[Opinion] 5 Rules for PO Prep.

[kpeavey]

1 The Money. This means giving up things, getting a handle on the bills, wiping out debt. Cut expenses until it hurts, then cut some more. Retrospect in a depression will show you there were lots of things you could have given up. Without debt comes freedom and the ability to enhance your position. I've been rich and I've been poor. It is better to be rich.
2 The Tools. Be it a saw, a frying pan, or the knowledge to make bread. Tools which function by buman power, have no moving parts, and can be repaired using what is available are best. Tools, with skills falling under the category, offer a survival advantage.
3 The People. Friends, neighbors relatives, coworkers. Develop the group. Be sure they know what you can do, find out what they can do. An important reminder, don't open your mouth about what you have. When the shit goes down, those peole will be all you have.
4 Location, Location, Location. Get out of the city. A small community of self reliant individuals and families is the goal. Consider climate and future climate. Avoid the beach, rivers leading to/from large cities, major roads and highways, and military installations.
5 The Resources. Clean water, clean air, good earth, trees, pasture, even rocks. Identify what you have to work with.

[Pops]

Five I can agree with kp.

[charliebrownout]

I'm new, and I truly hope doomsday will not be the end result (although I can see it on the horizon), so bear with me.

Here are my five:

DO become deeply involved in positive, workable, social networks (church for me, could be something else for others). Strengthen ties with good people interested in community, and capable/commited to a better future.

DO invest in your mind. Dump your pocketbook into your head (Franklin) buy books to help you learn HOW to do things (survival, medicine, agriculture, science, etc).

DO NOT buy useless crap. If you must buy, buy things that will last (sturdy clothes/shoes and tools).

DO move to a place that suits your needs (urban or rural...but forget the suburbs alltogether).

DO get rid of ALL debt and don't take on any more.


That's what I can see. I'm sure there are better ones, but that's what I'm able to do at the moment. God help us all if I ever got a firearm or weapons. I'm accident prone enough as it is! :razz

[Pops]

I'm accident prone enough as it is! :razz

I'm with you on that CBO.

Anyway thanks for your 5, and thanks for putting them up - I wouldn't argue with any.

Welcome.

[Pops]

Ive already mentioned somewhere else that I've disproven portions of my rule #3, and events are disproving portions of #4 so here is my new and improved Five:

Pops Five Don’ts:

Don't buy - Quit buying crap and learn to live on less.

Don't borrow - Get out of debt and stay out, things will go waay downhill before your creditors will quit looking for you - they will need income too and will always have the upper hand.

Don't specialize - Diversify your sources of income, [s]it's easy to tell if your job will be hurt, but[/s] it's hard to be certain it won't be affected no matter how much you study or think you know.

Don't go hungry – Stock up and rotate necessities and grow and preserve as much food as you can– [s]not because they will become unavailable but because[/s] at some point (hopefully temporarily) you may not be able to afford them or they may be unavailable.

Don't be dependent - Try to become more independent from infrastructures of all kinds – especially those for which you have to pay.

[sdcoyote]

My 5 might be a bit different than other folks, or maybe not so much...

1. Invest in my SO and my kids. This is a scary time. The kids feel it too, even tho I might not be talking to them about it (they are 3 and 5 - we adopted them 2 years ago). I need to make them more of a part of the overall plan. Teach them how to tell a weed from a potato. The wife knows it too - she understands in some ways better than I (grew up with a single mom - very poor). Anyway, I need to invest as much time, energy, love, etc into this family unit as I possibly can.

2. Always be wary of things that "look pretty" but are not sound - buy the things that are sound - no matter how they look. Humans are attracted to pretty paint. I don't know why.

3. Build a library of essentials. Even if society blows apart - if I know "how" the rest is easy.

4. Have enough supplies for 1 year. This is a personal fetish. Again, if it all disintegrates, give me a year and I can start over. The only caveat to this rule is medical stuff - the more the merrier. Some it may be irreplaceable.

5. People are fine in moderation. We have purposely developed hard friendships with 2 seperate couples who also are quite self-sufficient. We will need those couples in the future and they will need us.

[Pops]

I split off the posts about guns to Here.

Lets keep this thread for 5 rules only and debates details elsewhere, OK?

[katkinkate]

It's quite funny how you think that there will be a community!?!? for long term survival. Hahahahaha. That's good. Really good.

There is NO long term survival. Lets face some facts here. If science tells us anything and History, you'll quickly see that we're all doomed. Think about it for a sec. Noone is going to ever give up and live in the "farm age" It'll never happen. Period.

Due to the Energy wars that will without a doubt ensue shrotly after the peak is really felt. Which we will feel it next year for sure.

Then it's simple, really. As these wars are raging on and on. At one point one country will say "I'll show these guys" and launch about half a dozen nukes.......mmmmmmcan you just smell it! Then the other country in defense will launch about half a dozen if not more than that. And BAM you've got a nuclear winter. A man made Ice age, where the "farm age" falls down. Face it folks, no one is going to survive long term. It will be the end of mankind. Mark my words.

Also if the nukes don't get us, we've got a nice big asteriod heading straight for us.....coming in 2039.

A nuclear winter will only last as long as it takes for most of the dust (that's blocking the sun) to fall back out of the stratisphere ... about 2-4 years. If most of the nukes explode in the northern hemisphere, the southern will be only very lightly affected, because the worst of the dust will have fallen out before it has a chance to mix fully with the southern atmosphere. So Australia, S America and S.Africa will have many more survivors.

Ooops, sorry Pops.

My 5 rules: maximise independence from 'the system', maximise links with family and community, learn as much as you can, practice what you learn, look after your health (and teeth).

[mikeh433]

1) If you do buy supplies, tools, etc. DO NOT buy Chinese manufactured stuff. I have gone through maybe 4 bicycles in 4 years - inexpensive and for a reason - they use the shoddiest metal and components. Other items break after 1 or 2 uses. Between money (gold) and useful items, get useful items, because when they become scarce, you will have a heck of a time finding it, nevermind bargaining for it, just finding it anywhere.

2) Rely on infrastructure - family, friends, community - the government won't be there. Also the cosmic infrastructure is good.

3) Technology will bail us out - eventually. For me, spiritual technology and anything of interest. If you are like stuck in a prison cell somewhere (might be similar) have things of interest.

4) This tough period is for cleansing the earth of undesirables - mainly the ruling class government/corporate and other negative entities. What follows is a golden age of Aquarius - inventions galore and peace will rule the earth. (I got this from an "enlightened guy" whose lectures I attended a few in the 1980's. http://maharishiphotos.com/lecture1.html . He would open a lecture sometimes "Is there ANYTHING that anyone here would like to know". Or he might say "I remember this president from Atlantis", "Never ever board on a cigar shaped vessel (space craft)".

5) You WILL learn to do without, or with what you can make on your own. Whether you wish to or not. Economic collapse is in the cards and in one month I suspect.

[dolem98]

1. Emotionally: Keep practical and don't despair. Keep a normal routine and don't spend all day obsessing over peak oil.

2. Economically: Invest wisely and be prepared to pull out in advance of problems. Become a have instead of a have-not (if you can). Live like a have-not.

3. Mentally: Keep learning new things. Nobody here or anywhere can predict exactly what PO will be like, so you want to be a quick thinker with a repertoire of skills, able to handle any situation.

4. Physically: Exercise outside the gym. Your body quickly gets used to a routine workout, so mix it up constantly. Learn to eat a simple, healthy diet.

5. Socially: Choose a unit of size that works for you. If it's a unit of one, prepare yourself to the utmost- be a ninja. If it's your family, do anything in your power to keep your family healthy, happy, loving and prepared. If it is your friends, start talking about your ideas and plans. If it is your neighborhood or community - organize.

[AnIowan]

I have found this thread absolutely fascinating on many levels. To see what people truly think is important is scary, yet enlightening on the mind set that must be in place when changes start coming.

As I've lost a little bit of sleep these last few nights, here are my rough five, which are certainly open to change as I continue to grapple with this whole idea:

1) Education: Of course you'd expect that from a teacher like myself, but learning from the past will make what could happen in the future slightly easier to handle. Education also in the terms of educate yourself with a skill. I'm looking at our local community schedule, and am trying to find time to fit in a small engine repair class, a skill that can come in handy now, but will be increasingly needed later on.

2) Creating Connections: This is a big "fad phrase" with our current administration, but it certainly finds a home here! Whether to your SO, your family, your community, neighbors, whatever, having those connections made now will help your cause later. My wife and I plan on volunteering at our local Habitat for Humanity house not only to advance our own skills (see #1) but to make other connections with those in our surrounding community.

3) Be safe: Safety in numbers, safety at your home, learning how to take care of wounds, injuries, whatever. It all comes back to being able to protect yourself and the ones you love (See #1 and #2). That physical safety is the one that has me rolling around in bed right now because while we live in a fairly rural area, we are less then a quarter mile from a connector blacktop, and very visible from the road. How do I do that, while not going over board?

4) Creating what you need: This is our area of weakness, because neither my wife nor I have those skills to be able to create "things" (new buildings, something metal, etc.) which is why I'll also be taking a woodworking class at the community college. Not that it will suddenly make me a great carpenter, but because it will give the basics, and those basics can be worked with, or skills traded for something else. We will have the ability to garden, to preserve, and to make food, and hopefully these skills will translate into bartering power of some sort.

5) Staying sane: As I drove to work this morning, all the things that I saw that relate to oil, to easy energy, or to something that is not possible in our area just seemed to jump out at me. Finding that outlet, whether it be hunting, gathering, gardening, leading, or something all together different to keep your own sanity will be key. Things will change, there's no doubt about that, but how that change is dealt with is the key to your own sanity, and that of those people around you.

A rough list no doubt, but a starting point on what looks to be a long winding road......

[Pops]

A rough list no doubt, but a starting point on what looks to be a long winding road......

A good list I'm thinking Iowa.

[ohcomeon]

I searched this thread out because I am feeling a sense of urgency in preparing for something that I am not sure how to define. Anyway, I am really learning from your answers. Thanks, Pops, for starting this.

Here are mine. I still feel like I am on the first steps and a little behind the 8 ball even though I have been a member here for a while. So far the only thing I've done is collect knowledge and all the tangible, practical things are still left to do.

1. Start practicing the things I have been learning so much about like gardening, canning, food storage, etc. I am still only able to container garden, but I am utilizing farmer's market to can a lot this year. Trying to have at least a year's storage of most items.

2. Get out of debt -take no new debt. Slow, slow going, but we're making progress. Unfortunately, don't think we'll get it all done before it's too late.

3. Learn new skills that will be useful and make a name for myself with my skills now. My chosen ones are spinning, sewing, weaving. I know those aren't survival skills, but may give me something to barter with. Until we are all going around naked, at least. Also, want to learn to make soap. While the sewing/spinning business is now getting off the ground, soap making is still just an idea for me.

4. Start keeping small animals that will provide food for my family like chickens, goats, rabbits (also great for wool!).

5. Continue building my library of information that may be helpful later.

[Pops]

Unfortunately, don't think we'll get it all done before it's too late.

It's not over till the skinny lady screams!

Keep going, Oh!

[WildRose]

I don't remember if I've posted my five here yet; if I have, maybe they've changed a little. Here is what we're doing now (what seems most important to us):

1. Pay down debt, as quickly as we can.

2. Get what we need. This includes some backup food and water supplies, extra blankets, shoes, boots, coats, tools, miscellaneous. Replace old/broken things for good quality. We're in the process of replacing our fridge/stove, washer/drier, one at a time.

3. Fix the house. Our goal is to have our roof, windows, insulation, etc. upgraded and in good condition. We want to do everything possible to reduce the cost of heating bills and also to increase the security of our home. God forbid anything should happen to our home!

4. Learn and Do. This includes careful purchase of books we figure will come in handy. Also includes vegetable and fruit growing, increasing the size of our planting areas and building up our soil. Books on green cleaning, repairing everything. On my list of to-do's in the next few months: upgrading my first aid/CPR, and learning how to do wood/furniture refinishing.

5. Work in the community. We're getting the kids (and ourselves) involved in community projects, also helping relatives and neighbors wherever we can. These projects, in addition to building community, are also really good learning experiences.

WildRose

[joeltrout]

My 5 Rules in simple form:

1) Profit off peak oil by investing in oil or working in oil industry.

2) Buy land and know how to use it for veggies and animals.

3) Buy books. Lots of books.

4) Don't panic now. Don't panic then. Don't panic ever.

5) Enjoy life no matter what happens.

joeltrout

[chris-h]

1) Do not get married but if you want to do it desperately find a submissive woman from a poor country to marry. She must have all the skills that poor women have ability to cook , repair clothes , farm a small garden raise rabbits , raise children and everything else.

2) Smaller house , smaller car or even better get a scooter or live close to the job.

3) Get a security job Police , army or an energy job engineer or a job repairing things . Do not become a farmer they will be taxed to death.

4) Buy at least 4 on line 1000 va ups manufactured by a reliable company like mge or apc or socomec and use 2 of them to have electrical power available when the rolling blackouts happen . Store the other 2 somewhere.

5) Learn martial arts and make friends with a lot of people that know martial arts .

[buzzard]

I. Technology is what got us here. Don't count on it to take us home.

II. Learn to distinguish needs from wants.

III. Stand- don't run. (But always have a back door).

IV. Always trust your dog's evaluation of other people.

V. Knowledge + Experience = Wisdom
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Refrain: Do it yesterday

[ThePostman]

Hmmm, unconventional times call for unconventional thinking so I'll try a few out of the norm...

1. Use a single sheet of drywall to secure hard goods instead of a safe. The home safe is a primary target, even if well hidden but nobody is going to tear down all your walls lin the hopes of finding valuables. You on the other hand can access them in seconds with nothing more than a hammer.

2. Learn to use a compound bow. Silent, deadly and the "ammo" could be made from various parts if you get in a pinch.

3. Buy a used exercise bike at Goodwill, a car battery, some used car alternators, an inverter and an amp guage. See what you can power with it after some simple rigging with wire and belts. You get exercise, free energy and education for bigger projects.

4. Take up backpacking as a hobby. Exercise, good survival and rationing experience, investment in useful gear (especially water cleansing), knowledge on living with less, even if only for a day or two.

5. Diversify your liquidity into foreign currencies, Canadian and Euro are probably best. If the U.S. dollar crashes, you'll be a millionaire, if it doesn't, you can always convert it back. And DON'T try to pay off your house. The lender can't call you on the loan. EVER. They can only require your monthly mortgage. And if the dollar craters, you can convert your foreign currency back to dollars and probably pay off your house in one shot (e.g., I was a "millionaire" in Russia after their collapse because I had a couple hundred bucks on me - Ruble was 5000 to 1 then.)

[buzzard]

Opinions seem to vary mainly as to priority and focus. Some of us feel that it is important to walk, hike, exercise, work-out. Some of us feel that it is important to remain mobile and to prepare a "bug-out-bag", keep options open. Some have a very specific list of how-tos and what-to-dos based on their perception of what will be needed to survive a collapse. Then there are others of us who are old.

Age can tend to temper one's perspective about a lot of things. Not only is it not important for those aged among us to remain mobile. It is down right laughable to consider it. Oh yes, by all means pack a bug-out-bag to hang on the back of our wheelchair. See you on the other side-- of the sidewalk. Upon reaching a certain stage of life it becomes very important to be where you are going to be-- forever. If I am not where I need to be for the rest of my life, then it's too late. Even then, I'm here for the duration whether I like it or not. For those of us who are old enough to know better, it is important to remain in our comfort zone. Do it because it feels good. Too old for politics, too old for esoteric philosophies and too old to keep second-guessing every decision.

I'm going to make it real easy for the zombies to find me because I'm not moving and I no longer care who knows it. Instead of hiking several miles a day to remain in shape, I am installing grab bars in my shower. Instead of maintaining a good work-out regime I will replace the back stairs with a ramp. Garden? Raised two feet so I don't have so far to bend. Permaculture? Secondary to comfort. No Till? Only if I can access it from my walker. The size of my firearms is not dictated by what size I imagine my dick to be but by the amount of recoil on my poor arthritic wrists.

It would be more than pathetic if by this time of my life I let some ideology break my hip. I have gotten to the point that the die-off may come and I won't even notice. I see my mom (88 yrs old) watch helplessly as her entire generation slips silently away. The Greatest Generation. Gone. I can't take it too seriously. After all, we invented the hoola- hoop.