May 27, 2010

A Matter Of Survival



We live in a cosy world.

For now.

But what should we do if that changes? What to do in the event of community, regional, national, or international meltdown?

Are you ready? Have you stockpiled food, water, fuel and weapons to defend them with? Where do you go? Do you stay put, or do you run? Do you have a plan?

No?

Maybe you should make one.

The AntiTerrorist has some advice for us. Take it or don't. Use it or don't.

There's no need to die. Not if you are prepared. Most will watch the video and write it off as scaremongering and justify their action with statements like "It could never happen here". The problem is that it could.

I have been to New Orleans a few times. It was jammed with friendly, welcoming people that I shared drinks and meals with. I made many happy memories in the Big Easy. Then Katrina arrived. She was full of fury and spite. She shattered lives, and she destroyed infrastructure. In just a few hours she removed order and left chaos in its stead. In her wake she left desolation and turned those good, kind people into savages. They stole televisions when there was no electricity to run them on. The robbed the houses of their neighbours, they robbed the same people that they had been close to for years. Some stole food. Some raped. Some killed. It was a war zone. The police and the National Guard hunted and shot the looters on sight. No judge, no jury, they just executed.

Now imagine a similar disaster happening here: whether it be financial meltdown (all too probable), an energy crisis (frighteningly possible), a natural disaster, or just plain old rioting that escalates into a huge "them & us" battle. I cannot recall a time in my life when any of these scenarios were more realistic than they are today.

What we imagine today can become real tomorrow. Or next month, or next year. What is the harm in studying, and preparing? Any dry foods that you put by can still be used, same goes for water, as long you rotate your stocks you will always use them. Grow your own fresh produce. Learn how to bake your own bread. Find a secure place to store fuel. Arm yourself. Even a recurved bow is better than nothing. Learn how to use it. Learn survival skills. Teach others.

This information is not meant to terrify. It is meant to educate.

When the brown stuff hits the twirly thing, humans go retro. We resort to, and wholly depend on, our will and our ability to survive. There is no stronger human desire. Even procreation takes second place. Our most base instinct is to keep breathing.

If it does all go pear-shaped, there will be 61 million of us with exactly the same goal, how long will you survive?

Give it some thought.

CR.

28 comments:

Bucko said...

Afternoon Captain.
You should have seen the look on the Mrs' face when she discovered "our" store of canned food. She still thinks i'm a bit wierd preparing for something that is "unlikely" to happen but she's gotten used to it now.

I do have a stash and a plan, and to tell you the truth, it makes me feel like a bit of an idiot, but it aint doing no harm.

Captain Ranty said...

Bucko,

No need to feel foolish. Imagine how daft you'd feel if you didn't cache some scoff?

The old boy scouts motto is a good one.

If it goes tits up there will be two camps: the ready and the deady.

CR.

Bucko said...

Captain
Very true. It still feels like being a foil hat wearing nut bag though :-)

Captain Ranty said...

:)

I know the feeling Bucko.

My local Costco must think I run a restaurant.....

Not that they care how much of whatever I buy. It's all good for their bottom line.

I am aiming for a 90 day supply. After three months there will have been a massive reduction in the population. Foraging for food will be that much easier with fewer people defending dwindling supplies.

Harsh, but that is survival.

Emotions need to be parked for the duration. I am empathetic by nature, not psychopathic so it will be a tough time.

I would prefer to avoid a situation like this but I am ready for what may come.

CR.

Lord Hutton said...

When the economy goes properly tits up (note, no sign of the word 'if') and Mr Tescos shelves run dry, I wonder how many people will be able to feed themselves.
Some of my friends really don't like the fact I go shooting, but I do have the weaponry to take down the largest meal on 4 legs that roam our land, I do wonder how quickly there thoughts on shooting would change.

For those that do not posses anything like that, the humble shotgun can bring down a feathered meal.
Shotgun ownership in the UK is a right, not a privilege, you can download and print out the application form from many police websites. The way the rules stand are, that you are entitled to own a shotgun unless the police can prove otherwise, obviously people that have mental problems or any criminal convictions need not apply.
You also need a 'good reason' as to why you want a shotgun, so, if you have a Clay Target Shooting ground in your area, 'Clay Pigeon Shooting' is the only reason you should give, and this really should go without saying, don't say 'personal protection'

Bucko said...

Captain
I use Sainsburys online. They sell cans of random own brand stuff for less than 20p each. I just add a few onto each order and they go in the kitty.

Lord
I wish I could afford a shotgun. At the moment I have to make do with a big stick. I am saving up for a nail to put in it :-)

Captain Ranty said...

Bucko,

I have been buying in bulk and I have been kidding myself that I have saved a fortune....

CR.

Captain Ranty said...

Lord H,

I have downloaded the Firearms Cert 101 from Grampian Police. It all looks fairly straight-forward.

I now have to find two people that consider me to be sane. I do like a challenge.

I absolutely hate having to ask permission to own a shotgun. Children ask permission, not adults. Still, I will jump through the hoops and tell myself that they are necessary steps.

Thanks for your advice.

CR.

Lord Hutton said...

Captain,

The form 101 as you say is for firearms, which are classed as .22 rimfire rifle up to .50 centrefire rifle and large capacity shotguns, for clay shooting you can only really use a 2 barrel shotgun (under & over or side by side) for those you need to apply using firearms form 103.
For this you only require one signature from someone of authority e.g doctor.
Once that is done, a firearms officer (who really doesn't have any authority to make any decisions) will phone to arrange a visit and go through the form and ask where (if you haven't got one already) you will be installing a gun cabinet, then, up to 8 weeks can pass till the cert is delivered and you are free to but as many shotguns (within reason, so not more than 20) as you wish (if the cabinet can hold them) and enjoy your new purchase :)

Lord Hutton said...

for 'but' read 'buy' (cab sav is especially good tonight) ;-)

Captain Ranty said...

Thanks Lord H.

I must have downloaded the wrong form. I'll go back and get the 103.

I'm a merlot or shiraz man myself....neither of which stop typos :)

CR.

Lord Hutton said...

Bucko,

Shotgun ownership need not be expensive, the cert will cost £50 and last 5 years, and you can pick a second hand shotgun up for under £100

you'll have up to 5 years to purchase a shotgun, so you don't need to spend a lot of money straight away (just don't let on to plod that it might take 5 years to get one, they really don't need to know those details, also once you have a cert, it's harder for them to revoke it)

Indyanhat said...

The anti terrorit is always good, agree with you Cap'n the shit will hit and we will see what comes of it!


verification for this , believe it or not...'unrest'

Anonymous said...

Cap,

Love the Anti'T. I've even talked the library here to buy a few copies of his books! They're on the shelves now.

As for stocking up, been doing it for the past 18 months, buying little bits more every week. All stored in what the kids dubbed "The Bunker". The mutha in lore found it hilarious.... anyway, I'm close to sorted. The shelves are stocked, a years worth so far, rotated every so often with new items.

As for all else, the freezer is stocked with fish, from the last 6 months and meat, from a hunter friend. I've been leaning from him, to hunt, with gun/crossbow and regular bow and arrow, skin and prepare moose. Had our first roast moose joint last weekend, Lovely. Word of advice, it's pretty lean, so keep it well oiled as you cook it, so it don't burn or dry out.

How am I doing so far?

JB

PS. Homemade wine and beer is going down a treat. Next batch is on the way....

Bucko said...

Lord - Thanks for the advice. I used to go clay pigeon shooting with a friend who has a farm near where I used to work, so that may be a good starting point.

I did a bit of reasearch last night on the regs and stuff.

I think its probably time to do something about it now.

I am Stan said...

Great post Capitan,

The more prepped people out there the less suffering and danger on the whole when the shit flies.

I would advise folks to take a good look at the many survival sites out there,mainly American but still full of good stuff.:-)

Lord Hutton said...

Bucko,

It sounds like you've had a taste of shooting, which is useful but by no means essential, if you know of someone who has land you can shoot on, it is even more difficult for them to refuse to grant you a licence.
A recommendation I would make is to join the BASC (www.basc.org.uk), not only do you get £10 million public liability insurance, they also have an excellent firearms helpline (they helped me when my local police authority were being awkward)

Captain,

I concur, It doesn't stop typos but I believe it does reduce them, although my research on this is still ongoing :)

Henry North London 2.0 said...

Henry North London is a psychiatrist

You can get him on henrynorthlondon@googlemail.com

Just saying thats all

Captain Ranty said...

Do I (we) need the services of a psychiatrist, FoE?

There is much I would speak to Henry about, but my sanity would be off the agenda :)

CR.

Henry North London 2.0 said...

He's waiting for your email I know he is He shut the blog down in haste and didnt wait until June 8th. I have an assurance that he wont talk shop with you....

Captain Ranty said...

Thanks FoE.

I have just written to him.

CR.

Captain Ranty said...

Foe those of you of a....curious nature, Henry and I have spoken, at length, and I can confirm that he is a most bodacious fellow.

He is on our side, psychiatrist or no, he kens that something is amiss. He has kent it for a long time.

I long for more conversations with this great thinker.

CR.

Corrugated Soundbite said...

There's nowt wrong with a bit of tinfoil hattedness. I've been wearing mine (almost) proudly for a good six months now.

I've not yet got a shotgun, although I'm putting in for a licence and have my gunsafe on the way. I've got 2 crossbows - one of them is an 80lb pistol and the other a standard sized one with a 175lb draw-weight. It'll take the full force of the Taliban to get in here unscathed ;-)

Given all the tinned food, soups and bags of pasta I've accumulated, if the worst doesn't come about I won't need to shop for 4 months. Expecting the worst has forced me to really optimise my lifestyle, learn how to brew, grow, stash and arm myself. And all this whilst spending LESS than I normally would have done.

The only thing left to add is tobacco growth, for which I have some reading material lined up. But I'll get my needs sorted out, before I start on the wants.

Good post Cap'n.

Sgt Pepperspray said...

Well looks like I had better get my skates on and start stashing. I have a 22 air rifle that I use for pigeons and rabbits if can get close enough. Next on agenda is fishing line and hooks etc reservoirs plenty trout. Crossbow on list but might have to be 2nd hand. One question, Frrewoman mentioned 8th June, is that an important date to be ready for, or just another date on the calender? Oh just a suggestion water pufification tablets or a pump, and iodine.

Captain Ranty said...

Sarge,

FoE was just letting us know about a blog shutdown on the 8th.

Purification tablets is a good idea.

Thanks for that.

CR.

Sgt Pepperspray said...

Aye Aye Captain. Was curious about the date. Never really bothered with bloggs till bumped into radio free britain last week and started hitting links. So is it just that blogg closing or all of them (just my fuckin luck if it's all of them). It's just a matter of how long before the shit hits the fan, I see the mosques are gearing up for it according to the Times (nice of them to warn everyday people about it, you know tye ones that they have been elling that there is no hardline muslim threat). Another though as well, ordanence survey maps and a compass. Get used to using them nothing worse than wandering round the countryside not knowing where you are going (espacially avoiding farmers with shotguns)

Captain Ranty said...

CS,

Pleased to learn that you are making a plan to survive in a (possibly) difficult time and that you are serious enough to want to defend you and yours from those that didn't make a plan and would relieve you of your food, your weapons, and maybe even those you hold dear.

So what if nothing happens to make you need these things?

You are ready, and that's what matters.

Be well,

CR.

Captain Ranty said...

Sarge,

It is just one blog that closed. It had served its purpose for the writer. "They" may get around to closing us all down, but not yet. Not yet.

I have OS maps of my surrounding area. It is ALL farmland so I have quite a few shotguns to avoid.

Mind you, I will have one (or more) of my own soon, so at least we will be on an equal footing.

I have several compasses too.

CR.