What are You doing right now for PO?

FireJack · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 16, 2005 Posts: 451

I bike, have no debt, etc but right now my biggest concern is food. What I want to do is have a small energy efficeint house out in the country somewhere where I can grow my own food, or at least as much as possible. With only about $4000 in savings I don't know how I could do this without going into major debt.
Right now I am researching, learning as much as I can but I have to get serious about practicing this stuff. I am spending as little as possible right now, saving every penny I can.

Paul64 · Tar Sands Joined: Sep 23, 2005 Posts: 58

My reasoning was not PO related, but being stressed and worn out, I left my corporate job in May...a daily residence in a tiny 12th floor cubicle in a downtown Boston office building. At that time I had a sense where things were going in this country (downhill), but really only discovered the peak oil aspect of our dilemma about a month ago. I live alone and am renting...just moved from a mega-apartment complex to a lower-cost new place a couple of months ago - a nice 4 family house-apartment in the burbs. Unlike my last place I actually have gotten to know the other people in my building a little bit and they are very friendly. Smile

The main thing I am doing is taking a permanent break from corporate IT work...and really getting in shape physically for the first time since about age 20 (I am 41); biking everywhere and driving a lot less. Enjoyed a 30 mile bike this beautiful morning in fact. I don't have a garden, but I did join a couple of local farmers markets organizations and a community organic farm several towns over, and plan on volunteering on a farm next spring. I feel physically like I can do things I couldn't do before and mentally in much better spirits than before leaving my job; simply enjoying each day. It is truly sad how flabby and under-exercised people are as a whole these days, thanks in large part to cars...and TV and computers too. Sad

As far as all the other stuff people are doing for prep - solar, kerosene, etc, good luck to them and I am sure many will be in a better position than I for doing these things, but I am mostly just living my life, just a little simpler than before and for now much less stressful. I will keep a stash of several large bottles of water on hand throughout the winter, and matches, candles and a couple extra blankets and a good winter coat. That's about it. Oh, and maybe a few cans of sardines and tuna and bottles of juice. I am more worried about my parents than myself; they are in fair health for their ages (70's) but I am concerned they would get very panicky in a real emergency.
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some_guy282 · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 18, 2004 Posts: 691

One of the first things I did after learning about Peak Oil was to buy a bike. It was one of the best things I've ever done, and even without Peak Oil, I'm sorry I didn't think of it sooner. I save money by not having to pay for the bus to go to school (5 miles), or for all the trips I make to my girlfriend's house (2 miles away). The bike paid for itself within the first year. All the money I'm saving now is being stashed away.
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In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it is the rule. – Nietzsche

Time makes more converts than reason. – Thomas Paine

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SinisterBlueCat · Intermediate Crude Joined: Sep 06, 2005 Posts: 950

among other things, I stopped getting my hair done. Now instead of long curly permed hair, I have long straight natural hair. It looks way better this way to, and is so much easier.

osiriss

I didn't do much, but still what I'm doing already made a big change in my lifestyle.

I first changed career all completely. I used to have a computer store with some other friends. Back there I was in charge of the computers and all the electronic repairs. It was a great job. No boss (you're the boss lol). But then, I taught... If there is some enegy crisis or society crash, what kind of skills would be usefull. Not computer repair that's for sure, even less selling Nintendos. And beside that job didn't help to keep in shape either. I was kinda fat back then (double chin and all).

Then in 1999, I sold the store and converted myself into the most logic choice for a usefull career. I decided to go into construction. I got my Carpenter apprentice card which is very hard to get here in Quebec. We have one of the most severe construction regulations and stuff. Now today I'm working on a new subway station. Which I'm very honored. I also work in high altitude, skyscrapers and stuff.

New skills gained:

- Climbing with 50 pounds of extra weight (that's the weight of my tool-belt and safety harness. Also got rid of my fear of height.

- Work the wood XXbuzzsaw

- I can now carry stuff that weight 200-250 pounds on my shoulder and walk a pretty good distance with the weight. (good to carry weak or sick people)
cachas

- I work outside in the winter at -30 Celcius. icon_santa

.

- And the list goes on...

I used to weight 230 pounds before, Now I weight 185 pounds (I'm 6 foot 1 btw). I now have what they called an (athletic body), my doctor told me lol. My girlfriend is now crazy about me hehe. It help bring back her libido after 13yrs together lol.

As for other stuff, replace lightbulbs to fluorescent, bought small portable 450 watts battery pack with solar panel charger. Never use the car in towns anymore, I use the subway hehe. I do still use the car to work, well I aint gonna carry my tools in the subway, and beside where I work the subway station ain't done yet lol

So the morale of this story is that I value more physical shapeness and knowledge of basic construction skills to live in a post oil world.

Torion · Tar Sands Joined: May 09, 2005 Posts: 34

At the end of 2006, I'll be out of credit card debt!

House is paid off.

I may retire early at the end of 2006 so I wouldn't be driving daily so much. I don't care for my job much anyway, anymore.

I don't throw out, as in the trash, as much as I used to. I'm better at recycling clothes, household goods, etc. to the Salvation Army at least.

Much better about turning off lights when I'm not in the room when they're on.

I"m going to change all my incandescent light bulbs to florescent.

Don't take as many side trips in car as I used to.

ALBY

preparing myself financially.

stocking up on extra supplies, ammo, guns and tools.

shooting IPSC and three gun (and loving it).

bowhunting for fun now, for food in the future.

keeping my mouth shut.

building a bigger garden. (number two)

putting in a berry patch.

reading and collecting useful knowledge.

preparing to educate my children myself.

scoping out likeminded individuals and families.

preparing for strategic relocation (possibly)

enjoying myself and my family while my life is still a storybook.

Schneider

Evltre

Moved to the (semi) country - renting a lovely shabby little cottage on a small patch of land - out of town, but close enough to catch a bus into town (>1km walk to bus stop!) Catch the bus to work every day - have discovered that it's nice to read on the bus - and arrive at work less stressed from fighting the traffic. Takes extra time out of the day though.

Make a lot more food from scratch - bake cookies and cakes, bread, pizzas etc for family school / work lunches - cheaper, and better for us all Smile

Also, takes extra time out of the day. Am running out of hours in the day at the moment!

Getting really good at crafty type stuff - knitting, spinning, dyeing, felting, sewing....it's all really fun and I'm producing half way decent stuff these days! Made several items of clothing for my little boy, and for other peoples kids as well.

Brought heritage seeds - not to stash in a cupboard - but to plant! Am growing tomatoes, watermelon, lettuce, potatoes, beans and corn for starters - hoping to scab a little extra waste land from the landlord's bordering farm to grow a bit more (nice bit of spare land by our drive way that's not doing anything!) Smile

Recycling a lot more, making do without a lot more, saving a lot more - hoping to eventually buy the house we are in (plus a couple of acres) from our current landlord - he's open to selling it. But will hang fire for the moment and see what happens as the only way we can buy is with a reasonably large mortgage.

Have stopped talking to people outside of my immediate family about it - all too hard.

albente · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Aug 20, 2004 Posts: 1356

I am stocking up on beer, simply the most useful thing to prepare.

the_red_pill · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 12, 2005 Posts: 58

Thanks for the replies, folks. I am encouraged when I hear others doing things I want to do, too. Sometimes I think none of it may matter later, but it makes me deal with this knowing I'm doing something about it.

Will Europe fare better than the US? I don't know, I just feel that it might.

TT

God, those big pictures annoy me !!

seldom_seen · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Apr 12, 2005 Posts: 1972

reading the peakoil.com forums.

Doly · Expert Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 4034

A lot of the things I'm doing I was doing already, out of a sense of living simply.

1. I'm commuting by train (electric, I've checked). I'm looking for a job closer to home. There is some chance of becoming a teleworker if I'm lucky and I play my cards right.

2. I don't have enough money to invest in anything. Trying to get rid of my credit card debt (built up as a consequence of moving, I don't generally use my credit card) as soon as possible.

3. I participate in the council's recycling scheme.

4. I contact people about PO. Last guy, the sales manager of Virgin Atlantic, explaining to him why Virgin getting in the refinery business wasn't necessarily a good idea.

5. I practice in doing things myself, with stuff that is easy to get. Anything from tablecloths and cushions to shelves.

6. Don't have a TV. Never had it. Much better to spend your free time practicing useful DIY skills.

7. I use energy-saving lightbulbs in all the lamps that will accept them in my flat (not just less energy, but also last longer). A lot of my lamps have dimmer switches, that won't take them. But at least, with the dimmer switches, you can choose the intensity and use less energy.

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