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Questions to assist in creating a working inventory of mind, body, and equipment for living in dangerous or uncertain times
I have been reading the excellent book, Logavina Street: Life and Death in a Sarajevo Neighborhood, by Barbara Demick, and thinking about other places like Ukraine, Egypt, Venezuela, Syria, Argentina, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Japan, Chile, Haiti, France, Zimbabwe, Iraq, Russia, Libya, Israel, Liberia, Yemen, Mexico, and my home state of Texas. This has caused the paranoid part of me, a part that is apparently immune to normalcy bias, to consider how one might spend some spare money and time, apart from buying sovereign bonds and attending DSK's quarterly sex parties, to prepare for TEOTWAWKI as experienced by the people in the aforementioned nations. What follows is not a shopping list, but rather a list of questions to assist in creating a working inventory of mind, body, and equipment for living in dangerous or uncertain times. These are mostly things one would want to get squared away while one has time for consideration, before one's life, or another's life, depends on it.
Mind
Whom do I love?
What do I love?
What do I have to live for?
What am I willing to die for?
What are my mental assets?
What are my mental liabilities?
What is my single biggest knowledge gap?
What are the top three habits that make up my character?
Whom can I really trust?
Who are my mortal enemies? Why? What can I do about it?
What skills do I have to earn a living?
What special tools do these skills require?
Do I know how to beg...effectively?
Do I know how to barter...effectively?
How good of a liar am I...really?
Do I know how to use a compass and map?
What is the highest point in my county?
Do I know how to make a fire...without making much smoke?
Do I know how to hunt, fish, butcher, and prepare meat?
Do I know how to gather, grow, store, and prepare food?
Do I know how to change a tire, swap a battery, and jump-start a vehicle?
Do I know how to sail a boat?
Do I know how to use a two-way radio that is not a cell phone?
When and where am I safe to be in condition white?
What is my reactionary gap at day and at night?
How do I respond to a reset of my OODA Loop?
How can I reset someone else's OODA Loop, and how much time does that give me?
What does it feel like to get punched in the face, and how does it affect me?
Do I really know how to defend myself with a knife? For example, where are the three primary arterial targets?
Do I really know how to use my rifle? For example, can I hit a man twice in the chest at two meters, in less than 1.5 seconds, while moving? What about once in the chest, at 250 meters, with my first shot, and while I am sitting on the ground?
Do I know CPR?
Do I know how to make and apply a pressure bandage?
Do I know how to treat a sucking chest wound?
Do I know how to apply a tourniquet?
Do family, friends, and I know our neighborhood, out-of-town, and out-of-state rally points?
What is the first and last name of my twenty closest neighbors (geographically)?
What is the name and cell phone number of my county sheriff?
What is the name of the commander of my local militia?
What exactly do I do if I see the flash of light from a nuclear device?
Do I know the location of several local bomb and fallout shelters?
Body
How well, relative to others, am I able to see and hear, with or without aid?
Am I able to run for my life for more than a minute?
Do I have the strength to manage my own body weight? For example, can I pull myself up over a six-foot wall?
Am I able to control my appetites, or do my appetites control me?
Am I chemically dependent?
Am I fit enough to perform sexually?
Am I able to swim 500+ meters?
Am I able to fight off everyday infection and illness, and to heal my own minor wounds?
Am I physically able to defend myself without a weapon?
Am I physically able to repeatedly manipulate and engage my pistol and rifle?
Equipment
Do I have multiple pairs of Rx glasses and hearing aids if needed?
Do I have a good light and spare batteries or fuel?
Do I have a good pair of shoes that I can put on and walk to the next town without blisters?
Do I have warm and durable outdoor clothing in muted colors?
Is my vehicle in good condition with a spare tire, tools, water, siphon, fuel container, and flares?
Do I have a bicycle, boat, aircraft, or animal (with appropriate kit) that will carry me, and my gear, hundreds of miles?
Is my dog obedient and does he or she warn me of danger?
Do I have portable, widely recognized, and durable assets such as gold coins?
Do I have a reliable and portable method to obtain clean drinking water?
Do I have a good compass and appropriate maps?
Do I have some sort of telescopic magnification?
Do I have a first aid kit?
Do I have a two-way radio that is not a cell phone?
Do I have a knife that is high quality and a small sharpening stone?
Do I have a sidearm, ammunition, gun belt, holster, spare magazines, and magazine carriers?
Do I have a rifle, ammunition, sling, spare magazines, magazine carriers, spare firing pin, and range card?
Do I have body armor and a kevlar helmet? Or will I be relying on bread?
Do I have a "spare" set of identification?
Do I have a mask, balaclava, or disguise?
Do I have at least a month's cache of food?
Do I have ammunition cached?
Do I have books cached?
There are many more, I am sure, but I hope this at least spurs a lively discussion.
Peace!
- advertisements -
Okay folks, lets call paper what it really is,...well it's just that,....paper or digits on a computer screen.
Paper gold, paper silver, paper t-notes, paper bonds, paper futures, paper money, paper everywhere!
All left brain abstracts, socially constructed to serve you better!..(irony).
My point: Paper/fiat money ain't nothing but a "place holder", a believe system everyone agrees on, for now!
Money created out of thin air" (i.e. a computer entry) by Govt's Central Banksters is/was never intended to be "paid back", since it's fantasized invention (money) never exisited in the first place,... pay it back to who?
The dirty little secret: Govt debt do not matter!
Hence, always plenty of "funds" for war and black ops etc.
Govt's and the mafia banksters want to keep it secret so that, you, I and everyone else continues to make payments to the,....banksters.
Can't wrap your head around it (yet) ?....for good reading;
John R Searle "The Construction of Social Reallity".
ps: Yes Virginia, the black box is not black,...its painted bright orange!
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ratm+wake+up+lyrics
Spent most of the long weekend out in the woods - Canada -25ºC to -40ºc
My son and I know a few local(ish) areas inside out. Plenty of fire starting practice and both good with a bow.
I'm getting on a bit but 15 miles hike in 10" of snow was not problem.
Bug out bags with survical kits in place (stove, knife, space blanket, hand chainsaw, water purification, first aid kit, hooks & line, waterproof poncho, waxed matches plus a few other incidentals)
Two good mountain bikes could come in handy as well.
Hopefully all this remains a hobby, but not a bad thing to have practice at.
Being physically fit puts you ahead of 99% of people.
I've considered the mountain bike idea for if I have to bug out, I think I'm going to go with one of these instead.
http://www.ruggedgear.com
Can do 50 mles in a day no problem with 30lbs of gear on my mountain bike.
I doubt that your choice would enable you to do the same.
Worst case, I've been known to carry my bike as well as gear for a couple of miles to get to rideable terrain
Biggest problem that I have with a bicycle is that you are a much easier target, and it's next to impossible to shoot while riding. Something like the cart keeps the gear off your body and also allows you to go to ground quicker; but yeah, you're doing foot speed vs the better speed with the bike. I think the cart has its utility in moving gear (and stores) within a distance of 100 miles (5 days?) while the bicycle would be better for longer trips/distances or trips through areas where you know the chances of contact with people are minimal.
Amen.
On several occasions I have engaged Mrs. Cog in difficult conversations, those 'what if' emotional discussions we never really wish to deeply consider. Yet the conversations must take place NOW because if and when they do arrive we will not have the time nor presence of mind to consistently make the correct decisions, mostly because of the emotional content.
Ask the tough questions now, or take the very real risk of being trapped by your decisions later.
So, what does it feel like to get punched in the face, and how does it affect you?
Just not in the ear. I hear it really hurts
Well......I was thinking along the lines of....
"So honey, what do we do when our children show up at our doorstep with nothing in hand and a desire to do nothing to earn their keep?"
or
"We can't hold down the fort alone for long honey. So do we take in other like minded individuals or families who are willing to work in return for mutual protection?"
But I guess I could ask Mrs. Cog how she feels about getting punched in the face. Or are you suggesting I should just demonstrate the question?
<I need to show you something honey. Do you have a minute?>
On the one hand, CD, I was being a smart ass. On the other hand, someone that has previously experienced a strong and legitimate punch to the face, or even better a thorough and complete ass kicking, is much better equipped to survive a subsequent fight for his or her life, in my humble opinion.
Please tell the Mrs. we send our love.
I get your point and it is valid if you are speaking about do or die situations. We will have had to travel very far down the road to perdition for that to happen. Not saying it won't mind you.
I've experienced a few brutal beatings in my life and I have dished out a few as well. Neither of them felt good, but the one's I dished out did far more damage to me than to the other guy.
I just didn't know it at the time.
Moral correctness is a liability. A wild animal survives by not getting hurt by avoiding confrontations. Stealth is the best defense. Hit in the face; withdraw; don't risk further injury; strike when unexpected and overpowering.
The ego, virtue, goodness, compassion and their ilk are weaknesses inimical to survival. Survival trumps all other considerations. The wild animal who fights with other animals sustains injuries which weaken his survival chances.
Fight or attack only when all the advantages are yours; hide or withdraw otherwise.
the only way to fight effectively is to know how to fight effectively and that means fighting regularly. in different scenarios.
your "only if.." nonsense means lack of practice. which endangers you more.
It depends. If the punch was due to monkeying around, it hurts, and I eventually shake it off. If it is in a fight and it is hard enough to knock me senseless or unconscious, I'm getting my ass kicked at the very least. If it is not hard enough to knock me loopy, my response is get really pissed off and start beating on the threat, unless I am armed, then I control my temper and do what I can to get away while still defending myself.
so many badass tough guys on here today!
Well, I had a plan at the time...
The other issue is that in a SHTF scenario, you won't have any time to waste asking questions.
shtfschool.com
very interesting reads shared by someone who has 'been through it'... gives lots of scenarios of what he witnessed and how he survived.
anyway, I think its a must read website...
dupe...
The Ruskies should have dumped all t-notes/bonds, tell the western banks to fuck off, and "postpone" all debt payments untill all sanctions are lifted.
Tit 4 Tat, allways works like a charm everybody understands.!
The point of view it is interesting, but a prepared mind should understand that there is not a correct answer for most of the questions you have made, because all depend on circunstances, a prepared mind should be ready for change, you can certainly try to prepare , but once you have done all that you think is possible the only thing you do is nothing but to have peace of mind, nothing will prepare you if your mind have not been set on a change mode, what do you think?
On the issue of establishing a mutually beneficial bartering system or network, I've often wondered how that might be safely coordinated.
Where do you intend to set up shop, or display your goods?
What type of security will you have in place?
Will you be willing to allow just ANYONE to approach your location?
Due to the fact that you may potentially be dealing with very desperate individuals, who may be harboring criminal intent towards you because you have something of value that they cannot "afford", how do you determine who can be trusted?
While many of us may enjoy the concept of engaging in the barter system, there seem to be some clear dangers inherent with such a process in a SHTF environment where law and order have completely broken down.
I seem to recall that Orlov's book, The Five Stages of Collapse, had some interesting things to say on the question of who to trust.
There is clearly a symbiotic relationship that develops between commerce and law enforcement.
Historically, most trading is done at the marketplace, both for the buyers' convenience and for the sellers' security.
this was good too
http://www.newsociety.com/Books/R/Reinventing-Collapse
I'm sure people advanced in their preps are reasonably well read on the subject, but for the new booties out there, a few books to read that are god for perspective on TEOTWAWKI: Patriots by Rawles , One Second After by William Forcschten, and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
A copy of 'Camping and Woodcraft' by Horace Kephart is a very valuable tool for the library as well....
Here is another very fine, low-cost book to add to your bookshelf:
http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-Complete-Traditional-Skills/dp/1629143693
Books are good, but I'm a proponent of actually trying skills you think you might need before you need them. If you have that book, go out and actually try some of the things in it so that you can figure out if there are any tricks or gotchyas in there.
Yes, that is the idea behind buying the book. I grew up with the foxfire series. I and my best friend tried damned near everything in it at one time or another, lol.....
"Am I fit enough to perform sexually?"
Seriously? I reckon that would be the last thing on my mind when I'm running for my life to the safe house, but to each his own. I suppose it might be considered a tradeable commodity/skill in certain parts :)
I stopped putting my bugout kit in my car ever since it got broken into and stolen a few years ago with a lot of valuable stuff. I won't post what I do now instead, but it's a good idea not to place it in the most obvious place: The boot/trunk of your car.
I know a lot of people think of guns first when they think of survival, but in addition to the great list provided by HH, my priorities for survival are: Water, salt, good knives and a healthy respect for others (Not going out to look for trouble but evading them).
Actually today they are equating heart disease in men based on their ability to achieve erection. Sort of a rough circulatory check! But I'm sure other tests are more definitive.
Miffed;-)
The sexy tend to survive.
Why?
1) Sexual health is a good indicator or both physical and mental health.
2) We tend to not murder those we want to screw.
3) Depression kills.
4) Women and children first! The old and impotent can die.
5) We must breed to survive.
Based on these suppositions, just sit back and wait for all the jerk-offs to die
Ah well, long term plans. That's a little different, although if the sexy tend to survive, I'm in trouble! :). I'm apparently cute, not sexy.
Wait! Cute IS sexy. ;-)
I'm only 5'4" and a tad short waisted and no great beauty by any means but I'm in quite good shape for my age and enjoy an active sex life. Studies have shown sex, especially between loving partners, keeps you healthy and young. Great for the prostate!
There is something about the playfulness and willing to explore with another. Tantric, Kama sutra etc. Melding spirituality with the physical. A part of our humanity they just can't take from us ( well, I guess I should qualify that with a " yet"). I think it transcends even the physical act to a profound bonding. The closest we can get to the opposite sex when we are hard pressed to understand one another.
But that's just me. I tend to live in my mysterious dreamy world and get jarred and unhinged when dragged back to the real one.
Miffed;-)
Ha! Bless you for humouring me. :).
Quite right about the psychological and physical therapeutic aspects of sex with the right person. May we all be lucky enough to experience such closeness with another soul. I don't think you're the only person to live in a world of your imagination from time to time - daydreams are often defence mechanisms against stress and although I can't remember the exact quote, I think it was Nietzsche who said that man prefers to live in a perpetual state of fantasy rather than face reality. He has a point. :)
Humouring you? Oh my, I taste some hint of self deprecation with a piquant aftertaste of judgement. Not so my friend! Just a joyous interaction and playfulness between spirits walking similar paths in a dark world, becoming colder by the day.
Being very Piscian, I wander too much into the ethereal. Such a respite from the age we live in, I find it hard to leave! But we should never be too enamoured with that world when we are truly meant to live in reality. If you are not present, you are nowhere. Balance is key, my cross to bare.
Miffed
If you are interested in communicating further, as I would enjoy your friendship, email me at zhmiffed at gmail.com. I don't want to rude and thread jack HH's piece.
Once the major metropolitan areas are subdued/cordoned-off/corralled, etc., then comes the outskirts... Do not think for one moment that Goon-squad central is going to focus their concerns only on major population centers - they are no threat other than to be brought into line. It is YOU, HH and me and a few other 'hold-outs' for whom is saved the real action... They will have their way with us - with no one around to question or shine light on their barbarity when it comes. And that is precisely why, near the top of one's list should be the preparation to die on one's feet, as opposed to living on their knees - and then dying a short time later with little or no dignity. You get past that, and real freedom takes on a whole new meaning.
If it gets to that point, there won't be much of a government. Goon squads, probably, simply due to there not being enough basic necessities for everybody,
ive wondered if eventually it will become "survivalist vs survivalist" groups as things get tough; plus the military will have silent drones out in the bush-unlike choppers, you wont know to hide from them until it is too late and they are looking down on you from beyond gun range
You'd be surprised how effectively a little bit of tree cover negates the ability of an infra-red or heat sensing scope or detector to pickup targets. There are also a myriad of other easy fixes to make yourself invisible to aerial drones.
You'd be surprised how effectively a little bit of tree cover negates the ability of an infra-red or heat sensing scope or detector to pickup targets. There are also a myriad of other easy fixes to make yourself invisible to aerial drones.
That there is one awesome list of things, and it brings to the fore the fact that very few of us know or have all those things.........but I bet we know enough people that combined we could have it covered.
No, but ive plenty of popcorn to sit back and watch..
Great bread helmet porn HH:)
I have many similar interests and priorities. I've decided the skills of shooting, raising tobacco, and making hooch will give me and mine the best possible opportunities, come what may.
(I hate tobacco, but it creates its own demand)
'tobacco'. :)
cigarettes were used as money in Nazi Germany, so not a bad idea there - same with the hooch.
People first, pets second canned goods last.
Get over the repulsive thought of eating your fellow man. We aren’t talking corn-fed or grass-fed beef. Bear in mind people will all taste unique due to their varying diets and habits (like smoking).
It’s that first bite… after the dry-heaving and yaking, once you keep that first bite down, you’ll be good to go.
Butchering the Human Carcass for Human Consumption
by Bob Arson
http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/e-sermons/butcher.html