There have been many threads sharing thoughts on how to defend and/or hide your preps.
I’m thinking the knowledge we have gleaning off this site could well be more powerful than all the combined weaponry amassed by fluwikians. After all, how many guns can you shoot at a time? Can you shoot a gun while asleep? Can you stay awake for 18 months?
Take water for example. If I simply went to the FEMA site and did what they say to “purify” water, I might be in trouble. I wouldn’t have known this if not for pfwag. (can’t wait for his report)
If one subtly shares information (not too much now) with his neighbors once there is no water, those neighbors will realize that their survival might just depend on your survival. They certainly won’t attack you, and they might just defend you.
“Attack is the Foundation of Thought”.
Yesterday Monotreme suggested the book “Deep Survival……” by Laurence Gonzales, and Pixie and a couple of others chimed-in on the worthiness of the book. I am piciking it up Monday. It is what this thread is getting at. Mindset, mental preparaton, active role-playing, knowing what can be done and has been done-all of these prepare you for meeting the threat.
The mindset: “It’s all good.” I think.
Medical Maven – at 12:05 I agree, I’m gonna get the book too. After talking with my neighbor the other day, and we were sharing data back and forth, I felt a relief that I won’t be totally alone in this. I’m going to suggest that we get radios to talk to each other with, I already have some. They don’t want anyother neighbors to know they are prepping. I will honor their wishes but I am going to suggest to them that we continue to get the word out on what the other neighbors will need to survive. I’m gonna do a min Gojo and inform my neighbors that I am preparing as best I can and that all of our survivial will depend upon team work. There are probably 200 people on my block. Many have known me for years and know that I am hardworking and responsible but know I am a single mom and they assume with limited resources who likes to kick the butts of people who wonder into the neighborhood for unlawful deeds..hee hee hee, I’ve chased several would be criminals down the street screaming with a baseball bat in the middle of the night.
I will get a list of all the places we have ordered food from and give it to them. A list of supplies and resources on where to get further information. I started a blog a few weeks ago, I have had 250 people read it and as soon as I post one, within a few minutes i have have a dozen people reading it and I have the links for people to come here. I know some of these people are more then likely friends/parents of my teenage daughter…so I have already outed myself locally anyway.
oh- a blog!! Good stuff!
Jumping Jack Flash – at 11:50 Wrong title Jack. Knowledge is your only defense.
Bought the Deep Survival book. As soon as I get around to reading it I’ll pass it on the one of my children who can pass it on to his brother. This is one of those books to pass around. Right now reading a three page newspaper spread, called Natures Assassins. How deadly jungle diseases are threatening America. For those in N.J. its the Star Ledger, read it. I assume in the next few days it will mention Avian Flu. I had no idea we were in such a fix with diseases. Had been concentrating on the internet news sources. Goes to show that just reading the human interest and comic sections of the paper aren’t sufficient. The days of “What me worry?” are rapidly vanishing. I want to be aware, not to the degree of worrying overmuch, but being on the ball, on the mark. A balance of knowledge and action. It makes one very alive.
Diana, let me know when the Avian flu article hits, so I can pick it up on the way home please.
I’m glad that Deep Survival is picking up steam as a Flu Wiki read. The mental struggle for survival may turn out to be as challenging as the physical one, and it may be the last prep we attend to. I wonder if a book discussion thread would be of value.
On behalf of those who are considering the book, I’m going to re-post a synopsis of the author’s findings. Here’s what survivors do, according to Gonzales:
1. Perceive, believe - Survivors perceive everything there is to know about their situation and move quickly past denial, anger, and depression to accept realities. They look inward for the resources they need to handle the situation, knowing their own response is the single factor they can control.
2. Stay calm. They use fear rather than succumbing to it. That’s what we are doing when we prep. They use humor when they need to.
3. Think/analyze/plan - They organize, set up routines, institute discipline. “They push away thoughts that their situation is hopeless.”
4. Take correct/decisive action - “They deal with what is within their power from moment to moment, hour to hour, day to day. They leave the rest behind.”
5. Celebrate successes (even the smallest ones) - In so doing, they maintain motivation and avoid hopelessness.
6. Count blessings - They are grateful to be alive, and they keep going, often, by caring for others.
7. Play (sing, play games, read, dance, recite poetry) - They keep minds active and occupied with positive tasks. They make meaning out of small rituals.
8. See beauty - They are attuned to wonder, beauty. They never stop seeing it where it can be found, even in the smallest things.
9. Believe that you will succeed - Survivors hold to the belief that they can prevail if they keep their wits about them and don’t give up.
10. Surrender - They accept discomforts without giving up to despair. “Put away the pain.”
11. Do whatever is necessary - They believe anything is possible and do it. “They are coldly rational about using the world, obtaining what they need, doing what they have to do.”
12. Never give up - Survivors are not discouraged by setbacks. They pick themselves up and start again. “There is always one more thing you can do.”
Of course, a summary can’t do Deep Survival justice. It’s a gripping, enlightening read. Mindset is the better part of everything in so many situations, pandemic and otherwise.
InKy – at 15:33
Thanks for the summary. Picking it up tomorrow.
When I asked for the book at Borders, the clerk asked where I had heard about it ,and I replied on a forum about Avian Flu. They had three copies and he mentioned it had been published three years ago, and how nice it was that there was interest in it. I have also noticed Barrys book, I think it was in paperback now.With a 25% discount it came to 12$.
The Deep Survival paperback.
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