Three years into Peak Oil thinking...

the_red_pill · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 12, 2005 Posts: 58

Well, I thought it was time to come back and post after being away for awhile. It's been about three years now since I swallowed the red pill and I will say, my life has changed considerably. It was as though I had found a religion. I had just known my whole life that something wasn't right with this world....like how long could we just go on filling up and filling up?

Fortunately for me, my wife opened up and immediately understood what peak oil was as well. Both of us were already anti-consumers and were living frugally, so it made sense that the world is heading to a very perilous course of change. Although I welcome the end, the getting there will be painful. I look forward to seeing the wasteful arrogant ways of rich countries to end.

I wanted to share my thoughts and what I've done in the past three years to move towards a post carbon future:
1. Short term, I've taken a job that luckily allows me to work from home most of the time. I've been nearly unaffected by recent oil/gas price increases, although I welcome them heartily.
2. We have reduced our debt to zero.
3. I have begun learning old-world skills, skills that will be useful one day when typical 21st century jobs have vanished. I have been practicing (and having alot of fun in the process) how to make beer, from nearly scratch ingredients. I figure I can eat from that. I also have dusted off my guitar and practice vigorously, expanding my repitoire of songs. I also play piano. I figure I can feed my wife/I with my music and beer if needed! Wink

My wife is learning how to sew and make garments from scratch.
4: Not for everybody, but we're not having children. Less dependents.
5: Cycle everyday 15 miles, even in 100+ heat. Getting around in the future will be done by bike for almost everything.
6: Hypermiling is a new practice; when I do drive, I get 150% of EPA mpg on both our cars. (both are Hondas, manually tranny with no options).
7: Stockpiling staples and reading on how to survive w/o modern conveniences. Who needs a dryer? My hot water heater's been off for weeks now....take cold showers.
8: Who needs a mall? I haven't been to one for two years. Fix and recycle things from the trash. I try to buy everything I need second hand.
9: Keeping my mind open for new ideas and concepts. Anybody out there experiment with human-powered and gravity powered electrical generation? I want to build some home generators that I can bike or wind up and make some juice. Solar's fine for the day but I don't want batteries for night time/ cloudy days.
10: Living cheap! Save every cent we can, clip coupons, don't buy *anything* that isn't necessary. Buy gold! Buy silver!
11: This is probably the most important: Doing *everything* we want to do now that requires cheap oil, like travel! We are traveling to as many places as we can while we can still afford it (which probably isn't much longer!).

Next things: gardening, I have to remember, when I was a kid I was a fantastic organic gardener but I hate to admit I've lost it all! Make wine! Make liquor! Ultimate goal: grow all ingredients to make beer and maybe wine, but that's only if I can buy some good land for that!

I have to admit, sometimes today I *still* feel hopeless and lost thinking about the future, but just remembering what we're doing to prepare for the future makes me feel better. Even if it doesn't make a difference in the long run, it makes me feel better to know I'm way better prepared than all the tattoed idiots out there (who will go nuts when they can't get soda or cheeze puffs), I have to admit, I feel the most alive I've ever felt. I just wish the rest of the world would come to their senses too!

Don't get to me wrong, I'm still very pessimistic about the future b/c I think humankind is basically screwed, I like to think I'm preparing enough to make my wife and I last a little longer. Any suggestions? I'm nearly 38 years old and I guess I'm halfway through my life. I figure have 25 more years to live and that will be enough for me. I don't want to be 80 something in a post carbon world.

I figure if I can manage to feed my wife and I, and keep us sheltered in the twilight of our lives, that should be enough. We have each other. I have learned from peak oil that that is what humanity is about: love, shelter, food and happiness with that; not ipods, cell phones, cars, tv, etc.

SILENTTODD

You’re well ahead of me, even in bike riding miles, which is something I am an advocate of. I printed out you post and tacked it to the refrigerator (in front) to act as inspiration each morning!

Maybe I should stop posting so much and start doing the things you have been.
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Skeptical scrutiny in both Science and Religion is the means by which deep thoughts are winnowed from deep nonsense-Carl Sagan

americandream

You're a lucky man! Where did you find her. Living this lifestyle with a prospective partner is a rare event it seems.
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Bugger me, I hear oil's runnin out mate!

mos6507

TheDude

Great post red_pill! You're certainly walking the walk.

Are you living in the city still? Assuming you were in the first place. Any luck convincing neighbors about peak oil? People who can win over spouses certainly seem the exception, for some reason...did you use your guitar? Cool

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Cogito, ergo non satis bibivi
The Dude Is Not In: Leave A Message After The Beep.

kpeavey · Expert Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 1313

the_red_pill · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 12, 2005 Posts: 58

r101958 · Tar Sands Joined: Apr 10, 2008 Posts: 97 Location: Florida

In reality the only way you will be safe is within a closely knit small community of trusted friends and/or neighbors. I suggest everybody read the following story: story

Narz

Nicholai

kpeavey · Expert Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 1313

That's right, no food at my house.

Move along.
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If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--for ever."
-George Orwell, 1984

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Accept the Facts.

Mack12345 · Tar Sands Joined: Jun 02, 2008 Posts: 78

"tattoed idiots "

I am tatooed and do not consider myself an idiot . Try not to over generalize, you only harm yourself by doing so .

Very good work on your preps though, your ahead of me .

the_red_pill · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 12, 2005 Posts: 58

darwinsdog · Heavy Crude Joined: Jun 27, 2008 Posts: 170

What difference does it make if you & your wife survive, if you don't have any kids or grandkids? You're both just "disposable phenotypes" after all. The zygote is just the gametes' way of making more gametes. You should spawn all the kids you can, or else quit wasting resources that could be used by other people & their kids. Life is only & all about Darwinian fitness - or didn't you know that?

the_red_pill · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 12, 2005 Posts: 58