New ComerPLEASE HELP ME FIGURE OUT HOW TO PREPARE

MarkG · Coal Joined: May 19, 2007 Posts: 1

Hello,

My name is Mark and i am a Senior at the College of William & Mary, Neuroscience/Kinesiology, who will be graduating next year. Only recently have i become aware of the PO crisis and i tried to alert my father but he claims it to be sensationalist. After reading the data that comes in about oil production I have come to the realization that the big bang is coming soon. My family has properties in DC, Shenandoah Valley and Tidewater Areas. I myself am quite strong, have some knowledge of medical training and a pretty good problemsolver, and generally handy with tools. My question is...what should I do to try to convince my family to start preparing for the depression. My father is 61, mom is 58, i am 22 and my sister is 19. I would have liked to be a physical therapist but am unsure about what this would mean in the future. I learn things very fast and i could probably pick up the necessary skills. I don't want my family to be left behind. What should i do?

diemos · Tar Sands Joined: Sep 23, 2005 Posts: 59

Preparation is futile.

Simply enjoy the good times while they're here. You won't see their like again.

Wednesday

First thing is not to listen to people who just wanna give up.

I started with a nice little veggie garden, no matter what happens, I still enjoy my garden.

Merlin · Last edited by Merlin on Sat May 19, 2007 4:01 pm; edited 2 times in total

Preparation is not futile. That this young man has the foresight to seek skills that will be useful in an energy-poor future is a good thing. While there may be no future for corporate accounting and computer science, I'd bet that healthcare skills will always be in demand. For someone to greet his request for help and advice with eat, drink and be merry for we're all doomed is irresponsible.

pstarr

killJOY · Fission Joined: Feb 21, 2005 Posts: 2380 Location: ^NNE^

Prepare for what?

Shortages and high prices? Make lots of money. (Medical field good)

Economic depression? Practice poverty. And grow things.

Die-off? Forget it.

This is very complicated...

(I'm in the second category)
_________________
"By the time individuals discover that remaining resources will not be adequate for the next generation, the next generation has already been born. " David Price

Dopamine · Coal Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 9

It's hard to prepare a family when they think all of this consumption and growth is a state of ecological equillibrium. Unfortunately when the ammo we've been using against the four horsemen is gone (fossil fuels) we will suddenly realize that there are too many of us around to be protected from their ravages. If I were you I would try to maintain a steady income until it's no longer possible and shed all debt or default upon it if you can't reasonably pay it off. Save money but only so you can convert it to precious metals and utility items. A nice down sleeping bag, capilene clothing, four season tent, shotgun, commuter bike and so on. If you can keep people from stealing them then stock up on basics like food and hygeinic material. Try to live normally but be frugal. Have enough cash to pay expenses for a few months. A job in the medical field will be good and last pretty long in a downturn. It may sound like I have a long beard and am wearing camo but I'm a microbiologist and a dedicated prepster. Also get some N95 masks for yourself and family, they may be in short supply when you really need them. Try to stay away from major urban areas, they are a real target for sudden and catastrophic population reduction as well as general chaos when our food, water, electric distribution systems are interrupted. If you want to survive the eventual full-scale die-off I like New Zealand for relocation. Even if an expansionist Chinese empire makes its way that far south the Moari warriors will put up a hell of a fight and eat the losers for dinner. Better than cowering in the dark listening to screams and gunshots as our urban melting pots serve up anarchy stew.

roccman

1. Get two books...where there is no doctor...where there is no dentist.

2. Pack BOBs (bug out bags) for those you love - include everything you would take on your next camping trip.

3. Keep updated daily on gas and oil supplies...the markets will tell you when you need to grab your BOBs 2 weeks before TSHTF. www.theoildrum is an excellent place (or here on the current energy thread).

4. Keep $500 cash and pre 1965 coin with you.

5. At this late stage do not waste any time trying to convince anyone why your behavior is sane...it truely is wasted time.

6. Cash out your 401 K, get a HELOC (if you are a homedebtor), max out credit cards... and invest in item #2 above. When the grid fails in under 5 years no-one is paying off any debt to anyone...act like TPTB - get in debt up to your eyeballs then default.

7. Buy a revolver - 38 or better (walmart has the cheapest ammo anywhere).

8. Hug those you love everyday...tell them that you love them everyday...dance naked in your backyard...let someone merge infront of you...help an old person cross the street.

It's all good

Grifter

PraiseDoom · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 23, 2007 Posts: 297

Aaron

Don't panic yet...

Long before the flesh-eating, biker zombie hordes come, most of you young folks will be swapping stories about the good ole days... in foxholes somewhere, to secure baby-boomers God given right to Planet Hollywood & SUVs.

I for one, wish to thank all of you in advance for your noble sacrifice on our behalf.

I pledge to honor your memory by paving & air-conditioning the entire country, with Starbucks & Liberty for all.

Amen.
_________________
"When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F Roberts.

Praise HawkMan

Tyler_JC

killJOY · Fission Joined: Feb 21, 2005 Posts: 2380 Location: ^NNE^

roccman · Last edited by roccman on Sat May 19, 2007 6:26 pm; edited 1 time in total

Ok - I retract that statment....

Duncan is wrong...

Jay Hanson is wrong...

Catton is wrong...

Perry Arnett is wrong...

Stuart Staniford is wrong...

Simmons is wrong...

Richard Daughty is wrong...

Greg Palast is wrong...

Everything will be business as usual...

Paying off debt has got to be one of the strangest PO survivalist strategies I have ever heard.

That said - I believe the crash will be a bone crushing thud...mayhem...and death for decades to come.

Let me know how all that debt paying goes for ya.

Assuming you can keep your job...buy boat loads of silver...make the minimum on the HELOC and CC...then at $200 an oz sell half - pay (if you must the CC off) and looky that - you have something left of value.

Or - when you are out of a job (at the end of this year)...default. And you still have something of value if you have spent that debt on PO "gear".

Or - pay off your debt (without incurring more on my advice) without a job (at the end of the year). That could be a trick AND YOU HAVE NOTHING OF VALUE, but man you are debt free and starving to death. Kudos!!!

Tyler_JC