[kevincarter]

Never in the future we will enjoy such an abundance of energy and all that it involves. My suggestion is (besides preparing and not getting obsessed with the matter). ENJOY NOW because we don’t know how the future is going to look or smell, but I bet it will be ugly and nasty.

[Sencha]

So true Kev, that is exactly what I am going to try. I've pretty much turned myself into an escapist. I know that even if I could survive the future, it wouldn't be worth it.
Best thing I can do is binge on as many of life's pleasures as possible. I hope it doesn't get too out of hand though, I've been tempted more than once to quit my job and education and be a full-time gamer.

[FairMaiden]

Hmm...who is to say it will be dirtier? Without all the emmissions spewing out of millions of tailpipes every second, it could get cleaner! It could be better after a while...who really knows?

[SeasonOfPain]

Even if the environment isn't dirtier, I'm betting you and I will be. I doubt hygine will especially flourish post-peak.

[evilmonkeyspanker]

I was thinking of becoming a full time sexaholic now, due to the lack of hygene and the really rampant aftermath of AIDS and other venerial diseases that will most likely come into play post peak. You think it is bad now, we will most likely lose any access to Health Care... I am expecting scurvey to make a real good comeback.

[sameu]

I'm trying to travel and see as much things possible, it's a bit paradoxal cause before I always felt I shouldn't travel too much to avoid unnecessary burning of fossils, causing air pollution etc,...

but I went to Newcastle by ferry just recently and I realised in five years maybe it's not gonna be possible anymore because of high oil prices, so it made me enjoy the trip even more (regardless the fact I was responsible for burning a lot of fossils)

btw, the nightlife in Newcastle is awesome except for that damn closing hour

[Dukat_Reloaded]

Sencha, Peakoil will be the ultimate game. Better than Doom3, FarCry or HalfLife 2. Only a year or two left until peakoil will be released. Most games nowadays take 3 or more years to develop, peakoil has taken 150 years to develop. Features will be "life like graphics, Real pain". Like most games, you want to stock up on supplies, medkits, guns and ammo before engaging the enemies. Anyone here want to play peakoil in co-op?

[Blueberry]

Lol, dukat.

Just on the subject here, I don't believe that running from pain and running to pleasure have gotten the human race to the highest levels.

By highest, I mean the really awesome experiences.

By neither pushing away pain nor pulling toward pleasure we create an atmosphere of acceptance -- and that equals appreciation for what is.

PO or not -- there is always pain.

Running from it is futile, invariably -- because there's always more, even in an island paradise. And, when you stop for a minute and appreciate pain and suffering, even enjoy them as part of the human experience, and sacred, then paradoxically, pleasure becomes sweeter and more tangible, too.

Debra Cohen wrote a book called Turning Suffering Inside Out that describes this in more detail.

[sameu]

I hear you
But nevertheless, I'm glad I made that trip

[Blueberry]

sameu -- I was refrering to mindless, frenzied, panic stricken fearful fear escape in general.

It's a paradox: but embracing pain as a friend, turns out to be a major part of personal development -- along with taking responsibilty for personal choices....

Just to clarify, I was referring to the original post and hadn't noticed you'd gone anywhere -- congrats, lol, now that you I see that.

[Ludi]

I don't anticipate significantly more misery in my own life in the future, just fewer luxuries, so I'm trying to enjoy some of them now, like icecream and beer, neither of which is good for my health! But I'm actually hoping for a somewhat easier life in the future, once I get my gardens and alternative energy systems in place. With nothing to buy, because everything is too expensive, and no jobs, just think of all the leisure time we'll have!

[Dukat_Reloaded]

I'm am concerned when people here start saying, it's a lost cause, just forget about peakoil and enjoy yourself. Thats very much an american attitude which is responsible for alot of the problem. There are lot of people here who have discovered peakoil and are doing their best in their own way to reduce their pollution, inform others, try to effect change in the political environment (Many authors are part of this group, many do not make alot of money and I believe most are more concerned with getting the message out and effecting change than interested in their own monetary gain from book sales). I would not be suprised if the majority of the american public would act in such away after being fully informed in regards to peakoil!. You have understood the impending crisis the world faces and it would be very shortsighted to begin ignoring peakoil when the people and authors here have invested alot of time and personal energy in informing you. Now that you know of peakoil, I think morally you have a duty to effect change and pass the message on. The world has squandered alot of phyical resourses, and ignoring peakoil is squandering intellectual resourses which were allocated to you. To those deciding on going down the road of ignoring peakoil and reverting back to a normal mega consumer lifestyle, your letting us and the rest of the planet down to the point the world would be much better off without you at all. (Peakoilers use up resourses too, but atleast they are trying to do something about the problem)

[FairMaiden]

Dukat - being aware of peak oil and preparing (making gardens, paying off mortgage, etc) is NOT mutally exclusive with "living it up". I have spent my ENTIRE life conserving energy and resources. Did it really help? I don't think so. I spent many a rainy Friday nights cycling home in the pitch black while my friends who drove home were there hours before me. Why did I bother? Really? I think enjoying myself now - maybe driving up to visit relatives while I still can IS the smart thing to do. Because then I CAN education them on the possible problems we face.

[medicvet]

I do feel vagely schizophrenic with my behavior recently. I am preparing for peak oil, and praying that my service connection increase happens soon so I can take the kids and I on a trip to disneyworld. I figure it we don't do it this fall or next spring it will be too late. So yeah, I am indulging in certain ways and also preparing in others.

Fixing to grow a garden this spring, have stores of food, and fixing to get some ammo stores as well..

and therein lies the dichotomy.