The Preparedness and Survival Site

“The Survivalist Movement”, just how many times have you heard that phrase? FEMA and the US government push preparedness as if it were a prepackaged product that can be plucked off the shelf, used at a moments notice to keep the disaster at bay.

Granted there is a “movement” of sorts that is taking place across the US and other countries, that “movement” is actually a form of enlightenment, some people are starting to wake up and realize that things are not all picture perfect in what the mainstream society likes to pretend that it is; Consumerism, sparkling in all of its glory, the shining path to comfort and entitlement. The people that are waking up are noticing that there is only a thin veil that hides the man behind the curtain.

Preparedness is more of a commitment to a code of honor that speaks to a sense of responsibility for one’s self and others. There are those of us that just “feel” wrong with the general attitude of entitlement that is being spoon fed to the populace via the media and commercial entities that need people to buy more and think less. To quote from Men in Black of all places, “A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it.”, unfortunately this holds very true and there are those that are slowly seeing this fact.

Preparedness is not only a state of mind, it is also a way of life. The very actions of a person that prepares for the safety and survival of themselves and their family are the direct results of the traits that helped us survive as a species before our technology removed us from the reach of the natural predators that would have us as their next meal. Survival of the fittest.

Now that we have evolved our technology to a point where there are not nearly as many threats from nature, we have become lax. There are many examples of what happens when our technological superiority is removed from the equation, people die because they do not have an inkling as to how to take care of themselves.

Another important thing to point out is that the preparedness lifestyle is not all about stuff. Yes, having a good store of food and other supplies is nice, but it is only part of the picture. The other part is discovering you strengths and weaknesses, sharpening your mind and storing knowledge. This is a vital part of the preparedness lifestyle now considering how much knowledge has been lost in just the last couple of generations. Another important point to consider is whether or not you can afford to buy the stuff that you need if a recession is in the making.

Knowledge of how to do things “the old way” is literally dying off in droves as all our grand parents and great grandparents pass on taking that knowledge to the grave with them. If you are a city dweller, how many people do you know that “really” know how to tend a garden or can food? Even better, know anyone besides the butcher that knows how to process their own meat? Hunt? Fish? You get the picture.

The “Just In Time” delivery model that keeps people fed and supplied with all the baubles and trinkets is a VERY fragile construct. But, doing things “the old way” should not be confused with doing things in a primitive way. “The Old Way” that our forebears practiced was then, to them, the most technologically, and scientifically best way. “The Old Way” is not so much a means as a method; it represents a troubleshooting and problem solving mindset that actively engages the problems and conditions at hand, searches for the best resources available to resolve the issue now, instead of  wishing and waiting for some unpredictable future developments that might or might not provide a shrink wrapped solution dropped in our laps. “The Old Way” is best summed up by the contemporary popular slogan: “Git Er Done!”

On the positive side I am seeing a resurgence of local economy that is rising up and which overcomes the drawbacks of the “Just In Time” model that brings in food from hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away. The local farmers markets are a perfect example. Just in my area alone there are three that take place once a week. I am also seeing them appear in the major cities where the locals have taken advantage of the community garden spaces that are supplied and are selling the fruits of their labors to their neighbors.

Major popular consumer magazines that ordinarily cater to the consumer lifestyle are now featuring on their covers articles about gardening for food rather than for decoration. Even Sunset magazine, the ultimate upper middle class “lifestyle” magazine has on this month’s cover an article devoted to raising your own food. They even grew, harvested and processed their own wheat!

There is no prepackaged solution when it comes to a preparedness mindset or lifestyle. When you have a strong enough desire to make the change for yourself and your loved ones it will happen. Its all about choosing not to be helpless and dependent, and more about taking an active hand in charting your own course.

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