Users falling to their death, then whipping him in the ankle at the last moment so that we all dive into the depths of social and financial insolvency together

Just one card? … my girlfriend looks like three of those … and she still hates me.

It’s just a conversation and discussion at this point … you are right, survival out there is very questionable as it is very difficult without the right knowledge.

But I grew up learning how to do it all from my father who was a life long hunter and trapper. When he was in his prime, in his 20s and 30s, as well as other men like him … they were famous for leaving the community (or family group) with nothing but an axe, a knife and some basic warm clothing (meaning a jacket and a few layers or pants and shirts and coverings for the head, hands and feet) (you have to imagine them being dirt poor in the 1950s and 1960s). Dad would often comment to me about modern parkas and warm clothing - he never had anything like it when he was young and survived with nothing but a thin jacket and many layers of clothing, furs and hides. They would leave in the fall just before freeze up and the start of winter and be on their own. Then arrive mid winter back to main camp with a supply of furs and frozen food. Furs and hides they prepared themselves, food from the animals they killed, snowshoes they made themselves from trees from the land and sinew from animals, sleds they built themselves and then later in the summer birch bark canoes they built with nothing but what was available on the land.

Like I said … none of this means surviving is guaranteed … it just means that with knowledge, capability and plenty of hard work … the chances are higher than for most.

That’s a horrible story … my condolences to you and your family.

There is always peace in the end. I’m not fatalistic or nihilistic, I plan on just lasting as long as possible just to spite eternity. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed this poem by Dylan Thomas and as I grow older, the more I understand and appreciate it.

Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
By Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46569/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-good-night

You are right on many of your points but the land we are talking about is the swamp lands of northern Ontario where my family were born and raised off of. My parents were born there in the wilderness and they learned to live on their own without much else. I was taught how to live there myself and I can be comfortable doing that again because I know how.

You are right about food scarcity. The land I’m talking about will only be sustainable to a small group of people that know how to live and follow the seasonal cycle of this part of the world. Extreme cold in the winter and clouds of biting insects in the summer. Food will be cyclical so one has to know how to prepare for every period of the year and how, when, where animals, fish and birds will be available and how to prepare and store them for times of shortages. My parents do have stories of being out there and having to live through famine when animals just disappeared from one reason or another.

All this doesn’t guarantee my survival in this scenario … it just means my chances would be higher than most other people.

I don’t like thinking about this stuff but as the world gets more and more crazy, the more I plan. Over the years, I consciously kept good maintenance of my truck, keep it full of fuel at all times and make sure it’s ready when I need it. I also bought a shot gun and hope to get a rifle in the future. I’ve also kept track of my tools and equipment and I have a mental list of everything I would need to pack up to live in the wilderness on my own and abandon everything else if the need arises.

I am married but my wife is ill and we are both older. So my thought is that she’ll be gone soon (or will be gone if the world does end) and I’ll be on my own.

Like the other responder said … I’m Indigenous Canadian and my parents were born and raised in the wilderness. I grew up learning how to hunt, trap and fish to live off the land. It doesn’t mean I’ll be comfortable or happy about it … it just means I’ll be more capable of surviving. My extreme ‘end of the world’ plan (which I do hope never happens) … is to just pack up my truck, fill up with gas, food, equipment, tools and firearms and head north into the wilderness until the road ends and then just start from there. Then abandon the truck and the road and head further into the wilderness. I know how to live on my own out there to build and manage my own shelter using traditional methods and I doubt many or any people will end up anywhere near me in far northern Ontario.

If the world falls apart, my first plan of action is to just go into the wilderness and stay the hell out of everyone’s way. I’m not joining any community or group anywhere. The gun will be there to keep anyone else that comes near to stay away.

When society breaks down, our greatest hope for survival will be each other … unfortunately, our greatest danger will also be ourselves.

True … but my thinking is that they will go after those people without guns first before turning their attention to me … I might not last long but at least I’ll last a while with a gun as opposed to not having one.

End of the world prep

I don’t need or want guns the way the world is now.

But if society and civilization collapses, you’ll need a gun because you’ll need to protect yourself and your family from everyone else. I won’t want it to attack other people, I’ll just need it to survive every other murderous idiot that will want to kill me for a can of beans.

USA: … the middle east has been shot by someone, we don’t know who, so we need to protect them with democracy.

(shoots middle east again)

(World watches everything and says nothing because they’re afraid that USA will shoot them too)

Imagine Peyo deciding to drop a 20 lb load as he’s visiting you in your final hours

Thanks for the insight … I’ve made a subtle change to my first comment to reflect what you said.

It was a poor choice of words and phrasing on my part … a lot of time I’m just off handedly commenting on things while doing something else and never think too much or too clearly about what I’m saying or commenting.

As an older man now … I do take time to gauge who I am talking to, especially young people, because I know social anxiety, being awkward and just being young makes it difficult for young people to do any kind of small talk. But I also do have to do it safely in a public setting where I can feel safe and the person I talk to can feel safe.

As you can see … small talk even in a public forum like this is a skill we have to learn.

If anything small talk is necessary because it teaches all how to live with one another.

Hey bud, how you doing?

Small talk is even harder in public if you are a big tall brown long haired Native Canadian man like me. I’m older now and I’m fully aware that I intimidate people at first glance. I’m not violent, or do or want to do aggressive things but if you saw me, chances are those are the first impressions that you would see.

In northern Ontario, Caucasian people are familiar with people like me and I can easily talk to most people, especially in rural areas. But if I talk to some young woman, I’m often treated like some kind of monster.

I’ve also been to Europe in Germany, France, Italy and Spain and over there it is even harder for me to conduct small talk … there’s a language barrier and on top of that I look like I do. No matter how modern people can be, there is always a level of racism when people encounter someone who doesn’t look like everyone else they know.

So to me … small talk is a public filter.

If I talk to someone and they don’t want to engage, I move on.

If I talk to someone and they treat me kindly and openly, I’ve met someone who will help me feel more comfortable in this strange world.

This also acts as a public filter

If you small talk with someone and they react positively (or at least don’t treat you weird) … then the person you are small talking to is a decent RECEPTIVE person who is also open to a bit of communication.

If you small talk with someone and they immediately treat you weird, walk away or just don’t want to deal with you … then chances are, it was a good thing you said something to eliminate any negative interaction.

EDIT: changed a word in my phrasing

Average American: … Captain! … the house is on fire and it’s full of starving children!

Captain Baloney: … meh … yeah, I’m waiting for my cheeseburger … might get around to it later

The middle path is breakdancing while going through your breakdown

Someone got their buttons pushed

meh … I’ll wait a while so it gets more pickled … more pickled means more RAM speed.