feel the pain

FEEL THE PAIN
In 2005, Monro Indiana ( RV capital of the world ) churned out 54 units a day. Today it is lucky number 13. I think this was motor homes rather than trailers. I just caught a quick mention on NPR this morning. Obammy went there and made a feel good speech. "My fellow Kenyans, our credit system is in tatters and you can't buy one of these gas pigs you used to make, but because I'm known as the Magical Prez, I promise that you will start making batteries for really expensive electric cars no one will be able to afford, powered by a dwindling supply of natural gas or coal to generate power that is transmitted over an aging and decrepit electric grid. Now let's start paying more taxes so I can "reform" the health sector like Bush made us in dependant from foreign oil imports by turning our food into fuel." God, I was inspired.
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Most people have the attitude that when the time comes they will throw off their three piece business suit and don their SuperSurvivor suit, complete with sexy red cape and utility belt ( the belt comes in red as an option, although black is standard ). For those survivors/preppers only concerned with brief natural disasters or supply disruptions, fine and dandy. You can continue living a standard suburban lifestyle. You've already prepared with your can goods and candles and what not. However, for those that are anticipating the end of the world/Peak Oil/barbarians at the gate type collapse, it isn't that easy. It isn't so much that you need to practice gardening or herding chickens or whatever. That is important. But far more important is adjusting your mind. You need to experience and practice a new attitude. Living on junk land without electricity and peddling a bike through snow to work is a crappy way to live. I don't blame people for wanting to postpone that until they are forced to live that way.
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But you aren't doing yourself any favors. Living at less than the standard Oil Age Urban Grid On lifestyle is far different than any of us are used to. You can easily know the ins and outs of Less Modern living ( I won't call it primitive living since you have the basic modern necessities, just in much more limited quantities ), but you won't have the experience of the frustration living like that. You don't adjust mentally. I'm not saying the adjustment will kill you if it is done cold turkey. Just that experience will make the end of the world a lot less stressful. You have people shooting at you, the Black Plague running rampant, cold pork and beans for dinner, the last thing you want added to the mix is going in withdrawals for 100 watt bulbs and a microwave dinner.
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You are practicing for deprivation. And disappointment. It is just like exercise. You can't stay fat and suddenly run five miles ( I'm not saying some fat is bad, it is an emergency food source- just using a good example ). You need to ease into it. Baby steps. So tell the complaining wife to shut up and deal with the voluntary step down in lifestyle and the emergency crash course in stockpiling. This is a good learning experience in poverty and punishment for all our sins.
END
Yes, very short today. I wrote yesterday's article the night before in anticipation of going to the bank at lunch and the checks were late so I had to go today. And I didn't feel like writing again last night ( okay, I tried and it turned out bad enough to delete ). I was in a mood, sorry. Full length tomorrow ( that's what she said-yuk,yuk ).