Category: Survival Mindset

Jim, I wanted to share the following with you. It really made me stop and think. I just finished reading G. Gordon Liddy’s book “When I Was A Kid, This Was A Free Country.” It is a very good read. Chapter seven is titled “Survive Or Prevail,” and in it he makes an excellent point. Do we want to survive, or prevail? The dictionary says that “to survive” means merely “to continue to live or exist.” Yet the definition of “prevail” means “to overcome; to gain the victory or superiority; to gain the advantage; to have the upper hand, or the …

I have recently been pondering the far-reaching implications of a grid-down economic collapse situation–commonly called The End of the World as We Know It (TEOTWAWKI) in survivalist circles. One of the under-emphasized implications of TEOTWAWKI will be the psychological stress of the situation–both upon you and upon your neighbors. For many years, psychologists have used the Holmes-Rahe Social Adjustment Scale (also commonly called the “Life Events Stress Scale”) to gauge the level of stress that their patients are experiencing. I can foresee that a TEOTWAWKI situation will be off the scale for any of your neighbors that are not prepared. …

James Wesley Rawles; I wanted to respond to the letter about how to get your spouse involved in preparedness. For several years I have been working as a preparedness consultant for individuals, families and groups who have an interest in preparing for disasters. I guide each group through a series of exercises to help them decide how prepared they want, choose and can afford to be. I like to start with a discussion to see if everyone is on the same page. Sometimes there are reluctant participants. I note that one usually learns to craw before they walk and walk …

Jim – Your post for today brings up the topic of the spouse that goes fetal versus choosing to cope with the world’s ugliness. Please open up the forum to hear how other people go their wife to the game! Maybe someone has a great technique that I haven’t thought of! – D.A.B. Mr. Rawles: I can certainly relate. My spouse doesn’t show much interest in preparedness either-but in our case-my spouse is my husband. He acts like my preparedness ideas and actions are just a goofy hobby. Any ideas on why a man would be in “denial”? -L.B.

Jim; Have not seen the following subject touched upon in this or any other survival/preparedness forum/blog. What are your thoughts? I recently finished reading David Crawford’s short story “The Bug-Out” and like his novel “Light’s Out” it was a well crafted, entertaining and enjoyable read for a piece of fiction. More importantly it like the novel is also a fine educational tool on how to and how not to prepare for WTSHTF. Both of these stories should be required reading for anyone interested in survival and preparedness issues. The two points that really got my attention in “The Bug-Out” were: …

Jim: Larry is to be congratulated for taking the initiative. In years past I have bugged out on numerous occasions just to “be sure.” I have never felt jilted for doing that. It is ALWAYS good practice and you always learn something. Larry may want to investigate buying a 20 foot or 40 foot (depending on his size needs) Sealand (CONEX) container and having it placed on his retreat property. This will allow him to ditch the rental storage shed (saving probably $30-50. per month. In two years or so you will “break even” on the cost of the container) …

Last year I met with Eline Hoekstra Dresden. Among the things she gave me along with her book “Wishing Upon A Star, A Tale of the Holocaust and Hope” was a bookmark that I will quote: [begin quote] During my years of public speaking, I have been asked repeatedly, “how did you live through the Holocaust?” I usually answer “I don’t really know.” However, the following list provides examples of things that worked for me (along with luck). Tools for Survival * Be alert, not paranoid * Be optimistic, but realistic * Find strength in faith (whichever) * Recognize hidden …

I can not seem to get my wife focused on what needs to be done [for preparedness] and accomplished. I think that she, at some level, believes that change is in the wind but for some reason she doesn’t see the need for a timely accomplishment of tasks. – “Indiana Jones” The Memsahib Replies: Your wife no doubt has seem the signs of decay: the ever increasing bureaucracy taking away our freedoms, the moral debasement of the culture, and no doubt you have been pointing out to her the signs of economic chaos. Yes, she can intellectually agree with you …

North Dakota News This following text is from a county emergency manager out in the western part of North Dakota after the recent snow storm: WEATHER BULLETIN   Up here in the Northern Plains we just recovered from a Historic event — may I even say a “Weather Event” of “Biblical Proportions” — with a historic blizzard of up to 44 inches of snow and winds to 90 MP that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to tens of thousands. FYI: …