Disaster Doesn’t Ask Permission

I was talking to some friends the other day and they were telling me about their preparations for disaster. They have dried food in storage, survival tools of all sorts; appropriate clothing, probably cash, hopefully survival knowledge and I wouldn’t doubt that they have a large supply of dehydrated water.

I have a lot of that stuff as well; perhaps not the money, dehydrated water, or dried food, but the difference is that my stuff is all over the house and garage. In a true disastrous situation, I would be in big trouble. I don’t even have a gun to take the stuff that other people have. There is a very good chance I would be rendered down for my fat content.

I have good intentions, but my follow through is less than stellar. Every time I go to the mountains and find myself lacking a stove, gloves, cleats, walking stick, power food, water or any number of other useful things, I vow that I will put together a “Trip Bag” with all of those things I feel would be helpful. I would also like to throw together a “Go Bag” for those occasions when I have to race to the airport and hop on a plane to paradise. That hasn’t happened yet, but I have high hopes that it will very soon.

I should get those bags ready to go and I do intend to in the very near future. However, I am talking about basic travel bags, not survival bags. I think I could muddle along for a week or two if some disaster dropped down from the sky, probably. I doubt that I could survive if the government didn’t send help right away. I just don’t have the skills.

I don’t think I have the desire either. I’m not sure that if civilization as I know it came to an abrupt end that I would want to live past the end. Food shortages, disease, fighting for morsels and having to shit in the woods do not appeal to me at all. I might be wrong; the human animal is nothing if not adaptable. I guess that if I could help my grandkids survive I would do all in my power to do so. I have a few skills that might help and knowledge of the way things were done before machines did those things for us.

I have rarely longed for a simpler life. My life has been pretty simple and I do love my modern conveniences. My idea of a simpler life is to have things done for me.

Disaster doesn’t ask permission and if I am caught up in a horrible situation I will do my best to protect my family and friends…but I am not hopeful for survival.