So, where is the silver lining in the glass-half-full perspective?
You have to squint your eyes and look very hard to see it in today’s world, but there is an argument that as we navigate this moment in history, the universe will require that humanity return to common sense. It will mean another collapse of society, a statement that rolls off my keyboard easily but will be horribly painful. It is going to come with war and disease; humans don’t seem to possess the ability to make meaningful proactive changes, but we are exceptionally good at reacting to trauma. We respond much better than we plan, and that is the silver lining.
I write about the solutions and corrections that seem almost required for us to survive as a species. I covered one possibility in my book, The Madness. That scenario is definitely a potential outcome, but outside of an apocalyptic crash, the devolution of our insane culture is a certainty. There is no way that humanity can continue along an unsustainable path. As I point out, The Universe Will Eventually Have the Last Word.
In my writings, I attempt to outline potential solutions, drawing on the successes of the past. I tie those remedies to biology and our DNA, because if we are to survive as a species, we need to revere that reality and build our cultures around the foundation of our nature. For hundreds of years, we have been fighting it, denying self. Technology can play a part, but it cannot replace us. If it does, nature will eventually provide harsh corrections. People are inordinately stupid if they believe that the universe supports machinery outside of humanity. The movie Terminator is simply foolishness; we can’t even comprehend the many ways the Universe might punish anything or anyone who moves outside of its natural laws in such a manner. Any concept that provides for autonomous machinery outside of human support ignores natural law.
The good news is that we are having this conversation. I hope we are moving forward on one hand and preparing for a collapse on the other. I often quip that every clever gopher has a back door. I am not sure humans are as intelligent as gophers.
So, What Now?
Stop worrying, but get serious. Focus on common sense and getting out of debt. Create an income stream that you own. Get married, I suggest one man and two women. I know that sounds crazy to many people today, but it is natural and biblical. There was a reason for that, and if done correctly, it provides a vastly superior family structure. It also provides a better financial base; three people can out-produce two people by a large margin.
Consider that if you start in your twenties and invest $2,000 every month in a mutual fund designed to return at the average stock market rate, you will have $4 million by your mid-fifties. By your mid-sixties, you would have $12 million. If you were to purchase rental property at the same time, one house every two years starting in your thirties, your wealth would be staggering.
That is hard to do with two people in one household as they raise a family. With three people, it’s easy. We may not know what the future holds, but the history of the world offers us a hint. Focus on a six-month survival plan. If the worst happens, and sooner or later it will, six months will allow you to weather the worst of the disaster.
Buy a generator, keep cans of gas in hand. Have a barbecue and keep a supply of propane bottles. I regularly have at least six full. Maintain a stockpile of essential items, including food, water, and necessities. Keep a couple of handheld two-way radios, also known as walkie-talkies, fully charged with fresh batteries. Move out of the city as soon as you can. As we’ve said, there is no way of knowing if the collapse will occur next month, next year, or in the next generation, but history tells us it is inevitable. Current events suggest it will be sooner, rather than later. When it does occur, cities are death traps.
Learn how to garden and preserve food. Keep a two or three-year supply of heirloom vegetable seeds. If possible, consider relocating to a place with milder winters. There are plenty of great places in the South. Without electricity, cold climates are inhospitable. Build a small library of books that teach basic living techniques. Learn to sew and perform basic needs yourself. Acquire some weapons and learn to use them effectively. Keep some gold or silver coins on hand, but don’t overdo that. In my opinion, seeds and bullets will be far more valuable in an actual collapse than will be a dime from 1850.
This doesn’t need to be some bizarre cultish routine. My wife and I make it fun, and if someone calls us “preppers”, we laugh and say we prefer the term “future survivors.”
