I suspect many people in the modern world simply can't comprehend just how disastrous a collapse will be. At best, they've watched a few series like The Walking Dead and think they know. Many will just go into shock or panic, even some of those who think they're ready. Others may just sit around waiting for the cavalry to arrive, for NG troops and airdropped pallets of food and water that never come.
I'm doing my preparation, but I know that it won't be enough and that there will be some ugly surprises. There are just too many unknowns. I have a few medical issues that would be problematic in a collapse. Some I can minimize with due care, others there isn't much I could do about. I also have maybe 10-15 years of life left anyway. That makes a difference in my calculations. As the stoics say, change what you can and let go of what you can't.
Michael — you raise a good point about selective acceptance. It’s easy to prep for one kind of disruption while overlooking the bigger structural vulnerabilities that make that strategy possible. I think where I’d push back is on the framing of Covid itself as the central risk. To me, the larger issue isn’t whether people fear a particular disease, but whether their entire resilience plan depends on industrial civilization continuing to function.
Air purifiers, tests, and meds might create a sense of safety now, but they’re only as reliable as the grid, the supply chain, and the healthcare system. When those weaken — whether from fire, flood, or financial collapse — the question becomes: can you still adapt? I hope most people have taken the time to ask themselves this, but I fear many have not.
For some, adapting might mean shifting the focus from disease avoidance toward building health, strength, and redundancy in ways that don’t require Amazon Prime or a functioning CVS. Recognizing that isn't possible for everyone, the point still is that resilience comes from reducing dependence — not just on other people’s behaviors, but on the system itself.
Although I do think that Covid, while not the central risk, is an issue that is going to have, as it has already, a huge impact on people’s ability to function in a collapse scenario. I used it in this article as an example of one type of selective acceptance.
Let them die. You won't catch me going to any shelters. I would rather live out in the woods on my own than be in a shelter with a bunch of strangers after a weather disaster. I am not a fan of humanity anymore.
You need to have water after a couple of days but you can go three weeks or so without food. Longer if you have minimal food, such as the occasional rabbit, squirrel, or what have you. But water is a must. I know this because I had the privilege of attending the Army SERE course twice in my military career, plus deployments to less than ideal conditions in third world countries.
If you are one of those who are challenged by a lack of food and water foraging skills, things may become very dire when the economy totally collapses in a couple of years. The only way certain people will survive over others, will be their ability to stockpile ahead of time and be somewhere that they can fort up and defend from those others who think taking from other people is easier than foraging for themselves. There will be a lot more of those kinds of peoples than the self reliant people when the money runs out and the grocery stores close down do to lack of supply.
Fair guess that I own a lot of air purifiers. I'm even picky about brands and features. The most expensive was on open box discount at Amazon. All the others came from thrift stores, and each of those cost me less than the replacement filter element now in it. I don't view it as very much of a 'privilege' that got me here.
I think most people in the CC communities are (painfully) aware that they are only controlling what they currently are able to, and that any rug may get pulled any time.
I’m well aware of there being cheaper options for protecting yourself. I was writing about MY experience in the homes where I worked. The people were as invested in the continuation of the current set of living arrangements as anyone who I have encountered who is not CC, and they were able to afford high-end purifiers and other protections.
I suspect many people in the modern world simply can't comprehend just how disastrous a collapse will be. At best, they've watched a few series like The Walking Dead and think they know. Many will just go into shock or panic, even some of those who think they're ready. Others may just sit around waiting for the cavalry to arrive, for NG troops and airdropped pallets of food and water that never come.
I'm doing my preparation, but I know that it won't be enough and that there will be some ugly surprises. There are just too many unknowns. I have a few medical issues that would be problematic in a collapse. Some I can minimize with due care, others there isn't much I could do about. I also have maybe 10-15 years of life left anyway. That makes a difference in my calculations. As the stoics say, change what you can and let go of what you can't.
Michael — you raise a good point about selective acceptance. It’s easy to prep for one kind of disruption while overlooking the bigger structural vulnerabilities that make that strategy possible. I think where I’d push back is on the framing of Covid itself as the central risk. To me, the larger issue isn’t whether people fear a particular disease, but whether their entire resilience plan depends on industrial civilization continuing to function.
Air purifiers, tests, and meds might create a sense of safety now, but they’re only as reliable as the grid, the supply chain, and the healthcare system. When those weaken — whether from fire, flood, or financial collapse — the question becomes: can you still adapt? I hope most people have taken the time to ask themselves this, but I fear many have not.
For some, adapting might mean shifting the focus from disease avoidance toward building health, strength, and redundancy in ways that don’t require Amazon Prime or a functioning CVS. Recognizing that isn't possible for everyone, the point still is that resilience comes from reducing dependence — not just on other people’s behaviors, but on the system itself.
Although I do think that Covid, while not the central risk, is an issue that is going to have, as it has already, a huge impact on people’s ability to function in a collapse scenario. I used it in this article as an example of one type of selective acceptance.
Can I still adapt? Nope! As soon as the going gets tough, I'm going ... to die. Bye!
Let them die. You won't catch me going to any shelters. I would rather live out in the woods on my own than be in a shelter with a bunch of strangers after a weather disaster. I am not a fan of humanity anymore.
I would last, what, five days in the woods? How long does it take to starve?
You need to have water after a couple of days but you can go three weeks or so without food. Longer if you have minimal food, such as the occasional rabbit, squirrel, or what have you. But water is a must. I know this because I had the privilege of attending the Army SERE course twice in my military career, plus deployments to less than ideal conditions in third world countries.
If you are one of those who are challenged by a lack of food and water foraging skills, things may become very dire when the economy totally collapses in a couple of years. The only way certain people will survive over others, will be their ability to stockpile ahead of time and be somewhere that they can fort up and defend from those others who think taking from other people is easier than foraging for themselves. There will be a lot more of those kinds of peoples than the self reliant people when the money runs out and the grocery stores close down do to lack of supply.
Fair guess that I own a lot of air purifiers. I'm even picky about brands and features. The most expensive was on open box discount at Amazon. All the others came from thrift stores, and each of those cost me less than the replacement filter element now in it. I don't view it as very much of a 'privilege' that got me here.
I think most people in the CC communities are (painfully) aware that they are only controlling what they currently are able to, and that any rug may get pulled any time.
I’m well aware of there being cheaper options for protecting yourself. I was writing about MY experience in the homes where I worked. The people were as invested in the continuation of the current set of living arrangements as anyone who I have encountered who is not CC, and they were able to afford high-end purifiers and other protections.