Who is more prepared for survival?

[swim615]

This question is very subjective to what you consider to be expensive.

I was on my way into work this morning and looking around at all the expensive cars and got to thinking. (look out it usually means trouble) lol

I grew up learning lots of things about the outdoors hunting, gardening, and general survival type stuff.

So I was wondering if everything we all had (worldly possessions) just disappeared and we had to survive (food, shelter, clothing kind of stuff) would someone with experience in that kind of stuff do better or would someone with more success in the modern world (has lots of expensive stuff) be able to adapt to and do as good or better than some one who already new.

I do know that there are lots of people who have expensive stuff and already know the survival stuff, they are not the people I am asking about. It seems to make since that some one with expensive stuff has adapted very well to how the world works now and I know there are a million different variables, but this just as a general type question.

[Guest bkelm18]

Gear is useless if you don't know how to use it.

[Guest ochretoe]

my money si on the farm family that scratches a living out of the land. They know how to farm, tend and raise livestock and make the most out of what they have. The well of smart city or urban family with lots of guns and toys is still in trouble.

[nightrunner]

You're right there are a million different variables that could swing it one way or another. After the inital shock and surviving it, there will need to be specialists, people who know how to use modern technology that is salvaged or possibly invent new tech or use the old in new ways. Of course a well rounded "country boy" or farm hand will be the best off in the initial shock and you can always learn new skills. Point is yes the farm family will be the best off but if the urban family has an actual skillset just because they lost their stuff doesnt make them useless or dead weight

[hipower]

my money si on the farm family that scratches a living out of the land. They know how to farm, tend and raise livestock and make the most out of what they have. The well of smart city or urban family with lots of guns and toys is still in trouble.

I would lean more toward this. As a nation, on the whole, I would say the majority have become too dependant upon the around-the-block mentality. That's where everything you need and want is available just a short drive away. If and when, and I'm more likely to say when, this country begins to really unravel, the average person is going to be in a world of hurt. Even a large percentage of the so-called prepared. JMO

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Saw a documentary on an amazon jungle tribe that was barely stone-age. Except for plants and animals, without some modern tech there are not many resources for advancement in that environment, which may explain it. Alternately, maybe it is so easy to make a living there was never motivation to figure out anything more high tech.

Though the tech was extremely low, the tribe not making hardly any physical object meant to be more permanent than an hour up to a few weeks-- It was amazing what they could do with stuff like sticks and giant palm leaves just laying around everywhere ready to be used any time you need a one-time-use basket or poison tipped dart or whatever. A modern computer geek would't survive very long if he got plunked down naked in the jungle. I dont' think he would have time to invent the tools of the trade before dying. His only hope would be getting adopted by the "savages". OTOH, from the looks of that documentary, if you take away everything that tribe owned, no big deal. They would just make new temporary tools and shelter and be back up and running no time flat.

Our temperate climes might be less conducive to "easy living" than a rain forest, dunno. Fewer stuff just laying around ready to be used on the spot.

[Guest asaxton]

When it all comes down, yes I said 'when', people who depend heavily on technology will suffer greatly 'initially'. Anyone is capable of learning new skills. However, when that supply line to the local grocery store is broken, what are people going to do? There is a very heavy dependence on grocery stores in our society. I would bet on the farm family being the best suited. First, they will be away from the initial panic of the stores running out of food. Notice what happens when the local weather forecast calls for ice or snow. I know in the Memphis area, it is a mad scramble for everyone to run out and get bread and milk. It doesn't take long for the shelves to get emptied. Second, they will already have lots of canning goods that they have put away with their crops growing. Yes, everyone would feel the impact. My money is on the farm family surviving the best.

[Guest Scramasax]

Plenty of personal accounts from experienced explorers about starving in our area of the world. I agree about the "hardscrabble" farmers being able to survive the best. Unfortunatly they have been a disapearing segment of our population since WWII. After whatever disaster that might crumble modern society the survivors will live off the refuse for decades. Of course food and medicin will be the first thigs to go. I have studied the rise and fall of many civilizations over the years as well as Military history. Being mentally prepaired is the beginning. I used to be as prepaired as practicle without being fanatical. Now with health problems, I have a limited shelf life. Only one stepchild. He is in good health and young enough to possibly survive. I have done the minimum to stockpile basics and books for him.

All the possible threats to overcome I will not list. Most of you have read from Alien bats to Zombies. The most pressing threat, other than starvation, will of course be from the unprepaired and dispalced. Therefore the most important skill will be to protect what you have. Forget being a lone wolf. The pack is what survives. Isolation is a temporary solution at best. To become part of a pack you must be able to contribute and get along. Learn a skill that equates to 18th century survival and plan to get along with others.

Longest post I have ever done. Of course it is just my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

Cheers,

ts

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Yeah that amazon tribe wasn't living "in the lap of luxury" but on the other hand they literally only had to hit a lick a couple of hours a day to have food and shelter (such as it was). Spent most of the time just hanging out.

In our climate zone, ferinstance pioneer subsistence farmers had to work every daylight hour for much chance of long term survival. Same for modern farmers even with better tech.

Whether the grocery shelves suddenly stop getting stocked, or gradually sputter out, there WILL be a die-off. I couldn't farm on my couple of acres in the burb unless I at least cut all the trees and terrace the slopes, and primitive farming probably wouldn't cut it to feed me and mine on that acreage unless maybe I got dam expert at it. The population density would fall to the point where there is sufficient acreage for the remaining folks to live off of.

And assuming some disaster had not destroyed the amazon jungle eco-system, the tribesmen down there wouldn't even notice and keep doing what they've always done.

edit: I'm addicted to modern conveniences as much as anybody else, but it makes ya wonder who is smarter, us or the barely-stone-age amazon tribesmen.

Edited January 27, 2012 by Lester Weevils

[UncleJak]

I recently began to give up a lot of my possessions and have trying to live simpler. It is actually less stressful. In a doo-doo/fan situation, the stress would be higher. BUT, if you are already doing without, you won't miss it. I like modern "stuff" just like everyone, but if you look at what is really important a lot of things aren't needed to survive.

If this type of scenario ever does happen, I will be okay. Everyone else: stay safe and stay smart.

[Timestepper]

Gear is useless if you don't know how to use it.

And you can't eat survival books.

[swim615]

To me it would seem that practice makes prefect (or at least better), no matter what you have or don't have. As bklem18 said earlier (Gear is useless if you don't know how to use it) the same is very true with survival type skills.

I found out my wife enjoys fishing a few years ago, so bingo I go fishing every time she asks and low and behold we all like to go camping. We have a great time and learn survival type stuff as well. There are always more things to learn and prepare for who knows what but every little bit helps.

I find that walking through the garden in the morning before heading to work to be almost therapeutic as well.

Edited January 27, 2012 by swim615

[Timestepper]

This question is very subjective to what you consider to be expensive.

I was on my way into work this morning and looking around at all the expensive cars and got to thinking. (look out it usually means trouble) lol

I grew up learning lots of things about the outdoors hunting, gardening, and general survival type stuff.

So I was wondering if everything we all had (worldly possessions) just disappeared and we had to survive (food, shelter, clothing kind of stuff) would someone with experience in that kind of stuff do better or would someone with more success in the modern world (has lots of expensive stuff) be able to adapt to and do as good or better than some one who already new.

I do know that there are lots of people who have expensive stuff and already know the survival stuff, they are not the people I am asking about. It seems to make since that some one with expensive stuff has adapted very well to how the world works now and I know there are a million different variables, but this just as a general type question.

I've spent considerable time over the years learning about "survival." I've taken and taught "survival courses." And I've gone about it from a 20th/21st century perspective as well as an 18th/19th century perspective. (And learned along the way that, for me at least, less is indeed more.)

Funny thing is that I never, until recently, considered the 18th/19th century skills I've learned to be "survival" skills. I guess that's mostly because the folks who lived back then weren't "surviving" but just going about daily life. Hear that? They were LIVING. They didn't know any better. They didn't have the laptop I'm typing this on or (in most cases) the corner market. They made do with what they had or they did without. Life was simpler back then, but it was harder, too. Think about what Merriwether Lewis, William Clark and a double handful of men and one woman did when the most technologically advanced piece of equipment available was the wood burning stove. And they LIVED. My God, how they lived! Every waking moment of every day was spent IN THAT MOMENT instead of eternally switching from memories of the past to anticipation of the future as we in the 21st century seem to do.

In a true SHTF or TEOTWAWKI situation, most "civilized" people won't last long without taking advantage of others. And I somehow doubt that most others will care to be taken advantage of. I know I won't. Doesn't mean I won't help out or render aid, but I'm not willingly giving up what little I've got just so that someone who hasn't put forth the effort I have can live a few weeks longer at my expense.

In any "grab your @ss and go" scenario, fancy clothing and fast cars won't mean diddly squat. My elk skin breeches and buck skin war shirt and moccasins will outlast and out perform anything Gucci, Versace or Armani ever made and my beat up old Dodge Dakota will still be going when Porsches and Lamborghinis are being used as parapets for defense ('course the Dodge won't be worth squat compared to a good horse or mule). And the skills I've LEARNED will trump 3 bookstores full of survival manuals.

Having said all that... People are weird. Can I grab my tumpline bedroll, gourd canteens and head out the back door and live comfortably just about anywhere away from people? Sure! Will I have the necessary skills to get by in a post-apocalyptic society? Beats the hell outta' me, people are weird and I'm not sure what "society" will be like in that scenario. And I'm not really sure I want to know. But I do know this: "Surviving" is one thing and actually "LIVING" is another and if all I'm reduced to is just surviving, then it probably won't be worth the trouble to live...

Edited January 28, 2012 by Timestepper
fixed a typo

[BigK]

I had to survive 2 whole days without my smartphone once when I lost it. Miserable times I tell ya, miserable. Wouldn't wish that hell on anyone.

[Guest Baron]

Gear and supplies will help as long as they last.

Knowledge is important, but you can't know or practice everything.

Physical fitness is a key requirement that most people seem to forget.

However, I believe those who would survive disaster or hardship will have the following in common.

1. They are unspoiled and are use to working for what they have.

2. They are self-reliant and do not feel entitled to anything other than unalienable Rights.

3. They are resourceful and can often develop many ways to tackle the same problem.

4. They are grateful for the simplest things they have be it necessity or luxury.

5. They are focused and can commit their concentration\energy on what is important.

These are the people who are survivors. Chances are they are already prepared, but even if they are found short, they will probably overcome. In fact, they will probably feel as if they are doing just fine.