[clueless]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')tay loose, young man, and learn all you can. Better to be psychologically ready for the changes than clueless and shocked when they arrive. Sounds like you'll be as ready as any of us will be.

[Ayoob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', '
')
Ayoob,

I take it your strategy can be called the "last reindeer standing" strategy. After all, on St. Matthews Island, the reindeer population after the dieoff was 42 females and 1 male I believe.

Best,

Matt

[killJOY]

Hammer, keep reading. Wait till you find that all the "experts" with acronyms after their names can't agree about shite.

Talk about depressed....

The lack of certainty is the worst thing about this.

[SoothSayer]

How do you figure out what to pack under those conditions?

Good point.

I'm not into the Mad Max scenario ... but it does seem that being very fit & well armed (& having similar friends) could be an optimal preparation.

It would be cheaper than hoarding crates of goodies that you may never need - or which get stolen or confiscated.

Alternatively be a doctor or have some other "useful" skill.

[thuja]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdumars', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', 'A')fter all, on St. Matthews Island, the reindeer population after the dieoff was 42 females and 1 male I believe.

[Sonny]

Hey Hammer,
I feel I could say some encouraging words, since recently I found myself in a very similar situation to you.

I found out about Peak Oil last year when I was just 18 and a naive freshers student at my University (I'm in the University of Bath, UK). I stumbled across the Life After the Oil Crash site and sat there in 'shock', I guess you could call it. To say it shook me up would probably be an understatement .

For a few months I spent quite some time trying to read up on it, trying to tell my friends about it, generally fretting about it a lot .

If you're anything like me, you'll find it fascinating reading up about how our world truly works after having completely the wrong idea for 18 years.

But my main advice is not to get obsessed about Peak Oil. Read up on it certainly, but do not spend more than an hour a day reading about it max. Basically if it gets in the way of anything else more useful you could be doing then stop, you don't want to start being seen as anti-social .

Don't try and bring up Peak Oil directly with your friends, its a depressing subject and intelligent conversations about it quickly peter out. I think intially I put more people off finding out about peak oil than the other way round.
I found talking to my parents was a lot more reassuring, hopefully they will be alright discussing anything with you that is bothering you.

Lead a normal life as possible, enjoy what we still have while it lasts to the full. Go get drunk with your friends, go travelling to far away places, pull some fit girls . Just be calm in the knowledge that you are learning fascinating truths about the world that they don't teach you in school.

Trust me, once you get through the panic and depressing stages of Peak Oil knowledge you come through it a lot more confident and content. You will grasp the importance of each passing day as one to take advantage of and enjoy.

Most of all, realise that you are not alone. In the past year I have seen mindsets begin to change significantly. Government is beginning to realise and respond to the deep problems we face, and people in general are much more open about energy issues. Our University has an entire department dedicated to a sustainable future, and I'm sure many other Universities do too.

The sense of community I see around me these days gives me heart for the future. Although reaching the energy targets required for the continuation of our current lifestyle in the UK seems impossible, I now see our future as a great challenge.

Our future will be difficult, but when everyone pulls together there will be nothing but hope and good spirits on the way down the oil decline slope.

We are both coming of age into a world that will change dramatically in our lifetimes, it will be completely different from anything that has ever happened in the past. Just keep in mind what an unbelieveably unique and incredible future you will have ahead of you, and embrace that possibility.

And about being drafted, don't worry about that! It's way in the future if at all. If it comes to pass, I'll see you at the protests eh?

Keep your head up!!

Sean

[chukar]

Thank you for your advice Sonny! I'm glad there are people my age on this forum. I often find it difficult to be as extravagantly wasteful as my peers though. Everyone I know is so myopic and materialistic. Being optimistic is certainly a challenge.