long term thinking 2 of 2

LONG TERM THINKING 2

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After a readers comment, I looked up how old my original dried hot dogs were.  Surprisingly-time flies as you careen towards the grave-it was a year ago.  So, taste test time.  The dog loved them-which proved nothing.  I ate about one links worth and stopped due to the salt overload.  But I didn't get sick from it, I just had a bit of a tender stomach from it. Which, given my heartburn, was as expected.  I've had worse reactions to fresh Slim Jim's.  So, I still call it an edible item after storage, even if you want to eat something along with it and beware the high salt level.
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Briefly, let me just mention the plot device.  Whether is it for a book or for a movie, without a proper plot you do not have a tale for the masses.  Your book might appeal to a niche if you have a bizarre method of presentation or some other gimmick.  If it is an instruction manual disguised as a story you can get away with a weak plot.  But, more often than not, you’ll find a plot, good or bad or indifferent.  The problem here is that you might mistake the plot for reality.  A plot is just a device, a tool.  It isn’t real life.  Nobody wants to read about your life because you are just another mouth breather amongst the other seven billion short bus passengers.  However, if you are portrayed as having a nearly insurmountable obstacle to overcome, and you do so in a convincing manner, and there is a message given subtlety or not to wrap up the whole tale, suddenly your life becomes a Hallmark Movie Of The Week.  And there, my fine feathered minions, is how most people look at the apocalypse.  A plot, any plot, they’ve read or watched uncountable times.

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Here is reality.  Blah, blah, blah, minding his own business, suddenly, boom, he is shot in the head from ambush, soils himself and the family perishes in the flames as the homestead is burnt to the ground.  See, there?  No story arc, no obstacles to overcome.  No background story to flesh out characters, no suspenseful lead up to a climax.  And certainly no happy ending.  But almost everyone preps like their post-apocalyptic journey is out of a novel.  The only ones who acknowledge they won’t live too long after the collapse are the old humpers that have lived long enough to no longer care what happens and are realistic about their odds of survival.  The younger ones ( and this includes those mentally immature since they can’t face their mortality, regardless of physical age ) are in complete denial.  I’m certainly NOT saying your post-apocalypse adventure can’t be a grand one.  Just that only those not paralyzed by their own imminent demise will have a chance of lasting long enough to embark upon one. 

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The simple fact is that most of us won’t survive the die-off.  Which makes you wonder what all your preps are for.  Look, I understand that none of us see the future in the same way.  I look at it like a money back guaranteed total collapse, 99.99? % die-off.  A petri dish collapse ( remember, even the very last reindeer on the artic island died of starvation ).  You probably see less dire happenings ( and by the way, since this is my blog and I’ll cry if I want to, I’m going to keep trying to convince you I’m right and you are wrong.  No offense ).  Only you can decide what is best for you.  Still living in the city?  I’m sure you have plenty of good enough reasons to stay there, so how am I to be a judge?  When I spew in exasperation over any minion still residing in too large of a urban area, obviously you should take into account I’m well versed most of you are not as paranoid as I am ( you simple bastard.  I’m kidding!  Relax, Francis ).  But perhaps I can assume, if you are still reading after a short time, you aren’t one of those Prepper Pussies, only concerned with a few weeks disaster preparedness rather than a far more manly end of the world survivalist?

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Can most of us agree that one years supplies is a minimum and far better to quickly work towards a three to five year stockpile as the new normal?  Myself, I’ve been working towards a five year supply of everything.  Five years of the bare bones, wheat and ammo basically, that is no big deal.  To supply EVERYTHING, that isn’t so easy.  All those clothes and footwear and health care items ( five years of toothpaste, of butt wipe, of aspirin and bandaids and laundry soap and hand soap and medicines and on and on ), all that entertainment and transportation and etcetera, etcetera.  A tough nut to crack.  Certainly it is no where near impossible.  I consider it a worthy goal.  And I think I’m close enough to be done.  But here is my question.  Do I think I’ll use it all?  Hell, no!  I have no illusions of surviving long at all. 

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I’ve only endeavored to stockpile everything I have because 1) what else am I going to do with my money? And 2) if the Fates screw me and let me live, I’d feel foolish for not having prepped accordingly.  But for most of us for whom survivalism is an interest rather than a all consuming hobby, you may not even come close to needing anything other than a bare bones one year stockpile.  If you are going to die anyway, wouldn’t it just be better to do the minimum and them relax ( well, relax except for continuing to read and support your favorite blog here )?  I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from being extra paranoid.  I encourage and celebrate those who rightfully cringe and weep in terror more than would seen necessary.  All I’m saying is that it seems a particularly odd thing that we are all so paranoid to assume the worst, and plan for it, but refuse to match up our planning with our paranoia.

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I’m not trying to encourage the old Cold War mentality of those who lived in the city to die instantly as they didn’t believe surviving was an optimal plan.  I think everyone should go into the light kicking and fighting.  But go in fighting knowing it is futile and you are just trying to take a few of the bastards with you.  A warriors death.  They didn’t fear dying but strove to make their death matter.  So, no defeatism here.  Just a wry amusement at our focus on long term prepping and survival when all we are really engaged in is mental masturbation.  We are living a fantasy of longevity.  If you only have a years supply of preps, and that was hard enough to come up with, perhaps you should just be happy with that.  Not a recommendation, just a reality check.  Strive for the impossible, but realize reality.

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