[hermit]

Today seemed to be a particularly bad news day. Between Fannie. freddie, Indymac, and a new oil high, I fear that things are declining faster than I can cope.

My wife and I have plans for a transition to rural life - As fast as our finances will allow, but our plans are having trouble keeping up with the latest news.

I can't really talk to anyone around me. I have tried, but none of our friends have been directly affected by PO yet, and dismiss it as paranoia. We do know a few pseudo-doomers, but they are urban hippy flakes with unrealistic, organic back-to-the-land fantasies, and I don't trust them.

We've decided to postpone our rural prep, and sink our money money into urban prep. At least we own our own house.

We've today decided to sink our money into: Wood stove, Water Well (We know there's an old one somewhere under our house), Canning supplies, and Bow (We dislike guns).

As a new father, I want to do the best for my family, but feel I'm not in a position to do so. It makes me very sad. I tell myself that many other fathers have faced (and are facing) the same challenge, but it doesn't make me feel any better.

I really wish I had any peaker/doomer friends to talk to, but I don't... Thus this inexpensive online therapy. Oddly, I feel like crying - A very rare thing for me. I fear I've worked myself into some sort of a frenzy.

Thanks for listening...

[Zeeea]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hermit', 'T')oday seemed to be a particularly bad news day. Between Fannie. freddie, Indymac, and a new oil high, I fear that things are declining faster than I can cope.

My wife and I have plans for a transition to rural life - As fast as our finances will allow, but our plans are having trouble keeping up with the latest news.

I can't really talk to anyone around me. I have tried, but none of our friends have been directly affected by PO yet, and dismiss it as paranoia. We do know a few pseudo-doomers, but they are urban hippy flakes with unrealistic, organic back-to-the-land fantasies, and I don't trust them.

We've decided to postpone our rural prep, and sink our money money into urban prep. At least we own our own house.

We've today decided to sink our money into: Wood stove, Water Well (We know there's an old one somewhere under our house), Canning supplies, and Bow (We dislike guns).

As a new father, I want to do the best for my family, but feel I'm not in a position to do so. It makes me very sad. I tell myself that many other fathers have faced (and are facing) the same challenge, but it doesn't make me feel any better.

I really wish I had any peaker/doomer friends to talk to, but I don't... Thus this inexpensive online therapy. Oddly, I feel like crying - A very rare thing for me. I fear I've worked myself into some sort of a frenzy.

Thanks for listening...

[vetusfirma]

hermit, I can tell from your words that you are a caring and committed person. You place the needs of your family above your own. Tomorrow you will drag yourself out of your bed and do the best you can to make things happen. You won't give up, or run away, you will carry on. Your child(ern) will make you smile, and cry. You will want to give them more than you have, always. We all only do what we can. But knowing that you have done your best is also a reward.

I myself get choked up about my granddaughter, 15 months old. How do you help prepare them for what they will face in life. Well, you just do the best you can. And cope, as they will.

Anyway, you have a plan, good luck.

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Zeeea', '
')i do not see any of this as "doomsday" at all though if thats any help

[manu]

Get a Bhagavad Gita and read it.

[CarlinsDarlin]

Hermit,
There are days when the news affects many of us in the same way. Just try not to let the news set you into panic. As I've said before, no good decision has ever been made in a panic. Reality is bad enough - you don't need to start freaking over the what-ifs. We can only do what we have, where we are, with what we have. The fact that you have an idea of what is coming down the pike puts you and your family in a better spot than most.

Just take a deep breath, focus on what you have accomplished, and try to implement the next steps. One step at a time. The task ahead of us is overwhelming if we look at the whole of it. Take on one piece at a time and chip away at your preps. Every little bit will help.

And this on-line therapy group has helped most of us from time to time Check in anytime
Kathy

[americandream]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Zeeea', '
')i do not see any of this as "doomsday" at all though if thats any help

[RdSnt]

Hermit, I take it you are new at this. You've just recently come to realize that matters are going to get worse and you see that you need to make some quite dramatic changes.

I'm echoing CarlinsDarlin sentiment.

Don't panic, this "panic" stage will pass. Actually the biggest personal danger is the next stage. You'll calm down and look around and see that the world hasn't ended yet and complacency will set again. That's when you have to focus and continue with your preparations.

None of your preparations are unique to "doomsday", they are simply skills that you should be learning anyways. Think of them as a means to defend yourself against the costs of peakoil and global warming. Shortening your supply lines for food, buying locally, is a very good thing. Canning your own food provides your family with better quality food.

Consider this question. If Peak Oil is a hoax (I don't believe it is) and in a year or so the US returns to Nascar heaven, will your preparations and newly acquired skills have been a waste? I would suggest that your quality of life will have been enhanced considerably.

While I understand your sentiment about guns, I would suggest not ignoring them. Don't bother buying any (there will be plenty available if you need one), but do make sure you are familiar with the most common types.

[darwinsdog]

Get over your distaste for guns. You take a bow to a gunfight & your kids won't have a dad. The gangs that form for the purpose of raiding larders will be well armed.

[Ferretlover]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hermit', 'T')oday seemed to be a particularly bad news day. Between Fannie. freddie, Indymac, and a new oil high, I fear that things are declining faster than I can cope.
As a new father, I want to do the best for my family, but feel I'm not in a position to do so. It makes me very sad. I tell myself that many other fathers have faced (and are facing) the same challenge, but it doesn't make me feel any better.
I really wish I had any peaker/doomer friends to talk to, but I don't... Thus this inexpensive online therapy. Oddly, I feel like crying - A very rare thing for me. I fear I've worked myself into some sort of a frenzy. Thanks for listening...

[Beignet2]

Your going to need some guns.

Take a gun safety class. Tackle your fear.

I agree the the prior post. Who would take a bow to a gun fight?

Beignet

[BigTex]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Beignet2', ' ')I agree the the prior post. Who would take a bow to a gun fight?

[skeptik]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hermit', ' ')Oddly, I feel like crying - A very rare thing for me. I fear I've worked myself into some sort of a frenzy.

Thanks for listening...

[Cashmere]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('OP', ' '). . . urban hippy flakes with unrealistic, organic back-to-the-land fantasies, and I don't trust them. . . .Bow (We dislike guns).

[ANewHuman]

hermit what makes you think you should survive anyhow?

In any survival sense the fittest will survive, since you're very anxious about it I assume you aren't that fit to survive.

[jdumars]

Can we please drop the derogatory comments please. We've all had our own silly ideas. And frankly being good with a bow is a very good idea for a number of reasons. Also, owning a gun and being afraid of it or unfamiliar with its use is worse than having no gun at all.

Hermit, I understand where you're coming from. Ferret had some very good observations, and I would take them to heart. My list of short, immediate preps that can be done anywhere:

- Buy salt... at least 50 pounds per person in your direct household
- Learn how to build a rocket stove... it's easy, cheap and the most effective way to cook (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 4845&hl=en)
- Own some cast iron cookware
- Buy some bulk oil, especially olive oil (http://www.localharvest.org)
- Buy bulk honey, at least a 5-gallon bucket per person (http://www.ebeehoney.com)
- Make sure you have the ability to stay warm... clothing, sleeping bags, etc.
- Get as sustainable a method of water purification as possible in place, even if it's rocket stove + pan to boil water (I also recommend getting a rain barrel)
- Buy a good, sturdy knife or 10
- Convert whatever land you have access to to food production
- Get a "bug out bag" together with some basic survival necessities: matches, a bar of soap, water purification tablets, a good knife & multi-tool, small sharpening stone, some cash, pen & paper, some wire & twine, multi-vitamins, some hooch, and a pistol if you already own one and are VERY experienced with its use and maintenance.

- Start learning:

1. how to do without
2. how to grow food
3. how to identify wild edibles
4. what your minimum needs are
5. how to create a small, energy-efficient shelter
6. what dependencies you have
7. how to sharpen things

There's a lot you can do even in the city. My aunt converted her yard into a complete foodscaping setup and now provides a fair amount of food for her family. Passers by don't even know it either.

Do what you can, and remember: one thing at a time

Also, I would disregard people's recommendation to stop watching the news, etc. That's the last thing you need to do. I would recommend NOT trying to "wake people up" around you. They'll come around in time when the cognitive dissonance is so bad that they can't deny what's happening anymore. Some may never come around -- these are the ones who were rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

Feel free to PM me any time if you just need someone to chat with.

[BigTex]

Ditto on making fun of the OP.

No purpose in that.

Please refrain.

The purpose of this website is not to tell people how pitiful they are.

Everyone has to start somewhere. If he's starting with a bow and arrow, then that's where he's starting.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdumars', ' ')My aunt converted her yard into a complete foodscaping setup and now provides a fair amount of food for her family. Passers by don't even know it either.