Difference between survivalist and sheeple

[monkeybird]

I read a book yesterday, nothing wonderful, such a light escapism type book. Lo and behold right in the middle of the book when the end seem near, the hero tells the heroine that:

papaphased -

The difference between a person who survives and one who doesn't is the ability to let go of the past and face the future.

This comment got me to thinking about letting go. The worse thing I can think of is letting go of my life style, loosing all the creature comforts that I enjoy. Air conditioning is a big one for me. Can I do it, heck yes!

It would be a matter of gritting me teeth, squaring my shoulders and moving forward. I do however, know people who will not let go of the way things are. They are the ones who are always wondering
"What If". They are the ones who will die.

Just food for thought.

[1Admin]

This is perhaps one of the top reasons people won't leave the cities and move to safe areas.

People now a days- and yes I'm talking about those of us who consider ourselves survivalists and "preppers" are more concerned about "comfort and convenience" than we are about safety and security. We pay a lot of lip service to the latter, but if you analyze most people's choices, comfort and convenience are a couple of the main culprits.

It's "convenient and comfortable" to stay in the city because "I have to work." As if their are no jobs in the country?? God forbid you step out on your own and maybe do something you've never done, change professions or start your own business. Nope, that squarely gets us out of the "comfort zone" and it's rarely convenient to depend solely 110% on yourself for your income versus someone else.

Great post MB. As potential survivors, we need to start making the little sacrifices now. We can say "when the time comes I'll.... (fill in the blank- get in shape, learn to live on less, eat healthier, suddenly learn a bunch of skills, etc. but in reality we will not "rise to the occasion."

It's the independent, adventuresome spirit that has been lost in survivalism for some time now. So many people look at preparedness as simply a way to satisfy the inner "pack rat," but that's just a small part of being a survivalist.

Great post, thanks.

[Grand58742]

The difference between a person who survives and one who doesn't is the ability to let go of the past and face the future.

And there lies the main problem. It's not a matter of having the ability to let go. We all have the ability to let go of our current lifestyle and survive, anyone does. But how many have the will to let go? People think to much and don't "do" enough as 1Admin pointed out. But the problem is people will overthink the SHTF or TEOTWAWKI situation and try to plan on keeping the lifestyle they have right now. They mentally prepare for little change instead of an extreme lifestyle shift. They know there will be some lifestyle changes, but they also believe by proper planning they can still maintain certain things in their life. Instead of saying "I will cut this, this and will live without this" they say "I can cut this and this, but if I buy this I won't have to lose that capability." Instead of planning on a back to basics lifestyle, they think by getting this doo-dad or gizmo they can still have the same capability as if the grid was still up. They lack the mental commitment to put the lifestyle behind them and forge ahead with a new outlook.

I'm not saying everyone has to stop prepping for the best case scenario, but far too often they miss the basics: food, water, shelter, medical and security and plan on other items instead. How many preppers do you know that have an high dollar generator with a thousand gallons of gas, a nice solar setup with battery banks and a wind turbine but can't raise crops worth a darn? Or have the greatest BOV on the planet, but no mechanical skills to repair it if (when) it breaks? These are the ones that crack up when things they planned out don't go their way. They attempt to face the future, but end up failing when that one minor shift in their plan happens. They cannot mentally accept failure because "I prepared for everything!" They cannot adapt to the change.

And while facing the future is a good principle, people during a TEOTWAWKI situation have to, MUST live in the present. If they plan too far ahead, face the future if you will, they miss the world spinning around them. And that's a dangerous situation to be in. Sure, you can't go day by day living hand to mouth and have to have something to strive for, but at the same time, one has to be cognizant of the world around them and realize we have to take everything one day at a time in a survival situation.

And there is the key word, survival. Eventually things will normalize again and one can face the future. But in a survival situation, they cannot look too far ahead. The word to remember is survive. One day at a time, one must focus on surviving. They look too far into the future and something will get missed. And that something can be a bad thing.

I also personally believe random luck will play more of a part in a survival situation than many believe. Some people are just inbred as survivors. Call it luck or genetics or just the cards they were dealt, but some will survive whether or not they face the future or embrace the past. Take some of the Holocaust survivors. There was no way some of them should have survived, but they did. Some people just get lucky.

Luck works in a mysterious way and there will be some that survive far longer than we give them credit for. The ones we never believe will survive, the "sheeple" will find a way of getting by somehow. It's not a matter of letting go of the past. It's a matter of living in the present and making do with what you have. The mental aspect of waking up every morning and putting one foot in front of the other.

And of course, that luck works in the opposite direction as well. No matter how well you prep for the future, some random facet of life happens and throws everything you've planned apart. Your house burns down, you are hit by an errant round, your BOV breaks down on the way to your prepared retreat. Or you get to your retreat and find it already occupied by a numerically superior hostile force. Sometimes luck befalls us and it isn't the best of luck.

I'm not saying we all will get lucky, or even how much luck will play a factor in all this. But some people will survive no matter what life throws at them. Somehow, some way, they survive through it all. The only reason they survive? Pure luck is the only term I can think of. I think we all will be surprised at how many "sheeple" survive in the aftermath of a TEOTWAWKI situation even though they were not prepared for it at all.

[monkeybird]

But the problem is people will overthink the SHTF or TEOTWAWKI situation and try to plan on keeping the lifestyle they have right now. They mentally prepare for little change instead of an extreme lifestyle shift. They know there will be some lifestyle changes, but they also believe by proper planning they can still maintain certain things in their life.

Grand your above comment is the absolute truth. If the SHTF the changes will be major. Some people focus on things that in my opinion would be nice but would not increase your chances of survival. My plan has been to get the essentials for survival. That's where I spend my money. If and when I feel 'comfortable' (if ever) I'll add the fluff.

[protus]

G is spot on with the vut this and that but buy this to keep that.

Look at how many will drop 600$ on a genny to power a deep freeze to keep food fresh, but never drop 600$ on LTS basics, but they may drop it into FD. Why do you think FD is so popular...open can,, add h ot h20..WHAM...instant beef, with garlic/herb flavored mashed potates with bronw gravy... :P. Its like a Microwave dinner, slap it in ,walk away,,eat... LTS takes effort ( gotta know how to cook,,,have the right means...)

So many say surviving is a mindset. It is. When your plan crashes 180 miles north east of no where Alaska and you have to stay alive till resuce comes ( or doesnt).. becoming a survivalist is a lifestyle change.....not an instant change that is dropped into your lap....that is what the example above is...surviving....being prepared lessens the amount of stuff dropping in your lap at one time ;)