[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', '')$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).

[dissimulo]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hermit', '
')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).

[threadbear]

$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.
.
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).
.

Thanks for listening...

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dissimulo', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hermit', '
')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).

[JJ]

$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...

[dissimulo]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', 'W')hy do you think the OP isn't tough?

[Cashmere]

Look, everybody, and Big Tex in particular, there's a difference between "making fun of" and "slapping somebody in self-pity whining mode."

What the OP needs at this late juncture is a good hard slap in the face and a directive to man-up and stop feeling sorry for himself.

The feel-good hand-holding, "well, he's got to start somewhere" crap is well-intentioned and all that, but, I believe, a disservice to the man.

It's much like parents who go easy on their kids and end up producing unproductive, self-centered losers.

I'm not "making fun of" the OP, I'm simply telling him that his obvious wishy-washiness is a major flaw, and that he's got to either decide to leave silly garbage like "we don't like guns" behind or he's going to end up fish food.

Can anybody here imagine a group of men sitting around 150 years ago talking about impending danger and one guy sits up and says, "you know, I prefer a bow. Guns are loud and dangerous and I'd support a candidate who would restrict gun use because people use guns to commit crimes like murder."

I mean, seriously, has the pussification of the American male been so completely successful that, now, on the eve of f-cking Armageddon, there are some who would prefer a bow for self defense because, "we don't like guns"?

To that I say 2 things . . .

Wow.

and

Wow.

[Ludi]

You can count on Cashmere for the bitch slap!

[jdumars]

Cash, I recognize what you are saying, and am not trying to coddle anyone. But when people make statements like you just did, it makes me roll my eyes. So many people on here act as though they have a fully stocked "doomstead" with a year of food, 100 ounces of gold, an arsenal, etc. Seriously, how many people here can even grow 50% of their own food needed for a year? How many people here know how to pressure can properly? How many people here know how to sharpen a knife with nothing but an Arkansas stone?

Everyone is prepared in some way or another whether they realize it or not. The trick is to find out what your particular strengths and weaknesses are and play to them. A constructive task we should all undertake is a very honest and accurate "skills inventory" with a rating on how well (or not well) you do certain things related to surviving during adversity.

Just telling someone to "man up" is not helpful. Hermit is here because he's trying to process the psychological destruction of the future he has been promised his entire life. Notice it's the senior posters who are pitching in trying to help and the junior posters who take it upon themselves to criticize, cajole and demean.

No matter how prepared you are, I can promise you there are at least 10 people here who are twice as prepared.

So again, I ask the community here to please either contribute useful advice and compassion or occupy yourself in the HOF.

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hermit', '(')We dislike guns).

[Cashmere]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dumars', 'J')ust telling someone to "man up" is not helpful.

[sameu]

lol

yeah cashmere you're tha man!

[BigTex]

Being prepared is MACHO. Strive to be the human equivalent of this:


I'll bet that dude's got nuts for days. I'll bet he's got nuts for his nuts.

***
On the subject of weaponry, if you don't want to go the gun route, maybe you could become an expert swordsman.

If you've got the time, go ahead and pick up the whole suite of Ninja skills.

I would start with the throwing stars.

Who knew that they had throwing star ranges?


(I think you can probably work the bow into the Ninja act.)



***
Seriously, though, one excellent way to spend some time if you want to make your ass bad is to see if there is a Krav Maga studio in your community. I saw one the other day, and just wasn't aware that this fighting style was being taught in retail locations.
Check it out.

[Cashmere]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sameu', 'l')ol yeah cashmere you're tha man!

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', 'F')rom the couch I bark out, "why don't you make it yourself - you're how old? 10? Your hands work, right? You can play that video game for 4 hours straight, so you can probably work the jar lid and the spoon. Make it yourself and stop bothering your mother."

[seldom_seen]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BigTex', '[')img]http://www.filmreference.com/images/sjff_01_img0130.jpg[/img]

[seldom_seen]

I'm with you Cashmere, the wussification of the western male has reached epidemic proportions. Have you ever seen "Men's Health" magazine? It's like Glamour magazine for dudes. It freaked me out that a dude would read this unless he was gay? Maybe it is for gays? I don't know...does someone know?

Like many others, I think hermit is hatching from his soft and fuzzy oil saturated cocoon. The birthing process is always traumatic. So nothing wrong with helping him along and telling him to "man up." Cause that's what dudes and chicks are going to have to do. We can't climb back in the cocoon and attach our umbilical cords to the mothership. We're getting dropped from the nest.

If you don't like guns that's ok, but it's the bullets you should be worried about. I for one don't like automobiles, at all. They kill way more people and wildlife than guns ever did. I've been known to use one on occasion though. So if you don't want a gun, I respect your decision. Just remember that if you do decide you want one it might be too late. I think at some point we will see a run on guns & ammo when all the people that "dislike guns" all of the sudden decide they like'em.

[BigTex]

If any men are looking for a role model for turbulent times when you need to juice your male mojo a little, Stonewall Jackson is a pretty good one to check out:



Stonewall Wiki

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'J')ackson possessed the attributes to succeed against his poorly coordinated and sometimes timid opponents: a combination of great audacity, excellent knowledge and shrewd use of the terrain, and the ability to inspire his troops to great feats of marching and fighting.

[seldom_seen]

I'm going to add Teddy Roosevelt to the man list.

Imagine if we had a dude like this running for president? You could take a bunch of Obamas and Mcstains and stack'em 10 high and they wouldn't get up to Ted's bootlaces.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')eddy, was the twenty-sixth President of the United States. A leader of the Republican Party and of the Progressive Movement, he was a Governor of New York and a professional historian, naturalist, explorer, author, and soldier. He is most famous for his personality: his energy, his vast range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity, and his "cowboy" persona. Originating from a story from one of Roosevelt's hunting expeditions, Teddy bears are named after him.

As Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Roosevelt prepared for and advocated war with Spain in 1898. He organized and helped command the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment — the Rough Riders — during the Spanish-American War. Returning to New York as a war hero, he was elected governor. An avid writer, his 35 books include works on outdoor life, natural history, the American frontier, political history, naval history, and his autobiography