I'm not sure if I fancy being called a Survivalist.  When first hurled in my direction, I didn't mind.  After all, I was into the practice of survival skills.  I thought the shoe fit.

Now, I'm not so sure.  After perusing through various Survival Forums, I'm beginning to see a common thread with the posters across various boards.  Many of them are looking to "Survival" as an escape from one or more of the many potential dangers with which this society of ours is faced.  Though technically, it may be, but it's more like pulling your hand from the fire......the most immediate danger has been removed, but there's more that needs to follow.  Much more.

There are those who see survival for what it is, but many more who see it as some romantic utopia where all our current troubles will no longer exist.  To them, I would like to remind......yes, that may be true.....maybe not.  However, there will most certainly be loads more troubles that a survivor will be straddled with.

The bottom line is that Survival = Existence this side of the grave......nothing more.  Beyond that, there are no guarantees of any level of comfort.  There are no Utopian Civilizations out there just waiting to be discovered.  If there were, the Hippie movement wouldn't have died just as quickly as they took to the wild.  One would do well to keep that in mind.  (Wasn't Manson a Hippie?)

But no matter.  The Internet is loaded with folks packing every convenience known to man into their "survival ruck" in hopes of having a nice camping trip someday when the world goes to Hell in a hand-basket.  Such people are in for the ride of their lives. 

Anymore, TEOTWAWKI seems to be all the rage.  What folks don't realize as they excitedly prepare to endure this romanticized "bump in the road" is that in such a situation, there will be no shortage of fighting.  For those who don't know the definition of Combat, let me re-print my favorite versions;

"Combat is one close call after another until your number is up......"

"When you're short on everything but enemy, you're in Combat......"

The list goes on, but the idea is clear.  So, be careful what you wish for.

Aside from that, just what are folks trying to escape?  There are solutions to every situation.  Solutions are what makes the world go 'round......and continue on.....without them, you wouldn't be reading this blog entry.

To run from a problem, not only offers no other recourse, but allows said problem to rush in unobstructed and occupy a position.  How many times have we learned that it's easier to maintain than to take or re-take ground?  An ounce of prevention, anyone?

The goal of any survival minded person is to avoid said situation in the first place......not dream about it and run headlong into it......  The survival equipment is supposed to be the most efficient, multi-functional gear that one will have available to cover the largest majority of facets necessary for life support.  Why?  Because survival is survival......not a vacation.  There are no leisure times in a survival situation.  Exhaustion is a constant enemy in such a scenario.  The idea is to get OUT of a survival situation as quickly as humanly possible. 

Yet, somehow, though everyone admits to the sissy-fication of America in latter decades, few see the potential for mass suicides if faced with the grave reality of an "end of the world scenario".  Odd are, most folks only think they can cope, the truth be known.

So let's be clear about the subject.  Survival is a skill-set for the expressed purpose of getting folks out of an unforeseen jamb.  It's NOT THE GOAL ITSELF.  To think otherwise is like intentionally putting a group in the blast radius of an atom bomb because of all the "ass to the blast" practice.  This, folks, is lunacy.

Contrary to the opinions of some, there's no glory in survival, either.  Yes, I know, as its popularity increases, so do the numbers of posers who think there's something "cool" about survival.  There isn't. 

The "cool" exists in either of two scenarios only; 1.  The person who lives and has their survival skill set as a back-up for them and their family.  2.  The person who escaped certain death and made it back to life and hopefully aided their family in doing so as well.  Not in actual survival.  Sort of like toilet paper.....the "cool" is having had it available and used it when it was most needed.....after the fact......not in the act of using it.

Years ago, a man was in a concealed weapons class and had the wrong idea of what defending oneself meant in the end.  When the instructor explained how many legal hurdles would likely befall one who justifiably defended themselves with a firearm, the man rebutted, "Then what good is it to have a permit to carry a gun?"  To which the instructor replied, "You get to live."

Survival can mean living......at the loss of everything you've known up to that point.  This could also mean family members, friends, you name it.  This is not something to look forward to.  So, when you feel like the world is upside down and you'd like to bail from the plane, remember the old saying;

If all the world could hang there problems on a clothesline and in exchange, choose from any other problem hanging there, after seeing the extent of just how bad things could get, would return to their own again.

Survival is laden with difficulties.  The odds of actual survival depend greatly on one's ability to overcome them all.  Though the difficulties only have to overcome you ONCE....it's not fair, but that's the way the game is played.)

Knowing this, the smart folks educate themselves in the art of survival and practice as continuously as they can.  They never stop learning and eventually, it becomes integrated in their regular routine. 

It's not as though survival folks walk around with a glowing ember in their pocket, "just in case", rather, they begin to think in terms of what if.....and prepare their surroundings accordingly.  Paranoid?  You can think so if you'd like....until something happens.  Though it's always amazing to me how the scoffers become the survivalist's best friend in times of trouble.  That being the case, if the scoffer won't prepare for emergencies, the least I'd recommend is reserving judgements.

As for the survival/preparedness world, for all their training and effort, many have yet to address the fact that they are but a stone's throw from increasing their odds of failure via alienation and/or solitude.

In a survival situation, the last thing you want to do is be isolated or alone.  It's always better to have help, company, another brain, you name it.  Even if the person you're with is the laziest person on the planet, they'll at least keep the fire going to keep from freezing while you're setting traps and snares.  But this is also where the large numbers of survival/preparedness folks will immediately spout, "yeah, but the lazy bastard will eat half your food, too!"  Enter, the first stone thrown.

So, I ask, "what would you do instead?"  To which the reply comes, "I don't know, but I'd damned sure be better off on my own".  A contradiction, to be sure.  "I don't know" followed by an imagined outcome stated as fact....as though he/she knows.  Make up your mind....do you know or don't you?

Survival/preparedness forums are, with few exceptions, plagued with such.  Thankfully such real life situations are easy to fix.  Hunger is a powerful motivator.  There are no lazy bastards when hunger prevails anymore than there are Atheists in a foxhole under fire.  All that really needs to be done is to let them get their own food if they aren't going to put out any effort.  For every Yin, there's a Yan. 

But the topic shows exactly the weak point of the survival world; distrust, judgement and intolerance for those who do not EXACTLY, PERFECTLY AND IN EVERY AREA, meet expectations.  Never mind that expectations are an illusion in the first place.  (To be clear, we're talking imperfect, not a shiftless slime who will put you in harm's way the first chance he or she gets.)

So what is the result?  Division.  It comes by way of the labyrinth of heavily trodden paths; ridicule, elitism, negativity, impatience, the list goes on.....and on.....and on.....  In short, America as a whole is but a stone's throw away from division down to the single digits.

Forgotten are the days when we ALL had to start somewhere.  Expertise didn't come overnight.  Many levels had to be passed.  Many failures along the way.  Many a day satisfied with the mediocrity that truly exceptional folks would have cringed over....but they didn't.  They kept on encouraging us.  What if we'd have been in a survival situation with one such pioneer?  What if THOSE elite thought WE were unworthy and abandoned US?  But that's different.....right?

The truth is, America as a whole has been emasculated.  In the place of the once-common, time hardened, wise but patient, hard working pioneer spirit of old, there exists a now-common, whiny, creature comfort oriented spirit, forever looking to skip out of hard work, with a penchant for following unrealistic expectations from one complaint ridden situation to another.  And if you'd ask folks displaying this type of spirit, they would have no doubt that they could EASILY survive in any situation.  Failure?  That's the other guy's problem.  To such I say, guess again.

Rather than sucking up personal pride in the face of successive failures on the path to reaching success, countless Americans shy away from efforts with any level of difficulty and distract themselves with something else.  Usually, it's in the form of attacking someone or something else to restore their personal sense of adequacy. 

Now, if it were simply a matter of such spirit being confined to those bent on mediocrity, nobody would care much.  But we're talking about the world of survival.  A world where tough decisions are made and backed up with real lives.  This can motivate folks to want to thump the sleepers once or twice to get their attention.

But remember, expertise is NOT transferable.  A full grown adult with a PHD in psychology can be lost in their own backyard and be found dead of thirst with a full canteen of water.  Patience is needed with the inexperienced more than anything.  That and encouragement. 

So when you're cruising your favorite survival/preparedness forum and you happen to run across someone that just doesn't sit right with you, cut 'em a little slack.  (By all means, if a post becomes a personal attack, fire away.  But folks being offended at a difference of preference or opinion, well, they need to grow a thicker skin.  Of such is a sissified nation.)  One never knows whether the person you encourage will eventually rise to a much more "acceptable" level.  Then again, who knows if the very person ridiculed today will save an "accomplished" survivalist/prepper from wide eyed panic and save his or her backside for them tomorrow?  Stranger things have happened.  After all, how many would-be greats simply petered out along the way?  How many expected to wash out ended up standing with the best? 

The muscled bully on land can be drowned in the pool.  Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.  A good leader will find them all in each person and put them to the best use.  

To all who desire experience in survival and preparedness, the inexperienced will ultimately look to you for leadership.  Be great leaders. 

Sitting with family and friends at any one of several gatherings over the holiday weekend, it was difficult not to notice the underlying feeling that all was not well.  Here in Michigan, the unemployment rate is high.  The foreclosure rate is high.  Hopes, seemed low.

By projective comparison, we should be doing back-flips.  It's not as though our nation's history hasn't been fraught with it's share of troubles in each generation.  But it's clear that for the last 60 years, life's been one big party for the vast majority of folks, comparatively speaking.

But, sadly, all parties come to an end.  It seems that the powers that be in this country are doing their damnedest to unravel this once untouchable nation.  At every turn, the most ineffective, if not outrageously incompetent "solutions" to problems that threaten to ruin our country....all brought about in the first place by the powers that be and their corporate sponsors.

Yet, even worse, there are countless hoards on the net, all but salivating at the looming disaster which this way comes.  It's as though they're members of exclusive clubs with names like "I told you so" and "I'm not the nut you thought I was".

If the incompetent actions of those at the top aren't bad enough, there are countless folks who, by their actions....or lack thereof with regard to involvement, are greasing the path to destruction.

At every level, there's no thought of ultimate heading.  The incompetent leaders add weight to the overburdened back of the camel and the folks witnessing flap their gums while some "prepare" thinking they're better off than the next guy.  Almost as though that's the end of it. 

But what of tomorrow?  What happens when all goes dark?  The haves and the have-nots.....do they just shake hands and "agree to disagree"?  China.....a kinder and gentler nation.....will they not pounce on a jewel to place in their crown?  The gangs.....will they be satisfied with their current "turf"?  How about the Militant Muslims......terrorist cell groups....will they not continue their quest of world domination in the name of Allah?  This, not including the millions of starving illegals....will they run thousands of miles back to Mexico and other nations from whence they came?

And what of Christianity?  Forgotten is the persecution in nations, specifically China and nations around the world.....to also include those with Muslim control.  The mainstream media will not focus on such issues. 

What would be the reaction, I wonder, if this vastly Christian majority in our country knew the truth behind those nations who imprison, torture and execute those who are called Christian.  Even worse, when the thought finally occurs that these same nations will be more than a little involved in slicing up the pie should our nation lose the fight for her life.

Certainly, it will be too late once these benevolent, "favored nations" show their true colors.  One day, things will be "business as usual".  The next, violent, brutal occupation.  Don't think it can happen?  Read up on history and learn it's lessons, or be doomed to repeat it.

The prevailing school of thought today is to "get out of the way of the approaching locomotive".  Ironically, Loco Motiveis exactly how to describe it.  While folks are putting all their effors into preparations to flee from peril, they don't realize that letting go entirely of the steering wheel leaves no one of competence at the helm in the first place.

Everywhere we look today, we see movies, reality series and even survival/preparation sites discussed on the main stream news channels.  It's all around us.  "This is how YOU can survive".  Defiance; folks surviving in the woods is "doable".  The Road; if they only had this or that.

For the vast majority of folks who think they can survive, it will be a miracle if they actually could survive.  There are no paychecks, no vacation homes, no leisure time or easy duty.  Survival is HARD WORK and if you are alive at the end of the day, you're a winner.  Winners aren't guaranteed.  Then, of course, as hard as you're working to survive, what energy and resources will you have left for your loved ones.  Will they be alive at the end of the day?

Oh, that's right.....the preps.  But what about the massive forest fires (just for starters) that result from having every Rambo in the world heading to the trees?  So much for preps.  Now you're back to ground zero with the rest of the have-nots. 

Caches?  Some will actually put in the time and effort, but most will not.  Even so, one must travel safely to and from caches while guarding their goods all the way.  Somehow, I don't see the over-fed couch commando making it.  They will be a good source of supply for the have-nots.  Until the "favored nations" arrive on the scene.....that is.....

Today, we feel that a storm is coming, but how many realize the crossroads at which we stand?  Though it's quite common for folks to look to escape trouble, tactically this is dangerous ground.  Consider;

"To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape. Show him there is a road to safety, and so create in his mind the idea that there is an alternative to death. Then strike."Sun Tzu

This scatters any real opposition and the "survivors" can then be overwhelmed in smaller groups and destroyed with little or no resulting losses for the aggressor.

That brings to mind a prophecy;

"That day will be darkness, not light.  It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him."

Faced with harsh reality, folks often get angry.  It's not uplifting nor does it make one "feel good".  But it is the truth.  Ignore it and watch what happens.  Then weep.....because it will be too late. 

Watch footage of the Holocaust.  See Schindler's list.  Get a feel for "life after the death of the U.S.A.".  Do honor to those who died in that the lessons paid for with their lives can help us to avoid it.  Then get happy that we still have some time to do something about it.  It's not too late....yet...

"Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory." - Sun Tzu

In short, we can come to terms with the realization that "life after death" is not relevant to the U.S.A., or we can be part of prophetic fulfillment.  There's the choice.  We make it today.

It's time for this country to return to the values that made this nation great.  For in them resides great strength.  It only takes a look around to realize that nature respects strength.  Why do people think "bigger is better"?  Because size can represent strength.  Then, of course, there's such a thing as peace through strength.....as in nature.....and warfare, it's the weak who are taken first.  

There are those who will cite the lack of civility anymore as an excuse for inaction.  To those it would be prudent to remind them that the criminal element will not survive as they have nothing beyond their own selfishness motivating them.  Criminal activity tends to shorten life expectancy....hence the cliche; Crime doesn't pay.  Rough times require strength beyond selfishness.

Take heart.  There are small groups and individual folks as well, scattered throughout this country who "get it".  Let's "get it" together.....and get it together.....

Get strong.

Look on any forum that has anything to do with survival and you'll find plenty of them; Gear Junkies.  It's not their fault.  It just happens. 

The outdoors can be most uncomfortable and uncooperative, most often at a time when it's least in your favor.  Once a person has suffered through an episode or two of nature's sense of humor, more often than not, the silent (and frequently anything but silent) vows emerge stating, "I'll never do that again..."

This puts a person on a quest to find an aid to avoid a similar situation in the future.  Now, depending on the market, there may or may not be such an animal in existence.  So, the newly baptised gear junkie begins their quiet search, waiting and hoping.....until the day they run across the information about the piece of gear they've been looking for.

Now, often enough, this long desired piece of gear doesn't live up to the fantasy for which it was originally sought......at least, not out of the box.  That's because there's no way to know all the variables that may come into play unless sufficient quantities of time has been spent with said gear.

This is the dividing point between the two types of gear junkies;

Gear Junkie A;  Those who are excited at the potential of said gear, go out and test it frequently, finding it to be more than satisfactory, or making adjustments and/or alterations perfecting it.....as (due to inherent limitations of all creation), no plan survives initial contact.

...and.....

Gear Junkie B;  Those who are excited at the potential of said gear and pack it away thinking that they've got X number of bases covered.

As there's no doubt as to the significant advantage of having the right gear, one would do well to keep in mind that all gear has it's own personality, advantages and limitations.  More to the point, not everyone has sufficient time invested to be able to use it to the full extent of its boundaries.  So, right off the bat, what may work well for one, might not work well for another.....or at all.

At the other end of the spectrum, just because an item doesn't work well the first time out, doesn't mean it's no good.  There are times when a person simply doesn't understand what a piece of gear is supposed to accomplish.  Even worse, testing a piece of gear out in the woods for the first time and failing to bring backup, well, such a person deserves the troubles that may result. 

Gear Junkie A knows these little secrets very well.  Gear Junkie B doesn't have a clue.  Instead, Gear Junkie B gets excited with the cool gear, talks about it, packs it away, looks at it a time or two and the most adventurous of the category maybe goes out camping and tries it.  Then, it's packed away and talked about.

The more addicted Gear Junkie B will often need to feed the excitement of acquiring new gear.  Around such folks you will notice a flurry of activity......searching, talking, buying, selling and trading.  It's sort of like a sports fanatic.....lots of wind, but never on the field in play.

The problem with Gear Junkie B isn't that they don't realize there's great advantage to great gear, they do.  It's that they rely so heavily on having THE gear and not on their own skill level, as though the gear itself is responsible for any success.  When on line or around buddies, it almost resembles a fashion show......as they show off their new gear to their buddies on line.....that's the booster fix between the main line fixes of acquiring new gear.  The vicarious absorption of the looks of envy on their gear junkie buddies' faces.

Gear Junkie A, on the other hand, is frequently out getting a "hands on" with the elements.  Their goal is to be able to make it with the least gear possible.  But make no mistake, they still love good gear and will have all the gear they can use with them if it comes down to it.  But rest assured that they will know very well, the full personalities of the gear they carry with them.  They may also show off their new gear to their buddies, but make no mistake, it's specifically to rub it in their buddies' faces.

Though it's human nature to acquire, the closer to the earth, the more apt a person is to be able to reconcile the elements with their available gear.  That's ultimately the goal.  And while the vast majority of people carry traits of both types of Gear Junkie by varying degrees, stress needs to continually be put on getting the most experience possible with regard to our bodies out in the elements.  This is what ultimately divides folks into one of the two categories.....expertise, notwithstanding.

So important is reconciling with the elements that in a given survival situation, one would do better to take up with the Little Old Lady from Pasadena that walks 20 miles a week with her "girls" in the mall, knows how to build a campfire, isn't afraid of bugs and carries a big stick, anytime over an out of shape in-experienced couch potato who spends all their time on the Internet talking about the latest tent.  Any way you slice it, she'd likely have much more to offer to carry her load.

This type of understanding, should motivate us to continue striving to better our skills with and without the latest and greatest gear.  For every facet of life, there's always someone higher up the ladder of success.  If it comes down to picking teams in a survival situation, you want to be able to offer more bang for the buck.

Barring a survival situation ever happens (and I hope to God it doesn't), think of it this way;  Having gear you cannot use, or use well, is just added weight.  Just think of the last time you moved from one home to another.  That's where most folks find out how much STUFF they have that has potential, but they never use.

Really, what are you going to use in a survival situation?  Options are finite.  Packable weight is limited.  Lighter weight and multi-function are the rule of the survival day.  Start there and put in the time. 

If there is something to be said of quantity, it's only with regard to multiple caches as there are no guarantees in life......and one should never put all their eggs in one basket. 

This is a subject that most people take for granted generally by one of two reasons;  Either they don't recognize a need in their lives for such a "skill", or they think they already know how it's done.  Hasn't everyone seen Elmer Fudd do it?  I mean, how hard can it be?

The truth is that the difficulty of stalking is inversely proportionate to the time invested in practice.  (I've noticed this same formula cropping up for every type of skill set.....why is that?)

The necessity for possessing such "skill" will increase dramatically whenever a human finds his/her backside in a competitive situation where life and death hang in the balance.  It doesn't matter if the person in question is doing the hunting or being hunted.....as quietly vacating the area can be a good thing too.  Snap, Crackle and Pop are only your friends at the breakfast table.  The little bastards have no outdoor skill whatsoever and can simply ruin your outing.  Snap and Crackle can eliminate the POP! when it's in your favor, or can immediately result in POP!!.....POP!! POP!! when it's least desired.

That said, here are a few tips on how to minimize detection by maximizing skill in stalking;

1.  Keep your feet low.  Your feet should stay below knee level if at all possible.  If you are high-stepping, either you aren't planning your movement or you aren't stalking.

2.  Limit movement.  Slow is one thing, and it's important, but limited movement will help keep your quarry from detecting you.  Use very very slow limited movement as an eye can pick up movement above 1/60th of a second.

3.  Take small steps.  Stalking is not a race for time, it's a race for success.  Short steps/strides are key.  No more than the distance of one of your feet, between your two steps.

4.  Stepping is a misnomer.  Slide, scoot, skid all make better descriptions of what your feet should be doing.  This will brush most snapping items out of your way.  The "feel" you need for your feet will then depend on forward motion and effort, eliminating the "special need" for types of footwear.....with the exception of being tracked, for which reason you should have tread-less footwear with flat soles and rounded edges....like moccasins or socks....not bare feet or boots.

5.  Maintain balance at all times.  If you're practicing all the above, you'll notice this step easier.  Scoot your foot into position (brushing most items out of the way) and slowly shift weight to balance.  Pause for rest, scan and repeat with the other foot.  In almost any stalking mission, there will be times to freeze.  These times are indiscriminate and can catch you at the damnedest times.  Imagine freezing in place during an Elmer Fudd type stalk when one foot is high and the other has all your weight.  Remember, wobble is not our friend and we're not always "hunting wabbits".

6.  Practice, practice, practice.  Nuff said.

Advanced tricks.  Once a person has practiced, they will find simple tricks to help them along the way.  Among them are some of the following; 

Stepping over a log;  Scoot advancing foot so the toe is against, or just under the edge of the log.  Bend knee until shin is making contact with the log.  This aids in balance as you bring your other foot over the log.  Slide heel and calf against the other side of the log and slowly feel with toe as you oscillate your toe in an attempt to worm through leaves and twigs to the earth.

Using trees;  Stalking along the military crest or 1/3 down from the top of a ridge can make it more difficult to maintain balance in general, but more specifically when stepping over something.  Most often, there something to aid balance in the immediate vicinity of said event.  Proper planning of your leg of movement will bring you next to such an object.  This object can take your body weight via lean so that you don't lose your balance and roll down the hill alerting all quarry within the county lines.

Broken movement;  There is nothing written in stone that says you can't halt movement and observe for periods of time.  If there is nothing of urgency pressing you forward, it's better to rest periodically than to push to the point of carelessness.

Natural cover;  This applies to noise as well as foliage.  Move when possible according to the ambient noise.  This can be wind, rain, river or movement from your quarry or pursuer(s).

Chance favors the prepared mind;  While moving slowly, there is ample time to think and plan.  All manner of scenarios should be playing through the mind as you execute each leg of the planned journey.  A multitude of what-ifs should be playing between the observation and the "how do I get from here to there"s. 

For example;  You are travelling with a pond to your right, a hill to your left, and the woods are getting thick up ahead.  Do you know what is over the hill to your left?  Do you care?  What do you do if something occurs/makes a surprise appearance in front, rear, from over the hill....from the pond, etc.  All the while, making every effort to watch and make no noise.  Done correctly, one should never be bored when stalking.

Mindset;  Overall, the mindset should not be one of minding the second hand.  With regard to stealth, the clock is a miserable task master.  The biggest favor that you can do for yourself is to enter a different world.  One where time has no meaning.  Responsibilities are out the window.  Your task is the only thing of importance and there is nothing else for you to do.  Expertise will come with experience.

Gaze;  If the object in question is within sight, do not stare at it.  For those who do not believe in the law of attraction, you will never understand why a person across the room or an organic subject across your field of view will immediately be drawn to your gaze.  Instead, slightly relax the eyes, use more indirect viewing.  Glancing and attention to outline is the rule.  Calm.  Do not send out the "vibes". 

"There is no spoon";  The best advice I could give a person could not be better put than the movie, The Matrix, during a conversation between Neo and a boy that had an apparent ability to bend a spoon with the power of his mind;

Spoon boy: Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realize the truth.
Neo: What truth?
Spoon boy: There is no spoon.
Neo: There is no spoon?
Spoon boy: Then you'll see, that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.


In the end, there is no added ability or special power to stalk without a sound or a trace.  "It is only yourself"......that is, self control.  The ability was there all along.  It is self control with regard to undesirable movement produced by you at any given time.  Similar to a sculpture that exists within a block of marble from the very beginning.....it just takes painstaking removal of all surrounding marble to reveal it.

With regard to practice, do not try to get from point A to point B without making a sound.  Make each movement a single noiseless event.  If a noise is made, it is a single event.  Your next event is not connected to it in any way.  Do not let it be connected in your mind, resulting in less energy and desire put into the next effort. 

Practice, practice, practice.  Everything learned is difficult at first.  Putting in your time will go a long way to helping you gain overall proficiency.  Don't be discouraged because progress is not realized as quickly as desired.

In time, you get much more smooth and proficient.....keeping in mind the "what if"s for each event along the way.
 

There are lots of rules to live by with regard to survival.  These rules are then put together in such a way to promote the ease of long term remembrance as well as the ease of passing the nugget of information on to the next generation of skill seekers.

It's only after some hands on experience that one finds the real life cadence of the rule far different than its counterpart in literature.  For example, the Rule of 3s states; 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food.  Simple, steady, relaxed cadence.......until you're living it.

What they don't tell you in the fine print is that there are many other rules of survival that act as half-notes, quarter notes and pauses in the overall symphony.  Some notes longer in duration, while others short and abrupt.

When thrust into a survival situation, one can find themselves going through the following motions....more or less.....sometimes at a relaxed pace......sometimes like a rabbit on the run.  The situation will decide that for you. 

As you're patting yourself down, you're thinking, "Am I shot?/Am I OK?/Anything broken?  I'm breathing.....that's a good sign....."  You start looking around....."Where am I?"  You look at the sky and the weather situation.  Then you start looking at what you have with you.  Some metaphor of choice will likely be repeated numerous times as you go through the motions.

At this point, crisis management is the rule of the day.  Any immediate bodily needs are taken care of first.  Barring medical emergencies, opposing forces or impending natural disasters, you've got roughly 3 hours, give or take (depending on the season/ambient climate), to do this.  Once your immediate needs are taken care of, you now have an open window from 3 hours to 3 days.

This is where the rule, "Water First" comes in to play.  A half-note inserted in the song somewhere between 3 minutes and 3 days.  Failure to play this note at all will end the song prematurely.  But playing this note early on, can add much to the overall harmony.

Since we know we will need water anyway, as long as our core temperature is stable, weather conditions aren't so severe that we need a blazing fire 5 minutes ago and we are ambulatory, it's a good time to seek it.

Why?  Aside from the most obvious, hydration, we know that water is usually found at low points along the terrain.  This is an important feature with regard to the shelter that we will need to construct.  Somewhere the higher ground and the water source, there will be a decrease in relation to sea level even if only a subtle slope in the micro terrain.  This can provide a natural break out of prevailing winds, but may also require a little help.  The (gentle?) slope also provides drainage in case of weather as well as the ability to collect runoff if need be. 

Moving closer to the water source, odds are there will be more natural vegetation from which we find materials with which we can construct camp and there will likely be more available food sources that we will be needing soon.  These food sources are living in the water source, stopping by for a drink or feeding off any of the aforementioned.

This would be a great time to know that you had packed a seine or some netting of some sort.  If you haven't, your job is going to be a little harder.  The idea of long term survival is to consume calories at a rate equal to or higher than the expenditure of same for the daily rate of activities.  A seine makes this more readily achieved.  If no suitable material is found, a shirt can be used, though it's not nearly as easy.  Use sticks/branches through the arms and use the main body of the shirt as the seine.

Netting is extremely lightweight and offers no excuse not to pack some in your ruck.  The stronger the current, like in a creek for example, the greater the reason to use a net instead of solid material.  (The moral is, don't leave home without one.)

Now that you've found your water source, got your shelter built, your camp is set up and there's plenty of wood gathered and protected for fire tonight, tomorrow morining and quite possibly more, it's time to move on to play the next note. 

We've fulfilled the 3 hour to 3 day window with plenty of time to spare.  The next note in our survival song is "3 weeks without food".  Though 3 weeks, sounds good on paper, only going 3 days without food on a full work schedule is torture.  If you haven't experienced it, you need to try it.  Tears will roll down your face involuntarily when the first taste on the 4th day hits your tongue.  I can't imagine a full week.  Neither can most of those reading this post.

Snares and traps will be set along the banks and along natural bridges and trails.  Once done, it's time to break out the seine.  You'll be surprised at what you'll catch.  From turtles, frogs, fish and crayfish.  Dinner is on.

To properly seine, you have to create a pocket in the middle of the seine.  The bottom of the seine has to skim the bottom of the creek/pond/lake.  The seine has been fastened to the sticks/branches so that the sides of the seine has some slop in them so that there will be a curve in the netting from top to bottom.  The two ends are not drawn tight, but are held close enough together to create an arc along the bottom as well.

As you move slowly through the water, making sure to keep the net skimming the bottom, step around the sides of the seine and stomp on all rocks, sticks and logs in the water.  Move slow enough to be able to peer out ahead of where you are moving to scout for turtles and displaced crayfish, as well as where you are stepping.

If you haven't already dug a hole or created a suitable receptacle for your catch, you'll be noticing soon that you need one.  Unless you've got a decent size turtle or fish, figure for twice what you'll need.  Somehow, things taken from the water always seem to shrink when you cook 'em, not to mention that there's no guarantee that your snares will produce on demand and you'll be (presumably) wanting breakfast in the morning.  Use entrails/parts as bait for your snares.

There's no need to wait until you're in a survival situation to practice, either.  With any luck and foresight, you'll never encounter a real survival situation.....that's the hope, anyway.  But that doesn't excuse a person not to be ready in case tomorrow's plans trump yours.

An hour or so in the local creek can provide an appetizing return on investment.  That, a little butter and some garlic.  That might be all it takes to make the change from working around the complaints to get some time in the wild, to excited encouragement to set out and bring back some exquisite cuisine.

Frequently, it's not what you do, but how you do it that makes all the difference.  Go and do.  Learn the "how".


  

I don't know how a person can miss the mass movement toward self-sufficiency.  It's everywhere.  Is is because the masses have seen government in action (or is it "inaction" ) during disasters?   

Now, let's be fair;  It may not be that the government is "inept" in and of itself.  I personally don't think this is the case.  There are too many examples of how effective and precise government can be in a given area of expertise.  I think the problem that has alerted most folks is that the government cannot live up to the roles they are trying so desperately to fill.  This results in what I call "bureaucratic wannabe-ism".  In a word; unable.

This inability to "be everything to the common citizen" has caused mass movement in the direction of preparedness "just in case".  This, from the top in government all the way down to the "little people".

Across the Internet, you can find multitudes of forums related to the subject of survival and/or preparedness.  This can be difficult to sift through for the beginner or for those with families who are not as adept at the outdoors as the most skilled in the family.

The problem in a difficult situation will likely not be a lack of someone knowing something, it will be the rest knowing little or nothing.  A chain, being only as strong as the weakest link, this could represent the potential for trouble.

A fantastic book has just been marketed called, Survivalist Family, by Joe Fox.  The purpose of this book is to bring the entire family on board and create a more cohesive unit with regard to survivability in a disaster type situation.  This could be anything from winter power outages to earthquake, tornadoes, etc.  Perhaps locally, regionally or even nationally....God forbid!

The author, Joe Fox has quite a background from which to draw in writing the book.  He's a retired Army Special Forces officer and Army SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, escape) instructor, he has trained US and foreign militaries, local, state and national law enforcement agencies, private groups, and men, women and children from all walks of life.

He and his wife own and manage High Prairie Acres - an "increasingly Green" farmstead where they raise vegetables, fruit, goats, rabbits, chickens, ducks, Guinea fowl, dogs and a horse. Both are active in their community as volunteer firefighters and with Scouts and church.

In his ample free time, Joe continues to serve as a Department of Defense civilian in the Special Operations field.

Joe also runs Viking Services, LLC. and has a website;  http://vikingpreparedness.com/

He has an outstanding blog and the folks on the forum are top notch.  So it should come as no surprise that his book should reflect the same quality.

The unique quality of the book that immediately stands out is balance across the board.  Often, folks will focus on a few main points regarding the vast scope of survival/preparedness.  This doesn't help those who are looking to cover all the bases.

The book itself, rather than offering a checklist in the form of a "laundry list" of items to go out and buy, offers itself as a checklist to make sure you and your family have covered all the bases. 

This book comes highly recommended....not as a sales pitch, though we do offer it for sale, let's be honest here.  It's because a basic cohesive unit has a better chance of survival than a million "one man teams" ever thought was possible.  What better basic unit than the family?

The point is to cover your family's bases.  This book goes a long way toward doing just that.  Even for families that have several points covered, there will no doubt be weak points that this book will shed some light on.  "A chain is only as strong....."  The book will make a great gift to someone you care about.

We love the book.  Not only does it serve as a basic blueprint for all points survival, but it will serve in the future to provide fertile ground for thoughts regarding new products that S.S.I.G. can bring to the table.  Inevitably, there will always be an item that one would love to have, "if only they made one".  That's where this book and S.S.I.G. will eventually intersect.

Bottom line; get the book.  If not for you, for your family.

As the saying goes, "Free your mind and your backside is sure to follow".  Oh, that it would be so!  Imagine a world in which folks dared to venture outside of the box on a daily basis.  If only the average person would figure out that it's not the luxurious lining of the box, but what a person learns about life "outside the box" that makes all the difference.  But just what is "The Box"? It's nothing if it isn't structured thinking, programming and thought control.

Now, there will be some that will have an automatic negative reaction to the above statement.  The negative for some will be regarding "free thought" with respect to the "dangerous territory" of unbridled thought with a connotation of one lacking self control.....and for others it will be with regard to the growth inhibiting societal norms or rules and the desire to break free of such manufactured limits.

But the truth is, there is nothing evil in and of itself with regard to either/or.  Structured thinking can be a very good base from which to explore other options and think of new ideas....this, in the form of understanding "how things work".  For most people, structure is the best foundation from which to learn the basics of a given subject. 

Beyond the basics, however, clinging to structure is like clinging to training wheels.  Further, when the "structuring" is being manufactured, fostered and continued by a third party it should be suspect by reason of it's very design.

Programming;  Learning is programming.  Practice/repetition is programming.  Practice doesn't make perfect, it simply embeds prior programming more deeply with each subsequent repetition.  Therefore, it is prudent to thoroughly check out any programming before "logging on"....just like a computer.....as your mind is an organic computer.  Questions....ask lots of them.  Questions unravel agenda based programming by virtue of exposure of inconsistency.

Thought control; once again, a person controlling their own thoughts (i.e. focus) is a good thing, but thought control via an external source is never a good thing.  (It is nowhere to be found in any religious text.......ever.  It's all about freedom to choose and DOING.  Therefore, if the One at the top doesn't do it, it's a pretty good guess that thought control from any external force is a bad thing.)

How we respond to such ideas can show us (and those around us) exactly where we are with relation to the inside of our box.

It's the "either/or" mentality that proves we are still inside the box.  For once outside the box, other variables become evident.   But just as everything in life, the solution will usually settle to some degree between the two extremes.  Negotiation happens.  That means, that odds are, the solutions in life will likely be found.....somewhere outside the box.  (Of the 3 possibilities for solutions, the answer will fall inside, outside or entirely aside/away from/having no connection at all to the box....odds of 33% in favor of the box/66% against.) 

To begin with, it's important to understand the box and the outside work together.  The best analogy that I can think of is the home. 

In times past, the home was a place to take shelter, safety or gathering together.  The outside was for everything else.  It was how you travelled, how you made a living, how you found solutions to necessities of life.  Outside the home was how one found their path in life.

In times past, you ventured outside the home to have actual contact with people.  You got to know your neighbors.  One could trust their neighbors.  There was a "hands on" to life in general.  Folks thought of themselves as "common folk", yet were completely void of any cookie cutter mentality or regimented lifestyle.  Folks were accustomed to finding new experiences and eagerly looked forward to them.  Yes, there was risk, but continual exposure brings effective ways of dealing with risk.

Today, much more living is done inside the home.  Much less contact goes on with neighbors.  Most folks are now contacted from inside the home via phone and computer.  Even work is done inside the home.  Folks all think they are "unique", yet show an almost cloned lifestyle with their neighbors.....the neighbors they can't seem to trust.  This, perhaps of spending too much time in the box, or with the one of their favorite boxes inside the box, I'm not sure which.  There is less risk and as a result, less ability to deal with risk.....and especially the idea of it.  The result; fear.

The comparison is of import as the house is an extension of the human psyche.  For this reason, the natural human tendency is to spend their most vulnerable times in the heart of the home (master bedroom).  This is where the most highly valued items to the homeowner are found and where criminals routinely head for.  Why?  It's an extension of what we think of as "intimacy", or being "close to one's heart" and having the most layered defenses (barriers) between such and the outside world.

How a person thinks and feels can clearly be seen with items that are in the home and by items non-existent in the home.  The home.....the true home, is a reflection, or extension of the resident.  Though there are exceptions, to be sure, this is the general rule.

Consider the definition of Introvert;

A person whose interest is directed primarily toward the self.  To turn inward; cause to bend in an inward direction.  To turn the mind or thoughts toward the self.

The question is not whether our society has become introverted.  Clearly, our lifestyles across the board reflect such on many levels.  The question is; how long can such a society function without complete decay and collapse?

Consider, My Native Land by Sir Walter Scott

Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd,
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd
From wandering on a foreign strand!
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour'd, and unsung.

What was once considered the epitome of dishonor and shame, is now commonplace in our society.  A societal norm.  There would be many who ask regarding Sir Walter Scott's focal character, "What's wrong with that?"  Sad.  Wonder no more what has happened to our country.

But the point of trying to understand where we are as a society is not to point fingers and lay blame, it's a matter of finding our way back home.  This, with regard to an introverted nation, is as simple as stepping outside of our box and greeting the world in person.

That being said, with regard to learning to think...and ultimately live.... outside the box, one will likely find the old school method of taking shelter in the structure while carving out a life outside the box to be a winner.  This is the formula that took us from 5000 years of horse and chariots/buggies to nano technology and an understanding of DNA in just over a hundred years.

The box then, becomes a great place for structure, order and ultimately, shelter.  Yet, the door to the outside should not only be available, but used often.  This will give the best perspective on anything that touches a person's life.  It will also remove any unnecessary stresses since, one has clearly defined concentric rings of priority by degree as well as concentric rings of influence both incoming and outgoing.

By getting to know your neighbors (others frequenting outside their boxes) one begins to exchange views of each other's idea of a "box" or particular viewpoint of structure.  This opens up vast opportunities for exchange, leading to growth, invention or development.

In short, the applied definition of progress moves from inside the box, to outside......known to unknown......simple to complex......(can you feel it?)  

Repeated trips to the outside of the box results in experience to the degree of repetition of travel, radial distance from the box and the cross section of the area explored/familiar to the adventurous soul.  The best in any field will likely be a result of the most frequent flier with regard to travel outside the box.

Once an understanding of the box is gained in relation to the outside world in which the box exists, one can begin to apply knowledge in ways that would otherwise have been hidden from their understanding.

For example;  An electrical capacitor.  The definition is "two conductors, separated by an insulator or semi-conductor".  In effect, you have the potential for a stored charge.

This stored charge can be in the form of a small electronic device, like that used to quickly start the old vacuum tube TVs, or it can be in the form of a vehicle.......a metal body insulated by rubber tires, from the earth.  "Two conductors separated by an insulator or a semi-conductor".  The applications, once outside the box, become limitless....and just as potentially shocking.

Once a person begins to think outside the box, apparent finality or limitation becomes opportunity.  Once a person becomes accustomed to moving in and out of their structure, the mind becomes free to do so at will.  This can be habit forming if given half a chance. 

How many times have we looked back at things that weren't in existence 10, 20, 30, 50 or a hundred years ago?  Someone stepped outside of their box, found them and brought them home.  Now, we can't imagine life without such innovations.

How many more are outside the box waiting for such a person as you?  Opportunity is knocking.  Answer the door.  Take a step outside, even.  There is a universe of ideas begging to become reality.  An unimaginable number of adventures.  Go find them.





 

People that are into survival and/or preparations have something in common.  Somewhere in their experience, they have all added something to the pot.

Usually, it's in the form of an improvisation with their gear for the field and/or adding some food gathered in the wild to their pot of stew around the campfire.

At the same time this has become rather common, few folks realize the importance of such field expedient genius.  The potential for a complete revolution regarding how folks look at survival skills in general is at their fingertips. 

It's been said, "To know one thing in its entirety is to know everything."  This has to do with application.  By learning to apply 1+1, or 8 musical notes, possibilities of infinite proportions become available.  The same can be said of learning to "add something to the pot".

This is the primary reason for the formation of Survival Solutions Innovative Gear.  Yes, we sell some useful items, but our focus is to add to the pot of the Survival Gear Industry as a whole.  This by means of creating products that no other company in the world produces. 

That doesn't mean we have to think of everything, though it would be nice if we could.  It simply means that we have to think of ways to make it happen.....to find solutions.....hence the name of the web site.

We've come up with our own ideas as well as produced the Swack Shack as designed by George Jasper (author of the most excellent survival resource, 6 Ways In & 12 Ways Out).  More often than not, raw ideas will then have to be refined by bouncing them back and forth, eliminating problems along the way and resulting in some very fine tweaking until it's just right.

The very reason for the limited blog posts this month is due to exactly that.  Within the next few weeks, we will have added 2 more products* to our site made exclusively by Survival Solutions Innovative Gear.  We designed them and they are sure to cause no small stir with regard to the usefulness of these products.  These are exciting times, indeed, for the survival preparedness industry.

But just as the economy is in danger of the big "tank", remember that each one of us has something to add to the pot.  Get yourselves ready for the greatest shift in the history of the U.S. economy.  (Do we really think the big corporations are going to "come home"?  They've made their decisions.....and it's been in favor of exporting their manufacturing while retaining the expectations of importing their products.  To such knuckleheads, I say, good riddance.)

"The times, they are a changin'"  A new economy is germinating.  It's every day folks that are making the final refinements to their contributions to the big pot.  The big corporations, as they eventually go broke themselves, will be reminded once again, that small business is the backbone to any economy.

Small business people and hard working Americans were responsible for their huge profits in the first place, and as these same Americans are forced to look for other means of employment since these grateful mega-corporations have eliminated them, new small businesses are emerging.

As everyone has something to add to the pot, some have gone into manufacturing while others have realized the potential of web-based business and the need for local delivery.  They have created expediting companies.  Can't compete with the Post Office?  How about local delivery of supplies to local manufacturers?  Time is money, you know.

How about a company who does nothing but purchasing and delivery?  How about a company who searches for and puts together larger manufacturers with smaller entrepreneurs?  There is a HUGE need for this.  Be on the cutting edge.  The sky is the limit.

But just as the proof of wisdom is in the actions it produces, so does the resulting success follow getting in the game and plugging away.  There is no way to lose with this strategy.

If money gets the attention of the powers that be, what do you think will happen when the big corporations are losing their shirts and the small businesses are generating billions collectively?

Just another thought to add to the pot!  Get busy.

*As any company in existence has to make a profit just to pay the bills, our goal is to offer American Made products, designed in the U.S., by American businesses, with the quality you expect from an American company.  These products are unique and high quality.  Don't expect a China-Mart price tag.  We are buying high-cost materials and paying American Manufacturing.  You get what you pay for. 

The low profit margin of our products is the reason that we cannot offer multi-tier pricing and why you will not find our products anywhere else.  It's not as though we haven't been contacted about wholesale pricing many times over.  Though we're sure to get lots more inquiries once folks get a load of our latest!

As recent events have shed a terrible light in the direction of those interested in Survival in general, I think it only fair and fitting to tell folks just what I think about it.

Taken as a whole, whether right, wrong or a little of both, it's obvious that the Feds don't care by which means they nab folks. They want publicized arrests and convictions. They don't care how unscrupulous their informants are or how they get you to buy into their stupidity.
 

The informants are looking to create a situation for their handlers. Somehow, this isn't punishable by long prison sentences.  The common denominator in many cases seems to be the pestering by an informant to do stupid things.

Now we wait, and we watch which direction this whole thing goes. Full blown witch hunt, distraction for something else or just the evidence of a fearful government doing anything they can to let folks know that no matter how much the powers that be, trample our Constitution, they still hold the power.

What can we learn from this?

Well, as the song goes; "know when to hold up, fold up, walk away or run"....(I would add) from anyone who starts talking their game. 

If someone suggests anything that causes a flag to trip, hold up.

You've been around a group of folks where such a person starts talking crap, fold up.

A person starts talking about stupid stuff, walk away.
 

They start pestering, run.

Two things my Grandfather told my Uncle many years ago....I've found it invaluable;

One day, my Grandfather was talking to my Uncle, who at that time had some crazy young friends, and reached out and pinched his arm......one of those horse bite kinds of pinches. Of course my Uncle recoiled and stated "that hurt". My Grandpa asked him, "but what did you learn?" When my Uncle didn't reply, my Grandpa pinched him again. My Uncle reeled back and was agitated. "Ow! What are you doing that for? That HURTS!" My Grandpa looked him in the eye and said, "but I didn't feel a thing. Remember that when one of your friends tries to talk you into doing something you know you shouldn't. You'll be the one getting hurt, not them."

Then he said, "If you find yourself in a car with your buddies and they are getting ready to 'raise hell', tell them to pull over....that you need to use a bathroom NOW. When you get to a gas station, call me and I'll come and pick you up. You can tell your friends you have a family emergency, that you are sick, whatever you can think of."

His friends were eventually arrested for vandalism and someone gave them my Uncle's name because he was known to have been around them. My Grandfather picked him up at the station and vouched (and could prove) that he wasn't with them at the time of the incident.

Staying out of trouble doesn't castrate anyone any more than talking b.s. over the Internet or hanging with a bunch of idiots gives a person bigger cajones.

Somehow, what seems to have been lost over time the fact that this country was founded upon the intestinal fortitude it takes to say, NO.  NO I'm not going along with stupidity.  NO I'm not going to cave in on my principles and NO, I'm not going along what I know to be wrong.

Take example from how states say NO. http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=128035

The states aren't conspiring.  They aren't allowing some idiot to "talk them into" some stupid stunt.  No delusions of grandeur.  They are saying, NO.  Then, they go about their business....come what may
.

Too afraid to say NO?  Move to a state that will say NO for you.  At least you'll be acting on the courage of your convictions.  If enough folks move from a state not currently inclined to say no, such a state will not appreciate a lack of tax base and will begin competing. 

Too unrealistic?  What's more realistic, efforts to make effective change, or doing nothing and complaining about your results?

A good lesson learned would be, instead of joining a group of folks inclined to the pursuit of folly, spending inordinate time and all energies dwelling on some imagined "worst case scenario" (as though obsessing over said imagined scenario means all "lesser" scenarios are covered...yeah, you keep thinkin' that....), put your greater energies into effective means of change.

Don't like how the government is running things?  Run for offices.  Stop the paranoia and the excuses.
 

Let me guess, "the government is 'broken' and there's nothing that can be done."

Then let me ask you, where do you think the laws you support come from?  How about......good people, who think just like you.....that ran for office....or that are involved in their communities?  What?  No explosion of concealed carry laws?  No lawsuits against the Fed Govt regarding trampling the rights of the states?  No legislation at the state level against intrusive Feds?

If a person doesn't make their presence known, don't complain of a government that doesn't seem to represent you.  Odds are, that in all the people across the nation, no matter how much you think of yourself, they don't even know you exist.

Let them know you exist by active participation.  How do you think "special interest" does it?  How do you think things have gotten where they are today?  It's long since time for good people to drown out the opposition with active participation. 

Canvass folks for support.  Make effective changes.  All the prepping in the world, can only help you once you're IN A GIVEN SITUATION.  No amount of "preps" can help you AVOID an undesired direction in politics.
 

Your participation in local/state and US offices CAN. 

Get ACTIVE.  Nature abhors a void.....a vacuum of good people running for office leaves only undesirables at the helm.
 

Too much work?  What's more work; a comfortable home, walking around the neighborhood drumming up support, or the daily rigors of a "SHTF" scenario? (i.e. digging for bugs, suffering the cold and elements, on the verge of starvation and need of medical help.....cavities in your teeth, infections, pneumonia....etc.)

Civic duty.....now there's a phrase one doesn't hear from the lips of their neighbors, much anymore.  Well, folks, don't complain about "them" if the phrase is foreign to your life.  Just keep asking what your country can do for you.

Don't like the unemployment rate?  Start a business.

Small business is the backbone of ANY economy.  The problem I see with most folks is that they've become accustomed to freedom without cost.  They've been raised with other folks doing the sacrificing and providing all the gravy.  People want "jobs" rather than all the headache and dedication to create a business. 

You'd be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't descended from farmers somewhere along the way.  Farmers were the epitome of entrepreneurs.  They did it all, and all the headaches were on their shoulders.  They worked hard and expected nothing for free.  Smart, too.  They put their genius to work for them.  They had community, they helped out one another and they didn't rely on government hand-outs.  Want self sufficient, off the grid living?  Look no further than the hardworking farmer.

I'm a person who is not satisfied with extremes.  I am aware negotiation happens....frequently.  Therefore, it's my opinion that a hybrid of the hardworking farmer-type with some modern methods/technology can make quite a difference in the world of business.

One of my favorite sayings is, "The one who fears doing too much will always do too little."

Don't let that be the epitaph on the gravestone of freedom.  Don't wait for the "other guy" to do it.  Those who do nothing, can't bitch about the outcome.  Those who do nothing, deserve nothing.

As the proof of wisdom is in the actions it produces, it's my .02 that this is where we'll see folks' true colors; whether they are truly interested in the welfare of this country, or simply like the sound of something they think is "cool", but would rather have someone else to do it for them.  Expect them to get "mad" when the light shines in their direction.

Don't like the Media?  Use their tactics against them.  They like to catch folks in bad situations and make it public.  Catch them.  (Certainly there are folks with aptitudes for just such a vocation.)  The media seems to like the humiliation and suffering of people caught in their mistakes.  So, let them eat their own cooking.  Don't think they'll be fired?  Their only strength is that "they" have been doing all the "witch hunting" for years.  Let them have a taste of what it's like.  Assist them in being a laughing stock.  Absurd.  Ridiculous and narcissistic.  It could be fun, and educational.

Don't get angry at what you don't understand.  Get educated and fix the problem.  Learn something about law and contracts.  Remember politicians at the top are lawyers.  This is at the core of why most folks don't understand how the game is played.
 

There are sites across the country that can help the average person learn about law.  Get a legal dictionary and understand what the politicians are saying, and what they are not.

It's not what folks think they know about "conspiracies", rather what they don't know about things before their very eyes that's causing them trouble.
 

Want a parting thought?  Most folks are talking through the hat they sit upon when they talk about changing the "government", a "broken government" or a "government out of touch".

Some folks are fond of stating that they hold to a government "of the people", that the "government does not represent them", the "government needs to lead by example" and that the "present government is out of touch".  Yet see no contradicting ideology in their claims. 

The same type of people by virtue of claiming to be a "government of the people", by their own lack of involvement, prove the validity, bear the responsibility of every one of their claims.....and indict themselves.

As various skills are learned, eventually the time comes when a person wishes to test themselves.  This is good.  However, there are a few things to keep in mind when the temptation comes to push the limits.

First of all, nature is a killer.  If it wasn't, it wouldn't be called survival.  Second, anything can happen.  Third, when in trouble, time is a factor.....and it's generally not on our side.  So, no matter how frequently we visit the elements, the minute that we step out of civilization and into the wild, the clock begins ticking away.  These are just for starters.

Now it may happen, someday, that some folks become complacent with their abilities.  Almost a dulling of the sensation to danger.....after all, this has been done so many times before.  This is the siren's song that will lure, if possible, some of even the more skilled folks to their end.

When folks have learned how to survive in the wild, it might be easy to dismiss the danger as though it doesn't exist any more for those knowledgeable.  This would be a grave mistake.  To illustrate the point, let's take a look at something with drastically apparent danger; Free-fall or Skydiving.

To the beginner, or even novice, there's not a doubt that danger is present.  But after a few thousand jumps, the screaming alarm settles into a constant case of butterflies in your stomach.....that is, until you've got a malfunction.  But for the average jumper, the free-fall itself is vacant of any sensation but wind.  All it takes is for a person to allow their "altitude awareness" to be dulled.  The rate of fall will take care of the rest.

This is the reality of a survival scenario or test.  All a person need do is forget just how merciless the elements can be and "take a chance".  It would be one thing if there were no other way.  It's quite another to die while testing your limits.....especially if it could have been prevented.

A perfect example is going camping "with minimal gear" to test your skills.  I am not a proponent of this.  That is not to say there aren't folks with the skills to walk out into the wild, buck naked and show up next week at your wedding in a Tux and 10 pounds heavier; there are.  But in every area of life, there are the exceptional people.  This, however, is where I believe the road splits for me.....I'm not looking to be the exception, I'm looking to survive....this means stacking the deck, not removing more cards.

There are too many reports of casualties with regard to very experienced people.  This should tell us something right off the bat.  Anything can happen.  The object is to beat the odds, not become the statistics.

Case and point, let's go back to Skydiving for a moment.  Less gear?  I don't think so.  No altimeter?  How about no reserve?  According to the latest USPA (United States Parachute Association) membership data, the odds are 1 in 750 jumps for a malfunction.  Many folks with thousands of jumps have never had a single malfunction.  At this point, there may be a person among them who might wish to pack a little lighter......perhaps no reserve.....really test themselves.......  No reserve would cut out about 10 pounds from the rig as well as saving the packing fees for the mandatory re-packs throughout the year.  But such a person is a statistic waiting to happen.....and fortunately, no drop zone in the world would let a person jump without checking their reserve card.

Too obvious?  It's no different than trekking into the wild with less gear.  Nature is as much a killer as gravity.  Dead is dead.  All it takes is for nature to show it's true colors and a person to be caught out in it.  What if the temperatures are in the 40s and 50s, you're experiencing a surprise torrential downpour and you've planned nothing but "debris shelter and bow drill fire" for the overnight?  Two words; You're soaked.  But remember, the clock started ticking already and the time is running short.  If you don't fix the situation before the clock runs out, two other words will apply; you're dead.  It can happen....and yes.....to you.

For this reason, I train in survival skills.....because it can happen.  I also push myself beyond former limits.....growth is a beautiful thing.  However, failure happens.  A person who doesn't make mistakes from time to time isn't doing anything. 

Now, while the idea is to eliminate the mistakes before one treks into the real thing, mistakes and accidents can happen while out in it.....quite easily in fact.  For this reason, I am a proponent of carrying all your gear.....and back-ups, with you every time you go out.  All it takes is a fall.  Injuries multiply in magnitude the farther from help and multiply the magnitude exponentially when out in the elements.

But then, injuries aren't the only possibility.  Remember that we're involved in the food chain.  The bad news is we're not guaranteed the top slot as opposed to being listed on the menu.  Even surviving a surprise animal attack can change our overall odds of survival depending on the injuries sustained.  Shock is a killer, too.  Then there's physical illness.  What if?  It happens......sometimes suddenly.  Now what? 

OK, none of the above happens.  But on your walk, you slip and fall into a cold body of water.  Within seconds, you begin shivering.  In no time, you're shivering so bad you would empty a full glass of water before you get a drop....that or knocking out half of your teeth.  Your fine motor skills are gone.  You have to have heat.....NOW.  The clock is ticking......tick........tick.... ....tick......._________________________________________________

This is quite possibly where your skills and gear fail you.  This would be a great time to have had a buddy with you.  Once you're in it, it's too late to make any changes.  Mother Nature closes her window and announces, "NO MORE BETS!"  Oh, you mean you didn't realize that you were betting your life each time?  That's too bad.  We'll have a nice funeral for you.....send flowers even.

It's been said, "To the novice, the options are infinite, to the professional, the options are few".  That's because the novice thinks they can do anything.  The professional knows better and that anything can happen.  He has learned battle tested means of success.  The professional does not venture off the path of success.  The professional does not get complacent and sloppy.  He checks and double checks where the path is difficult to follow.  He watches his back-trail, both for predators and knowing how to return if need be.  He has plans.  He has back-up plans.  He is well prepared.  He takes no unnecessary risks.  He does his very best to accomplish his task at all times.

In our case, the task is survival.  So, folks, as the weather begins to change, luring us into more frequent visits to no man's land, keep in mind that although it's good and necessary to press forward, inching past our forward limits, bring back-up.  It's better to have it and not need it (or decide not to use it), than to need it and not have it.

The last point that I think is relevant to the discussion is to resist comparisons.  Folks like to think that if they can succeed in the difficult, the easy should be a cake walk.  This is foolish thinking.  Just because folks have survived falls from surprising heights doesn't negate that the average fatal fall is 6 feet.  Nor does it mean that the person who survived the great fall will survive a slip in the bathtub. 

It's more accurate to see each scenario as individual.  One scenario, though similar, has nothing in reality to do with another.  If one sees life as a continuous gamble, one can also understand that like any casino, each situation requires a new deck and a new shuffle.  Anyone can win and anyone can lose.....but the odds are always in favor of the house.....that is, Mother Nature.

The bottom line; Today does not recognize the successes or failures of yesterday.  It's a new deck and a new shuffle.  Life plays for keeps.  Take it seriously and stack the odds in your favor.

As time seems to pick up speed, we choose according to priority as we just can't get to everything.  As my grandfather warned, "we die with things to do".  There's just no way around it.  The real trick, after all our endeavors in daily living, is to end up with something to show for it when the dust settles.  A gain for all our toil.  If not something tangible, at the least, knowledge and experience.

In the end, "I was meaning to get to it" might not have any effect on the outcome.  For all the business of daily life, the practice of survival skills is not something that could be called expendable.  But where does one find the time?

Though it may seem at times like we're hairless hamsters running on a wheel and getting nowhere, there are ways to cut corners if we just give it a little thought.  For example, in a survival situation, what is most likely going to be the top priority in a general survival situation where you will have to spend at least one over-night on location?  Fire, right?  No fire, no boiled water, cooked food, warmth when the temp dips at night.  So start there.

Since a person can die without means of a heat source faster than any of the other elements of the rule of 3s (assuming that breathing is a given) throughout most of the year (if not the entire year depending on the reason for the fire in the first place), it only makes sense to know fire so well that there seems to be a bond.  Almost to the point that it seems to call out and tells you what it needs. 

Sound strange?  It,s not.  As Musashi would have said, "the spirit of the thing itself" will teach you.  Sound easy?  It,s not.  I've witnessed folks light fire after fire only to have them smolder into oblivion.  In a real survival situation, they could have easily died.

They had some good fire making gear, had their petroleum jelly cotton balls, yet had no idea how to set a base on wet ground or how to find dry enough tinder and/or prepare less than dry fuel for their fire(s).  No experience with freezing temperatures will reward a person with a fire that lights quickly until the core temperature of the wood begins to melt the frozen crystals of ice and the wood hisses itself out.  Something that seems so easy can leave you out in the cold.....all because a person never took the time to get to know their best friend. 

How about water?  Out in the wild is a difficult place to decide to try out water purification tablets.  The murky lumpy water that's supposed to keep you alive might have been a little more palatable if purification had been tried a couple of times at home first.  In the kitchen even.  

Looking at the local swamp water in the comfort of your own kitchen would lead one immediately to at least a coffee filter to remove lumps.  This in turn would lead one to pack a few in their kit. Short of coffee filters, improvisation would be next.  I'm certain that a person would run bog water through a dirty gym sock a thousand times over before having to chew their drinking water.  A dirty sock filled with sand, even better.  But these things are learned by doing.  It makes little difference where.  

Then, there's the shelter.  Certainly one having a computer with which to read a post on the Internet has a doorknob.  Several, even.  String some cordage and build your shelter.  Sleep on the floor for a couple of nights.  Bedding will soon begin to fill your dreams.  This in turn will begin turning the wheels of improvisation in your mind.  This is good.

The bottom line, practice your skills and get to know your gear.  Learn the limits of your gear and yourself....safely.  Camp out in the backyard in a rainstorm.  Cook your meals outside; it keeps your kitchen cooler in the summer, helps your fire skills and can be virtually without cost.  Try a few nights without any power whatsoever.  Order, familiarity and alternate lighting will be among the first lessons learned.

All the interest in the world makes no difference if a person ends up with nothing to show for it.  I know folks who can talk all the basics of survival, they've read how to perform more than a few survival skills, but have never done them.  Ever.  This puts them at a great disadvantage as there are multitudes of details that just "go with" a particular skill.  These are the finer points that you learn as you do them.  How and why to hold something a certain way, what happens if you don't, the best order in which to perform the segments of a complex task.  

When a person wishes to build a fire, one necessarily has to think in reverse.  The last thing a person should be doing is creating the spark or the ember.  That being the case, the first thing a person should get good at is gathering the right materials.  Though it sounds easy to gather sticks, it's a different story when a person has to build and maintain a fire with the materials they gather.  Folks who have done it countless times aren't even conscious about most of what they do.  It's second nature and to them, explaining such things is like having to explain how to breathe.  

Practicing skills doesn't have to mean taking long excursions or prolonged or frequent vacations.  It doesn't have to cost any money and it doesn't have to be done in one day.   

No place to light a fire?  Check out your local parks.  Find a cheap used charcoal grill.  If your city allows it, use a burn barrel, elevated fire pit or reasonable facsimile.  Use your imagination.  I prefer a BBQ grill as I'm all about dual function.  I'm of the school of thought that if a person can cook their meal proficiently with a wood fire, they can do just about anything else they need with a fire too.

The idea is not to know everything about a subject, rather, to know what you are doing....even if it's only a little.  There's a reason that basics are called basics.  It's the least one needs to know to succeed.

For those who don't have the luxury of delving full time into wilderness skills and living, learn the basics.....and stick to the basics.  Know the basics inside and out, and practice them until they as natural as breathing.  It won't be long before you're trying out your skills a little farther from home.

 

 

You can't miss somebody, somewhere these days, talking about the "end" as a result of our government's "staggering deficit".  If you understand that the currency commonly used by the masses is no different than children playing in the yard, there will be less confusion.

Kids playing in the yard will make up a game. It's not real. It's just a game. Mom and Dad are inside the house managing the real game. So here we play, making up rules as we go, until through a chain of events, the kids aren't really playing the way they should, nobody's abiding by the rules and therefore, things are getting unrecognizable. Then one of the kids yells out, "let's play another game!"

This is pretty much what's going to happen with currency of the masses. How else does one think we can all get on the same global purchasing plan? All currencies have to fail....then a new.....global currency must be instated. A new fiction to replace the old. This one.....even, all across the board with no regard to sovereignty of country....with the world banks running the show. Folks shouldn't be looking at the crash of the "dollar" as the end of the world any more than the ending of their favorite sitcom on TV. It's the stampede of the terrified sheep that will be the greater danger.

The governments of the world don't trade in fiat. Why does one think the "prices" (fiat exchange) continually goes up and down with regard to commodities? They're completely different universes, though the one seems connected to the other...it's connected only in the minds of those who think it's connected. After all, we've seen that our paper can trade for items of value....therefore, by all rights it should have value.....but it doesn't. Like anything else....the hardest change comes in our minds.

The apparent value came from a slow introduction over time. The human mind likes to fill in gaps and use previously established platforms....there is no relevance to being real or imagined. I give you, evolution, global warming....and fiat, just for starters. "There is a way that seems right to man...."

Coined currency is the only lawful means according to the Constitution. The rich, having lots of (very heavy, very bulky and steal-able) gold and silver, used to travel from bank to bank with a private note (not issued by the U.S. Government) that said, "pay to the bearer on demand" in whatever amount of gold/silver they had decided. This saved them lots of weight as well as robbery from illiterate would be thieves.

Even in the event of an educated thief, they would most likely be ignorant of the meaning of the note....if they happened across it....though it would be doubtful. One could hide a paper vastly more easily than a pouch or chest of gold. Not to mention the bank may, at it's own discretion....say, by alert via telegraph.....refuse payment on the note. Now the thief had all the consequences and none of the gold. (Starting to sound familiar? Do we not bear all the consequences and none of the gold?)

The bankers noticed something; the more notes, the less actual trading of gold. Their customers (richer folk) were trading notes instead....after all, it was "pay to the bearer".....not specific. So the banks decided to issue their own notes based on percentages....say, 10% paper overall, backed by the 90% gold in their vaults. (Is it starting to make more sense now why the old time bank robbers robbed the trains carrying actual gold or the banks themselves? They didn't want the paper. The banks reserved the right to refuse payment on a note.....which they frequently did during a run.....which also ruined their good standing in the eyes of the public.) Over all, not a bad scam. "Give us your tired gold and we'll issue you crisp paper!"

As the years passed, the popularity of paper trading grew, since, each paper represented actual gold. However, the banks, instead of issuing paper at a fraction, or even equal to the amount of gold they had, they issued in a deficit of gold....now, 90% paper for the 10% gold in their banks. Hence the "run" on the bank. To make haste and exchange paper for actual gold before the supply ran out....whenever the panic should arise.

In time, formulas for operating on a fiction were perfected, then the gold was removed from the system altogether. It was a separation of Government coined gold from the Private Banker's Notes.  Actually Constitutional. 

The government then, continued with it's own minting and use, while destroying our ability to operate on the same exchange; legal, though not Constitutionally lawful.  This resulted in TWO currencies.  One that the government/rich/bankers used, and one for the masses.  Their value of their currency (gold) remained constant, ours (paper) tanked....and has been all over the board ever since. (This, by the way, also gave more opportunity to take advantage of the ups and downs of our currency.)

Incidentally, the banks, once the paper was removed from the gold standard, simply KEPT ALL THE GOLD!!! Legally speaking, to whom would they give the gold when all the notes demanding payment in gold had been replaced with notes of no value? The reality is, not one banker has ever been charged in the greatest robbery in U.S. HISTORY. 

Then it was a matter of balance. Money printed, money in circulation, money removed from circulation (whether destroyed or stored/saved [mattresses/caches]). One might begin to see the reason for the $400 hammers purchased by the government when one thinks in terms of mathematical equations. Why does the government operate in "allotments" of currency (AKA budgets...think government programs....have to spend it, or don't get it next year)? It's easier to manage the numbers, that is, the flow of paper, from the top in larger allotments, resulting in a smoothly operating economy; valueless in nature.  The only value fueling it's use being the faith of the masses using it.

Like any electrical circuit, the secret of appliances doesn't simply rely on potential (voltage), it relies on current (amperage).  The same can be said of economy.  It's not how much folks have or don't have....it's how much changes hands.  A cash "current" or flow.  

Why has every President over the last 30 years been operating in a deficit?  Because there's no real potential behind the paper.  Therefore, the only relevance to keeping the fiat economy floating is the "flow".  Keep printing it and they'll keep spending it.  Folk's faith that their fiat will purchase something of value is the only deciding factor.  The deficit doesn't matter.  It isn't real.  The governments of the world trade in commodities, not fiat....worthless paper. (Don't forget that each country is in direct control of their own gold mines, agriculture, resources, labor, etc.)  Only the masses are kept fat and happy by trading worthless paper for goods.

Think about it; the Federal Reserve prints the money, then taxes you for it's use.  What does the FR do with your worthless fiat?  The government operates in commodities.  As the dollar falls, it takes more fiat to equal what the government is doing anyway on the gold standard.  So the FR has to print more money and operate in a deficit to match.  It's all a fiction, folks.

You want some good advice regarding an economic collapse?  "When you see these things come to pass, look up...."  Only the greatest of fools would jump from a building over the loss of an imaginary fortune in paper.....though I suspect we'll see such a demonstration in our lifetimes.

 

 

There are those who see our freedoms eroding on a daily basis. 

But then, these folks probably think our worthless fiat economy "is in great danger" too.  Folks, it's time to wake up.  Our freedoms are alive and well.  All we are seeing are, quite possibly, the last days of the free ride of their expression....the costless swaggering of how "brave" we are. 

As politicians arbitrarily change wording in legal documents, regardless of their Constitutionally valid or invalid nature, we have choices to make.  Those choices are either to comply or not to comply.  That choice does not decide our freedom.  That choice is our freedom.  The courage of one's convictions is the demonstration of how brave we really are.  That is not to say one has no need of discretion.

But understand this; it's always easiest to become angry with that we do not understand.  Ultimately, choosing the easy way of anger with that which we don't understand, does not give us understanding, nor does it bring remedy to the situation with which we are angry.  In addition to being of no value with regard to the mystery itself, there are additional dangers along the way as, "the easy way is always mined". 

When facing a problematic situation that perhaps, I don't fully understand, I much prefer to ask myself, "Why is it a mystery and how does it work?"....especially if the alternative is running and hiding like a criminal over an arbitrary decision by a group of lawyers acting in contrary to the law.....but trying desperately to get people to simply accept it as though it were law. Case and point, if we do not act or react properly, and in a timely manner, we give them implied assent to do whatever they wish.

Implied Assent: That which is presumed by law, and proved by the conduct of the parties. Black's Law Dictionary

Assent: Compliance; approval of something done; a declaration of willingness to do something in compliance with a request; acquiescence; agreement. To approve, ratify and confirm. It implies a conscious approval of facts actually known, as distinguished from mere neglect to ascertain facts. Sometimes it is equivalent to "authorize". Black's Law Dictionary

What this really boils down to in the common man's language is, "if you don't demonstrate your freedom, we will assume you don't want it and we'll just take it away for you."

Those who think they'll simply "Bug" when things get too sporty might give such definitions some serious thought. One might even get the idea why our Founding Fathers didn't just "bug West."

To say nothing and back it up with a lack of action is a legal presumption of compliance and approval of something done. This is especially true when one has been officially notified.  (Ever wonder why there's talk in the media long before an "official vote" is taken?  It's called "testing the water".) Timely response is everything. Why again do prosecuting attorneys establish that a woman raped actually said "no" and gave some form of struggle? We might do well to learn from such an example.

A word to the wise, do not think in extremes (i.e. one or the other). There is lots of room in between the two. However, the proof of non compliance is in the conduct.  That "calling your senators and congressmen" and writing you opposition that some folks think is a waste of time....well, it's legal "conduct".  It's important.  Don't let them con you into believing, that because they give you a standard letter stating, more or less, that what you think doesn't matter.  They respond this way in  hopes to reduce the legal demonstration of non assent by their response to you.

A good rule of thumb when it comes to conduct is, "Be quick to listen, quick to learn and slow (but timely) to act."   A word of warning for folks who think a radical approach may be a shortcut, remember that there are lots of false leads in the legal maze that will take you to a dead end.  I recommend putting in the effort now, with regard to knowledge, as opposed to sitting back and waiting to "cut to the chase".  Less effort = "the easy way"  "The easy way is always mined."

Some folks think they can use the legal system to out-maneuver those who make the rules. (One will have great difficulty out-conning the conman.) When in fact, the way to use the system is to recognize when you are in a legal "battle".

Like any battle, if "they" are stepping to the left to better position themselves, you step to the left. When they step to the right, you step to the right. It's all about footwork. But you have to know it to use it.  Countering an attack is the demonstration by conduct of non-assent. Timely response and proper procedures are tantamount to victory in the ring and in the courtroom.  One of the tricks lawyers like to use is to tire you out.  Make them know that they don't have what it takes to wear you out.  They'll waste their life's efforts on folks like you.

For those who think it's just too much work, understand this; the fight will come. Which is tougher; learning some basic footwork or licking the wounds inflicted by a bully?

Make no mistake about what a bully is; "A swaggering, quarrelsome, usually cowardly person who terrorizes weaker people." Therefore, it's in our best interest to identify our nation's true enemy at the top..... Lest All Who Yearn Elitism Reflect Such.

For folks who believe that some politician can actually decide the future of freedom, let me remind you that the future, being a tad on the difficult side to predict....let alone control, has plans all it's own.

To understand the dynamics of what we are seeing acted out in the media, folks must keep in mind a few things, which, if thoroughly understood, could put an end to it in a hurry. Hence the reason for secrecy and confusion by the major players). Here are the basics;

1. All money issues are fiat in nature...not actual gold. (Fiat money: Paper currency not backed by gold or silver. Black's Law) Enemies of the state are not allowed to handle gold currency....only bullion which can be confiscated....lawful tender cannot. This also creates the need for more than one ledger; one for the masses and the real one by which the bankers, government and the mega rich operate. It's not known how much gold each country actually has. (Probability suggests more than they'll ever need....each country controls their gold mine production.)

2. The balance of power has been circumvented by flooding all branches and levels of Federal and state governments with attorneys who are interested in one thing; (Attorney, which comes from the word Attornment, means;)

The agreement of a person to recognize a third party as a permissible successor party to a contract; most often, the agreement of a tenant to pay rent to a new landlord, especially a mortgagee who has foreclosed.

3. Understand that lawyers are notorious for using fictions.  Tricks, ruses. In this case, their only purpose is to trick folks into paying rent or allegiance to a new landlord.  Paying rent on your land means that you are not the owner.  Hardly Constitutional Black's Law Dictionary.

4. They operate by the letter of international law. Whether we understand their riddles, secrets, programming, etc. or not, they CANNOT usurp power and be a legitimate government, which is their intended goal. So they will continue any means of confusion, distortion, media bombardment, disinformation, fear mongering, secrecy......whatever it takes to make people voluntarily act or react in a desired manor.

Usurp: To seize and hold (the office, rights, or powers of another) without right or legal authority; to take arrogantly, as if by right.

5. The difference between Usurpation and Attornment depends on whether or not the target populace can be convinced that they are in agreement. To say nothing or do nothing is implied "assent"....the desired action/reaction the usurpers are hoping for.

Starting to make sense? If one says nothing and does nothing....even by cause of fear....the legal presumption is assent.  It doesn't make it absolutely just, but then, who has ever accused lawyers of being absolutely just?

Our Founding Fathers didn't Bug Out....that is, they not only voiced their opposition, but demonstrated it with everything they had.....and we have it easier than they. Where their fight was with regard to breaking from their legitimate, though tyrannical government, we only have to voice/demonstrate/prove by our conduct that we do not give our assent (expressed or implied) to bad laws and political conduct thereby retaining those freedoms for which we have fought and defended for two centuries.

So don't sit back and complain about the "erosion of freedom" in this country.  In effect, our complaints do nothing.  The lack of official disagreement is giving you the greatest opportunity to complain.....by aiding the usurper in the legal presumption of our assent.

The deciding factor regarding the ease of the exercise of our freedoms will not be by the stroke of a pen by some political usurper, but by the clarity with which the people of this country make their non-assent known......today.

Most folks tend to think in extremes, black and white, all or nothing.  Case and point is the topic of barter.  As the U.S. Economic situation dims, the public slowly loses the faith it once held for the fiat greenback.  The next option will be to barter for what one needs.

Presuming that all Hell has broken loose, folks tend to be thinking it's a bad idea to "be the guy with the stuff" with regard to available goods for barter.  Instead, they prefer to be invisible.

If we wish to talk extremes, there is a world of difference between the two and a billion and one combinations of the two.  As previously stated, I believe that a manufacturer of sorts will fare the best in any economy.  But this is far removed from being the "guy with the goods".

Let's put this into perspective; In an "end of the world as we know it" situation, if a person is alone, his/her supplies are finite......extremely so if that person has to carry everything they own on their back.  Sooner or later such a person will have need.  That is, assuming that they can be invisible long enough to outlive their stores.

The need will arise for them to find a source.....this will most likely be a group, as loners, contrary to the movies, don't fare well "against all odds".  (Besides Rambo, how many loners thrive in a war torn country?  Looting, killing, starvation, disease.....one needs friends.)  Groups have "stuff", or they wouldn't be groups for long.

Now let's plug in a little reality to the scenario;

1.  A successful loner will be so by having many caches in their area of operation as well as fall back areas.

2.  Groups will have their "stuff" well secured and post adequate security if they are going to survive long enough to be available for barter in the first place.

3.  A loner who is not known by the group will have no chance of barter.  If they don't trust him, they won't let him know they have anything.

4.  A loner who doesn't know the group won't risk his life attempting to trade with them.  Who's to say they don't capture and attempt to extract the whereabouts of his stores.....especially if they are nearing starvation.

Obviously, extremes won't pan out in the long run.  The best bet is to keep stores hidden and secured while bartering manufactured goods.  Once must certainly know with whom they barter.  In the event of the loss of manufactured goods, they can be replaced.  In the event one party or another needs valuable perishable medical supplies, only a person or group known and trusted will have a chance at it. 

The all or nothing approach is no different with regard to survival than a boxer knowing only how to charge in or run away.  Odds are not good that he'll last very long.  To someone who knows nothing else, well, other than evoking admiration for doing what they can, it still doesn't change the odds.

The all or nothing mindset is prevalent in the vast majority of topics. However, since our site is devoted specifically to the topic of survival, we'll stay on point.

Regarding preparations themselves, one sees either no preparation at all, or everything under the sun.  Some folks (without any experience actually carrying the load they dream will save them should they have to "bug out"), are in for a surprise a mile away from home as they begin leaving the trail of dumped goods they can't carry.  Personally, I'd rather stand my ground and go out fighting than to go out cold, exhausted, sick and hungry....having watched the rest of all I cared for go along the way....if we really want to talk extremes.  

Then there's the retreat itself.  Home....or hideout.  (For now, let's not discuss the journey from one to the other.)  Who's to say there won't already be somebody scoping your area in the event "it" happens....whatever that "it" is?

Even worse than the false view of what the future may hold is that nature abhors a void.  If one retreats as a rule, such a person only allows their opponent a better foothold or position. I can say this; thank God our military doesn't look to run away every time there's a threat.  Where on earth would we be if it weren't for our brave fighters?  

If we wish to talk "all or nothing", let's talk about position.  All the knowledge, skill and gear cannot overcome bad positioning.  Think; camping in an avalanche area.  (The best boxers in the world do not get that way by leading with their chins.)  Remember, positioning is everything and advantage = superior position.  Though there are exceptions where advantage/superior position is not the deciding factor, as a rule wouldn't you want it on your side? Therefore, instead of thinking void, think superior position.  Who has the home field advantage/superior position....the home team, or the visiting team?

Though some may recite, "he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day".  I would remind them that the key word here is "fight".  The object being all about resistance.....one must first fight, to run away and fight another day as well.  He who runs away without offering resistance, invites occupation.  The latter only resulting in strengthening the enemy.  For it will be harder to remove the incumbent than to defeat him in the battle for office.

As the media has done a great job manufacturing fear in the public, simply departing from the mainstream does not remove the programmed fear.  I further suspect that many of the plans and schemes surrounding preparations in general, are made as a direct result of said fear created by the media. While understandable, remember that courage is action in spite of fear.  

When fearful, folks tend to think in terms of all or nothing....extremes.  One would be wise to ponder whether their best laid schemes are the result of wisdom, or in reality born of fear, as fear corrals the sheep into their respective pens.

Rather than thinking in an "all or nothing" pattern, it's best to consider as my Grandfather was fond of saying, "there's many a slip betwixt the cup and the lip".  The two extremes, if you will, the source and destination of that which is desired.  In short, when dealing with extremes of any kind, don't count on it.  One would do well to train themselves to think along the lines of "the in-between".

One of the greatest dangers we face as a country is the lost of trust of our own neighbors.  How can we trust them if we never get to know them?  The most likely culprit being the constant state of change in neighborhoods.  In the old days, folks tended to stay put.  That and the movies and stories about " the neighborhood wacko" planting the seeds of doubt along the way.

Another problem is the lack of tolerance for others doing things differently than we might prefer.  The "my way or the highway" mentality couldn't offer an easier victory to an opponent bent on dividing and conquering. 

Here's a few ideas that may help to get folks out of an "all or nothing" frame of mind;

1.  Get to know your neighbors rather than hiding from them.  Talk with them once in a while.  Wave at them, even.  Smile and let them know they're OK, from a distance, at first.  All change is regarded as strange, so rest assured, they'll probably think you're nuts in the beginning...so don't prove it to them by going overboard....the other extreme. 

Bring them a plate of Christmas cookies.  When you're cutting your lawn and you see them in their back yard, take a break and give them the time of day.  You aren't deciding on world changing events and you're not likely to settle global disputes over the fence.  

If your neighbor says something that seems to irritate you, let it go.  Win them over.  Don't bristle over their politics.  Many folks are blinded by programming.  Keep it simple, keep it honest.  If you've established that you may disagree on a subject, say, "let's talk about something else.  We disagree, but you know I really respect your opinion".  That's how one leads a neighbor by example.  Everyone wants to think their opinions matter.  Let them know you can be trusted.....that you are a good neighbor....and equally important, that you credit them the same....whether you really do or not.  Sometimes, people need someone else to lay a secure foundation before they can come out of their shell.

This doesn't mean that you tell them everything you've got going, it simply means that now you have more possibilities than the "all or nothing" you had previously.  

Anyone who's ever tried their hand at exercise of any kind can tell you that giving "all or nothing" is a fast ticket to injury or total abandonment of the subject.  It's the slow, steady, patient and consistent work that allows a person to go the distance.  The same is true with human relationships, friendships and trusts.

Chances are good that it won't be an easy task.  Most folks are layered with fears and have a vast array of defense mechanisms.  The least of which is the "tough guy" attitude.  Let it go.  Just smile.  Let them think they're tougher, smarter or somehow at greater advantage than you.  Time will eventually show them otherwise.  Put down the swords, we're not fighting the Persians for Pete's sake.  Remember that true strength is demonstrated in gentility, towards your fellow man, that is.

OK, you've tried everything and your neighbors are just evil.  It's time to move to a different neighborhood, not time to head for the hills.  At least you'll have the advantage of finding a better geographical position.  Once done, begin establishing a rapport with your new neighbors.

Don't give in to laziness in any case.

Want an all or nothing scenario?  Which would you rather do; go it alone, facing fear, starvation, attack, disease, never having a place to lay your head, constantly working your butt off just to live day to day, watching your loved ones suffer and knowing that you can never go back to what you once knew?

Or

Building your community a neighbor at a time and establishing a home team advantage?

Make no mistake; as nature abhors a void, the lack of the one, will leave room for the other.

 

 

 

Ok, we've established long ago that preparation is tantamount to our ultimate survival.  But what about our every day lives?  Do we become "total survival" and disappear into the woods?  Do we prepare, then forget about it?  Believe it or not, the vast majority of folks dabbling in preparedness have a dual mindset when it comes to survival, preparation or self sufficient living.  They snap into "survival mode" and then to "every day life mode" and back again.

Though doable, it's not realistic.  In fact, it can set someone up with a false sense of security as well as leave them unprepared mentally for the survival challenge....the actual one, not the "oh good, let's see if I have all the right answers" one.  So let's start there....answers....they're just words.

One of the most common mistakes with word usage is to employ words that, often can be used synonymously in place of the word demanded by definition, for the situation at hand, resulting in what I like to call "elastic communication".  Sadly, when the rock of reality falls on a person and crushes them, "having a less than excellent day" though more pleasant to the ear, doesn't seem to adequately relay the facts.  So we need to give ourselves clear definition of what exactly it is that we're after, first, and proceed from there.  Those with which we communicate, without clear definition, may have an entirely different idea of what the intended goal actually is.

Another common problem with words themselves is that they don't automatically line up with action.  If we are not diligent, we can find ourselves speaking all the right words, but walking a different path.  Make no mistake about this; I'm not talking about posers or blow-hard types.  I'm talking about good, well intentioned folks who don't realize they are still under a bit of programming.  Without clear definition of what exactly you are trying to accomplish with a given task, there is no goal by which we can measure our progress, or lack thereof.  This results in a lack of feedback on how close we are coming to the target, which in turn eliminates the opportunity to adjust for accuracy.  

The first thing that needs to be done to begin breaking down the programming that has occurred over a lifetime, is to give clear definition to the words we're talking about; Survival, Preparedness and Self Sufficient Living. They are not the same thing, though each one is closely related to the others.

Survival: The act of surviving, or the state of having survived.  One who, or that which survives.

Now we plug in the threat.  Is it a one time occurrence?  Is it an ongoing situation where we are "hopping from rock to rock across the babbling brook"?  (Similar to one of "Murphy's Rules of Combat" - Combat: A continual series of close-calls that end when your tour is over or your number is up.)  This is important as it changes the requirements of survival (by De-facto, that is, by implementation), from establishing a fortress streamlined for a particular event, to a series of fortresses and/or fall back positions in sort of a "Survival = Point A to Point B" type scenario.

Preparedness:  Readiness; especially, a condition of military readiness for war.

Now we ask a question; are we ready?  If it all went to Hell right now; are we ready?  If not, we have what Joe (Viking Preparedness) calls....a wish.

Self Sufficient Living:  Maintaining existence without aid or cooperation from others

More likely than not, the given definition is not the goal of most preppers.  In fact, the most likely definition in the minds of the general populace across the country will range somewhere between total dependence on the current system and move toward a self sufficient group (which in my opinion is a more survivable scenario overall than being individually self sufficient.), as preps and skills are increased.  I have no problem with the final decision on how a person will conduct their life and the degree to which they prepare.  Just keep in mind that unclear definitions as well as actions that do not line up with the intents invite added problems and disappointment......that and the fact that we will bear the consequences of our own choices.

Let's say for the sake of argument that we've got all three definitions clear in our mind and we are ready.  Our next step is to ascertain to what degree we able to make a transition from a civilized society into a desperate situation mentally.  (Assuming, of course, that we are not currently in 100% survival mode 100% of the time.  We are talking rational, here, not fanaticism.)  Are we in every-day-life mode 99.9% of the time?  Except, maybe on the Internet?  If so, how do we expect to make the transition to 99.9% survival mode in a real situation that lasts more than a week?

It's easy for us to think, "I can make a fire.  I can purify water.  I can navigate, build a shelter, shoot a gun, hunt for food and fish.  I know CPR, have IRAs and can hike across BFE.  I can do any one of a number of things."  The big question is, "Yeah, but can you do them all....every day....over a period of time....making decisions for you and your family that could result in great personal loss if unsuccessful?"

The truth is, many think they can....sitting on the couch.....eating another bag of chips.....maybe even watching Bear Grylls....and dreaming they could survive.  It's easy to imagine what we'd do, or not, while in the comfort and security of our living rooms.  If we haven't done it and/or aren't currently doing it, then we don't know what we'd do until we're in the situation doing it. 

Fortunately, we can cultivate skills and mindsets that will bring us ever closer to success should we find ourselves in a perilous situation.  The good news is that we can build these attributes in a civilized society without running around in camouflage and learning to speak only in military acronyms.

Let's ask ourselves this; Do we work for someone else....maybe a company?  Are we the top, or does someone else make every decision for us?  If we lost that job, do we have the means to maintain our existence indefinitely or would we have to seek employment from someone else?

If so, how are we preparing ourselves to make the transition when all the responsibility for continued existence falls on our shoulders on a daily basis....indefinitely?  Let's not kid ourselves into thinking that "it will happen naturally".  It won't. 

The bad news is that failure in a survival situation won't simply result in the loss of a home like it would in a civilized existence in the aftermath of a bad turn of events.  The stakes are much higher in a survival situation and any loss will be very personal.  The good news is that if successful, we get to continue living.

What is our mindset on a daily basis?  Do we avoid fearful situations out of wisdom or do we avoid them out of fear and pass it off as wisdom?  What if we had no choice?  Most folks blow off such a question stating, "well, it would be different if I had no choice".  Think so?  Overwhelming evidence suggests otherwise.  Unless we have a handle on fear, what it is and how to deal with it, we may be in for a surprise.  In a survival situation, we can be in short supply of many things.  Fear will not be one of them.  We would do well to learn how to properly deal with it now.  (See the article on The Fear Factor in our Header at the top of the pages of our site.)

How about an uncomfortable situation?  Do we tend to avoid making waves?  Do we worry what others will think or say about us?  If confronted, would we stand our ground or cave in to pressure?  Do we have the courage of our convictions or do we only think we do?   Rest assured that we will make waves in a survival situation.  If "you can't please everybody" now, when the stakes are low, what do we think will happen when it's "every man for himself"?  Keep in mind, it's "winner takes all".  Again, success won't magically appear.  Simply becoming extremely selfish won't add an hour to our lives.  We must have the ability to wisely assert convictions with courage from the start.  If we don't have any convictions, we'd better develop them now and learn to live by them regardless of what may come.  This does not eliminate, rather, underscores the need for discretion.

Ok, let's talk about preps; are we covered?  As nobody can know the future, can we ever be truly covered?  Odds are, probably not.  This brings up a very good point.  Sooner or later, survivors of a prolonged situation will find themselves in need of one thing or another.  Assuming there are others, somewhere out there, how will we barter or trade for what we need?

To answer this, we have to ask; what do we have to trade with in the first place?  A generally preparedness minded person will have all their bases covered regarding general survival.  But then, any surviving group will also have those things.  If they didn't have them, they wouldn't be survivors for very long.  Odds are, that the things you can "do without" can also be "done without" by the group with which you wish to trade.  In the event the group you wish to trade with is taken over by a more hostile group, perhaps better equipped and/or manned, they will have even less desire or need to trade with you.  In fact, why trade with you when they can just take what you have?  Assuming other groups will have your code of morality would be the gravest of mistakes.

Your best bet, in a survival situation is not to have an over-abundance of goods to trade.  More to store, more to lose.  Your best bet is to be able to produce something valuable on a continuing basis.  In other words, you would be a manufacturer of sorts.  

Generally speaking, as most folks are acknowledgeable (not to mention, inherently lazy having a choice) compared to someone who does a given task on a daily basis, they'd much rather have a pro do the job and trade for it than to try to re-create it.  This can make you a valuable asset to larger, well prepared community, that would otherwise simply pounce upon you and take what you have.

But then, how will we make the transition to manufacturer in a survival situation if we've never done it before?  How will we have learned to "find the niche"...that place where nobody else is....the gap....that which puts us in higher demand?

Understand this; in a survival situation of any duration, societies will fall back to their default positions of efficiency.  Everyone will have jobs to do.  There will be only so many jobs to do.  Once those positions are filled, any stragglers will have a hard time finding a home....that is....unless they can bring something unique to the table. To possess skills in duplicate of those already possessed by the community will likely not be enough. At such time, most folks will have cross trained as untimely death will be the norm and communal education will have become well rounded.  There needs to be something a person can manufacture.

Chances are that each community will have their own types of manufacturing/repair.  That's why it's so important for us to be able to find a niche.  To trade with other communities or individuals.  The niche can be entire products, innovations or just plain better quality, more usable sizes, configurations or multi-function.  The point is that we need to think along the lines of having a use in society now, rather than continue the "consumer" mindset.

Simply becoming a salesman, or middleman might be a risky endeavor.  Since they don't actually produce anything, what's to stop a community from simply taking their goods and doing away with them?  Sooner or later, another salesman/middleman will wander in and bring them more "free goods".  But the actual manufacturer will be a great asset.

The better the niche/product, the less dependent on "economic upheaval" the manufacturer is.  (There will always be a position for a community undertaker.....regardless of the times.)  That is not to say there's a guarantee that a given enterprise will never be affected by the ups and downs of economies, local or national.  Rather, that a manufacturer can have direct involvement with his or her success in any economic environment.

Making a transition from our way of life into a survival situation of unknown proportions, with regard to all manner of self reliant living, boils down to one thing; going into business.

All points considered, all headaches of business combined, pale by comparison of the headaches of a given survival situation.  I'd personally prefer to run a dozen businesses than have to survive a catastrophe for even a month, risking life and limb, not to mention the welfare of those close to me.

That being said, it would advance a person greatly to locate a niche and create a small business now.  The education is universally applicable, as well as the experience.  The business doesn't have to replace current employment, but in time, you may begin to enjoy the freedom and benefits of self employment that you make a permanent move towards it.

Among the many benefits of even a small business are;

1.  Less dependency on people or corporations whose policies are arbitrary or do not coincide with yours.  Corporate policy?  You decide what corporate policy is.

2.  Less expendable in times of economic crisis.

3.  Tax benefits.

4.  Building of the U.S. economy.

5.  Inventory can be bartered if a currency fails.

6.  The 9-5 mentality fades and a task oriented lifestyle emerge.  Eerily closer to the schedule of a given survival situation.  (You'll be surprised how difficult such a change is to make.)

7.  Less reliance on a single paycheck.

8.  Less reliance on the opinions of one or two people.

9.  Confidence in your abilities.

 

The list goes on and on, but all add up to varying degrees of independence.  If we can't become independent now, how do we truly think we can do it under times of great duress?

If this country, as a whole, stopped putting so much energy into whining about how bad things are, and got off their over-fed backsides and put their energy into actually doing something about it, we would be back on top in short order.

Somewhere along the line, folks seemed to have forgotten, that small business is the backbone of ANY economy.

In short, the best way to hone the survival mindset to a razor's edge in a civilized society is to hone that which you'll need to thrive in a survival society.  That which we call manufacturing, answers every requirement by definition.  The result, in my opinion, brings us ahead of the curve with regard to the ability to transition any change that should present itself.

One thing you can always count on people to do; that is, to be people.  Some are honorable to the death, while others are at the least, variables.  Unknown to be sure.

If people disappoint you when times are good, it may be upsetting, but make no mistake; the stakes go up in a time of crisis should a person or group, burn you good.  A community in the throes of calamity may prove unpredictable at best.  With regard to preparation, "The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain".

"The next thing you know", no, Jed's not a millionaire, he's fighting for his life and the life of his family, in the middle of a disaster, simply because he was smart enough to prepare and has food and supplies.  Now, those he considered friends are willing to kill him to take what he has stored up.

The immediate reaction is to find someplace where nobody can find you and set up a retreat.  That sounds great on paper, except that a plan that revolves around not being found is a tad lacking.  What if you're found, then what?  A shootout?  A stand off?  Hostage crisis?  What if one of your little ones is captured by the bad guys and they bargain your retreat for the life of the little one(s)?  What if they just burn you out?  Here's one for you, forget the bad guys, what if a secondary disaster overtakes your retreat; earthquake, tornado, floods or wild fire?

Sounds a little trusting on the part of the prepper, doesn't it?  Most folks don't realize there's only two perfect places in this life, those places we've been and those places we're going to.  Where we are is never perfect.  The problem with most plans is they are usually thought of (and planned) in the future tense.  There's very little reality planned into a "future" event.  Only when one rehearses that event do some of the "present problems" begin to surface.

So, you've prepped.  You've practiced fire drills and taught your children.  You've armed yourself for the bad guys.  Have you mixed the cocktail and taken a snort?  How about a stand-off with the bad guys who want your preps and your house is on fire?  Oops. How about going all through your paces, only, you've broken your arm after taking a tumble yesterday?  A bad tooth?  The flu?  Anything can happen.

This leaves you with a choice; stay and pay or run and regroup.  If a person has been too trusting in their own forecast, a slow starvation may bring a cloud or two to their expected sunny future, should they find evacuation their best option for any number of unexpected surprises. That brings us to Rule Number 1;  "When it comes to human predictions of future events, don't count on it.  Negotiations happen."

Fortunately, at the time of this writing, there's no major widespread disaster going on, so we have a little time.  For those who haven't already done so, caching is in order.

This means to find places to bury your gear, food, resources that might otherwise be taken or destroyed in an unexpected turn of events.  Only the hardest-of-core cache because it's time consuming as well as difficult and has to be done at odd hours.  In the event one leaves the area, either the caches must be retrieved or they are abandoned for another day....maybe.  This, just for starters.

Having only what is absolutely necessary, at any given time, gives one ample freedom to move about, with very little in the way of responsibility to "mind the store-house".  This is a monkey on one's back that one could do without in a SHTF situation, and one that could easily be eliminated. 

In a bad situation, there must certainly be recon patrols to check out the area.  Since one never travels the same way twice, plotting a recon patrol according to cache retrieval would be one way of doing things.  Of course, make sure your cache retrieval is toward the end of said patrol.

There are lots of resources for caching if you don't already know how to do it.  Check out the Viking Forum and the U.S.R.S.O.G. websites, just to name a few.  If you are prepping, but haven't a single cache, you're just kidding yourself and you are in violation of Rule Number 2;  "In God we trust.  All others must use cache."

There's another difficult, but necessary topic of discussion for the prepper; betrayal.  It can come in the form of relationships gone south, or pressures from authoritative figures on those who might otherwise have been considered one of your own.  It could also just be a person's true colors finally seeping to the surface.

One can never guarantee the actions of another human being. Therefore, take action.  Betrayals betrayals can come from very unexpected people at very unexpected times....that's why they're called betrayals.  Consider, "Then you will be handed over....."

Again, one might be tempted to become an island to oneself.  Such a goal is not only unnecessary, but foolish.  One only needs to prepare, just a little....for the outside chance.

In a recent post to a thread on The Viking Preparedness Forum, a member wrote the following regarding a domestic breakup;

"That wasn't even the worst part . He had let her pay the bills without keeping an eye on his finances. She had been 4 or 5 months behind on most everything and all the savings was gone."

The commonality and/or details of the situation notwithstanding, the elements of survival and the importance of prior preparation clearly stand out.  While this particular person was setting up her betrayal, she began a personal cache.  Despite the arguments on either side of such a split, one has to concede that a personal cache trumps being left with nothing any day of the week. 

On the other hand, what of the betrayed party?  Obviously, the only defense against such a surprise is a personal cache as well.  While this goes against the grain for some, I'm sure, after 3rd degree burns from several situations over a period of years, repetition will no doubt begin to bear heavily.  Providing you survive, that is.  

But think about it for a moment.  We have all manner of insurances, yet have no intention of being hospitalized, sued or ever implementing the "optional death and dismemberment plan".  What would happen if you were given realistic odds that by leaving your house today, you have a chance of being killed that exceeds 50%, would you even step outside your door?  

Marriages, once considered the most sacred of human covenants, now exceed a 50% casualty rate (I know, "not mine"....heard it before).  All manner of promises are broken, betrayals occur and the trend doesn't appear to be slowing anytime soon, and definitely not because of moral character as much as a refusal to enter into marriage in the first place.  But then, "live in" situations don't fare any better.  They just aren't as easy to document.  Arguably, the love of many appears to be waxing cold.

Most folks who strive to be "true blue" tend to dislike the idea of having a secret. Though a person may hesitate to "keep secrets", a personal cache is really not a matter of anyone else's business any more than how many times you visited the bathroom today.  Your personal survival stash, like your bathroom adventures, can always be volunteered at any time you wish, in part or in their entirety.  The bottom line is, the option is yours and can only be given away.  Not taken away.  Not by any sleazy maneuver, not by any corrupted person.

This brings us to Rule Number 3; "Consider the squirrel, who buries his nuts as he is quite particular who he allows to handle them."

Though a difficult subject for folks who strive to give 100% in a relationship, the internal conflict of having "a secret cache" is really no different than our paradox of any other facet of preparation. On the one hand, we like to prepare for what may be inevitable adversity. On the other hand, nobody really wants things to unravel....except the idiots pushing for it, that is.

Until it happens to them, folks don't like to even think about the breakup of their marriage or relationship.  But remember, anything that can happen, will happen.  Somewhere, to someone. 

Even outside the context of betrayal in a relationship, there may come times when all is lost, but your life is spared. You still need your personal cache.  In the event your relationship(s) fare well, one never knows if your personal cache will someday aid you and/or your loved ones in some future time of distress.

A personal cache is much like any other type of insurance.  It's great to know you have it, and to move on and not think much about it at all.  All energy can then be put into the task at hand, instead of worrying that you're hanging out in the breeze should anything unexpected happen.  That being said, every added bit of care and energy can then be put into their relationships, which only lessens the chance of splitting up in the first place.  A veritable win/win. 

If the idea of a "personal cache" is too much burden, always remember there's a Rule Number 4; "You can always include others in some or all of your personal caches down the road if you so choose, but you can't 'un-include' them."

As anything else in life, there can be no guarantees.  No matter how a person tries to prepare for what may come, sometimes people just get caught with their britches down anyway. I suspect more folks will be caught like this in the long run than currently expect it. "Et tu Brute?"

"That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on a wall only to have a snake bite him."

In the event disappointment pays a visit, one needs to have the mental BoB packed as well.  All the preparation in the world can't help a weak mind.  Folks who would have otherwise been in a great position, have fallen to their inability to cope.

Coping will be a necessary feature of any disaster, though not often recognized until one is in the middle of such a situation.  There's always something in any scenario, more often than not a veritable "take your pick", that folks will just have to "suck up".  Nothing is ever perfect. 

Adaptation. Learning to accept things for what they are, learning to go through the motions regardless of feelings (of loss, depression, despair, disappointment), learning to actively seek out new growth, new friends, new family. Learning to be constructive on all levels.

Look for reasons to live, trust, love, grow, again and again and again if necessary.  Whatever it takes. Anytime a forest is burned out, it takes time for new growth to develop. Give yourself that time by learning to fend off that which destroys the mind, thereby destroying chances of surviving....or surviving intact. (It's all about "enduring to the end".) Rule number 5; "When dealing with one's own mental fortitude, it's the negatives that will positively destroy you."

Just think about it this way; if such topics are difficult to take now, in times of security, how would they sit in times of distress?  Perhaps, in a worst case scenario?  The graveyards are filled with folks who, at one time or another, thought it could never happen to them.

Don't be caught by surprise. 

I haven't run across this topic posted anywhere yet, so I figure I'd post some basics regarding travelling in the snow on foot. Especially in light of the season.

In deep snow, I'm not going very far without snowshoes. Tried it. Snow up to mid-thigh will wear you out in a hurry. (I've seen folks carrying packs follow in our packed trail, without snow shoes and wish to die after going a mile....frequent stops notwithstanding. Not out of shape folks, either, we're talking early 20s and avid runners.)

Of the ones I've used, I like the old issue aluminum snowshoes. I recently saw them advertised for $70/pair, complete with straps. I have to say, I don't like the issue straps....they don't stay tight....I asked my Uncle about it and he verified they had trouble with that too. I'm working on a retro-fit, but also remain open to suggestions beyond tying a knot in the web to keep it from slipping through the grips.

The old issue shoes also work great for shelter stakes and for snow shovels in powdery snow when digging in. I use two solid aluminum issue poles with the rubber baskets. They also work great for stakes and support poles, if needed.....though I replaced the leather straps with para-cord lanyards.....white, of course.... :D

A sled, depending on it's size, allows 2-4 people to move far and fast with minimal exhaustion, carrying surprisingly heavy weight. A person does need to watch the back-trail, though, if 2 or 4 legged predators are an issue. (Oh, that's right, there's no such things as a problem with "mountain lions".)

Though it can be done, carrying a ruck while travelling on snowshoes can result in an intimate understanding of what a turtle feels like when on it's back. Repeatedly. If they indeed have thoughts as we know them, chances are "this sucks!" is what would run through the mind of a turtle in such a predicament. A word to the wise, a sled is better.

My sled has 4 D-rings (1 each - front, rear and both sides) and I've got 4 issue harnesses in case of an injured party. Other than that, one pulls, one applies the brakes on a downhill slope/sliding right or left and 2 flank or navigate/support (clear debris/stabilize) depending. Every 20-30 minutes, everybody rotates. (It might not be a bad idea for a new group to practice this SOP over and over before they venture out.)
 

Where there's more than one sled, the lead sled needs to be rotated as breaking trail is harder than following the leader. This, once the last of each man in the lead sled has had a chance to pull. Once done, lead sled now becomes last sled, and holds position and falls in behind the last sled as it passes, giving these guys a well deserved break.

The second sled, after rotating persons, waits to make sure the rear sleds have a chance to catch up and change their people. This is more important the more sleds you have. Think of any lengthy procession.....the front is a half mile out before the back gets moving.

If the lead sled doesn't wait, the rear sleds will have no time to rest or rotate as compared with their lead counterparts resulting in the group eventually being spread all over creation. A lead sled with good judgement prevailing will keep everyone together. The problem comes when not everyone has the same good judgement.

The second sled, now lead sled, moves out and the next leg of the journey begins. Those that aren't pulling have the jobs of clearing trails ahead, helping to steady the sleds on a bad angle, navigating out in front, helping out a lag sled, etc.

Each sled, or those around it, need to keep tabs on the sled behind them, too. I don't mind a sled falling back behind a few places or even just behind the last sled after having had to stop to re-tie or something minor....it's better, in my opinion than a full stop, which when done frequently, can get bothersome. If a gap gets considerable before the lead sled is aware of it (because, perhaps it has gone around a bend), word needs to be passed forward, a stop is imminent, the problem needs to be addressed and the trip can then continue.

The funny thing about basics like these is that they seem so mundane when not in the middle of it. Folks frequently respond to the mention of them with the common, "duh..." What's equally funny is how something so basic, is so hard for those same people to perform when they're out in it and their "attention supply" is tapped out. (That's what really separates those who visit sites like this from everyday people.  The penchant for "doing" aside, the search for more knowledge, skills and gear, in spite of how much overwhelming experience a person has, increases your own personal storehouse of "how to's".)

When other basics become more tedious.... as walking....only now with snow shoes....while maintaining balance....also controlling a sled, all the while trying to keep up with the guy in front of them, suddenly, attention isn't being paid to the overall picture anymore.

Sleds, being carbon-based-life-form powered, aren't like following vehicles on the highway. It would be nice to have one guy step on the gas while we all tell jokes and nobody worries about the weight of the load or the path traveled....."hey, turn down the heat, I'm roasting here!" :D Sadly, "the more, the merrier" only applies in this situation with regard to how unrecognizable things can get from the initial plan and how they can become hilarious over time....providing one survives it in the first place.

A good rule of thumb for sledding.....dress a bit lighter than you would otherwise while travelling, though be sure to bring your normal cold weather gear with you. After setting up camp, don't forget to change clothes. One may be tempted not to, feeling a bit more cooled down and seemingly dry after a while, but the clothes will be loaded with frost/ice if not outright damp/wet spots from perspiration. Once inside the sleeping bag it'll get noticed as the bag warms up and everything begins to melt and get damp....perhaps not as in wet, though quite possibly, but as in cold....heat loss.

As the last thing I do before turning in (and of course, the first thing upon waking) is build a fire, I spend time drying out (more like steaming) my gear. (In a snow pit, the snow acts like a reflector in addition to a wind break. Even in severe weather it can seem quite balmy.) Once thoroughly dried (and now warm), outer gear can be a great addition to the bottom of the inside of a sleeping bag.

Plan your trip well, bring friends, take pictures and live to tell the story.

The average person has very little clue of what it takes to survive a weekend lost in the elements, let alone a prolonged disaster the size of, say, a large city under the duress of a major snowstorm that say, knocks power out for a week.

Odds are, the average "prepper" has not gone far beyond some basic fundamentals and a whole lot of gathering, though, make no mistake, there exists a select percentage that "leave no stone unturned". These consisting of prior service, official training and some extremely diligent civilians sprinkled in the mix. But, as is the case when one is seeking equilibrium, one necessarily must establish a base of averages.

1. Preps.  Great as long as you have them in hand, they aren't underwater/inaccessible or you can carry them on your back because you have no choice other than vacating the area. On that note, unless you've tested and worked out all the bugs in your "preps", when you need them, they won't work, so, gear junkies, beware.

A warehouse of stored goods sounds like a great plan on paper, but in times of trouble, how does one go about securing it from the dangers of theft, fire or flood? There are remedies, but one needs to address these and a whole list of other possibilities if the preps are for more than a "feel good".

2. Arms.  In a widespread emergency situation requiring them, you’ll be targeted by both criminals and Law Enforcement forces as both want to take them from you (as demonstrated by Hurricane Katrina). One for the sake of advantage over the defenseless and the other under the guise of establishing (somebody’s idea of) order and eliminating any threat to same.

Either way, neither are concerned with individual personal safety, as both are more than ready to kill to get what they want. If you're on your own, you're outnumbered before you get out of the gate. Did I mention that the sound of gunfire attracts lots of unwanted attention?

There can be no argument regarding the advantage of having such protection available to you and your family as opposed to being without. I simply caution those who have a more casual attitude about the subject that firearms have no magical properties. Having them guarantees nothing. You’d better know what you are doing, for even the chance at longevity in a disaster area of larger magnitude.

3. Navigation.  Without old school knowledge, direction finding capabilities, maps and a place to go outside of the disaster area, you're in serious trouble. Roads cannot be counted on and might be unsafe to travel as they can be easily utilized for ambush.

If you have hundreds of miles between you and your place, you're in serious trouble. You will be crossing properties of folks scared to death of who you just might be, roving gangs/criminals or authorities after curfew. Under disastrous conditions, if you are observed, you might get shot. Distance increases those odds. It only takes once to ruin your whole day, or that of someone else in your crew. Find your weak links and fix them now.

4. Friends.  Real friends. Trusted friends. Family, even. Better have 'em. There's no such thing as an "army of one". (Sorry Rambo, don't believe your own press. You won because it was in the script.) How does one perform a 50% alert alone? Sleep with one eye open? How long can you go without sleep or sleep deprived? Who watches your back while you’re working, eating or sleeping?

5. Tactical Knowledge (skills).  Unless you've got experience in military infantry tactics, survival, evasion or even some branches of law enforcement, you don't know what you think you do. Don't kid yourself now, and you won't be disappointed later.

Books don't count if you don't practice it all day, every day like the military, have a string of experienced personnel beating it into you, have "explanation, demonstration and practical application" of all the latest and greatest military weaponry and tactics, ultimately training for the event(s) when real bad guys are shooting at you. (My apologies if I hurt the feelings of folks who have always been intrigued by reading about the military, but the truth is, there is no amount of reading that can substitute paying the price in person.)

Fortunately, you aren't going up against world class special forces in a given survival situation....and be glad you're not.  (Can you imagine a rag-tag summer baseball team at the local sandlot going up against the World Series Pros?  That's the reality of the best of the best of the Special Forces.) You're looking to protect yourself and your family against violent criminal activity should a disaster of magnitude befall the community in which you live.  That being said, you can learn some very basic tactical information and put the odds in your favor should a potential violent confrontation come your way. 

Now is the time to learn it as you can't learn this stuff "on the fly". Even extensive "reading" is predominately useless when under duress. You have to practice it and practice it and practice it some more making sure that everyone in your group is on the same page in the same book.

Tactical subjects must be second nature by repetition. There's no time to talk about it in the thick of the situation requiring it and talk won't get the job done anyway. This is an equal-opportunity subject. It goes for aggressors and defenders both. Fortunately, a violent criminal element will likely be looking for targets of opportunity and not be expecting an organized, practiced resistance.

There is a world beyond what little is shown by the media. Even at that, those experienced in infantry tactics are team oriented, and as such, will seek out others like themselves.....in all honesty, will already have an established network of close friends and former team-mates that they know they can rely on, who all share similar experience and know-how. A good example to live by.

6. Conditioning.  How far do you really think you can go? If you ain't doing it, you don't know....and the answer more likely than not is, not very far, and most definitely, not as far as you think you can before it’s go time. Chances are, your mind will be telling you to quit and that you can't make it, long before your actual physical stores are used up. Start now, start small and keep going.

7. Attitude.  Everybody has one. The question is which came first, the experience or the attitude, as the one will most certainly decide the other.

Attitude that pre-dates any training, fools the fodder into believing things falsely, keeps groups from forming and resists good advice that could otherwise have turned calamity into security. Face it; an overly developed sense of independence, lacking practical knowledge, experience and conditioning, overly paranoid, arrogance with a penchant for playing up to one's own ego is not going to help any of us get out of a scrape.

The only acceptable attitude is one that's shaped by actual training and experience over time. Any less is to our ultimate disadvantage.

8. Plans.  No plans? Are you kidding me? All the previous listed necessities (even if possessed) are in vain if you don't have a plan. Unlike fantasy life portrayed by writers and members of the screen actors guild, the real life hero doesn't live very long making things up as he goes along, that's the victim's job.

If you don't have a plan, you're stopped before you've started.  I know, it's a lot of work. Though it's funny how folks in a panic would trade anything in that moment for the chance to survive.
 
Ironically, the only real chance they have is exactly when they don't feel like putting out the effort beforehand. Once highly motivated, by the actual event, it's too late. Do yourself a favor. Make plans and stick to them. Or don’t, and resign yourself to deal with whatever comes your way. Any other combination will result in serious disappointment down the road.

Eventually, the average prepper gets basic knowledge on the "make or break" list and begins to make advances. One of the most common complaints by far is lack of available participants for building a group of like-minded people. Here's a list of some of the most common complaints on both sides of the equation regarding those who lead and those who follow...., though not all-inclusive and certainly not in any order of importance;

1. Fear of wack-jobs or being labeled as one.  Common sense being neither anymore, it's time to apply it. First, be realistic....no delusions of grandeur, please. We're just regular people. Subsequently, we aren't likely to go to extremes one way or the other.

Rambo we're not, nor a nut-ball at the other end. Just because a person buys insurance for a vehicle that they hope will never receive a scratch, doesn't make them a paranoid nut. Similarly, power outages happen with frequency, tornadoes, lost while on outings, fires, floods, you name it.

To be prepared is a good thing. If you think otherwise, don't let your kids watch sesame street or Elmo because these same characters are teaching children to be prepared. Survival has gone mainstream. Change the channel from Oprah once in a while.  (That being said, see the last paragraph if fear of meeting new wack-jobs is your complaint.)

2. Time.  Let's call B.S. on that one. It's amazing how much time folks find to do what they want to do. Nuff said.

3. Sovereignty/Independence.  O.K....nobody is going to "tell you what to do". That's a good one. If you learn what to do, nobody has to tell you what to do when it's time....only that now is the time....and what of the person whose experience goes off the charts by comparison with yours? Nah, couldn't happen....right?

4. Motivation/ overcoming inertia.  Want motivation? Pull your head out of the sand, and away from the video games and television and do some looking around. You'll have more than you need.

5. Funds.  No money? Since when does it cost to plan? Take a long walk? Breathe? Do push-ups? Sit-ups? Do video games cost money? Beer? Movies? Cable T.V.? Your life. Your choice. Your consequence. (Very well put, Joe)

6. Location.  As my Uncle jokingly says, "sell it to the Navy, the Marines ain't buying!" Even a child watching the Wizard of Oz can tell you the best place to start is at the beginning; that is, where you are, NOW. If things went sour in the next 5 minutes, what would you face? Start there. Only after you've secured the immediate, do you expand on that.

7. False expectations.  This is a biggie. Most folks only know what they've seen on T.V. and heard around the rumor mill.  Survival is not exactly the piece of cake that the couch potato would like to believe.  These false ideas can only be undone by hands on.......doing.....and are routinely brought with people less experienced.  

Of course, expect to lose a number of them as they get very well acquainted with disappointment as currently held beliefs/myths are unraveled. Be of good cheer, though. Even the best statues of heroic figures got their start by chiseling off all the unnecessary B.S. and a number of folks are bound to figure that out for themselves.  Patience.

8. Fear of "big brother" watching you.  Big Brother. Let's be realistic, here. It's in the best interest of your country that the average folks be prepared to survive any disaster so that they can, at any time, be called upon by their government to help out in a pinch.

For the sake of the ultra-paranoid, any all powerful government against such wouldn't hesitate thus far from collecting persons who might be sooooooo much of a threat to national security as a tiny little group of folks practicing fire/flood/tornado drills. In a word, you'd be gone already. Face it, you’re just not that important. Get started already.

I have an Uncle who, for 40 years and running, digs out the fire hydrant every time it snows, in the event there's a fire near his end of the block. He's never had his house confiscated, no arrest warrants or even had his name on the "list".

He has, however, been thanked by actual firefighters over the years, who have said, "I've seen plenty get buried, but you're the only one I've ever seen digging one out". I can scarcely believe he's the only one who's ever done that.  Be an asset to your community.  Against such, there is no law.

9. Lack of Participants.  The lack of willing participants boils down to one thing; lack of team building skills. It's not really our fault, though. We've been raised in a country of competition. We compete for jobs, for sports, for mates, ratings, social status, awards, you name it. In our spare time, our entertainment consists of the same competition. It's every man, woman and child for themselves. Even our politicians work toward division to eliminate backing of a competitor.

Competition is tantamount to elimination. Going into battle? OK, find the best of the best through intense competition. But don’t we have to build quality teams from which to draw the best of the best first?

When building a support base, competition is hardly the foundation from which to build. "Your keeping your buddies down......!"....in front leaning rest.....boot camp.....does that sound like competition or team building to you? Applied to the support group, isn’t it better to worry about building the group first?

If competition automatically divides, what automatically draws folks together? Enjoyment. Fun. The fastest way to gather a crowd is fun. The fastest way to find yourself alone is by turning it into work.

For example; Have a BBQ (last one to create a fire, cooks) and instead of charades, play "hand-signals". Each correctly spoken signal by those guessing moves to the next signal. You will have to make your own to fill in any gaps. Start with the family. Newcomers will want to be in on the joke, too. Add alcohol at your own risk.

The next best thing to do is to break the whole survival picture into small pieces and take a small piece at a time. Themes; knots, wild plants, drinking water, wild food. Each get-together, do something unique along with the normal fun stuff. Wild salad with an award winning dinner. Seafood dinner with freshly caught fish or water-critters. Long walks with treats at the end. Hikes with only practiced hand signals for communication.

Find common ground. Not everybody is the same. Don't look for reasons that you don't like a person. Look for reasons that you DO like them. Focus on that. If they are willing to overlook your personality quirks (and yes, we all have them), be willing to overlook theirs. Perfect, we are not. As long as they are not a liability in any way, give any differences a rest. Time to get over ourselves, folks. There's no room for, "did you see how he/she looked at me?!?" in a stressful situation.

Find ways to work together. Find tasks that require teamwork to accomplish. Build a shed, one wall at a time. Have everybody lifting and working together to make it happen. Have each person "host" a party, provide the materials and have everyone work together to build something they want or need. Shelving units, can dispensers, emergency lodging, warehouses. You get the idea.

Don't be discouraged if it takes a while to build your group of friends. You can only do the best you can do. Be patient. Odds are they'll come along when you least expect it. Just remember, always have a back-up plan. Don't show all your cards, especially at first. Use your noodle. Folks don't often like to jump in over their heads. They prefer to ease in and gradually get used to the water. Use your knowledge of people to everyone's advantage to build, not to eliminate.

Lastly, if we continue to look around and find that we meet the same "type" of people, we ought not look any farther than ourselves.

Not "all" people are alike. If you look around and find that you don't like those who surround you, it's time for a little self improvement. Each change we make in ourselves, brings the possibility for change in the people that we attract.
 

Sometimes, it’s all in our delivery. It could be in how we carry ourselves or how we just "come off" to others. Take a look at yourself through the eyes of another. Have you ever heard your own voice on a recording? Sounds strange to you doesn’t it? How you appear through another person’s eyes would be at least as strange.

Getting from here to there isn’t impossible, it just takes a little coordinated effort. See you there.

I don't think that I could sum up the paradox of preparedness overall, better than the Poet Robert Burns in his classic "To A Mouse".  In the last stanzas are found the epitome of irony and truth regarding the subject of preparedness in the light of the unforeseen future.

"But Mousie, thou are no thy-lane, In proving foresight may be vain;
The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

Still, thou art blest, compar'd wi' me!  The present only toucheth thee.
But Och!  I backward cast my e'e, On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see, I guess an' fear!"

There's something to be said for folks to be able to access funds and purchase necessities quickly, or over time, to be able to withstand possible calamity.  But, in the face of uncertainty, anything can happen.  By the poem's comparison, the mouse, though displaced from home and all goods destroyed or of no more use to him, has the advantage as he possesses the skills to re-create that which is lost in this present disaster.  In short, what would be disaster for another, is only an unexpected set-back for the mouse.

Make no mistake about the mouse.  He has eliminated competition.  He has done so by not announcing where his home and stores are.  Though others may surmise that he has them, any unwelcome friends stumbling across his retreat will be rudely turned away.  Of course, if those who show up at the door represent an overwhelming force, the mouse will flee and take up residence somewhere less busy.  There, he will employ his knowledge, skills and instincts to recreate a humble home in an area protected from the elements and out of sight of possible aggressors, both that walk the earth, or the eyes in the sky.

Probably the most dangerous enemy a preparedness minded person can have, aside from allowing fear to dictate your actions or lack of action, is that of expectation (not to be confused with experience).  Aside from a man-made event, there isn't a person on this planet who can accurately predict disaster, it's duration or it's magnitude, though great efforts are made to be able to do so.

That being the case, there's no telling if a survival situation is going to turn out as, "a man who fled from a lion, only to meet a bear.....as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall, only to have a snake bite him".  Those who are looking for a guarantee of survival by preparing or learning skills are setting themselves up for disappointment somewhere down the line.  There are no such guarantees.  But even just the chance of surviving some disaster is more than worth the efforts.  If it weren't, there wouldn't be any such thing as a panicked crowd of people in a desperate situation.  So we strive to get prepared in the event of some emergency.

Along the way, we come up with all these philosophical arguments as we attempt to iron out our course(s) of action.  We know that we can't figure out every variable, so we try to cover as much area as possible in the hopes of increasing our odds of survival.

We take care of our basic needs, the needs of our family, perhaps some extra as well, just in case.  On the other hand, we've got lots of "friends" (well, acquaintances anyway) around us who scoff at the time, money and energy that we are wasting as "paranoid", when there is so much fun to be had.  Such folks continue to put their extra funds into entertainment and enjoying the good life. 

These same folks will also make remarks that they "know who's house to go to when things get bad".  These are the folks that need to be told of the rude awakening that awaits them if they foolishly think they won't be immediately run off your property on a rail.  Imagine the gall it takes to selfishly spend finances on your own pleasures, then in times of crisis, expect someone else, who suffered to protect themselves, to give up their supplies for you, putting their own children at risk!  There are words for folks like that, but fortunately, they are drowned out by the sound of gunfire.

But as rules go, there are always exceptions.  In this case, there is family, and there is the true friend.  Your job is to identify them.  Family is simple, but the true friend, only the true friend would know.  All I have to ask is; "Would they do it for you?"  Lots of folks would state that they would.  A true friend has demonstrated it already.  

Joe, from the Viking Preparedness Site, (which you can find on our links page, and I do highly recommend that you check it out if you haven't already) stresses that "life presents choices, and choices have consequence".  One such consequence is known as, "too late".  That's the time when all bets are off for "unproven variables".  They are immediately put into the category of liability.  Until such time, be wise.  Give people every opportunity.....do not give them detailed plans or inventory.  Until such time as a person is identified by their actions, don't cast your pearls. 

So how does one adequately prepare for every unknown possibility?  One doesn't.  The best a person can do is learn the skills necessary to survive, and be able to adapt them to any situation that presents itself.  This is no easy task.  One has to free their mind from the confines of expectations.  One also has to have lots of time in the saddle.  So get busy doing. 

Opportunism is tantamount to survival.  The number one attribute on the list of the field mouse is that he's opportunistic.  He takes advantage of everything.  He doesn't attempt to "make-the-world-mouse".  He flees disadvantage and finds advantage....then he digs in.  The same simple methodology applies whether the subject is food, or hiding from detection. 

Of the many lessons that can be learned from one of the most formidable of survivors, probably one of the greatest, is that he's acutely aware that he has no other option.  No delusions of grandeur, no commercial programming over years of watching T.V.  No inflated sense of self importance, no self esteem issues.  All energies are focussed on issue of survival.  Even then he'll receive the occasional invitation to dinner.