[9]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dunewalker', 'W')elcome to Hotel California. What does the "9" stand for?

[AnIowan]

As my name suggests, I'm an Iowan, who (after doing some reading about butchering chickens) came across information about more rural living, which led to a web site on peak oil.

This has not been something new to me as I've stumbled on it before, but it seems with everything in the news and such, it's much easier to wrap my own mind around it then it has been in the past.

In poking around this website all ready, I've found that my wife and I are fortunate in that we both believe in a little simpler lifestyle. We've recently moved out to a small acreage, which reduced our overall house payment, giving us more room to garden, and a place for a small pasture too. I dabble in home brewing, wife is great with a needle and thread, and both of our daughters are seeing this as a positive lifestyle as well.

Do we have a lot to do to consider ourselves prepared? You bet we do. But I feel that we have the tools to make that an easier transition then most do.

I'm rambling so I'll close saying that I drop the term "peak oil" around the area here (small town Iowa), and very few have any idea what I'm talking about. I read the term "willfully ignorant" around here somewhere, and that's exactly how I'd describe many people. I hope to pull myself from that boat, and be more realistic about what my family can expect in the coming years.

If you've read this far, you need something else to do!

- Darin

[gnm]

Welcome Darin from Iowa! It sounds like you are in a good place already. It always pays to be near the food!

-G

[Cashmere]

Awesome. Welcome.

My standard advice to newcomers . . .

Don't try to hard to convert people.

They come when they're ready, and few are so wise and open minded that, when given the info, they'll consider it.

[AnIowan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', 'A')wesome. Welcome.

My standard advice to newcomers . . .

Don't try to hard to convert people.

They come when they're ready, and few are so wise and open minded that, when given the info, they'll consider it.

[AnIowan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gnm', 'W')elcome Darin from Iowa! It sounds like you are in a good place already. It always pays to be near the food!

-G

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AnIowan', 'I')'m rambling so I'll close saying that I drop the term "peak oil" around the area here (small town Iowa), and very few have any idea what I'm talking about.
- Darin

[Hagakure_Leofman]

Welcome from Victoria, Australia

Count yourself fortunate that you're well along the way to getting through this mess that's developing.

[funzone36]

hello there

[Ferretlover]

Makes me think of those Dan Ayckroyd/Steve Martin skits, "Wild and Crazy Guys..."

[PeakOiler]

Here's where I live (really):



The picture was taken in November 2006. (Really.) I was sitting in a lawnchair lifted by a bunch of helium balloons. (Not really.)

Wish it was taken in springtime when everything is greener...

Eat your heart out GoogleEarth!



Edited to add "really"s.

I hope the next pic shows a 1-kW solar array on that metal roof, a greenhouse, and one less dead cedar tree...

[kpeavey]

we used to have one of those maps accessed from the menu.
I imagine it became too cluttered to be useful.

I'm in north Florida.
I won't be more specific lest the Jean Dame's come for me.

[RSB]

Hello,

I have recently started reading about Peak Oil, although I had heard of the concept as early as the end of last century.

I'm 25 years old, of Portuguese nationality but living in Sweden with my Chinese girlfriend. I use no car, and electricity production here is almost exclusively hydro/nuclear, so I can't do much more in terms of saving energy (I've always tried not to waste it though).

After ~2 days of reading this forum, I'm a bit terrified with all the doom prophecies going around. I'm in between believing those and not believing them, although I am thinking of preparing for an eventual sudden social crisis (mainly in terms of food, water purification means and perhaps learning how to garden).

I could say a lot of what I think about what I've read here so far, but I think I'll let my brain digest all the information for a while longer. I consider myself a smart person, but the information regarding peak oil is a bit overwhelming - I hadn't felt so confused in quite a while!

I hope to stick around and learn more. Cheers!

PS: One of the things which scares me is how/whether I'd be able to connect with family in my home country in the event of a serious crisis. The same goes for my girlfriend's family in China, I'm even scared of talking about this with her.

[BigTex]

Welcome!

There has been a slow trickle of people just like you lately.

The first two years of peak oil awareness are the most fun. After that, it's basically just watching society fall apart, making personal preparations and developing your gallows humor.

So you've got a pretty exciting couple of years to look forward to.

Enjoy!

[thuja]

Welcome to our weird little world RSB- we like to call it....reality.

Rhe fast crashers are starting to win some points here of late for good reason. Things have been getting worse quickly for a lot of folks.

IN my mind, the main ravaging factor to watch out for is inflation. The cost of driving, plane travel, food, durable goods, metal and basic necessities is on an ever quickening pace of price increase. Bit by bit the life we created in a cheap energy world is going away. One day you won't be able to afford to fly on airplanes, then you won't be able to afford to go out for dinner. Then you will have a hard time paying your heating and electric bill.

At some point there will be supply shortages of food, fuel, etc. So is it something to worry about and to prepare for? Hell yeah. Good luck to you and welcome...

[Cashmere]

BigTex is correct with the progression.

If you are a thinker, it's like this . . .

Amusement.
Curiosity.
Investigation.
Denial.
Investigation.
Denial.
Investigation.
Realization.
Fear.
Worry.
Understanding.
Preparation.

[RSB]

Thanks all for the replies

Cashmere: Funnily enough, I think I'm in all of those stages at the same time...

[Ferretlover]

Welcome to the real world.
If you want to go home, you had better do it soon. Or, learn to like where you are.
Tell your girlfriend now. If you are interested in her well-being, and she doesn't know, you are not doing her any service by hiding it.
Sooner or later, you are going to need to make some preps-and it is a lot easier if your SO is also onboard.
Read, read, read!

[GoghGoner]

Sweden has a low population density and a strong economy which is a cause to be carefree. Arable land is at 5.935% as opposed to the US at 18.01% which is a cause for worry..

I am learning to garden and have enough food stored to make it a couple of months.

[Thumper]

Hello All!

I somehow crossed the buzzword "Peak Oil" about 6 months ago and have been obsessed ever since I first scanned the wikipedia entry.

I count myself a masterful skeptic and will research the hell out of a subject until I find it's flaws. I've been very reluctant to join the board for that reason alone, as I knew I would receive nothing but positive confirmation of "Peak Oil" when I joined. I wanted to weigh the facts in an unbiased environment before I let go and became a so-called doomer like yourselves.

It's so strange how many people around me, either have no idea or are in perfect denial. I have brought it up to many of my close friends and family whom I often debate with. I am expecting a great debate, but all I get is a depressed "oh, yeah, that makes perfect sense" when all I want to hear is, "no, that's not true and this is why. . ."

Well, it's nice to finally join a group of people that understand and are thinking of how to deal. Look forward to future conversations.

- Thumper