Doly wrote:I understand that people who believe things could get fixed might consider us selfish for not making those sacrifices, but they would be completely pointless, IMO.
It isn't about whether things can or cannot get fixed, if you ask me.
It's about these two things:
1. After TSHTF, what would you rather tell people: "I was trying to do the right thing up to the last moment", or, "I decided I would just be selfish"? Considering that after TSHTF people are going to be little interested in selfish individuals, your survival chances are better if you try to be as unselfish as you can for as long as you can, especially in ways that you can prove you were unselfish. As long as your altruism is compatible with keeping your survival chances high, of course (which may require you to be pretty selfish at times).
2. After TSHTF you are going to have to do without a lot. So you might as well get some practice. But then, when it comes to some things, you may think it's much better to have them than to do without.
Basically, "it's pointless" is what people who pose as believers in doom but don't actually believe it like to say. The only way that attitude is consistent is if you also say: "By the way, I have a specific suicide plan for when TSHTF because I don't want to live through it."
I didn't decide to be just selfish; that is not what I wrote. I don't think it is selfish to try and enjoy your life. We are all different. I just said we shouldn't be concerned about other people considering us selfish, particularly since most of those people are no better than us.
My wife and I chose to live a childfree life. We volunteer constantly and have always done it. We also grow organic food commercially at a very small scale on a non-profit basis using regenerative agriculture methods in urban environments. We manage an off grid, educational farm cooperative. I am a Permaculture Designer and gardening educator, and I have spent much of the last decade teaching people how to grow food naturally, and creating edible landscapes and wildlife habitats, mostly in urban and suburban environments. I am retired and have spent most of the last year designing, financing, and building food forests and raised bed gardens in Miami public schools, particularly in low-income areas and teaching children how to grow, preserve, and prepare food. I have been doing this for a decade now, but I significantly scaled up my involvement this school year.
My wife and I have a 10 hectares permaculture farm in Uruguay. One of 3 that I designed and financed myself several years ago as bug out places. The other two now belong to my younger brother and my wife's cousin, who also happens to be one of my best friends. I am thinking of designing and building 5 to 10 more, and I am looking for land at the moment. My wife and I have donated money and labor to improve the medical clinic, elementary school, and senior and community centers in the area our farm is located. I have been a prepper and survivalist for decades and have many useful skills.
I just don't like people that point fingers at others. I also don't fool myself about the impact of my actions as an individual or think that anything we do as individuals will affect humanity's future in a significant way.
I agree with you completely that it isn't about whether things can or cannot get fixed, though. If I didn't believe that my life would be drastically different. I believe we need to try, because if we don't then there is absolutely no chance for future generations. There is a certain honor in knowingly fighting for a lost cause. I believe that life is all about how you choose to live it, and that people should focus on fixing their own lives instead of pointing fingers at others. Maybe I didn't express myself clearly.
I lived off a backpack from age 16 through age 21, hitchhiking across the Americas, sleeping under bridges, in farm fields, and whatnot. My wife and I lived aboard a sailboat for years. Believe me, hitchhikers and sailors learn to do without. I know how to live without unnecessary things better than the majority of humanity, particularly the wealthy. I have lived below my means all my life. Not bad for a 1%er trust fund (which I've never used for my own benefit but allowed me an undeniable freedom of choice that poor people obviously don't have) kid, if you ask me.
By the way, Doly, I want to thank you for your contributions to this forum. I consider you a very valuable member of this very small community, and I always look for your name when looking for posts to read.