What are you surviving FOR?

[Aerindel]

It occurs to me, on the recent them of prepping dying out, or possible being corrupted.....something we don't talk about is WHY survive?

We prep so we can survive....we survive for.....what?

Something that I notice in reading OLD survival material, is that survival was a means to the end. Not the end itself. You survive so you can be in a position not to have to surrender to the Russians, or so you are ready to do your part rebuilding America, or you survive, so that you can take over the 'stuff' left by the people who didn't so 'your' people will be the ones going forward

The point being.....there was a 'point' to surviving. Surviving was what you did to be able to do that thing.

Are there sill 'things' to survive for? or is part of the problem with current prepping culture, that its just to survive, to be alive for the sake of being alive?

 

[Amish Heart]

Well, what you said...surviving was what you did to be able to do that thing. I'm a Christian, and I believe that. I believe God knows that thing, so I do my best to survive until I don't. Then I'm off to round two.

 

[LadyLocust]

Interesting question.
I guess I haven’t considered my prepping as a survival tactic directly. I’m not wild about people so when any hiccup occurs, I want to be able to stay away from them. And in all honesty even if everything smoothed out, I would still do what I do and want to be away from people. As far as survival specifically, that’s up to my Maker.

 

[Sourdough]

We prep so we can survive....we survive for.....what?

I have lived a survival lifestyle for 53+ years. Small one room cabins (typically 12'X 16' or 20' No running water, no indoor plumbing, wood stove. I'll guess that roughly 13 or 15'ish of those 53 years was without any electricity, often not even an outhouse.

I suspect my five decades lifestyle was "suckier" than most can Invision their post SHTF survival reality degenerating to. Now it a whole new chapter (final chapter) for me.

 

[jazzy]

well----if we just look at history--we are surviving to get to the other side of collapse and rebuild. if we got families-kids-grankids we are surviving to take care of them. if a christian we survive to finish whatever job weve been given. if we are in our 70-80s, we survive to get the next day and hope theres still sdome chocolate and coffee

 

[LadyLocust]

I have lived a survival lifestyle for 53+ years. Small one room cabins (typically 12'X 16' or 20' No running water, no indoor plumbing, wood stove. I'll guess that roughly 13 or 15'ish of those 53 years was without any electricity, often not even an outhouse.

I suspect my five decades lifestyle was "suckier" than most can Invision their post SHTF survival reality degenerating to. Now it a whole new chapter (final chapter) for me.

I think you nailed it there SD. People flip out if they get the wrong mocha frappe latte or whatever. They can’t even fathom no bathroom or hot shower. There are some who can adjust and even thrive in the conditions you described, but the bulk would simply perish.

 

[montanabill]

I feel survival is a very basic instinct hardwired in most alive things.
Also survival of our genes in following generations is basic.

 

[Weedygarden]

I think you nailed it there SD. People flip out if they get the wrong mocha frappe latte or whatever. They can’t even fathom no bathroom or hot shower. There are some who can adjust and even thrive in the conditions you described, but the bulk would simply perish.

I have known people who have said they would rather die than live a harsher life, to be prepared for a more difficult life. We have no idea where this is going to go and how challenging it will be. No matter how prepared the best of us is, we may not be able to be prepared for the worst that is coming, ready or not. We may not even be able to imagine how bad things could be.

We are all in a different place, a different mind set, and have had different experiences and life training that is a part of our ability to cope. Edit, we can only do the best we can with what we know and have.

 

[Haertig]

My drive to survive is to help my family. That's it. No other reason that I can think of. When I am no longer a help and start becoming a hindrance, then that's when I want to die. This is probably the basis for my choosing to be prepared for only about 6 months of survival. Because after that, I think I would be a hindrance. I never thought of my choice this way before. Instead, I have been using excuses like "I don't want to be around if things have no hope of getting better". But as I contemplate now, I think my choice is more due to my thoughts on my usefulness to my family. It is a perishable commodity that I have to offer.

 

[Biggkidd]

I used to want to survive for my kids and to rebuild better than what we've had for the last few decades. Now I think it's because I'm meant to share things I know how to do or how to think out of the box way out! I've always also had the goal to make something to better things for mankind in some way. When I think of this I often think how thankful I personally am for Willis Carrier.

 

[Supervisor42]

My drive to survive is to help my family. That's it. No other reason that I can think of. When I am no longer a help and start becoming a hindrance, then that's when I want to die. This is probably the basis for my choosing to be prepared for only about 6 months of survival. Because after that, I think I would be a hindrance. I never thought of my choice this way before. Instead, I have been using excuses like "I don't want to be around if things have no hope of getting better". But as I contemplate now, I think my choice is more due to my thoughts on my usefulness to my family. It is a perishable commodity that I have to offer.

My thoughts exactly, but in a much less depressing post.
In my prime, I helped hundreds of people each month...
My existence today is to only help my wife. And I don't have to do much.
If things went downhill, I would have to do more, and could.
My reason to survive is for her.
Without her, my reason to exist would vanish... and so would I .

 

[SoJer]

...We prep so we can survive....we survive for.....what?

Simple: To Protect / Give Family a 'fighting chance' to survive / thrive, themselves - That's It, the start and finish, alpha & omega of it.

If / Once they are 'Gone' (by whatever tragic-means..) well.. I would simply spend my 'remaining days' helping Eliminate those who threaten / squash Others' survival / wellbeing - Ergo: 'Trash Removal Services'.. Starting with any remaining 'Politicians', gang / cartel members (Including any of those in the NWO-cartel, in particular.. ) and those who've - Ever - trafficked / abused Children.. Yah, sorry.. Maggot Food.

jd

 

[Canon29]

It's a multifaceted answer.

First and foremost, life is the ultimate blessing and I appreciate it even if I must face a sinful world. Spending enough time out in the woods kind of breaks your conditioning when it comes to socialized standards of life. I'm really OK living in the dirt. I do not care for luxuries as most do. I LOVE being alive and I love experiencing God's creation- I will do what's in my power to stay that way as long as it doesn't force me to compromise on my faith.

Beyond that I have a family who depends on me, who I've taught to love and value living in that way. If society breaks down and we go without plumbing and wifi- thats OK. We have learned to live in such ways that we can still appreciate God's creation without the help of other men. I want my children to grow up and love God like me and my wife do, i want them to experience his creation so that by studying his masterpiece they can better understand and love him. I want my children to fully appreciate the blessing of life fundamentally, rather than conditionally based upon a socially conditioned standard of "quality of life". We don't expect that to be without risks, but we also don't evaluate those risks in a stilted comparative fashion. I choose to serve my family, and acting as the head of my family, lead them closer to God in all things. We do not love the world of men- and though we can benefit from it, our survival is not predicated upon its existence and our love of life is not derived by its ritual.

So the short answer is we choose to survive because life is a precious gift from God and we wish revel in his creation and remain above the influence of sin.

 

[randyt]

I have lived a survival lifestyle for 53+ years. Small one room cabins (typically 12'X 16' or 20' No running water, no indoor plumbing, wood stove. I'll guess that roughly 13 or 15'ish of those 53 years was without any electricity, often not even an outhouse.

I suspect my five decades lifestyle was "suckier" than most can Invision their post SHTF survival reality degenerating to. Now it a whole new chapter (final chapter) for me.

You should write a book. I would buy it. Do it

 

[Pearl]

I want to live to see the other side! The other side, post SHTF, when good has triumphed over evil! When the world moves in the right direction and the rebuilding is a pleasurable peace of mind!!

 

[Tommyice]

My thoughts exactly, but in a much less depressing post.
In my prime, I helped hundreds of people each month...
My existence today is to only help my wife. And I don't have to do much.
If things went downhill, I would have to do more, and could.
My reason to survive is for her.
Without her, my reason to exist would vanish... and so would I .

C'est l'amour

It's only my father, brother and SIL in this world that matter for me. I have a larger family net but this is my nucleus. There are no children, no nieces/nephews. There is only nature's instinct which will wane at one point without their love.

p.s. I'm melodramatic today because I'm going back to work.

 

[Haertig]

I want to live to see the other side! The other side, post SHTF, when good has triumphed over evil! When the world moves in the right direction and the rebuilding is a pleasurable peace of mind!!

Why would the bad people that caused the SHTF suddenly turn into triumphant good people on the other side? I would expect the SHTF to beget more bad people, not more good people. That's why we're all stocking up on guns and ammo and making plans to protect our stuff.

But, despite this pessimistic assessment, I share your hope that things will get better, and they are not as bad as many see them to be.

 

[Pearl]

Why would the bad people that caused the SHTF suddenly turn into triumphant good people on the other side? I would expect the SHTF to beget more bad people, not more good people. That's why we're all stocking up on guns and ammo and making plans to protect our stuff.

But, despite this pessimistic assessment, I share your hope that things will get better, and they are not as bad as many see them to be.

I did not say bad people would turn into good people!!

 

[Haertig]

I did not say bad people would turn into good people!!

No, you didn't. That was my thinking. When we have enough bad people, bad government, bad corporations, bad pharmaceuticals, bad everything to cause society to SHTF - then were are the good people going to come from to make the other side of SHTF good? If they've been here all along, why couldn't they prevent SHTF in the first place?

I know mine is a pessimistic outlook, but if society does indeed collapse - I don't think it will personally, but others do and even say it is collapsing now - then I don't think it will come back after the collapse. The SHTF will be permanent at that point. It will be like North Korea here. Or worse.

 

[Sourdough]

An interesting point, I choose to observe, is that survival (actual survival) is really "Only" comprehendible to the few who have "met" the end. Genuine yet reluctant surrender to vivid current reality, they no longer control the pending outcome.

Most people consider "inconvenience" or "discomfort" as a wall they confuse as "survival".

 

[elkhound]

i wanna survive so it PO's people that dont like me!


basic instinct...to see another sunrise,day and sunset.

detailed answer..read the bible.

 

[Cabin Fever]

As others have said, my purpose in surviving would be to help loved ones survive and have an easier life. If I was a burden on these people, not sure if I would want to survive at their expense. If this were to happen, I'd be kinda like that person in whatever movie it was where grandma Eskimo had the family leave her alone out on the ice.

I've lived a great life and seen and did a lot. I was an Eagle Scout, I hiked the Northshore of Lake Superior, I've hiked through the mountains of Glacier National Park from one side to the other, I was a canoe guide in the BWCA, I've lived with the Inuit on Hudson's Bay near the Arctic Circle, I've lived in a one-room cabin with just an outhouse and handpump for conveniences, I have loved a partner with my entire being. Not trying to toot my horn, just pointing out that I've had a full life, I could leave it if there was no purpose in continuing my life. For me, I would need a purpose to continue the fight for survival. And, as I said, that purpose would be to help friends and family to survive.

 

[montanabill]

I find it interesting how many responses condition their reason for surviving interliinked with a near and dear loved one or their immediate family.
I care dearly about those i am close to and would have a hole in my heart if I lost them and they would also have a great loss if I wasnt around..
In my world tho there are others I might not have even met who need some help or wisdom or teaching how to do things and I am strongly commited to carrying on as long as I am able. (those arent I pods in my ear, just some cheap hearing aids).

 

[Cabin Fever]

I find it interesting how many responses condition their reason for surviving interliinked with a near and dear loved one or their immediate family.
I care dearly about those i am close to and would have a hole in my heart if I lost them and they would also have a great loss if I wasnt around..
In my world tho there are others I might not have even met who need some help or wisdom or teaching how to do things and I am strongly commited to carrying on as long as I am able. (those arent I pods in my ear, just some cheap hearing aids).
View attachment 124997

I agree. A loved one worth surviving for could be a stranger entering your property that needed help. I say "entering your property" because in a TEOTWAWKI situation, I doubt a person is going to be walking around where other people live, at least for us who live in rural areas. The problem is people who are "entering your property" will likely be wanting to take what is yours and not asking to be your friend. Love your photo, we have 11 of those precious gifts.

 

[Haertig]

Love your photo, we have 11 of those precious gifts.

That's a lot of hearing aids.

 

[Tirediron]

This is a good question. I do it cause I might learn something.

 

[Aerindel]

So how does everyone who listed family deal with the certainty your family will die, SHTF or no? If you don't have to watch them die, they will have to watch you die.

See, prepping for family means nothing to me....because I know they will all die anyway and the only way to avoid having to see that, is to die first.

Family is the biggest reason for me want to not survive SHTF or not.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I plan on surviving to ensure that my kids and grandkids have a chance at surviving. If nothing happens then so much the better.

 

[Neb]

So how does everyone who listed family deal with the certainty your family will die, SHTF or no? If you don't have to watch them die, they will have to watch you die.

See, prepping for family means nothing to me....because I know they will all die anyway and the only way to avoid having to see that, is to die first.

Family is the biggest reason for me want to not survive SHTF or not.

I intend to do my best to set granddaughters and family to THRIVE post TEOTWAKI.

I was eyeing up a source for a steam boiler just this afternoon.

Re: watching me die.

I am the eldest and my brother died last year. I am next expected to die.

Ben

 

[Aerindel]

Last body I picked up was the 70 year old daughter of a 90 year old mother.