Reality Bites Back #1

November 5th, 2024

This date marks a drastic shift in what and who America is as a country.

And for a large segment of the Democratic party base and millions of independent voters that shift would come to rock the way they thought not only of their country but of their future and immediate survival.

Even then, in the time between that election and the inauguration of Donald J Trump for his second term as President, most liberals (or leftists... the labels we insist on may yet contribute to our downfall) were either still denying what might be done or just to stunned to act.

The days since 1/20/25 have changed that....

People who looked askance at "preppers" or "survivalist" groups, arguably all too often right wing or conspiracy belief based organizations, were suddenly crash coursing dry goods, dehydrated food, how to stockpile medicines and more.

Platforms like Facebook and Discord offered an immediate way to pool digital resources and seemingly to network. 

So here we are.... those of us who have lived this wacky lifestyle from either need or desire previous to all this need to share some things with you.

THIS IS HARD.

There are no two ways about it. In many ways this is a full time job. To live in anything approximating a SHTF scenario where currency is of minimal value is the true meaning of hardscrabble.

To go from living the semblance of a middle class US Citizen's life to living off grid due to loss of income or health or both... it is it's own cause of PTSD.

And even if you are lucky enough to be able to "roll with the changes" mentally and adapt to the situation, you come to a point where you realize that every single thing you took for granted before, plugging in a phone, running water to drink or wash your hands, keeping the lights or freezer on... all those things are no longer just flick a switch or turn a faucet.

Now you live where literally everything is like reinventing the wheel. Even with solar available (or propane or gas, if and when you can afford it or access it) and a well, when starting from the bottom it is often a lot like camping out. And not so glamporous.

But you adapt.
- You learn who you can count on and how far that goes. 
- You learn how far you can push your own limits, physically and mentally.
- You learn the satisfaction of actually COMPLETING a project.
- You learn the value of labor and to appreciate those who do it everyday so you don't (or didn't) have to.
- You learn the value of rest. That currently we live in this twilight existence of almost leisure even as we work, that steals  relaxations true value in our day to day lives.
-You learn the things that truly bring you joy.

We got it easy, folks and the shock to the system... even of contemplating the shock, it's a lot for people to handle at the best of times. Let alone when worried, untrusting of everything and afraid.

BUT THERE'S JUST NO TIME!

No... really, despite the fact that you and your neighbors are going to work and the store, dropping off the kids at school, going to PTA meetings, visiting with the grandkids... the clock has struck midnight.

There isn't any squeezing the genie back into this bottle. The world we know simply isn't going to look like what it did on Nov 4th, 2024. 

But that said, you have to take the time. You have to find the way to a path that YOU can start, work on and work towards. 

And you have to plan it for yourself first. You have to make the mental shift to be there for those you call your inner circle.  And who you won't.

It won't make you less scared, worried, anxious, untrusting or in pain. But you CAN survive. It will take a while to get back to LIVING after all this but surviving is the name of the game right now.

So...
- stop leaping from story to story in panic. I don't mean stop following the news. But you have to find a space where you can take in the information without spinning out.
- stop doomscrolling if it sets you to the point of panic. Find other sources of the info you need than social media.

It seems impossible but trust me when I say it's easier once your plan is in place because you are going to spend a lot of time making it happen. It's hard to be on the computer when you are building, gardening, training or more.

YOU AREN'T REALLY ALONE... 

Define who your circle is... who you will let in should the SHTF and who you won't.  This is incredibly hard for most of us. Empathy is the heart of why we stand against this admin. 

But in that scenario, you have to know who you will take in and who you simply can't. You probably already have this fleshed out for other reasons such as political differences etc but making the concious  decision now when the world is only smouldering vs ablaze helps.

Then, you have to figure how you are going to hold the door shut to those people. Can you lock out someone begging for admitance? What do you do if they become combative? Are you prepared for an assult?

Big scary questions. If you're disabled, questions that become even more anxiety ridden. Take the time to learn your answers. And define the actions and prep needed to follow that plan of action. Take some basic self defense courses and expand that knowledge as you can. It will build both your confidence and knowledge and let you learn some of your limits.

Now you have a basis for charting your course. You know who and what you are prepping to protect. Hopefully they are on the same page as you, but if not my suggestion is the same as I used to give husband's who had troubled marraiges... Do the work to fix it (prepare for you and them) and tell your (spouse/partner, family, friends) you want to survive what's coming with them and  that you are willing do this work... and that you hope they care enough to work with you on it.

Some will, some won't... you can't force them, of course. You can do as much as you can. 

ONE LAST THING... DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP

One thing you never realize in all this is really how long it takes for EVERYTHING. It is NOT your fault. It just is .... what it is. (My least favorite phrase)

- First you decide the project.
- Then you learn the new skills needed, classes, YouTube, teachers or mentors. 
- While that is going on you're gathering materials. Need materials for raised beds on a budget... combing through marketplace and other online or neighborhood sources. Meeting takes time etc.
- The actual doing.  It looked so quick and easy on YouTube! Of course, they have editing and experience, so yes it took 30 mins to build that hoophouse in the video but you have about 5 hours in your future.... with help.

And if you are converting or building out something you are also living in... it will take FOREVER. I don't recommend it but I get having to do it.

So don't beat yourself up... you aren't alone. You made it to this group online, we're working to get folks to connect locally in person so you can have help or at the very least support.

This is a start... and it seems like a lot. 

But it's a step. And focusing on the step not the entirity makes it possible to move forward with some sense of sanity.

You got this...