Everyone who is NOT heading for the hills, raise your hand.

hope_full · Heavy Crude Joined: May 27, 2008 Posts: 256

I'm not retired. I'm not free to leave the city. I'm not independently wealthy (yet). And I'm a little stuck here.

My SO and I have jobs and once every two weeks, someone comes up to us and hands us money to thank us for showing up at those jobs. And then we give that money to other people, to thank them for providing electricity and groceries, etc.

Yes, if all hell broke loose, we are able to ready, willing and able to run away to a friendly place far away from the east coast. Yes, I've done the preps.

However, reading these posts I'm more than a little amazed at how many people don't seem to have any ties (obligations) to their community/work/etc.

If you, like me, are stuck in the city (due to that four-letter word WORK), what financial/social/civil/economic indicators are you paying attention to and watching? When will you know it's time to blow this popsicle stand and abandon your job and happy home and grab your groceries and head for the hills? Because leaving a job is a severe and serious thing.

What should we city dwellers be watching? What is OUR "canary in the coal mine"?

HF

allmeyer

Martial law.

zoidberg · Last edited by zoidberg on Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:23 am; edited 1 time in total

When the Army is deployed to your city.

edit: close post. I'd say though that martial law would be too late. There should be some time after the deployment before curfews and martial law is imposed(or at least attempted)

However dont let the current credit crisis hysteria provoke you to move too soon. Theres at least one more boomlet coming up before the long grind down. Estimated start date, 3Q 2009.

Jotapay · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jun 21, 2008 Posts: 642

I'm staying, but I'm about 75% prepared, which is 100% better than most people around me. It will be rough but I feel confident about my situation.

Being in the country is not necessarily a panacea.

dohboi · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Dec 05, 2005 Posts: 1438

Hmmm, martial law and army occupation would be more like the mine collapsing than a canary dying.

I still am not sure that urban is going to be worse than rural, but this will depend on which urban setting you are in.

Not everyone can head for the hills. For one thing there simply aren't enough hills to go around.

Peak Hills??

miskatonic · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 31, 2008 Posts: 20

I would say it is time to get out if ATMs stop working. When you start hearing about police forces being cut to skeleton crews I would say it is time. After that the Feds will roll in the guard units to maintain order.

When that happens you ~~might~~ will get martial law. Do not abandon your job just yet. Just bug out for a few days. There is still a long way to go before a collapse. When it does happen it will be in short order and very quick.

Whatever you do make sure you have enough cash/gold/savings/food to make it through at least a year.

Duende

Good question.

There would be riots first, then the national guard... I mean, things would have to get BAD before most people would think about leaving. But, it all depends on how fast the curtain falls, I guess.
_________________
What fortune has made yours is not your own. -Seneca

oswald622 · Heavy Crude Joined: Aug 28, 2005 Posts: 171

I'm not going anywhere, for a few reasons.

1. I don't have the means.

2. It would be selfish of me - I have people here to take care of.

3. It's short-sighted and futile. The collapse will only last a short time; the New Order of the Ages will soon rise from the ashes like a phoenix.

miskatonic · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 31, 2008 Posts: 20

Arsenal

dinopello

I'm staying, my neighbood always has an awesome halloween street party.

Every day the stock market drops another 500, 1000 points I lose some "wealth" but it makes me feel better about the future. "Growth" (from 2005 hyperinfalted levels) is over and the market, which reflects expectations about future growth are finally starting to reflect it. The real problems when they hit will be severe, I think. But there is still a lot of uncertainty about what that will entail exactly. I know a lot of people who think they are certain, may be right, but I'm not one of them.

Arsenal

Arsenal

jlw61

I would leave the city if:

1) A state of war existed with Russia
2) The only gas likely to be available is the gas in my tank
3) City water stops flowing for more than 3 days
4) My wife and I become unemployed for more than 3 months

I would consider it if David Caruso want's to rename his show to "CSI - Richmond"
_________________
When somebody makes a statement you don't understand, don't tell him he's crazy. Ask him what he means. -- Otto Harkaman, Space Viking

shady28 · Heavy Crude Joined: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 367

Hm, have to say I'm a bit disappointed at the doomers.

I'd say about 50% of the population would attempt to leave if riots broke out and the national guard were deployed, with banks closed and curfews set.

Short version of that is - good luck if you wait that long.

For me personally, my first key will be loss of employment and a glaring glut in the workforce making it near impossible to find even basic employment. Unrest would probably be apparent at that point, but not riots. Anyway, once things reach that level the only reason to stay in the city is a forlorn hope that things will get better.
_________________
Welcome to the Kondratieff Winter