Jim:
My mainstream friends feel sorry for me. According to them, I live in a world of fear rather than hope. What they don’t understand is that I enjoy the preparedness lifestyle. While they are out shopping for shoes and designer jackets, I’m buying fruit and nut trees and learning how to graft and manage an orchard. While they are at home watching millionaire athletes compete on television, I’m doing 100 reps up and down my stairs with kettle weights building my stamina. While they are watching a movie, I’m learning how to fix my car, weld, set up a photovoltaic system and operate a ham radio. While they are at a restaurant, I’m learning how to can, smoke, bake and pickle.
There has always been a small section of society that craves adventure and learning. We were the ones that got on the ships for the new world 500 years ago. We were the ones that crossed the continent 200 years ago. We are the ones that will one day venture into space to populate new worlds. Why do I prep? It’s not just because I see the potential for mass societal upheavals, but because of the challenge. I like to learn. I do it because I enjoy the satisfaction of mastering new skills and being independent. – SF in Hawaii