[Guest]

I guess I'm feeling the same stuff you guys did when you first read about this?

It doesn't scare me to not have a vehicle. Or to have to grow my own food. What scares me is the way the rest of society will react.

Unfortunately I'm not in a position where I can just buy a small farm in a rural area. I am a student in college. All this is making me rethink that though. How much will an advanced degree help me 5 or 10 years from now? I already have a B.S. degree in agronomy.

Reading this is making me take a serious look at what's important in my life.

Jesus, and my wife. After that the basics, food, shelter, clothing. How to go about keeping food and shelter available is my concern. I wish I had the wherewithall like Pops to move out to the country and start my own farm but heck, I'm poor!

What to do, what to do.

I feel so utterly flattened and defeated now.

[Pops]

Agronomy:
"The management of land; rural economy; agriculture."

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Jeez. I envy YOU!

I know how to grow tomatoes and peaches, not much to live on.

I’ve often wondered how I would feel, was I 25 years younger. I think it may be harder for people in mid life; many of us are soft, lazy, spoiled and set in our ways. Someone younger, it seems to me, might be more agile of mind, not to mention body.

Don’t take the worst-case scenarios as fact. Very bad things certainly could happen, but then that is true anytime. A mild recession as a result of the current spike in oil prices (I hope it’s a spike) followed by reduced demand, then slowly rising prices as recovery begins could very well modify what is a peak in the historical view, to a “bumpy plateau” for those of us alive today.

That is what I’m hoping for – the time to learn some of what you already know before the major economic impacts occur. Perhaps in that time you can finish your degree and be on the way to becoming more independent.

IMHO, the worst that is liable to happen near term is a serious worldwide recession. Not a good thing to be sure, but not TEOTAWKI.

I hope you register when the admin fixes the SITE and continue to write, we’ve had several discussions where your insight would have been valuable.

[Guest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'A')gronomy:
"The management of land; rural economy; agriculture."

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Jeez. I envy YOU!

I know how to grow tomatoes and peaches, not much to live on.

I’ve often wondered how I would feel, was I 25 years younger. I think it may be harder for people in mid life; many of us are soft, lazy, spoiled and set in our ways. Someone younger, it seems to me, might be more agile of mind, not to mention body.

Don’t take the worst-case scenarios as fact. Very bad things certainly could happen, but then that is true anytime. A mild recession as a result of the current spike in oil prices (I hope it’s a spike) followed by reduced demand, then slowly rising prices as recovery begins could very well modify what is a peak in the historical view, to a “bumpy plateau” for those of us alive today.

That is what I’m hoping for – the time to learn some of what you already know before the major economic impacts occur. Perhaps in that time you can finish your degree and be on the way to becoming more independent.

In my honest opinion, the worst that is liable to happen near term is a serious worldwide recession. Not a good thing to be sure, but not TEOTAWKI.

I hope you register when the admin fixes the SITE and continue to write, we’ve had several discussions where your insight would have been valuable.

[spork]

Allright Pops, I'm on now.

[Pops]

OK Spork!

I'm sure I'll be asking advice when I get to the new "home place" and start killing crops!

[MattSavinar]

I think the feeling of helplessnes (which lord knows I've experienced) is part of a grieving process.

On some level, we all think we're going to live forever. When we realize our own mortality (usually around mid-life), we freak out.

In some ways, this is ironic - as we live in a culture where dying in a car accident could happen any day.

So prepare for the future, but enjoy the present.

[spork]

It's not the dying that bothers me. It's the getting there that does.

[Doctor Doom]

You're too young to have such a gloomy outlook! It might not be so bad - could be just a severe depression until a switch is made to alternatives. Worst-case, you will be a valuable addition to any post-apocalypse community. Best case, you could be part of the solution that saves humanity if you turn your knowledge to sustainable agricultural practices or ways to use plants for energy. Hope for the best, plan for the worst, that's the ticket.

[JagYggdrasil]

jag wonders if any post peak communities would appreciate a musician with solar powered rock amp and electric mandolin....as well as mountaineering and tanning skills .......*nods* if there is much left aftercats the crash, jag'll be a minstrel around his old college location in western nc ......as well as leather smith perhapcats !

[spork]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Doctor Doom', 'Y')ou're too young to have such a gloomy outlook! It might not be so bad - could be just a severe depression until a switch is made to alternatives. Worst-case, you will be a valuable addition to any post-apocalypse community. Best case, you could be part of the solution that saves humanity if you turn your knowledge to sustainable agricultural practices or ways to use plants for energy. Hope for the best, plan for the worst, that's the ticket.

[Cool Hand Linc]

If you want everything to stay the same. Its HOPELESS!

If you expect chnage then we have a chance. A chance to influence the future. Change occurrs always. We have hope in that the future change will occur and we can effect it.

Take joy in knowing you can be on the leading edge of change.

[spork]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MissingLink', 'I')f you want everything to stay the same. Its HOPELESS!

If you expect chnage then we have a chance. A chance to influence the future. Change occurrs always. We have hope in that the future change will occur and we can effect it.

Take joy in knowing you can be on the leading edge of change.

[MattSavinar]

What keeps me going is reading stories of the Thomas Paines, Patrick Henry's, and Harriet Tubmans of the world.

In each one of their lives, there were times they felt hopeless. And if you look at the facts surrounding some of the situations they found themselves in, there was good reason to feel hopeless.

But now we celebrate them as heroes for prevailing.

Matt

[smcnaughton]

I feel pretty hopeless sometimes also, my wife thinks I'm a nut for worrying about our future. But I'm trying to take baby steps now... learning how to garden in our area, learning the natural food and medicine plants that grow in NW Pennsylvania, trying to come up with some home based businesses like worm farms, composting, putting in gardens for people, etc.

I'm also trying to get in better shape so I'll be around to help my kids and I'm trying to save a little bit of money, a couple of bucks each week adds up, slowly but surely (it also doesn't go to my waistline via the candy machine at work!)

I would say the most important thing to do is start doing something! Just sitting around worrying is not going to help, and even if the peak is delayed, or some miracle happens, I'll be in better shape, physically, economically and emotionally... just by starting with the baby steps.

[EnviroEngr]

I can offer this for consideration:

... As an example, apply the 5 stages to a traumatic event most all of us have experienced: The Dead Battery! You're going to be late to work so you rush out to your car, place the key in the ignition and turn it on. You hear nothing but a grind; the battery is dead.

DENIAL --- What's the first thing you do? You try to start it again! And again. You may check to make sure the radio, heater, lights, etc. are off and then..., try again.

ANGER --- "%$@^##& car!", "I should have junked you years ago." Did you slam your hand on the steering wheel? I have. "I should just leave you out in the rain and let you rust."

BARGAINING --- (realizing that you're going to be late for work)..., "Oh please car, if you will just start one more time I promise I'll buy you a brand new battery, get a tune up, new tires, belts and hoses, and keep you in perfect working condition.

DEPRESSION --- "Oh God, what am I going to do. I'm going to be late for work. I give up. My job is at risk and I don't really care any more. What's the use".

ACCEPTANCE --- "Ok. It's dead. Guess I had better call the Auto Club or find another way to work. Time to get on with my day; I'll deal with this later."

----- ----- -----
This blurb is actually part of a deconstruction of the misapplication of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross' techniques found in "On Death and Dying" In its entirety, it can be found at CounselingForLoss.com

I have worked in meditative states of mind with the Tibetan methods of Tonglen and Phowa in the arena of navigating Bardo. For anyone wishing to pursue these avenues, I recommend looking up Dzogchen. These practices can bring enormous relief to many. Another resource is Joanna Macy's work: "Coming Back to Life: Practices to Reconnect Our Lives, Our World"

I have little doubt: one way or the other, we'll see our way through this, and what was supposed to have happened will happen. Preparation is key.

[Josephus]

I felt the same way you did when I learned about this. Hell, my eyes were only opened to the possibility a week ago. At first glance, it does seem hopeless. My initial reaction was along the "oh, sh*t" line of thinking. I live in southern California where people consume oil and energy faster than bottled water. I look around at the suburban lifestyle and see how quickly things could potentially unravel here. I think of my own life experience and say "I'm screwed. I have no practical experience in anything that might be useful or necessary."
But then I couldn't help but turn it around. I'm not happy with the consumerist society we participate in every day. I hate my useless dead-end job. I look around and feel revulsion for the apathy people have for those around them. Why should I fear the changes coming? The end of this particular way of life is probably the best thing to happen to the planet, ever. The thought of being a simple farmer is actually very relieving.
While I hope for smooth transition to the next level and pray things don't spiral out into the war-torn anarchistic vision some of the cynics have here, I will do my damndest to be prepared. My Marine little brother came home from boot camp espousing the credo "Pray for Peace, Plan for War" and I plan to. "Be Prepared" from my Boy Scout days comes to mind as well. These are the only two bit of advice a novice like myself can give anyone at this point.
So become involved, prepare yourself, spread the word and try like Monty Python says to "Always look on the bright side of life."

[Guest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Josephus', 'I') felt the same way you did when I learned about this. Hell, my eyes were only opened to the possibility a week ago. At first glance, it does seem hopeless. My initial reaction was along the "oh, sh*t" line of thinking. I live in southern California where people consume oil and energy faster than bottled water. I look around at the suburban lifestyle and see how quickly things could potentially unravel here. I think of my own life experience and say "I'm screwed. I have no practical experience in anything that might be useful or necessary."
But then I couldn't help but turn it around. I'm not happy with the consumerist society we participate in every day. I hate my useless dead-end job. I look around and feel revulsion for the apathy people have for those around them. Why should I fear the changes coming? The end of this particular way of life is probably the best thing to happen to the planet, ever. The thought of being a simple farmer is actually very relieving.
While I hope for smooth transition to the next level and pray things don't spiral out into the war-torn anarchistic vision some of the cynics have here, I will do my damndest to be prepared. My Marine little brother came home from boot camp espousing the credo "Pray for Peace, Plan for War" and I plan to. "Be Prepared" from my Boy Scout days comes to mind as well. These are the only two bit of advice a novice like myself can give anyone at this point.
So become involved, prepare yourself, spread the word and try like Monty Python says to "Always look on the bright side of life."

[PhilBiker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'C')ontrary to what people may believe here some of us are quite happy with what we do for a living and find it to be quite fullfilling. Why would I want this to change?

The common theme here seems to be that we aren't happy with what we do and post peak it will be "simpler".

I highly doubt it. Your concerns will just be different or of a more critical nature if it really comes to pass.

[Josephus]

I understand there are people like you two who like what they do and will miss their careers if that job doesn't carry over. Plenty of them will, maybe most of them will. If we make changes soon enough and a few technological miracles happen, there's no reason many people won't be able to continue doing business as usual (with a few alterations of course). We hope for the best and work together and maybe we won't have to all go back to living life pre-Industrial Revolution. I'm just saying that I personally have no qualms about living a simpler life.

Now notice I clarified it to "simpler life". Lord knows having to adapt to the life of a farmer with no modern technology would be anything but simple. The simple life of a farmer I refered to is about being able to leave behind the unnecessary stresses of our modern lives. Worrying about the weather, crop yield, water, and pests to stay alive seems a tad more important than whether my server went down over the weekend. I know I'm romanticizing the notion in my head. Going back to that way of life will be very difficult after being spoiled for so long.

I too will miss watching movies, my cd collection, central heating and a/c, ice and water out of the door of my fridge, and having the lights on to keep the thing under my bed under the bed. But here's hoping we can make sure we don't have to give up absolutely everything. Peace folks, it's the only way we'll make it out together.

[mgibbons19]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Josephus', '.')...Worrying about the weather, crop yield, water, and pests to stay alive seems a tad more important than whether my server went down over the weekend. I know I'm romanticizing the notion in my head.