[wellbehaved]

When I started researching peak oil 3 years ago and read the Hirsch report, I thought this can´t be true, and if it is why isn´t anyone doing anything. I think of myself as informed, but I have not been proactive about doing anything. Now that the predictions are coming true, Hirsch has been in the mainstream media, peak oil is common knowledge, I am freaking out.

I have no money saved, no supplies andcommute 32 miles a day to work. I have three children and don´t want to be an alarmist. I guess you could say I have been working through a 3 year grief process and although I am past denial, I can´t seem to mobilize myself to do anything.

My daughter is going to France this year, my family is going to Mexico for 2 months and my question is, should I get as much cash together, cancel our family vacations and plan for the apocalypse?

I need reasonable advice, a place I can start so I can feel like I have some control. My husband and I are both teachers and have very little debt except for our house. We have a home equity line that we could pull out some cash on.

HELP!

[Ludi]

First of all - don't panic!

I would under no circumstances take on more debt if I were you.

Have you discussed the issue of peak oil with your family? How have they responded?

How important is the trip to Mexico to you and your family? Is it a lifelong dream, or is it just "kind of fun"?

I would, if I were you, at least do basic emergency preparedness such as for any natural disaster.

See the Planning forum for more ideas and discussion about actual preparations.

[Ferretlover]

Welcome, wellbehaved, to PO.com.
First, don't panic-TEOTWAWKI is Not going to happen today, tomorrow or next week (barring nuclear war, of course!).
I would suggest browsing through the information presented here in the various forums, threads and archives.
Have your husband read, too (if he's of a like mind-let's hope so!).
Sit down and discuss for what situations you need to plan, figure out what you need to meet the solutions you've decided upon, and proceed from there.
Given the state of the global economy, the US economy, peak everything, global warming, assorted wars, food shortages, only you can decide if trips to other countries are really feasible. On the one hand, this May be About the last chance you have to do those things. On the other hand, that's a heck of a lot of money that would buy or help you acquire supplies for future needs-supplies that may, one day, be no longer available.
You will find many of these ideas discussed here.
Don't panic-a clear mind (two is even better!) is a resourceful mind.

[kpeavey]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') can´t seem to mobilize myself to do anything.

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wellbehaved', '
')I have no money saved, no supplies andcommute 32 miles a day to work. I have three children and don´t want to be an alarmist.
HELP!

[startswithearthquakes]

is it time to dump those credit card bills and use the $$ to continue buying supplies?

[vetusfirma]

Hi, Well. You and your family need to have a 'come to Jesus' on peak oil. If your not working together, you will look like a fool, and no one will support your efforts. If your husband or children are in denial, then you need to carefully educate them on the subject. This is a life changing process, and some will not go willingly. Find a way to make the horses drink, so to speak.

Once you are all working together, thing will start to fall into place.

[wisconsin_cur]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('startswithearthquakes', 'i')s it time to dump those credit card bills and use the $$ to continue buying supplies?

[syrac818]

Don't freak out.

Paralysis is pointless and ineffective. The world's not going to collapse - but it is going to have a serious transition. At some point you have to embrace the change that's coming, as hard as that sounds. Right now it sounds like you're trying to ignore eve though that's impossible.

Do one thing every day that will make you less oil dependent. Look into starting a garden. See if you can make your gas tank last 5 gays longer than average. Try to do a better job combining trips.

You'll be ok..

[Hermes]

I suggest a middle ground.

It sounds like y'all need a vacation. Why not go camping in a National Park nearby for a week or two? Or drive to the coast and enjoy the beach for a while?

In a nutshell: do a trip, just one that costs about 1/5 what you would have spent on the trips to Europe and Mexico. It's been my experience that often when I need a vacation I don't have to go off to a fancy spot, but rather just change the scenery for a while. It could be just about a mile down the road and it'd get the job done ...

Then take that saved money and put it into an order at Walton Feeds (or similar) for a year's worth of essential food for the family. And spend the rest on other basic essentials.

I do think it's key that you bring the rest of the family on board with this though, as some others have mentioned. You're going to need to have the family all working together over the next few years as opposed to working against one another, in my opinion.

[POAlex]

I freaked out the same way when I learned of peak oil in early 2004. After wrestling with many questions for awhile I came to the realization that one thing was certain, God was still in control.

I just needed to settle the question of what I was going to do with His Son.

Alex

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wellbehaved', '
')I have no money saved, no supplies andcommute 32 miles a day to work. I have three children and don´t want to be an alarmist.
HELP!

[Cashmere]

The best news is that both you and your husband make your living sucking off the public tit.

That means that your income is all but guaranteed for a few years.

Trip to Mexico for two months?

Jesus H, I don't leave the homestead for more than 2 hours. If I was going to go for 2 months, I just wouldn't come back.

I'd say you're not scared enough if you even <i>consider</i> going to Mexico.

Why?

Because if you're in Mexico when all hell breaks loose, you're up the shitter before you even have a chance to dig in.

I'd suggest starting your preps TONIGHT. And be thankful you've got two places at the tit, unless you work for a private school, which is not as good, but better than most jobs.

[Muckingfess]

Mexico is NOT the place to vacation in today's world. There is just too much drug related violence there.

Start your preps NOW!

[Cashmere]

I agree with MF about Mexico - they are already into the turmoil - I'd hate to go there and be white and not fluent in spanish.

"I went to the place where every white face is an invitation to robbery . . ."

[hope_full]

Cashmere, my husband works for a large city (population just over 100,000) and like most city employees, he makes a good wage (more than private sector would pay) and has a lot of benefits.

Do you really think these will be the last jobs to go away in a failing economy? If so, why? Is it because fed, state and municipal economies are so slow to react to market conditions?

As to the original post, I wouldn't go to Mexico on a bet. Save that dough and put it to a higher and better use.

HF

[aldente]

First of all 'relax'. This forum's function is nothing but that of a chair to sit on, once the message starts to sinks in. How do we go from here? Well, aren't we all on our own? Nobody has the answer! That is the ultimate truth.

Simply be creative and most important - keep on moving, pretend to ignore the message and make this your daily exercise (ignoring that is). What about this for a start?