What do you think?

charliebrownout · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 17, 2008 Posts: 195

Right now I'm in a quandry regarding what to do in terms of planning.

We live in the Sonoran Desert and in the suburbs. I'm trying to think of how that could be a more precarious position to be in, but I'm not sure.

At any rate, there isn't much I can do to prepare in terms of buying a land in the near future or moving to a greener place.

Basically, I'm wondering if I should just throw all my time and energy into learning and getting a set of survival-related kit/items going.

I know, since water is an issue here anyway, that trying to hunker down and stay put is not happening if things get particularly bad (ie local stores don't get supplies, gas runs out, etc).

So, I'm thinking it would be good to take some classes about desert survival/emergency first aid and getting together a good emergency kit plus all the items that might be essential if we literally had to walk. We have family in California and the northern part of the state who have land and live semi-off-grid.

I feel a little insane for thinking this way, at this point, but I keep watching the news and wondering how longs things can last as-is without either a sharp decline or crash.

I'm just shopping around for opinions...

So, if you're in a desert or other harsh climate area with limited resources to go off grid what do you think are the best steps to take?

kpeavey · Expert Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 1127

stored goods are short term solutions used to ease the wrenching change from one way of life to another. Skills are with you as long as your brain holds up. You can share your goods and your skills with others. Is the "give a man a fish" story. A combination offers the best of both plans. That off grid place in California sounds better than northern AZ. I hear it rains in northern CA. Good to have family around when the going gets tough.
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Ludi · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: What do you think?

I would stock essentials and pay down debt. I wouldn't personally spend money on classes, instead I would buy some books and learn on my own, as a hobby. I guess it depends on if you are a self-teacher, or if you like classes. But I would stock at least some essentials, as though preparing for a natural disaster of some length (week or two at least).

So I can't really respond to the poll, because I couldn't choose between those options.
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JPL · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: What do you think?

charliebrownout · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 17, 2008 Posts: 195

Ludi · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: What do you think?

There's a lot to eat in the desert if you know what to look for. You could take up the hobby of foraging, and maybe scope out some areas of the desert with water sources, or national forest land where you could explore and practice camping. This would possibly give you a feeling of security to know there might be a place you could "bug out" to if things got bad in the city.
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Homesteader · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: What do you think?

IMO you need to work creatively on the "greener pastures" option. At least figure out a fall back position with friends or relatives or something. PDQ.

List all non-essential stuff on ebay, raise cash. Non-essential being anything that you wish you hadn't spent money on when the rolling brown outs start and you are unemployed and the AC is not coming on.

NeoPeasant · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject: Re: What do you think?

An important but rarely mentioned preparation for peak oil is to break free from your consumer programming. You have been convinced thru countless billions spent on advertising that you are what you earn and what you possess, and that more will make you happier.
Too few people understand that if you are eating and sleeping in a safe place and getting a chance to bathe occasionaly, whether you are happy or not is purely psychological. We are so used to getting everything we need and nearly everything we've been told we wanted that we have lost the ability to tell the difference.
Learning to subsist happily may be the key to having a life worth living in an austere future.
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Pops · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: Re: What do you think?

Read through the 5 rules thread, contemplate, develop rules, then make your plan from them and most of all work it.

About all we can do....
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Cashmere · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Mar 27, 2008 Posts: 1484

Homesteader · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: What do you think?

vision-master · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject: Re: What do you think?

The Desert is an unatural place for a large city to exist, unless you got the Nile out yer back door.

Pops · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: What do you think?

charliebrownout · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 17, 2008 Posts: 195

RedStateGreen · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: What do you think?

Any open environment is livable IF you know how. The natives lived in this land for thousands of years.

I don't see why you couldn't do some of all of your options. Talking to people like foraging groups, hiking/backpacking groups, old timers who lived there before a/c, learning what produces water (cactus, anyone?), how to find food, etc ... these could come in handy.

But it sounds like you have small children to think about too ... so your goals would be to get to a more hospitable climate asap with the survival skills something to fall back on if something keeps you from doing that.

Good luck, if there's something we can help with let us know.
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