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5月4日 Being a member of a survivor communityPrevious posts have talked about the importance of being a member of a community, regardless of the scenario. The lone survivalist is a myth. It won’t work.
Why am I so sure that this is critically important?
Regardless of the scenario, the benefits that a community can offer me include:
- Extra security. Travelling in groups. - A community to trade with. Got too many apples? Swap them for a pile of Joe’s chicken eggs. - Health. Got a toothache? Give a couple of Joe’s eggs to the dentist and he will look after it. - Companionship. Companionship not just for you but for the kids (if you have any). However there are two scenarios to deal with (the "Mad Max" scenario and the simple "Decline" scenario - see my previous posts) and the communities that I need to form or join may vary between these two scenarios. I may, in fact, need to plan for membership in two different communities, one for each scenario.
In the "decline" (or "Business not quite As Usual") scenario, being part of a community is fairly easy. Make friends with the neighbours, and maintain friendships with school friends, friends from college, friends at work, and so on. Do it now. Once the network is there, I can find ways to arrange equitable relationships and trades if things decline.
I am lucky enough to have good neighbours, and a number of good friends, so this part is easy.
However, in event of a complete collapse it may be impossible to maintain these relationships. I may be forced to withdraw partially or completely. I may find myself holed up in my house most of the time, surviving on my stockpiled food and a little bit of fruit from the garden. When I emerge, my friends may be scattered, uncontactable, or worse.
Forming (or joining) a new community will depend on my ability to provide the community with skills or resources of value.
Let us assume for now that if I have good skills or resources, then I can either find or form a community. But I must have good skills or resources…. What skills or resources are valued in both a decline and a post collapse scenario?
Here are a few thoughts. They apply to me, but might be easily adapted for most people:
In every model I looked at, a trade or “black market” economy emerged. Trade goods became valuable. An ability to contribute trade goods makes you a valuable part of a trading community.
Foods that store well enough to help people through winter are extremely valuable. I have numerous fruit trees planted. I have many kilograms of sugar stockpiled. So making jam is an obvious option. I also know how to dry fruit and I know how to smoke meat, so these are also possible trade goods.
Alcohol is another valued commodity. I am an experienced brewer and I have the necessary equipment. I have apples and pears planted, so I can make cider. I have several grape vines, so I might even consider making wine (I have never made it before, but I might try).
In addition to a trade or “black market” economy, security is a valued contribution to this type of community. Creating a marketplace and then providing security for that marketplace might be a good business opportunity.
I have:
- The ability to produce goods that would be valuable for trade. - Some military training and the ability to teach others - A few firearms. On the face of it, I have the capacity to create and secure a trade area, thus providing people with a safe place to trade goods. By using some or all of these skills, I believe it should be possible for me to either create or join a community.
To implement the last part of this plan I need to make sure that I can provide effective trade goods, and/or effective security. So I need to get:
- Jars for jam.
- Bottles for alcohol
- Maybe get a little extra ammunition?
I guess I am reaching the end of this planning cycle.... time for more action. 评论 (3)
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