Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Preppers, Homesteaders and Survivalists - Gardens, Guns and Gear

Most people are basically gregarious in nature. Our very nature encourages us to want to be around or involved with other people. Labels are simply a way we can identify ourselves with others when we find ourselves struggling with a situation on an individual basis. It is comforting to us when we know that there are others struggling to survive in a similar manner. It is also important when we have encouragement and support from others of a similar mind to help guide us in our struggles.

While there are many paths to reach a destination, we do not always take the same one. This is not a bad thing but is due more to the spark of individualism that can found in all of us. This spark of individualism can grow if it is fed the right fuel into an enthusiasm that can help you reach your goals. The path you take isn’t as important as your intended destination. Although the paths we take may be different, our destination is quite often the same.

Have you ever stopped and asked for directions? Chances are you have done so at some time in your life. Depending upon how many people you have asked for directions, you’ll probably get an equal number of ways to get there. Some ways will be more direct, some will be more confusing and others will leave you wondering why anyone would go in that direction in the first place. You may have even got some really bad directions and found yourself more lost than you were in the beginning. Preppers, homesteaders and survivalists probably have more in common than most of them care to admit. Most all of us seek to solve our problems and reach our goals in our own and quite often unique way. It’s more a matter of the path we take having a different label.

Does it really matter that the road we take is labeled differently? It shouldn’t. There are probably several different ways that you can travel when going to work, the store or to simply  visit a friend or relative. Is one way better than the other? It’s probably not. Are some people going to be more comfortable going in one direction than another? Sure they will. This is especially true if it’s something that may be somewhat more familiar to them or seem less confusing.  The important thing is that you reach your destination and don’t get lost on the way.

Not everyone is going to be a master gardener, a gunsmith or a gear guru. Your first gardening efforts may yield little more than a dead stick in a pot. To some people, a gun may seem little more than a stick with a trigger on it. Others may wonder why someone would need all that gear that’s talked about so much. In truth, all these things have a place and their use is quite often limited only by your experience, your skills and your knowledge.


It’s the experience, skills and knowledge that we have gained as we travel our different paths that will ultimately help us to reach the same destination.

There’s a sign post up ahead...destination... self reliance.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good post - yes, there are lots of ways and methods we use to gain self reliance and independence from The System. Owning yourself is not an easy road, and it takes some time to gain and practice these skills.

I think a lot of people who live with 'financial challenged' conditions probably already do a lot of things that preppers do without being really conscious of it.

Relying on fixing the object rather than calling in the professionals. Foraging wild foods and putting them up, rather than buying on from grocery store or (gasp) buying only from fast food joints or restaurants.

Ruth Trowbridge said...

You have a marvelous mind, is shows in your words - excellent post - peace

riverwalker said...

To: anonymous 7:21

It really doesn't matter how you get there...as long as you eventually wind up where you want to be.

Thanks anon.

RW

riverwalker said...

To Ruth

Thank you.

It's your goal that's really important. Focusing on your goals may lead you in a totally path than someone else.

RW

Unknown said...

Words of prophecy, which I've shared, but sadly won't be heeded by the majority. But don't feel too bad, you're in good company: Prophets were never acknowledged in their home-towns, or own times.

riverwalker said...

To: Wannabemountainman

Sometimes you get the feeling that we're preaching to the choir...there may be a few that realize there is a lot to be said for being both self reliant and personally responsible.

Thanks.

RW

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