I'm not ready yet

[rmagee58]

I have lived my entire life on a rollercoaster ride of extreme ups and downs. You would have to work in the energy industry to understand. Feast or famine. As an independent anything in this industry, it has been a walk of faith. I have been cheated, rolled and blessed for the lessons I have learned. I am uncertain about what the future holds, but right now it looks iffy at best.

However, I remember an oath I took as a youth.

"On my honor I will try to do my duty to God and my Country, to help others at all times and to obey the girl scout laws ".

Two fingers raised.

 

[Hansa44]

I have lived my entire life on a rollercoaster ride of extreme ups and downs. You would have to work in the energy industry to understand. Feast or famine. As an independent anything in this industry, it has been a walk of faith. I have been cheated, rolled and blessed for the lessons I have learned. I am uncertain about what the future holds, but right now it looks iffy at best.

However, I remember an oath I took as a youth.

"On my honor I will try to do my duty to God and my Country, to help others at all times and to obey the girl scout laws ".

Two fingers raised.

I'm not sure there is any way to be fully prepped for what may be coming. I'm actually now limiting myself to getting things that I use all the time, but may be difficult to come by later on and very expensive too. Like coffee and honey.

 

[rmagee58]

To tell the truth gasoline is at the end of my list. Since all I can do is think of ways to survive without it, I am exercicing that option. I think prudently I must spend what is available on food and seeds.

 

[Caplock50]

Rmagee58, you are far better prepared than you think. Survival is mostly in one's mind. If your prepared to survive mentally, you will find a way to survive physically. And since you have already experienced hard times, your mind is already prepared to survive more hard times. Poor folks will survive what's coming far better than rich folks, because we live 'survival' every day. We are already mentally prepped.

 

[Terriannie]

Caplock is right. Survival is all in one's mind and from your own lips (or type) you have admitted to experiencing blessings along your roller coaster ride, so, accompanied with your two fingered honor salute I think you'll do OK.

Whenever I get antsy about not being able to afford to many, many things I would like to have for preps, I just fill up more water containers and get a little extra beans and rice when I shop. Both are cheap and I feel like I accomplished something staving off a potential panic attack.

 

[dreamseeer]

Think of things from a different perspective

Since we live low to the earth with few material possessions we will not have the terrible adjustment to make from losing it all.

The more there is to lose the higher up the jumper goes off the skyscraper balcony.

The more money there is to lose the madder the madness/insanity gets.

So, being prepared could mean simply that you have nothing much to lose and get to keep your mind/sanity.

Keeping ones sanity will help them go a long way towards staying alive and being able to think with a clear mind on how to do it.

 

[LeViolinist]

WoHeLo Magee. Camp Fire Girl here.
Every week when I walked home from my meetings, this girl named Esther followed me; taunting and threatening - saying she was going to beat me up!
My mother was rather ominous when necessary, but other than that I was the adorable and pampered 'baby' of nine.

One day, I couldn't avoid Esther, because she came up behind me - hit me square in the back, and pulled my long, campfire girl ringlets.
I turned and decided I had to face my woes - and we got into a major scuffle. She dug me with her nails, I punched her in the nose...we fought till she decided to stop.
But from that day on the hostility ended and Esther became my friend. My mother suggested we invite her to playtime and dinner.

Esther didn't have a mother that would help her get into Campfires - she wore scuzzy clothes - Her anger towards me was jealousy because she had so little - she was homely, unkept, unloved, and poor.

My thought (hope) on this - that when it gets REAL bad in USA, that all walks of life will wake up, toughen up, and pull together. The toughies in the neighborhood will use their boldness and gang skills to hunt gators and feed others. Who knows? You remembered the oath.

Re: Gasoline - I can't imagine the 'superstores' will allow their zillions of customers to go long w/o gas - or at least a shuttle service to their doors. "Step right up and get your shopping mark scanned!"

Lv

"On my honor I will try to do my duty to God and my Country, to help others at all times and to obey the girl scout laws ".

 

[Lone Wolf]

I think ya'll got a handle on it....

But.....

When things go south....be a little paranoid, skeptical, cynical, and be watchful...

A line from Chief Joseph, in a Clint Eastwood movie, goes something like this.

"The white man has been creeping up on the Indians for years"

Well...I guess he meant that even if your very comfortable in your prepped surroundings, be ever watchful of the (choose a color) man to be creeping up on you.

AND...keep your Bible as close to you as you keep your gun close to you.

Don't go checking on cached goods with-out checking your back-trail either.

lw

 

[JohnGaltfla]

Rmagee58, you are far better prepared than you think. Survival is mostly in one's mind. If your prepared to survive mentally, you will find a way to survive physically. And since you have already experienced hard times, your mind is already prepared to survive more hard times. Poor folks will survive what's coming far better than rich folks, because we live 'survival' every day. We are already mentally prepped.

Well stated sir. That really sums everything up .

 

[rmagee58]

Thanks guys I feel much better now.

 

[BrSpiritus]

Things went south for me a year ago and I have been relying on my preps to help. I have maybe another year left that I can string things along before I am truly done and sunk. This is no longer life, this is no longer living, this is survival and I am beginning to ask myself what am I surviving for? Do I personally really make a difference in the long run?

Sorry to hijack your thread but I've been feeling rather hopeless lately.

 

[Robin Hood]

Things went south for me a year ago and I have been relying on my preps to help. I have maybe another year left that I can string things along before I am truly done and sunk. This is no longer life, this is no longer living, this is survival and I am beginning to ask myself what am I surviving for? Do I personally really make a difference in the long run?

Sorry to hijack your thread but I've been feeling rather hopeless lately.

Hang in there BrSpiritus. Ones life always makes a difference even when we don't see how. God has a plan for you and for all. You are not forsaken. Be encouraged.
Lord Jesus bless BrSpiritus with your presence and give him hope.

rh

 

[The Flying Dutchman]

Things went south for me a year ago and I have been relying on my preps to help. I have maybe another year left that I can string things along before I am truly done and sunk. This is no longer life, this is no longer living, this is survival and I am beginning to ask myself what am I surviving for? Do I personally really make a difference in the long run?

Sorry to hijack your thread but I've been feeling rather hopeless lately.

Never, never think you are alone BrSpiritus;

There are others who share your delimma.

 

[Splicer205]

Things went south for me a year ago and I have been relying on my preps to help. I have maybe another year left that I can string things along before I am truly done and sunk. This is no longer life, this is no longer living, this is survival and I am beginning to ask myself what am I surviving for? Do I personally really make a difference in the long run?

Sorry to hijack your thread but I've been feeling rather hopeless lately.

I'm sorry you've been feeling hopeless lately, BrSpiritus. Just think how far ahead you are, and will be. You say this is survival. You're learning how, and will be so far ahead of so many. You know the feelings, the emotions, the fears, and many, many people will be joining you. Very shortly.

Think what a difference you could make. Think what a difference you've already made. You made me think. And thinking is something everyone needs to do more. You're sharing what we may all confront, and knowing that it's a normal reaction will make it easier to deal with. Do you really make a difference? If one paragraph made this much difference, you've answered your own question. Hang in there. The world needs you now, and will need you so much more in the future.

Rmagee58, is anyone ever really ready for what we expect? But you're sure a step ahead having lived your entire life on a rollercoaster. When you think about it, the ride up the roller coaster is what causes the stress, and the ride down, once you reach bottom is a blessed relief til the climb starts again.
This is a good thread. Makes a person really think.

 

[Caplock50]

Folks, think of it as a marathon run. Hardly anyone is exercising or preparing for the exertions of the run. You are. So, who's going to come out as the winners in this race? Those who do the exercises over the years and months before the race? Or those who wait until race day to do the exercises?

On your marks!!...


...Get set!!...


...................

 

[baw]

Things went south for me a year ago and I have been relying on my preps to help. I have maybe another year left that I can string things along before I am truly done and sunk. This is no longer life, this is no longer living, this is survival and I am beginning to ask myself what am I surviving for? Do I personally really make a difference in the long run?

Sorry to hijack your thread but I've been feeling rather hopeless lately.

I am so sorry for you! keep your head up and continue the fight. You make a difference to everyone you come in contact with. I believe that we influence everyone we meet and know in one way or another.

I dont know what happened to you but I can say I am there with you. I too hit rock bottom. After a messy divorce I am left with nothing. From owning a big house on the corner lot with a hot tub in suburbia two years ago. Now, poverty stricken. Nothing! After two years of this its starting to look up. Hang in there BrSpiritus, You do make a difference.

 

[Onebyone]

I dunno if the economy is going to fall apart or not for everyone. I have been expecting it for years but so many folks seem to still be living the good life and I still see nice houses being built and never see houses going for cheap. Maybe their world will not ever fall apart.

I do see that there are still millions of USA citizens out of work but they are not noticed as much by everyone else because they can't even get out or anything. Can't even afford the gas anymore.

However, in our life it has been bad for a long time with a little show of light last year but darkness creeps in again.

Do you accomplish anything worthwhile in the dark times? I dunno. Only thing I can say is so far we have survived. Yes daughter gets depressed sometimes as it never seems to end but you just have to think of each day and only that day at points in your life. Do make goals but don't try to swallow your whole life and future in one gulp or you will choke from the fear if nothing else.

Will it get better? I dunno anymore. I use to hope so but anymore I dunno. I still believe in miracles and since effort hasn't worked so far maybe a miracle will come .... but maybe not.

Just take each day one day at a time and sometimes one hour at a time and don't listen to others who are better off saying well this is the way as they are as dumb as asses I have found and don't seem to realize that you have done all those things and it doesn't work in all cases. I think mostly life is like the lottery or just being at the right place at the right time or being born into the right family for some.

Sometimes IMO there is just some kind of curse not of this world that you can't shake or or else you have pissed off royally some very powerful master of the universe type men who are out to wreck your life to make it hell because you stood your ground.

 

[Caplock50]

Iron cannot become steel until it is tried by fire. This is only your time in the forge of life to be tempered into steel. When you come out on the other side, you will be much tougher, stronger, and sharper than before. So, rejoice in the fact that God is preparing you mentally to survive what's coming.


Ok, that's my 'cornpone' sermon for today.

 

[BrSpiritus]

I want to thank everyone for the words of encouragement. I know God is guiding me to wherever He wants me to go and I do find some comfort in praying to Our Lady through the Rosary. All I can say though is I am tired and ready to be called home... however I will soldier on as best as I can hoping we as a people can get through the mess the Government has heaped upon us.

 

[atropa]

Things went south for me a year ago and I have been relying on my preps to help. I have maybe another year left that I can string things along before I am truly done and sunk. This is no longer life, this is no longer living, this is survival and I am beginning to ask myself what am I surviving for? Do I personally really make a difference in the long run?

Sorry to hijack your thread but I've been feeling rather hopeless lately.

Believe me, there are lots of people who know exactly how you feel. You are never alone. I get that hopeless, defeated feeling alot of times. I think people like us will have more of a fighting chance because we already know what it is to have to scrape by to survive.

 

[Happy Retired Teacher]

I am sorry you are having tough times and are struggling.
I too am going thru trying times...in the last couple of months I have lost my dear mother, my identical twin sister and my 43 year old brother. I was feeling as low as low can get and then I prayed harder than ever in my life... And I discovered I still had the LORD and in the end game..THE LORD IS ALL WE NEED. I have HIM at my side at all times and some day I will be reunited with my loved ones. So for all our prepping and worrying maybe we should just look to the Lord for our true survival. May the Lord bless you all. you are all in my prayers each and every day.