SURVIVING 2021 - AND BEYOND
Warrior Woman
Let's face it: it's been a tough year to be awake, with government tyranny breathing down our necks, supply chain disruptions threatening our quality of life and life itself in the case of food shortages, the southern border being overrun by unvetted illegals, a disastrous Afghanistan pullout, China eating our lunch, election fraud evidence emerging, forecast energy shortages, rising prices at the pump, crime spiraling out of control as the left screams to defund the police, and Congress wasting time and taxpayer dollars on an endless series of investigations. Where has our country, the land of the free and home of the brave, gone?
There are pockets of resistance around the country: Florida, Alabama, Montana, South Dakota, and Texas governors, elected representatives, and legal teams are fighting back against the encroaching darkness that is socialism. Firefighters, police, and medical personnel, under threat of job less unless they take a vaccine that is potentially life-threatening to many, even if they have the much superior natural immunity against COVID-19, are taking to the streets in protest by the thousands. Freedom itself is under attack.
Homesteaders, preppers, and survivalists are ahead of the game. Most have the means to raise/grow their own food, or have substantial stores of long-term storage food. Food, water, shelter, self-defense, and survival skills - these brave pioneers are ready to face an uncertain future, and they're spread throughout the nation. Many more newly-awake people are working hard to catch up before the opportunities are gone. They need to hustle if they want to survive 2021 and beyond...
So...what and where are you?
Homesteaders know what it takes to raise livestock and have the means to sustain their animals. They grow, raise, and process their own food: butchering, canning, salting, smoking, dehydrating, freezing. They have (or should have) alternate/off-grid power, water, and heat sources to ensure the means of protecting themselves, their food supplies, and livestock. Being technically "farmers", homesteaders can legally store much larger volumes of gasoline, propane, and diesel. They have developed a variety of skill sets to have a successful homestead, and have the powered and manual tools to make it happen. Homesteaders can make their own soap and clothing as needed. Any needed medications, both human and animal, should be in supply. Since most homesteads are fairly remote from other residences, some knowledge of emergency medical techniques is wise.
This group is likely to consider their homestead as their permanent shelter, and probably wouldn't consider "bugging out" as a primary option. They have crops and livestock to maintain, and everything they need to survive any disaster, emergency, or extended utility outage. For dire circumstances, they have made at least a loose plan to evacuate temporarily, and have pre-staged legal documents and other vital paperwork, and perhaps even enough food and water for a few days. If needed, they may also have livestock transport devices to get their animals to safety.
This largely self-sufficient group has distinct advantages over preppers and survivalists, and can likely survive the dangers posed by a crumbling society's infrastructure. The fruits of their labor can be excellent barter material, and homesteaders may band together to assist each other with large projects, like barn-building, tree-clearing, etc. Homesteaders can also be survivalists and many are. The main danger to this group is the unprepared, who may see a homestead as an easy-pickings supply source. Self-defense should be a priority.
*If you are considering homesteading, several books on this list can help
Long-time preppers will have stockpiles of clean drinking water and food: canned, dehydrated, freeze-dried, and frozen. It's not unusual for preppers to have a variety of firearms, which they maintain regularly, and a healthy supply of ammunition. Preppers find a way to stock up on common prescription drugs (e.g. antibiotics) in case the drug store is not an option. Wise preppers stockpile non-GMO seeds, grow their own fruit and vegetables, and know how to save the seeds from the best plants, knowing that stored food won't last forever. Some preppers may raise a few chickens or rabbits to supplement their planted food supply. They also know how to process their homegrown food supply for future needs by canning, dehydrating, and freezing. This often equates to a major prepper/minor homesteader classification. Having a stockpile of food isn't enough - knowing how to make meals from all varieties of stored food is essential. Wise preppers already have recipes and the know-how to turn cans of freeze-dried foods into palatable meals.
Savvy preppers have alternate means of cooking and heating. Those who have wood-burning fireplaces or woodstoves will keep a sufficient supply of firewood on hand. Those with kerosene or propane heaters will also stock as much fuel as practical. Camping stoves, rocket stoves, propane grills, and backpacking stoves are their most common means of alternate cooking. They are likely to have a generator with sufficient gas/propane to power freezers, refrigerators, lights, and fans, and well pump as appropriate. They may have a supplemental solar system/generator of some type to keep batteries and devices charged.
For most preppers, "enough" is never enough, and they continue to acquire food, water, and supplies, and keep their fuel reserves topped off. Organizing a food supply, especially a huge one, is critical, as finding the desired ingredients should never be a last-minute endeavor. In the event of a disaster, emergency, or extended utility outage, there will be enough stress without adding the frustration of having to hunt through case-after-case of #10 cans.
This group may prefer to shelter-in-place, although they're capable of "bugging out" if conditions warrant. That includes having vehicles pre-staged and/or hiking equipment at-the-ready, envelopes or a small safe with critical documents and cash, plus medical gear, and food and water sufficient for a few weeks without utilities or totally away from home.
*If you're brand new to prepping, check here for more information.
The survivalist group is ready for fight-or-flight at a moment's notice. They are prepared to relocate to a pre-determined location and may have a community of like-minded individuals to team up with. They regularly practice to keep their skills sharp. Survivalists hike, hunt, shoot, and know how to forage for wild edible foods until they can establish their own food supply. They are experts at compass navigation and topographical map reading, so they know exactly where water can be found as well as logistical hazards. They may have 4-wheel drive vehicles capable of navigating rough terrain, pre-staged with vehicle maintenance tools, food, and water. Sturdy backpacks loaded with cash and/or barter goods, shelter materials, extra ammunition, food, and water are not uncommon, and military-style equipment (e.g. Alice packs, LBVs, and LBEs) is likely to be found in survivalists' possession.
Many survivalists are former military, and as such possess a wide range of skills suitable for life on the move. They will likely team up with those possessing useful skill sets; mechanics, medics, construction engineers, electricians, etc. This group is prepared to take care of itself and others as needed, as long as the "others" bring something to the table. Self-defense is a high priority with this group.
Survivalists are most likely preparing for the ultimate collapse of society as we know it and the need to re-establish civilization. They may be distrustful of government, and are highly resentful of the government's attempts to infringe on their Constitutional rights and freedoms. They are almost super-awake and follow national, regional, and local developments carefully. Survivalists pose no risk to the government they distrust; they just want government to get out of the way. When that fails, survivalists will remove themselves from the oncoming encroachment of such government.
This is not to say that survivalists don't cross over into the homesteader or prepper groups, but their primary focus is to be able to survive on their own according to their own skills and preparedness level.
*If you're leaning survivalist, you may find these articles helpful.
So, how do you fit into one of these groups, or do you fit completely into one and partially into other(s)? If you're not sure what direction to go, take a look at this article and the ensuing links.
Getting older is inevitable; being prepared is forever. We will survive 2021 and hopefully a lot longer. Will you?