[IndigoMoon]

I talk to people about current events on a daily basis about life in general as a part of my job. I am deathly afraid because "Everyday Life Citizen" is actually starting to echo many of the fears that I read here.
Does this mean that "IT" really is that close or just that more people are aware?
I'm a newbie to doomerism. I have always had my glass half full & the world has always been rose-colored.
I learned to survive by being optimistic.
I learned to thrive when I realized that a cookie cutter is obsolete.
Right now, I am terrified.

[Cashmere]

The donkey sh-t eaters are catching on, no doubt about it.

Nobody believes the Ministry of Truth's idiot blatherings about the "economy growing".

Even the slowest of the DSEs can sense that there will soon be bloodletting.

Time to prep grows short.

When the herd understands how bad it is, and how bad it will become, it's game over.

"I don't want to rain on your parade, but we're in a whole heap of sh-t trouble here."

[CarlinsDarlin]

IndigoMoon,
when I first joined these forums in 2004, people who believed in Peak Oil were listed among the tinfoil hat wearers. At that point, much of what we were talking about was in the realm of what "could" happen. There's still a lot of that talk. The future is (and always will be for us) unknown. Things never turn out exactly the way we predict, either for the complete optimists, or the complete pessimists. Some things still remain to be seen. Many predictions were correct, but their timing was off.

Some of our predictions have come and are coming to pass. For those who heard about peak oil from us back then and dismissed it, the new events have ignited a spark - "Maybe they were right?" For others who were completely unaware before, recent events have made them start to question. Hence the MSM's new involvement in reporting on peak oil.

It is becoming more mainstream. More people are talking. People who blew me off as a tinfoil hat wearer a few years ago now accept that peak oil is a fact. Some are buying into the idea of how bad things could eventually get, as well. Most people are right now at the grumbling stage. Some are just beginning preparations.

My big fear is that as more and more people begin to realize the severity of the problem we face, that their reactions to this knowledge could escalate problems.

Is the proverbial S going to HTF this week? I doubt it. The world isn't going to end tomorrow. Rose colored glasses won't help you a bit, IMO, but neither will panic. No good decision has ever been made in the midst of a panic. Just keep your radar tuned and do what you would/should be doing anyway to prepare your family.

Am I optimistic about the future of our country? Nope. But I am optimistic that our small community here will be able to cope, because we have many people here who are prep-minded and possess a diverse set of skills. We also have a tight knit community who works together to help each other, and a good barter system already in place. My hope and optimism lies in individuals and small groups, not in the larger picture.

These days I do not survive by optimism. I survive by realism (tinged with a small bit of optimism). I do now what I did then, preparing as best I can for our family and our community. There's not much else I can do, and panicking over the awakening won't do anyone any good.

Hope this helps,
Kathy

[RonMN]

Carlins Wrote:
Rose colored glasses won't help you a bit, IMO, but neither will panic. No good decision has ever been made in the midst of a panic.

Darn good advice! Whatever happens, don't be a banker who jumpped out the window when the stock market crashed. Find peace, stay calm...because when TSHTF it will be the cool headed, thinking people who survive.

Yes it's comming fast, and yes more people are becomming aware (which makes the situation all the more dangerous). But hey, we have a heads-up before it gets bloody...that gives all of us a huge advantage. Use the time we have left wisely.

[Ferretlover]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('IndigoMoon', 'I') talk to people about current events on a daily basis about life in general as a part of my job. I am deathly afraid because "Everyday Life Citizen" is actually starting to echo many of the fears that I read here.
Does this mean that "IT" really is that close or just that more people are aware?

[dinopello]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RonMN', '[')b]Carlins Wrote:
Rose colored glasses won't help you a bit, IMO, but neither will panic. No good decision has ever been made in the midst of a panic.

Darn good advice!

[IndigoMoon]

Thank you everyone for your words of wisdom. I appreciate the advice. One way or another, I'll stop having mini-meltdowns.

[Schadenfreude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', 'T')he donkey sh-t eaters are catching on, no doubt about it.

[RonMN]

Indigo Wrote:
I'll stop having mini-meltdowns

Take your time...That's what we're here for

[Cashmere]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SF', 'M')atthew Simmons believes we are in for a tough time but if we do the right things "we can get through this thing".

Matthew Simmons is a "donkey-crap eater".

Michael Klare thinks we are in for some real trouble and some fundamental changes in the way we operate our economy. But he is doesn't think a catastophe is unavoidable.

Michael Klare is a "donkey-crap eater".

Dr. Kenneth Deffeyes thinks we could see a period of 10 - 15 years which are really challenging until we "get to the other side of this".

Dr. Kenneth Deffeyes is a "donkey-crap eater".

[DrBang]

IndigoMoon

First: welcome

Here is an interesting perspective for you. Yes things are about to get difficult. That being said, accurate predictions are not always how things turn out, and should be viewed as such. There is a clear broad brush picture though. Humanity is about to go through a very harsh threshold in history. We as a species have been through any such things before in a historical sense. After these difficult times, human civilization continues in some form. I believe this will be the case here as well. The new world will look nothing like the old one. Many of the customs and goods we take for granted now will simply not be available.

My perspective for you is this: with the above paragraph in mind, what mindsets and philosophies would you like to see shape the new world? Would you rather the only human voices when the dust settles, be of the mad max persuasion, where some really harsh lessons we have learned may well be forgotten and the same mistakes repeated? Or would you rather see the new world shaped by a variety of philosophies that have retained at least some of our hard won knowledge?

By understanding the information on this site, you will be ahead of the bulk of the population and will have more time to prepare. This means you have a better chance at placing yourself and your loved ones in the best position to ride out the next few years.

Assuming you are successfully, what would you contribute to the new world? Based on how you write (very few posts so far but lets take a punt), you would be most welcome. This suggests a positive spin on a difficult and scary time.

Use the info on this site to get your head together and educate yourself. Spend a good 30 days doing this before making any concrete plans. When you are mentally ready, check out the planning for the future forum.

Kind Regards

Dr Bang

[allenwrench]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('IndigoMoon', 'I') talk to people about current events on a daily basis about life in general as a part of my job. I am deathly afraid because "Everyday Life Citizen" is actually starting to echo many of the fears that I read here.
Does this mean that "IT" really is that close or just that more people are aware?
I'm a newbie to doomerism. I have always had my glass half full & the world has always been rose-colored.
I learned to survive by being optimistic.
I learned to thrive when I realized that a cookie cutter is obsolete.
Right now, I am terrified.

[BigTex]

IndigoMoon, make sure you come to your own understanding of what peak oil is all about.

Don't take someone else's word for it.

Everyone has a different take on exactly what it means. No one is likely to be exactly right.

And remember that if a way of living or thinking about things makes you miserable, how useful is it, really?

[IndigoMoon]

Thank you all again for your insight, I do appreciate it. I have no problem with bowing out gracefully. It is actually more my children that I worry about than myself. My boys are 21 & 25. Their lives are just beginning. Neither are married or have children of their own. I guess that's just part of being a mom though. No matter what happens, I will always worry about them.