya. I believe it’s not how far or how often you get slammed or even how prepared you might be (and usually not for the right “whacking”) it’s more on how you recover from the gut-punch. I totally believe the saying “remember the past, plan (prepare) for the future, but live for the present”. Be thankful for what you have right now; be thankful for being able to prep as we want or going to a football game or whatever. Should we be ready for that snowstorm? Hell yes. Should we be ready for the day we don’t have a Job? Of course. And ready for Yellowstone to blow its top? Defiantly. But guess what, we all better remember our time here is limited, please do NOT live in a hole being afraid of what “might” happen, I know I tried that for a while. I agree with The Maj, do everything you can to make yourself and your family safe, but you must must must remember, live as if there is no tomorrow. There actually might not be one.
NRP
Author
NRP
I’m sorry to hear about your wife, that had to be terrible and I cannot begin to imagine what you went through. Thanks for taking the time to share that, puts many things into perspective.
I know we are not truly prepared. That’s why we keep prepping and are not prepped. Right now we have electric, gas, food, shelter, warm cloths, good vehicles, smart phones, friends and jobs. I’m thankful for today. Who knows what tomorrow holds.