«-- Odds 'n Sods: | Main | Letter Re: An Expedient Toilet Flushing Method for Grid-Down Situations --»
Letter Re: Finding a Mineshaft or a Gemeinschaft
JWR
I think that your "Mineshaft
or a Gemeinschaft" article was especially true
and timely. However, there are some problems [with living in a community].
Even given how imminent I personally fear
financial
Armageddon is, there is still time that it might be a nuclear event or a
disease pandemic, etc., all of which demand slightly different responses.
There is no possible way one or even five individuals can be totally self-sufficient.
Even the hermits come out once a year or so to trade for things like salt
or ammo, or whatever. Personally, I think a small community of up to 300
varied skills, pooling their resources and pulling together towards a common
goal,
is ideal. Still small enough that everyone knows everyone else, and has their
own estimate of the reliability of every other person, so a community can
be totally and realistically democratic.
However, I do think that the more remote the better, and the
less known publicly about it the better. In my studies of the downfall of empires,
it is clear
that officialdom is the greatest thief of all. Anything they can find, either
through records or investigation is subject to their attention. In my own case,
no one, even me, knows where I will land. (Although I do have a variety of
potential areas in mind.) In terms of being found, all are very remote. Your
comment about a road or trail being a roadmap to your retreat is very accurate.
I am having a problem directing attention away from my trail in for moving
in equipment and supplies. Given my bush experience, if I get a few weeks before
someone comes looking, I think I can cover that base using game trails. Satellite
[image]s are definitely a problem. But hopefully, a little smudge that is difficult
to get to will either not be noticed, or deemed not worth the effort. Hopefully,
during the first year, there won’t be even much of a footprint.
My greater fear is that if someone knows I am preparing, and where, then the
story is sure to be embellished, and suddenly I become a worthwhile target.
If I
have the very basics underway, surely people (who have survived) will see the
benefits and be anxious to join. My theory is that most people will stick to
the roads in the early stages at least. I intend to be remote and
difficult to get to, and I hope to look like something else, not worth bothering
about.
The few [that find us] that are experienced woodsmen will likely be great
community member. Otherwise, I can hand pick my
community
members
before they even know they are being considered, or any other details or hints.
By
that time, if my assessment of the civil distress to come is somewhere near
target, I am sure that the survivors will have the most crucial element of
being good community members, [namely that] they are survivors,
not theorists. They will likely have some other warts that are difficult
to deal
with, but
a common
interest
will hopefully smooth that path somewhat.
I do have many problems with my scenario and plans, but depending on the
start date, I think the first 18 months will be the worst. If I/we survive
that length
of time, we will probably survive much longer. - Allen C.
