Category: Survival Mindset

I was fifteen years old when the Sylvester Stallone movie, First Blood was released.  I identified with John Rambo in an adolescent way, as I too had many times escaped to the woods near my Appalachian home.  I was raised in a fairly violent household and learned at a young age that rage is only temporary.  If I could just make it to the door, my long legs would carry me to the high grass where all I had to do was fall down to become invisible.  I was afraid to stay out all night when I was in grammar …

Dear James: Your commentary on the mainstreaming of survivalism reminds me of something I would like to share.  One statement, particularly, rang true:  “… surely you witnessed (your grandparents) carrying on with the rest of their lives being very thrifty, avoiding debt, and wasting nothing.” A few years ago, it became apparent that the economy was heading south and that family finances would be impacted.  My wife and I sat down with our three teenage children for a brainstorming session on how to cut unnecessary expenses.  We live in a community with all of the modern conveniences of prosperous upper …