(Yet Another) Bewildered 18 year old learns about peak oil.

[Ludi]

I don't know what the government plans to do. I'm glad to hear you plan to avoid "service."

[Aaron]

http://www.peakoil.com/survey66.html

[keladry]

I'm also 18 and just recently stumbled onto Peak Oil. I have to admit that I panicked for a few days, but now I'm beginning to feel a sense of determination. The advice people have given so far is wonderful. Do the things that are currently within your power to do. As far as the draft goes, I don't have any creative ideas on how to avoid it, but I disagree with some of the posters here who believe that all will descend into eternal darkness and chaos. Few people deny that it's going to be difficult, but it's important to not get overwhelmed by hopelessness. So what if the humans will all die and the world will come to an end? Anything is better than sitting on your ass and waiting for the worst to come.

[CarlinsDarlin]

Anything is better than sitting on your ass and waiting for the worst to come

Wise words - paraphrasing, sometimes the fear of X is worse than X itself. I sure hope this is one of those cases .
Kathy

[Abacourix]

Thanks everyone for the friendly and helpful responses - they are greatly appreciated!

I'm not panicky; I was just confused. But this cleared up a lot for me.

Starting today, I'm going to make trips to the local library (on my bike!) to look for books on subjects relating to fitness and wildlife survival.

The low-tech trade idea is right up my alley, too. I have a little bit of experience with carpentry and masonry from two years of a building trades class I took in high school. I'm going to start looking for a way to get into an apprenticeship.

[Ebyss]

I have a little bit of experience with carpentry and masonry from two years of a building trades class I took in high school. I'm going to start looking for a way to get into an apprenticeship.

Carpentry has always been, and will always be, a highly valued skill. While you're doing your apprenticeship, have a look at alternative building methods such as underground houses, cob building, straw bale, earthships etc etc. You might even be able to find someone who will let you work on site building one of these homes in exchange for learning the methods. Yes, I realise this is similar to an apprenticeship, but you probably won't get paid, so it's something to look into in the future.

Also, woodland management will be an important craft. Think about it, if you managed your own woodland, you would have timber for "free" and you could make furniture or wagons or something to sell or exchange for food (assuming it gets that bad, it probably won't).

[pedalling_faster]

Greetings.

Before I get to my other points, what do you suggest to an 18 year old boy about to graduate from high school, whose parents know about peak oil but don't believe it's serious enough to do anything yet?

I have very little outdoor know-how, as I'm usually at a computer desk (which also means I'm out of shape) which I'm sure will put me at a disadvantage.

I'm very alarmed, and I'm trying to figure out what to do to plan for the future.... that is within my grasp. Although I'd very much like to attend college, it looks as if it isn't a wise choice at this point.

I don't even know where to begin - I've read some some threads here with other 18 year olds who have posted, but I've noticed an inconsistency in the urgency among people about the situation. Some think it will be in less than a year, some think 10-20 years. I'm very confused.

What kinds of things should I start doing right now to prepare? I have no job or job history, no credit, etc. so it's not like I can go somewhere to support myself on my own yet. My dad will never believe me about the urgency of the situation, and he won't allow me to do any planting in the yard for food.

Thanks in advance.

i suggest finding a good 2 year college, such as Santa Rosa Junior College. highest rated in the US.

but ratings aren't everything. i was just personally very impressed with some of the instructors i met there. I have an engineering degree from Stanford, and later took some classes at SRJC. the guy who teaches the composting class that is part of the Sustainable Agriculture curriculum - taught by an emeritus Soil Science professor from Berkeley - one of the best classes i've ever taken, anywhere.

and it's very hand's on - you learn how to build hot compost piles that heat up to 160 F. like mixing dirt & water & having it heat up - perhaps it appealed to my 'inner pyro-maniac'. the end result is fantastic fertile dirt - you build the compost pile in the winter, and it's ready for spring planting.

this is a key skill for Peak Oil. people won't be able to run to Home Depot to buy 'good dirt'. also, what to do with garbage - well, i pay for no garbage pick-up. most of my garbage is composted - into very high-quality soil.

i got off the subject there. one of the reasons i suggest SRJC is because it's so affordable. $100 a semester for a full curriculum, for good education. wherever you live, you can probably find something similar, possibly close to home, to help limit housing costs & commute costs & commute time.


AVOID THE US MILITARY. do a web-search on "Depleted Uranium" - if you are sent to Iraq or Afghanistan, you will 'get' to breathe some.

the US gov. loves to send other people's children to die in foreign wars. 1/3 of the young people from Gulf War 1 now have Gulf War Syndrome. it's too bad our elected representatives' children aren't required to fight in our nation's wars - we wouldn't have any wars, or they would all be fought by drones.

i'm not saying war is always un-necessary or always bad - just that it's not your job to risk death & disability for the benefit of Dick Cheney & the Prime Minister of Israel (who said "9-11 was very good for Israel.")


as far as travel - travel is good. i guess i take it for granted, having traveled some, but, given that access to travel may be reduced in the future, yes, this is also a good time to travel.

[Nefarious]

Uh pedalling. That post you quoted is uh 6 years old. I don't think hes around anymore.

[Pops]

He's a geologist at EXXON by now.

[ian807]

I agree with most of the other posters. Go to college should be a Yes! Then travel, particularly to third world countries with small-scale energy budgets where some people live with a solar panel and a battery to provide all their power needs.

My other suggestion is "do this as a nurse or other medical professional." Nursing, for example, is a great, flexible degree to have. You'll get in shape (Nursing is often a contact sport). You'll be in great demand before, during and after any significant social collapse. You may save many lives, possibly including your own. There's a range of medical professions, however. I'd research and pick the most useful.

After that, the most useful things I can think of for you to do is to pick up some carpentry, electrical wiring, and mechanics from a local community college. You'll need to be able to handle basic tools at some point and the ability to turn a dozen old car alternators into a small community power source will allow you many opportunities to make friends and influence people.

Last suggestion. Learn yoga or Tai chi or any martial art that involves breath control and meditation. You'll need the basic neurophysiological control mechanisms that either of those disciplines provide, or you're going to be in for a very tense and uncomfortable life as the medicines run out and the times get "interesting."

My 2 cents and good luck!.

[Daniel_Plainview]

Although I'd very much like to attend college, it looks as if it isn't a wise choice at this point.

In a post-PO world, the opportunity cost of attending college is simply too great. Even with a full scholarship, there are only a handful of professions that will ultimately bear fruit.

[pedalling_faster]

anybody ever follow up with the original poster ?

[pstarr]

anybody ever follow up with the original poster ?

He spat up the Red Pill, and was reattached to the Matrix. He is not The One.

[pedalling_faster]

anybody ever follow up with the original poster ?

He spat up the Red Pill, and was reattached to the Matrix. He is not The One.

at the age of 18 or 24, Chasing Tail is more logical than Contemplating Pill Color.

for the heck of it, i sent him a PM asking him to re-join us on this thread.

[EOTWAWKI]

My advice:

No matter how bad it gets, life will always be good for some people. Make sure you are among that number by planning your career in an area that will always be in demand and make sure you excel at it.

If things get so bad that 20% of the planet's population starves to death make sure you are in the other 80%. (Shouldn't be too difficult as this will be 3rd world.)

If the US has a massive depression and unemployment hits 50%, make sure you are in the other 50%.
If 30% of the population defaults on its mortgages and declares bankruptcy and beomes homeless, make sure you are in the other 70%.

Etc. etc. There will always be some people who do ok.

Have values. Treat people well. Be generous. Share. Reduce your carbon footprint. Learn to grow your own food. Work from home if you can. Ride a bike. Become vegetarian.

Most likely the decline is going to be long and slow. You could still have a few decades of good life, even marry and raise children.

Above all remember: No prediction about the future has ever come true. It could be worse, it could be better. Live your life regardless.

I doubt we are going to see a "Mad Max" like earth of a few survivors in your lifetime. Or "the last few hundred human beings huddled around the arctic ocean and Antarctica" even in your grandchildrens lifetime.

[Ferretlover]

Since the poster identified himself as a sit behind the computer lard-a** with no work experience and no plans for college, I will give different advice.

Go join the Marines or Army infantry for 4 years. Learn to use all of the cool weapons, survival techniques, and unarmed combat you can during that time. When you get out after your four years you won't have a job but you will be a lean kick-a** mofo that will plant a garden wherever you want to.

Better man-up since the future won't be basket weaving and sitting on your a** like you do now.

[pstarr]

Go join the Marines or Army infantry for 4 years.

He already did. He has PTSD, lives in Section 8 housing, and has a rosy future as a pawn-shop security mook.

[pedalling_faster]

Go join the Marines or Army infantry for 4 years.

He already did. He has PTSD, lives in Section 8 housing, and has a rosy future as a pawn-shop security mook.

pawn-shop security mook is not a bad place to be, if you "learn your collectibles" and can tell the difference between fine china with gold-colored glazing, and fine-china with 18K genuine gold trim, as an example - and your employer lets you keep some & buy it at cost.

[SpockLives]

Since the poster identified himself as a sit behind the computer lard-ass with no work experience and no plans for college, I will give different advice. ...
Better man-up since the future won't be basket weaving and sitting on your ass like you do now.

The original post is 6 years old. He could have joined the military for 4 years, gotten an honorable discharge, spent two years after that living at moms in front of his computer screen and might now be no better off than he started. Except he knows karate. Since he posted peak oil happened, the world changed in terms of employment aspects, and yet his life will effectively have not changed. He also could have gone to college, gotten a 4.0 and graduated valedictorian with a degree in art history and be in the same boat.

I love these old posts, from back in the day when it was accepted that peak oil was supposed to mean something, something tangible, awe inspiring, or even horrible. We need a t-shirt section so we can sell them to newbies, "Peak oil happened and all I got was this lousy t-shirt", something like that.

[Ferretlover]

My advice: No matter how bad it gets, life will always be good for some people. Make sure you are among that number by planning your career in an area that will always be in demand and make sure you excel at it. ...
I doubt we are going to see a "Mad Max" like earth of a few survivors in your lifetime. Or "the last few hundred human beings huddled around the arctic ocean and Antarctica" even in your grandchildrens lifetime.

+1

The only thing I would add is get involved with your local community. Find like-minded people and forge close relationships with them. As the SHTF being part of a decent-sized group helps to reduce your personal risk.