Todays Modern Survivalist
May 30, 2010, Submitted by: Ken Tweet
The modern day prepper / survivalist is at the core, a reflection of the fragility of the complicated and intertwined systems that we depend upon today that enable modern comfort, lifestyle, and the ability of millions to live in close proximity with each other.
Many non-preppers look at this movement as a bunch of doom and gloomers who are actually hoping for the end of the world so that they can finally put their survival plan into action. Granted, there are those who are at the extremes of any group and no doubt there
are some who actually hope for TEOTWAWKI. But it is my opinion that the majority of preppers today are middle class working people who recognize the current risks within today’s modern day systems, and are quietly preparing for what may or may not come to be.
I do not believe that the majority of preppers have a negative doom-and-gloom outlook, but instead are more than likely to be self motivated optimistic people with good sense and awareness, and living ordinary lives like most everyone else. Having a positive outlook on life is itself one reason why some develop preparedness plans. Desiring freedom, happiness, and life, for yourself and family are all positive attributes that are shared by all preppers.
The prepper may appear to be seeking out doom and gloom, but in actuality is staying current with the risks that are facing the world, knowing that being one step ahead of the crowd could very well save them from unnecessary hardship, or life itself.
Today’s modern day survivalist is not the one who is all ready to go live by themselves in the woods, although I’m not criticizing those that are, but instead they are the ones who have stored up some extra food (maybe a month, maybe 6 months), have been eliminating their debt, and have been thinking about and acquiring other supplies that attribute towards living a more self sufficient life, one that is not so dependent upon the systems that enable today’s modern day society.
Modern survivalism really is a way of life, not necessarily one that is drastically removed from the creature comforts that we enjoy today, but a state of mind where one instinctively questions the news around them and has the ability to recognize when something isn’t quite right, prepares oneself to adapt to circumstances around them, and where choices are made from common sensibility.
The modern survivalist does not take for granted the things that make life so easy right now. The times we live in since the industrial revolution are a mere blip on the time-line of humankind. We recognize that things can disappear just as fast as they came, and keep a wary eye looking for signs of that day, all the while continuing our daily lives in ‘the system’ with everyone else.
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Ken, I did not really know which category to send this to, but this is something I feel that others should read and know about just whom people should consider associating with. Throughout my life I have been major dissappointed in the character of those that I consider to be allies, as I am sure that some people have been quite dissappointed in me. I had a so called “best” friend that I did everything for when I had much to give, but when I was extremely lacking this person was not there for me. In these trying times that are most certaintly going to get much worse it is kind of urgently critical that eveyone know whom you can truly trust when SHTF.
The following are TEN key words that people should look for when considering the person and persons that they consider their ‘survival buddy’, their ally, their friend, whomever they feel that is going to give that special type of sacrifice to you that you would give to them, in and out of a dire survival type of situation.
While this may be viewed as kind of cynically, knowing where you stand with a person can be the difference between having someone there for you as dedicated to you as you are to them. Or having someone around that is a serious drain on you and maybe even dangerous to your survival plans. These 10 key words can also be used to determine your relationships in the regular calm times (no chaos happening) with people and help you avoid being very hurt, disillusioned, and embittered later.
1. CONTRIBUTOR. This person is going to give something to the you and any survival group that is going to be quite beneficial. This person can be quite poor financially but offer much in skill, hard work, even someone that can make you and even others feel positive and just wonderful inside.
Someone that is on the other hand a leech on you and others becomes a dead weight that eventually builds up negitive resentment towards the person.
2. LOYALTY. This person is going to back you up and defend you and possibly those around you. This person is going to stand by you and you are going to know that they are, especially there for you emotionally. It is a most fortunate feeling to have someone ‘faithfully’ there that is going to be your side and those around and be there no matter what.
The lose of loyalty from someone can be awful as actually not having the person there to begin with, it makes you feel more alone. In a survival situation you should only have those around you that give their allegiance to you and those around you.
3. TRUSTABLE. You can trust this person with the secerts that you don’t want others to know about. Having confidence that this person is not going to backstab you and tattle tell to others. You can tell this person all about you survival plans and know that it will not leave towards anyone.
Betrayal is beyond awful, it leaves a deep empty wound inside of you. Even the most macho type person feels bad when a trust is broken, the way they express this through being angry and hateful is the only real difference between other people. It also can totally ruin all that you have worked for to survive by the blabbermouth that has told all.
4. COMPATIBLE. You like this person, you can spend long periods of time together. It is important that there is some sort of bond and commonplace between you and them. In a survival event you should be able to be confined together and get along.
The misconception of ‘opposites attract’ has another meaning that if opposites attract it doesn’t last. Some people just cannot get along for extended periods of time and they get on each other’s nerves.
5. MODERATION. The best way to be a friend is to be a friend yourself. Your friend, your family memeber, whomever should be giving as you are. Someone has to be willing to share with you and not just take and take of you and others around you. Another word for this is temperance. Someone that is not a glutton and going to use up what you have in emergency supplies and not use up you as an individual.
Some people have become so use to having anything that they want within reach that they just cannot ration and become acclimated to a new world which they have to be careful with limited resources. This includes the amount of time that a person takes from you that you cannot spare.
6. PERSEVERANCE. This is a person that has the stick to it mentality and put in the hard work necessary in preparing for the worst, AND willing to stick through the hard times in a relationship with you.
Some people have all this gusto and lots of vibrant enthusiasm and lose interest and fizz out eventually, often quickly. Survival is a long term thing along with any friendship or kinship, whatever.
7. DEPENDABLE. This person will be there for you when you really need them. A type of person when you call them during the night they can talk to you or help to get everything ready for something urgent. This person you can ask for something and not feel like you are obiligated to the person. Someone that you do not even have to question, they are there.
In survival situations you must know that someone is going to be there, this is especially true during rapid type evacuations. Waiting around for someone could be quite dangerous. A person not dependable you cannot make certain plans to include them, something as simple as a brief trip to something as serious as getting to somewhere safe NOW. Sadly a person that is not dependable can be labled as a fair weathered person towards you.
8. COMMITTED. Someone who legitimately believes in the same things that you do and is dedicated to your causes. This ties into the compatible section above but goes deeper. Someone that for example has the same survival motto that you do is much, much more willing to be more dependable and show perserverence to what really means something to you. This is really true when it comes to beliefs and faiths in whatever you feel.
An individual that does not have similar commitment to something as you do will tend to lose interest and it will become more of a burden to the person to continue to be involved in something that means something to you.
9. AWARENESS. This is probably the most important foundation to determining all other aspects of the other key points to look for in a person. Knowing someone, even those things that you don’t like can protect you from much time wasted and even having a situation that you could have avoided to begin with.
So very often people to get approval of others will tell them EXACTLY what they want to hear. Someday you find out you never really knew that person and suffer major disappointments and ugly feelings. This can cost you much not to have the insight to someone, too many terrible things to mention.
10. INTANGIBLES. This is that something there that makes this person “special” to you and outweighs most of the other important issues that you would find undesirable. This can be someone that is a relative, someone that did something so wonderful for you that you feel a sort of debt to them, anything that makes this person really mean something to you.
There can also be an “inner felling” about someone that is definitely wrong. The “gut feelings” can be the only thing you have to go on but can save you much pain from finding out later. This goes well with being aware that something that seems auspicious and wrong with someone should be very carefully examined to avoid losing everything in ALL circumstances.
While you are not likely going to find the ideal person to be your friend and ally in a survival preparedness or survival condition, or any relationship, you have to be able to distiguish between a “true” friend or a “true” ally and those simple acquaintances that mean little or nothing. LIFE, both in disasters and before will certainly TEST your friends, relatives, and those that mean something to you and those around you. Probably most everyone will at sometime be totally flash stunned how at the slightest sacrifice of those that you “thought” where going to be there for you are NOT.
You should be able to check off at least 7 of the 10 key words mentioned above to determine IF that special person is actually that special to you. Modern survival has to do with surviving all that life has to throw at you, and one of the most difficult to live through is how we interact with each other. It should be greatly considered that depending on the deepness of the involvement you have that much loss in finances, lost time, lost material things, loss of positive feelings, just “loss” that might and will occur if your judgement about someone is wrong in all parts of your life.
My family has been planning for disasters and gathering supplies for years. Unfortunately we live close to a city. We are now looking for survival communities in rural areas who are also looking to have others join them; a sort of level three planning; a just in case we have to leave the city plan.
We can offer supplies and skills (nursing, teaching, and building) and most importantly TRUE GRIT.
Any suggestions such as forums, websites, or communities themselves to begin our search?
Boots