BEANS BULLETS BANDAGES BRAINS BATTERIES - All the basic components of survival!
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion,
butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet,
balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying,
take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations,
analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer,
cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly.
Specialization is for insects."
-- Robert A. Heinlein
I was about 18 when I read those words from my favorite author. They inspired me to life-long learning.
I have learned many of the things from that list so far and have added many more of my own as I go along.
I also believe that Heinlein was 'compacting' skills in this quote and that notion fits very well with his literary style.
When he says "A human being should be able to change a diaper", I believe he really means that a person should be able to
create a loving relationship in which to parent a child with another person, parent the child, then nurture and care for the child as it grows and
develops into an active young adult.Each of the skills on this list can be similarly expanded and deepened until each can be a lifelong pursuit on its own. I've gone through life learning and trying new things. Why did I take a community college course in small engine repair? Because I didn't know how to repair small engines. It was the same with Spanish, Gardening, U.S History, etc. Why do I have a Ham Radio license, a Professional Chauffeur Driver's License, a trapping license, and many other credentials? Because I love to learn new skills AND EXPAND WHAT I CAN DO!
Prior to that, when I was about 11, I had read Farnham's Freehold, also by Heinlein, and had decided then that I would try to be prepared for anything, all the time. As a young Boy Scout and later as an adult, I tried to learn new things and stay prepared for anything that life would throw my way.
Now, I consider myself a survivalist. That word has a very negative connotation in today's society. I consider myself a very responsible, levelheaded, and effective citizen, but also a survivalist. Many of my friends are survivalists as well and I consider them very good friends. They are of 'like mind' with the same habits of mind. They are very friendly, able, responsible folks that simply are able to take of themselves and their families. In addition, they help out their friends in any way they can without a single thought.
So, what exactly do I consider survivalism? Pretty much just being prepared and what does that really mean? Well.... When there is a foot of snow predicted in my area - I am ready for it.
I have a weather radio, and I stay up to date on the news and weather and I know that the snow is coming. I also know what to expect in a major snowstorm because they are common in my area. I know I may not be able to get to the store so I have some extra food on hand all the time. My electric power may go out, and that would mean no water, lights, cooking or heat. So I have some water stored along with the extra food. I have alternate light including flashlights, batteries, oil lamps, and big batteries with a generator to run other things. I have plenty of food that doesn't need to be cooked, but I also have alternate methods of cooking on a Coleman camp stove, and for heat, a wood fireplace with a good supply of wood and a kerosene heater with some kerosene. I have warm clothing for everyone in the family, warm sleeping bags, and I know how to close off part of the house so I don't have to heat the whole place. I have a battery-powered radio so I can stay tuned to the news as the storm develops. I have a small camping 'porta-potty' I can set up in case we can't flush the regular toilet. I have a very well-stocked first aid kit and I know how to use it in case we need it. I have good locks on my doors and windows, and a shotgun that I know how to use well to defend my home if it should ever come to that.
That is one example of being prepared for a specific threat and part of what I believe being a survivalist means.
How do you get started from scratch?
Take the preparedness example from above and then develop a plan of your own for everything that you can imagine as a threat to yourself and your family. Think about the loss of your income, a flood, a severe thunderstorm, a riot, a tornado, a chemical spill on the rail tracks down the street. How about if your well gets contaminated by E coli bacteria from a nearby faulty septic system and can't be used for a while, or a transformer blows out at a transfer station near you and power is out for 10 days? What if the local university has a problem with their small nuclear research reactor and you need to evacuate for a week? Only you can know what the risks are in your area - So... evaluate the risks and then plan ahead of time how to handle them. After you plan then practice to develop that 'habit of mind and muscle' needed to react and make sure that your plan will actually work in practice. What looks good on paper doesn't always work so well in reality.
First, start thinking about things in categories. The most common categories that you need to be concerned with are:
Water Food First Aid Light/Power Heat/Shelter Communications Clothing Personal and Property ProtectionNext - find a group of folks that can give you ideas and that you can 'bounce your new plans off of.' There are plenty of folks that have done what you're doing, you don't have to reinvent the whole process. A group I am associated with runs a public web site called the Alpha Survival site. There is a hugh store of information there and very friendly folks that are willing and able to answer questions. If you have an interest - give it a try -
www.alpharubicon.com
Next, slowly go about collecting what you think you'll need for the things that you think will threaten you and yours. Then get out and practice, practice, PRACTICE!
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