Just what is that backpack doing in my trunk?
Once upon a time I was something of a survivalist.
You know, one of those guys who wears a lot of camouflage and has a wall full of guns and enough food stockpiled for ten years? Well, I wasn’t that bad; I never stockpiled more than a couple of weeks worth of food and a couple of guns, and I never looked good in camo. But old habits are hard to break; even now I keep a full backpack in my trunk along with a disassembled .22 rifle and a spare cane.
The backpack is because being handicapped I can’t walk out of trouble as easily as I once could; if I get stranded I may have to stay put a while, and living as I do in a rural area it might take a while to rejoin civilization.
The .22 is another matter; it’s in the car because I was taking it to the gunsmith to have the safety fixed, but I never bothered to stop by there so in the trunk it stayed.
The spare cane is because I’m crippled.
Recent conversations, including one on this site, have led me to rethink survivalism. Am I prepared if "the balloon goes up?" In a word, no.
When I was a survivalist, I had two good hips, a good heart, a fully functioning pancreas and properly functioning eyes and ears. None of these things are currently true. I depend on ten different medications on a daily basis, I walk leaning on a bent stick, I can’t read without glasses and my hearing sucks. In short, I am getting old.
But the real reason I’m not a survivalist anymore is this: I refuse to live my life as if the end of civilization is impending.
A friend of mine always said that he prepared himself to survive a nuclear war because if you do that then you’re going to be prepared for anything less than a nuclear war. My point of view is somewhat different these days; cut off from heart pills, blood pressure pills, insulin, and a few other goodies I probably won’t last a year. And with this damned handicap I’m not physically up to all but the most basic survival challenges.
In truth, I don’t expect that I’ll need to survive more than a few days cut off from civilization. In my backpack I keep a few days worth of food, a change of clothes, a compass and a good knife. I also have a light sleeping bag and a bivy shelter (a sort of one-man backpacking tent) that I had left over from my camping stuff. All this and a two-quart canteen and that’s my "bugout bag." With my bag o’ medication (which I always carry) I should be able to last a few days under most conditions. Not much of a "survival pack" I’ll grant you; not ideal for long-term survival, perhaps, but as I said my chances for long-term survival ain’t good in any case.
Besides the fact that I can’t last for long on my own, I sincerely doubt that I’ll need to. I hope not, anyway. And while I don’t see any harm in being prepared for trouble, survivalism encourages one to be over-prepared. If I were to encounter, say, a nuclear war, I’m probably dead with a fairly short time even if I do survive the first blast.
So no, I’m not a survivalist anymore and I don’t think that it’s going to be necessary to lock myself in a bomb shelter for a year, only to emerge amidst the rubble of civilization to try to rebuild with my trusty rifle and Bowie knife. I am, however, prepared to last a few days living out of the trunk of my car.
I think that’s enough survival for me.
The Blues Viking
P.S.: As I write this I am wearing a camouflage jacket for no better reason than it’s cold outside tonight. Just thought I’d mention that.
The opinions here expressed are mine and if you don’t like them you can get your own damn blog.
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1 comment:
Some people think ahead. Survivalism, of which I was a card carrying member, if we, in fact, carried cards, is a response to thinking ahead into the realm of the unthinkable.
On September 25, 1983, the unthinkable almost happened.
Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov, a retired Russian Soviet Air Defence Forces lieutenant colonel, according to several sources, averted a nuclear war on September 26, 1983, when he deviated from standard Soviet doctrine by positively identifying a missile attack warning as a false alarm. -- Source: Wikipedia
On that date, we all got lucky. I, more than many, because I was in Los Angeles standing in the midst of the aerospace industry, and across the street from LAX. :-O And I wasn't even a survivalist yet. But we survived.
I have scaled back and chilled out. But for reasons I will not elaborate, I am concerned for the peace and safety of this next Election. So, if we think the unthinkable, here is a list of "Survival Items" to have on your person on Election Day:
1) As much cash as you can have on hand, much of it in $1's and $5s. A couple $100s if you have them.
Why? Is it in case there's a run on the banks? No, it's in case your ATM and the debit card reader is down. But also have 2 tankfuls of gas in your bank account/debit card, just in case cash is not an option.
2) A full tank of gas. Yer probably NOT going to Canada, but if things get dicey, why have to stop for gas?
3) Two cans of Coleman Fuel, taped together for stability in your trunk. And a funnel. In case #2 isn't enough, Coleman Fuel is a safe way to carry gasoline. It works. I've tried it.
4) All of your critical prescriptions loaded up. If you don't have enough money, ask a friend to loan it too you. Or bet on the election.
5) A battery powered radio, easily tuned to NPR or a Canadian radio station. Like one in your car.
6) Anything you would have if you knew an ice storm was coming and expected to be out of power for 3 days. Or more. This is my #1 choice for electionary disruption... Massive Power Outage. Do NOT ask me how. I won't tell you online.
7) Your voter registration card, to prove that you DO belong near this precinct. And your drivers license, and your passport if you have one.
8) A McCain Button, pinned to your outer coat. With an "I Voted" sticker on it. I'm suspecting that many Law Enforcement Officers are McCain supporters. Why not start out on the right foot if they approach you?
9) A hunting license. One that matches whatever firearms you have in the trunk, if you, in fact, do.
Some of those are facetious or sarcastic, and some are not. Which are which? You decide...
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