Survival

[(SWGO)Kren]

Just keep in-mind natural disasters also.
When the super volcanoes in Yellowstone (Wyoming) or the Long Valley caldera (east-central California) decide to go 'pop' the people in the US will certainly need survival skills as you guys will be on the 'front lines' when this happens, it's just a er of when and not if. If there are any nuclear reactors, industrial chemical plants on the outskirts of such a blast the issue could be much worse. Melt water, forest fires and the fall of ash will cause further issues relating to travel, rescue etc.
Saying that if any of the super volcanoes decide to blow I'd say we will all be in a world of pain:

* Lake Toba in Sumatra,
* Lake Taupo in New Zealand,
* Valle grande in New Mexico,
* Aira in Japan,
* Phlegraen Fields in Italy.

It's unlikely any of the above will 'pop' anytime soon so civil unrest, economic decline and war might be the preferred option to make contingencies against. For future generations natural disasters will become the things to be prepared for.

Kren

[[m'kay]]

I'd say one of the most valuable resources post-crash would be information. Think of all the simple [poo] we do now that we don't even think about, like bathrooms, and think of how they would be impacted by not having the necessities we rely on today. Something even as simple as digging latrines that don't result in pollution of the land would be one of the first steps to reclaiming society. And yes, farming is actually pretty important when it comes to surviving, even if it can be taken by people with guns. It's not as if you decide "well i'm a pacifist, that means I farm". You say "I need to build a [m'kay] farm to keep my people alive, and also if anyone comes to take it i'll rip out their throats with my [m'kay] teeth if I have to".

Of course, the most important part of survival is pure, undiluted luck. It sounds like [poo], but it's true. That doesn't make preparing and learning any less important, but it's still a huge factor. Even if you get the chance of death down to 10 percent, that ten percent is completely beholden to the whims of whatever the hell's up in the sky. So if you come across some [derriere orifice] who just doesn't seem to die no er what's thrown at them, grab that [derriere orifice] and hold them tight because they are wizards of survival and you don't want to piss them off. Also teach them how to survive so that they don't rely on their huge reserves of luck and get shot in the eyeball somewhere down the line because they weren't paying attention to who owns the land.

[(SWGO)Kren]

If the world has gone to [poo] then I'd consider the following (in no order):

Learning how to live-off the land (hunting/farming), utilise the resources that you have, creating shelter, make fire, having clothing/footwear for the different types of seasons, basic sanitation, putting fuel back into your body on a regular basis would be fundamental in your survival especially if you have lost everything (house/food etc). Live near to available water sources for a number of reasons.

The ability to fight and adapt to the environment would also be key to survival but also working as part of a time/community would increase the chances of you living. Not putting yourself into situations which are life threatening, i.e. avoid conflict unless required including keep an eye on scavengers/predators such as wild animals as you might become a meal for them.

Strength in numbers as if you are on your own you are likely to struggle and keep yourself sane. Living and working with people you can trust and who are not going to constitute as a threat to you or a danger to the community. You'll also need to think about procreation especially if you want have a chance of increasing the viability of survival for your family and the community.

Fortification of the surroundings, higher ground but low visibility to roaming gangs. Be able to vacate at short notice and know how to navigate (maps/landmarks etc) and create temporary locations which are difficult to find by others.

Access to weapons: guns, knives, bows/arrows and poisons for defence and attack.

Medicines: manmade and if not then what you can find from the land. If you know what yo look for you'll find a lot of things can be obtained from the land.

Mobility: Bikes/Cycles, Horses and carts especially if other modes of transportation were failing.

Having food stores: the employment of salting and curing fish/meat, seeds/grains etc and how to utilise small farm animals for food (eggs/milk) would be ideal would that is likely to be difficult unless you were in a group environment.

Learn how to barter, negotiate and read people and their intentions as this will be an asset to any community and also increase help you to take opportunities when they arise.

Being versed in certain types of skills will create a higher standing in any group/community as you become an asset and not a drain on resources etc.

Passing on knowledge, keep learning materials with you to pass on to future generations.

If the conditions were bad you would also need to take a view if it was safer outside of the larger cities especially if there was a breakdown of law and order as you could be the subjected to violence through roaming armed gangs. Once the basics fall apart then a feral type of living could ensue through force of arms.

If you can adapt your mind and body in relation to the above you would have a good chance to survive.

[NiteRunner81]

I just ordered one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Washer-Ope ... and+washer



You can also make one of these out of a toilet plunger and a drill, and buy a 5 gal bucket. I think the handle on the one I ordered is too short so I'll use a smaller bucket.

http://lifehacker.com/5918992/make-a-di ... lon-bucket

My favorite laundry soap for hand-washing is either http://www.amazon.com/Charlies-Soap-Lau ... e%27s+soap -OR- http://www.amazon.com/J-R-Watkins-Laund ... ns+laundry -OR- if you aren't sensitive to citrus http://www.amazon.com/Laundry-Powder-Re ... _sim_hpc_2

Learning to survive without machines will be the first thing people will need to do....

[[NH]Shadow]

If the world has gone to [poo] then I'd consider the following (in no order):

Learning how to live-off the land (hunting/farming), utilise the resources that you have, creating shelter, make fire, having clothing/footwear for the different types of seasons, basic sanitation, putting fuel back into your body on a regular basis would be fundamental in your survival especially if you have lost everything (house/food etc). Live near to available water sources for a number of reasons.

The ability to fight and adapt to the environment would also be key to survival but also working as part of a time/community would increase the chances of you living. Not putting yourself into situations which are life threatening, i.e. avoid conflict unless required including keep an eye on scavengers/predators such as wild animals as you might become a meal for them.

Strength in numbers as if you are on your own you are likely to struggle and keep yourself sane. Living and working with people you can trust and who are not going to constitute as a threat to you or a danger to the community. You'll also need to think about procreation especially if you want have a chance of increasing the viability of survival for your family and the community.

Fortification of the surroundings, higher ground but low visibility to roaming gangs. Be able to vacate at short notice and know how to navigate (maps/landmarks etc) and create temporary locations which are difficult to find by others.

Access to weapons: guns, knives, bows/arrows and poisons for defence and attack.

Medicines: manmade and if not then what you can find from the land. If you know what yo look for you'll find a lot of things can be obtained from the land.

Mobility: Bikes/Cycles, Horses and carts especially if other modes of transportation were failing.

Having food stores: the employment of salting and curing fish/meat, seeds/grains etc and how to utilise small farm animals for food (eggs/milk) would be ideal would that is likely to be difficult unless you were in a group environment.

Learn how to barter, negotiate and read people and their intentions as this will be an asset to any community and also increase help you to take opportunities when they arise.

Being versed in certain types of skills will create a higher standing in any group/community as you become an asset and not a drain on resources etc.

Passing on knowledge, keep learning materials with you to pass on to future generations.

If the conditions were bad you would also need to take a view if it was safer outside of the larger cities especially if there was a breakdown of law and order as you could be the subjected to violence through roaming armed gangs. Once the basics fall apart then a feral type of living could ensue through force of arms.

If you can adapt your mind and body in relation to the above you would have a good chance to survive.

I have some forestry skills, and knives and such, but this is a good list. Ik I'm gonna sound like an @$$ for saying this, but I do think that, within a century, our government and world economy will collapse. Unless something radically changes in the U.S. government, we don't have a chance of surviving as a nation. Just my opinion. Sorry. It's depressing. But, well, that sucks. It's life. Deal with it