If society collapsed today, what would you miss most?
If society collapsed today, what would you miss most?
I've been thinking a lot about this the past 3 years as my wife and I prepare for societal collapse. My latest novel "The God Virus" is centered on The Big Collapse. But just because I'm prepared, that doesn't necessarily mean I'm ready.
In fact, I thought I was quite ready until 4 days ago when our hot water heater went out. The first day I did nothing, which, of course, resulted in all of us taking ice-cold showers. Ouch! But I'm tough, so I handled it.
The second day I replaced the thermocoupler on the hot water heater, but still ... no hot water. Once again, I took an ice shower. I could hear my wife laughing in the bedroom as she listened to my wet, icy screams. That was cold of her.
I find it amazing that some people accuse me of being too much like my tough, masculine main characters, but I don't see it. My main characters don't whimper in a cold shower, they suck it up and relish in the discomfort. Nope. I'm not like my main characters at all. Maybe 30 years ago, but not at 54 years old. I'm a wimp. I'm a wuss. I want my hot shower.
Finally, this morning I refused to take another cold shower. I spent almost an hour boiling water and carrying it upstairs to the bath tub. After all that, I still had only 6 inches of water, but at least it was a tad warmer than room temperature.
I always laugh at some of my cowboy western novelists, because their characters are always so clean. There they are, out on the range for weeks, sitting on a smelly, insect-ridden horse, sleeping on the ground, nothing but water in a canteen. Then they ride majestically into a frontier town and a beautiful, clean-smelling, well groomed woman runs out to meet him and jumps into his arms.
I don't buy it.
But you might remind me of Samuel Coleridge and his "willing suspension of disbelief". Sorry. That's just too much suspension for me. That cowboy smells bad, and, if truth be told, the woman probably smells bad too.
I remember reading somewhere that frontier families took baths only once a year, starting with the father, then the mother, then the children from oldest to youngest - all in the same bath water.
I always thought "What lousy parents! They should let the kids bathe first!"
So, this morning, after I was done with my bath, I let my two younger ones take a bath as well. Okay, so I'm a hypocrite. The thought occurred to me, "Maybe there was some wisdom out there on the frontier?" After all, how many times does a 2-year-old pee in the bath tub? I wasn't taking any chances.
So, to answer the question "What would I miss most?" - hot water! - without a doubt. True, I would miss my Mountain Dew and Frappuccino, electric lights, my laptop, Twinkies, and even my Kindle, but ... there's just no way I can live without a hot bath every morning.
What about you? What would you miss most?
Skip Coryell
I've been thinking a lot about this the past 3 years as my wife and I prepare for societal collapse. My latest novel "The God Virus" is centered on The Big Collapse. But just because I'm prepared, that doesn't necessarily mean I'm ready.
In fact, I thought I was quite ready until 4 days ago when our hot water heater went out. The first day I did nothing, which, of course, resulted in all of us taking ice-cold showers. Ouch! But I'm tough, so I handled it.
The second day I replaced the thermocoupler on the hot water heater, but still ... no hot water. Once again, I took an ice shower. I could hear my wife laughing in the bedroom as she listened to my wet, icy screams. That was cold of her.
I find it amazing that some people accuse me of being too much like my tough, masculine main characters, but I don't see it. My main characters don't whimper in a cold shower, they suck it up and relish in the discomfort. Nope. I'm not like my main characters at all. Maybe 30 years ago, but not at 54 years old. I'm a wimp. I'm a wuss. I want my hot shower.
Finally, this morning I refused to take another cold shower. I spent almost an hour boiling water and carrying it upstairs to the bath tub. After all that, I still had only 6 inches of water, but at least it was a tad warmer than room temperature.
I always laugh at some of my cowboy western novelists, because their characters are always so clean. There they are, out on the range for weeks, sitting on a smelly, insect-ridden horse, sleeping on the ground, nothing but water in a canteen. Then they ride majestically into a frontier town and a beautiful, clean-smelling, well groomed woman runs out to meet him and jumps into his arms.
I don't buy it.
But you might remind me of Samuel Coleridge and his "willing suspension of disbelief". Sorry. That's just too much suspension for me. That cowboy smells bad, and, if truth be told, the woman probably smells bad too.
I remember reading somewhere that frontier families took baths only once a year, starting with the father, then the mother, then the children from oldest to youngest - all in the same bath water.
I always thought "What lousy parents! They should let the kids bathe first!"
So, this morning, after I was done with my bath, I let my two younger ones take a bath as well. Okay, so I'm a hypocrite. The thought occurred to me, "Maybe there was some wisdom out there on the frontier?" After all, how many times does a 2-year-old pee in the bath tub? I wasn't taking any chances.
So, to answer the question "What would I miss most?" - hot water! - without a doubt. True, I would miss my Mountain Dew and Frappuccino, electric lights, my laptop, Twinkies, and even my Kindle, but ... there's just no way I can live without a hot bath every morning.
What about you? What would you miss most?
Skip Coryell
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Alicia
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Mar 28, 2012 04:17AM
Yeah, I'd definitely miss hot water. But more than that I'd miss food, because I am NOT as prepared as you. Then I'd miss being able to jump in my car to run to the store to get some milk. Although, that luxury is probably gone now with gas at $4.15.
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You can make a good start by going to the grain elevator and buying 100 pounds of Red Wheat. When kept dry and secure, Red Wheat will keep for 30 years. Of course, then you'll need a Country Living grain mill. Dry beans are also very good. When you buy something at the store, instead of buying one can of peaches, buy several. You can stock up a little at a time. Eventually, you'll be prepared.
I'd miss a lot of things. When the electric goes out, I miss lights to read by mostly as I have trouble sleeping at night and also need the fan running for background noise. I guess I'd get used to that so I think food would be the biggie. I've thought about getting big bags of flour, rice, beans, dried meats,dried fruits and vegetables but I really don't know how'd to store them to keep the bugs and mold away. When I read historical novels they talk about weevils in food. ICK! Next when the electric goes we have no water. Living in the country means no city water and there is no hand pump. I guess I'm not really very prepared at all.
Hi Connie. All those things can be taken care of quite easily. Water should be your number one priority. You only last a few days without it. We hired a company to come in and drive a 65-feet deep hand pump. It was expensive at $3,000, but we always are guaranteed water now. It's the same type of hand pump you see at parks, cemeteries, etc.Flour will last for only 18 months at the longest. That's why we buy red wheat and grind our own. (30-year shelf life)
Two really great books to read are by James Wesley Rawles:
Patriots: A Novel of the Coming Collapse
and
How to Survive the End of the World as We Know it.
You can also join a website called
http://americanpreppersnetwork.blogsp...
Lots of good info there.
One thing I recommend is that you stock up on foods with a long shelf life. That way if nothing bad happens, the worst-case is you don't have to buy food for a while. You're out nothing.
Skip Coryell
Today a lot, tomorrow maybe not. I purchased 5 acres a few years ago, hit a huge natural spring last November while digging a 3/4 acre pond that will be stocked this spring. Hoping to have the house built yet this summer with solar panels and a DC loop for LED lighting and charging any DC devices I accumulate. Hot water is an easy fix, by framing up a simple solar heater. I'll be planting several fruit trees on the property and I've always loved gardening, the root cellar will take some getting used to though LOL. While some of what I have planned may appear a little extreme for those living in today's world, we only have to look back a couple of generations to see it looked at as common sense. Remember, chance favors the prepared.
Great job, Terry! I trust you have adequate security measures in place to protect what you now have. It takes months, money and lots of hard work to prepare, but only a few minutes for some Neanderthal, with a gun and the will, to take it away from you.Have a great Spring!
Skip
Skip, I collect firearms and am attending TDI for my second time in a couple weeks . The perimeter of the property will be secure and easily defended from the comfort of the house. I also have two private ranges on the property and should have my instructor's credentials sometime later this year. If I were any more ready I'd scare myself LOL
