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Letter Re: Advice for Preparedness Newbie
Hey Guys.
I came upon your site, and all I really had to say, was "Wow".
I suppose I'm not the best candidate to be a survivalist. I'm 21, I rent my
apartment, have a mountain of student loans, and work as a waitress. My friends
are mostly of the classic female-materialistic variety, and have no immediate
concerns beyond a swimsuit sale at PacSun.
Anyway, I'm an avid reader. I began to develop an interest in the term "Peak
Oil". I read several articles, and conducted a few small studies of my
own. The fact that many of the articles said that we'd begin to see problems
(power outages, ridiculous gas prices) in 2008 due to having past peak oil.
Well, it got me worried.
From there, I began to notice other things. My grocery
bill went up
significantly, and I realized I'd have to budget my grocery money to foods
that were cheaper and had a longer shelf life. I did some research, and found
the statistics that proved that I wasn't simply over-shopping. I haven't had
a raise in over a year, but I'm spending on average about $20 per-month more,
on my basic grocery list. Needless to say, this really disturbed me.
From there, I began an extensive research of web articles, publications,
editorials, and came upon several survivalist sites and resources. It drove
me to the realization that our society is, indeed, on the verge of collapse.
With the gross incompetence of our current government, the threat of an event
of WMD in
the US, Avian Flu, Peak Oil, Global Conditions... well, I'd have to say, to
use the term: It won't be long before TSHTF.
Needless to say, my friends think I've gone nuts.
I can veritably assure myself, however, that this isn't just in my imagination.
I consider myself a smart person - I was going for my medical degree at JHU/UNH,
before a series of mishaps bumped me from that path, and I ended up being a
waitress.
Anyway, I started a bit of basic preparation. With every grocery trip, I picked
up a few items to add to my "stash" of canned food, medical supplies,
and basic utility items. I've been doing this for about six months, and I was
pretty proud of my efforts, given that I'm operating on a very limited budget.
Then, I came upon your site, and realized that I was still incredibly unprepared.
I've got to say, reading through all of your articles and resources, I was
completely overwhelmed. Even with my efforts, I haven't even scratched the
surface of what I'd need to do to be even basically prepared, for, well, anything.
Given my financial situation, I don't know if I can make even a basic preparation
effort in the next year or so. I've been attempting to save up to purchase
a small firearm, to give myself the assurance of some sort of protection.
Anyway, I guess I'm simply writing to you to see if you can offer me any
advice. I suppose I'm experiencing the classic level of fear, right now, that
accompanies someone who has just realized that they are incredibly unprepared,
should TSHTF. The "Rawles
Gets You Ready" preparedness course seems to be an incredibly valuable
resource for someone in my situation, yet I don't think I can afford it at
this time.
As you guys seem to really, really know your stuff, I was just wondering
if you can offer me any advice or guidance. I suppose I just need to reach
the level of assurance to know, that no matter what happens, my family and
I will be alright (and what I need to do to reach that level). Thank you so
much. Sincerely, - Carolyn G.
JWR Replies: Many thanks for your e-mail. I get similar ones
every week. Do not feel overwhelmed. Just work at preparedness
systematically, and gradually. Even with modest preparations you are already
miles ahead of your head-in-the-sand friends and neighbors.
In your circumstances, the best thing that you can do is team up with like-minded
people in your area. The
Survivalist Group Matching Page (courtesy of the
fine folks at SurvivalistBooks.com)
reportedly works well.
But of course use caution, just like you would with any other
on-line person-to-person matching service. Proceed with prayer. Have some lengthy
phone conversations long before you ever reveal your address or decide meet
face to face. Avoid both the lunatics and the Tommy
Tactical wanna-bes.
I assume by your reference to UNH that you live in (or near) New Hampshire.
If so, you are fortunate to live in one of the most conservative states
in
the northeast. It is also home to one of the two Libertarian Free
States Projects. (The
other one is in Wyoming.). Many of the "Free Staters" are also strongly
preparedness-minded. You might find some contacts in
your
area through their organization.
You also mentioned that originally had an interest in attending medical school.
That may or may not still be a realistic option for you. But you could at least
get involved with your local EMT organization,
part-time. That will provide you with some free or very low cost paramedic
training
that will be invaluable in the event of TEOTWAWKI. In
preparedness circles, honest-to-goodness skills are more highly valued
than money. There
are lots idiots out there that have money. Their wads of cash don't
automatically make them useful or even trustworthy to be in retreat groups.
I'd much rather be
associated
with
plain
folks that know how to fell a tree, pull a calf, rebuild an engine, raise a
garden,
or
set
up a perimeter of security. Gather and hone some valuable skills and you will
make yourself
indispensable
to any
retreat
group.
