GUEST ARTICLE
Paranoid Delusion or Pioneer Spirit
I read a comment from a reader of a previous guest article I authored. The gentleman thought that I might have some severe psychological issues. He was so concerned for my well being that he thought that my wife might want to have me committed. If you read the article (from Sunday Feb 15, 2009) I think you will agree it was not an overly outrageous topic, but maybe I am just a wacko and can't see my own lunacy.The guy was right about one thing, my wife does think I am loony.
She absolutely does not want to discuss any thing even remotely related to the survival culture. As long we both have a job and she can watch her so called reality TV and her precious Lost episodes than she is happy and does not want to be bothered. My boys really aren't that interested either. I am also reluctant to discuss it with friends or family because I don't want to be labeled as a crazy. We had some friends who came over a couple of months ago and I had eight buckets of food (seven wheat and one barley) in the garage. One of the friends noticed them and inquired.
That was all my wife needed to set her off and she spent the next 15 minutes or so ridiculing my recent behavior. I played it down but I was not a happy camper. So that just added another straw on the camels back of our marriage. It made me think about the Pioneers and what conversations would have been like back then. I doubt they were laughed at for putting away extra food or developing make shift ways to collect water. I doubt they were laughed at when they talked to each other about raising animals or planting crops. I doubt they were laughed at when they discussed defense of their property or for cooking over a fire. I doubt they were laughed at when they moved out of more populated areas in search of more secluded acreage to set up their homesteads. It really bothers me that so many people are repulsed by the very preparations that allow us to live where we do today. I wonder what the west would be like today if all the Pioneers had been laughed at prior to hitting the Oregon Trail.I am grateful for having outlets like this to exchange different point of views, even the ones that think I'm crazy.Thanks Jim for sharing your blog on the weekends.
31 comments:
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kind of loony.
anony 8:21
You're not the only one with a sheep for a wife. I would think very seriously about your relationship if she is willing to ridicule you in front of others.
On a good note, we will get to watch all the trolls die of starvation.
Cool.
I suspect lots of pioneers were laughed at or at least thought looney. They wanted to travel west out of the cities "for a better life." Think about it. They were leaving the security and comforts of community to set out on their own. Lots died along the way. Some gave up and returned. Others were lucky or had a good plan (most likely both) and succeeded. But, I'm sure they were laughed at. Think of it this way, the resources (money and time) you expend now may pay off in the future (and you can say I told you so) but your present expenditure of resources are not being used to fund/support some unproductive vice that is detrimental to you and your family. You're learning skills along the way and the process of learning is good for physical and mental health (as in delaying Alzheimers). We had a saying during the war when I was in the USAF: don't let the bastards grind you down. WVtreehanger sends.
Everybody's a critic. Fuck the judges, do the right thing.
I am glad you are working on providing security for your family.
It may take a while, but one of these days, somebody else in your family is going to wake up, and then your efforts will be appreciated.
ah, forget em. I hear that same thing all the time. I dont care what others say about it and I dont care if they refuse to do for themselves. I did what I felt was necessary for the well being of my family and if they starve, they best not beg from me.
I have a friend that was re-married. His first wife was the typical nagging shrew, gained 100lb's and laid on the couch all day, belittling him and running him down at every turn. The second wife was from China.. Respectful, courteous, would never dream of running him down, especially in front of others. We in the west have allowed this to happen, we raise our children to expect everything now. And this is carried over into adult hood.
As far as the original post goes.. Even if/when the shtf and she is living off of your preps, she will still nag and bitch, belittling you as she stuffs the bread you made from the wheat into her cake hole.
Option one, keep her and forgive her short comings
Option two, get out now before she becomes a life threatening burden.
Option three, lay down the foot and show her who the man is.
my 2c
Actually, I did not become serious about preps until my wife, I thought quite unjustly, threatened me with divorce. Then I thought, the way the judges are, she would get the lion's share of our possessions and I would have to pay child support, and for their college educations. I thought that I would virtually be in poverty, so, I used survivalism concepts to prepare for divorce-induced poverty.
As it turns out, in studying survivalism, I decided survivalists weren't really nuts, or at least not all of them. Also, my wife and I, 15 years later and after 25 years of marriage, are enjoying a good (if not perfect) marriage. My brother-in-law thinks I am nuts. His idea of global warming is that it's God's gift to give us more fresh water (I haven't been able to make sense of his reasoning). My wife at least tolerates my buying of grains, etc, and, it's me that doesn't want to talk to her about it. She will bring up the subject as if I am an evil hoarder, and I just close up. We've been over it so many times before, and I don't even believe, anymore, that I have to explain myself.
Recently, since she is an intelligent being, she realizes more and more that this is not any ordinary economic downturn, so my feeling is that she's not quite so negative about taking care of one's self, which, really, is what survivalism is all about.
It (survivalism) is also something of a political statement: the billionaires who are currently looting the world's wealth, probably are not going to take care of anyone but themselves. The CEOs, just like the Dilbert cartoons, are building their Fortress Islands. Why can't I store some grain and learn to live independenty of the international corporations, at least for for a couple of years, while everything is falling apart?
You're in a very tough situation. One idea that might help is to wait until the next serious flood/earthquake somewhere and ever-so-conversationally say, "I guess the diseases will start in two or three days". Then, when the Press does start reporting how the victims are getting sick, with dirty water, say, "Gee, those poor people. If they only had a water filter...".
I went back and read the post and do not think you a nut.
I will give an alternate point of view regarding your wife. It was unfortunate that she did what she did and if calmly told how this made you feel, I dont see many women, if they do love their husbands, being proud of that behavior. Also, it is rare that someone does not view the current economic situation with a little wariness, whether or not they prep. Your wife's hostitility may be misplaced fear. Continue what you do, show her love and she will inturn show your respect. Be the bigger person and your endeavors, both on the marrital front as well as the prepping front will not go unrewarded.
This is just my personal opinion, I am not a shrink, but I play on on TV ;)
Pearls
Anony 8:21, gosh we are sorry you are bored.LOL maybe you should go read something more amusing and stop sucking up our air.
As far as the post is concerned, Thank you For the thoughts.
I would dump the bytch now, before she tells the world you and the new world order pukes(like Anony 8:21) that you have preps and gets you shot or in a FEMA camp.
obama worshipers are worse than BORING, their freakin' doomed.
in very general terms, women don't like to hear about anything to do with the social fabric unraveling. and of course, now, if you say there's not going to be an economic recovery next year you can get your balls handed to you...
probably, the easiest way around it is, "oh ! i'm stocking up on some staple food items as an INFLATION hedge..."
Or, "well, what's wrong with a little vacation camp/ weekend getaway? besides it's an investment, it will go up in value..." (and "OH!, we'll get a flusher when i will the lottery..")
maybe, you score a travel trailer or a camper for the truck... DON'T say: "ha! we'll (meaning you) will have some place to live when i get laid off..." no ! no ! no ! suggest, how you'll both be able to visit your (not her's) cheap relatives, and at the same time you can visit her 'fun' relatives without "imposing on them"....
maybe i'm just too old and got 'institutionalized' and domesticated, but, i'm still critical of the 'bunker mentality'. even though people are socially isolated and pretty much own their own in MATERIALISTIC AMERIKA, i don't think that 'everyman for himself' will work post-collapse...
probably a lot of people will get over themselves and stop thinking ritalin is going to make their super kid the next Einstein, especially, when they miss a couple of meals, and Mr. Policeman isn't around to protect them from communists and terrorists....
but still, self reliance and cleanliness is next to godliness...
Keep on prepping and preparing, and remember it's NEVER too late to improve yourself, and don't forget to try and live a 'normal' life (whatever that is)why you go about getting ready.
DNH
DNH
If you are the kind of male that puts up with that shit now, then you definitely are going to be one of the peasants after the SHTF. If you survive that is, doesn't look good.
Attitude!
Attitude!
Attitude!
http://www.december212012.net/The_Web_Bot_Project.htm
just one more thing to think about
DNH:
Prepping and preparing is the same.
I have problems w/grammar, but you I think, are worse.
Kind of stupid.
Tom Cruise (you know that famouse actor) has a massive underground bunker with a stack of food to protect him from "alien attack". While plenty think he is nutty, it will also do just nicely to protect him from just about any other disaster out there too.
So next time you wife ridicules just say "eh, Tom Cruise did it too" or whatever ;)
nothing loony about being prepared, calling yourself a survivalist in mixed company will raise some eyebrows. I tend to be low key.
what's wrong with your picture is having your larder out in the open for comment, put them buckets away, unless you want to end up feeding the folks that are now criticizing.
you're wife may be a tough sell, but your kids should be real happy with "who wants to go camping?" or "who wants to be a boy scout/ girl scout?" "who wants to plant a garden?"
low key is IS the key.
I like lost.
well apologies in advance if i launch into a regular reader who was just trying to be funny...
3:13 ? "If you are the kind of male that puts up with that shit now, then you definitely are going to be one of the peasants after the SHTF."
what gives you freak mutant ? did you ever consider that some 'ho might blow your balls off with a shotgun ? huh, snitch ? no pigs around to protect your pathetic scrawny ass...
3:43 ? "Prepping and preparing is the same. I have problems w/grammar, but you I think, are worse. Kind of stupid."
thanks for the kind words you bare bottom butt-licking Obama boy. What the hell, do you think you are ? think that this is a composition class and your the fucking english teacher ? i have a serious problem with assholes like you. basically, if your such a smart ass know it all, what are you reading a survival blog for anyway ? writing a paper on "delusional thinking". so be specific you troll-hole, what exactly was stupid, and if your such a genius why don't you share your knowledge ?
look you brainwashed zombies, the OMNIPOTENT STATE isn't going to save your ass. The USS TITANIC is taking on water and going down. it could be six months, it could be six years. say hello to THIRD WORLD AMERIKA and get ready to join the ranks of the downtrodden, the underclass, the forgotten children. hey, there's millions upon millions already starving and subsisting, you fat rotten spoiled suburban scum are gonna find it even harder competing with the expendables than it is getting into a 'good' college and getting a 'good' job...
Demented in NH
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I can see now WHY YOU CALL YOUR SELF D E M E N T E D ..
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why dont you go to prep school??
trollie
I don't feed the trolls, they get a kick out of disrupting dialogue, and they get off on being abused, prolly some deep seated psychosis from being abused by his daddy, when he just really wanted to be loved.
anyway, all kidding aside, send me his IP address and you won't see him till he gets a new hard drive.
My wife feels the same way about prepping. I know I'm right and stay the course. Keep all your preps out of site and don't discuss any of it with her. I call my wife "the load of my life".
Funny though when I mill wheat and bake fresh bread from it, she's the first one to cut off a piece, butter it and eat it still warm.
i read a lot of blogs and websights,you seem to have an unusual passion and maybe a gift for this type of thing you present your views clearly so everyone can understand what we need to do,i think you should start an online business,i think a book of yours would sell as well your folksy rednecky but intelligent views and the way you present them would do well in a book or as a writer in a magazine,maybe you could sell survival items online,but i definately think your talents are being wasted here, i enjoy reading your blog but youve got a gift man ,use it to make money,Signed biskithead
DNH, you've been trolled.
You got a lot of good things to say. Don't be suckered by the trolls. They are just sick people. You don't have to lower yourself to get to them. Ignore them: they hate that.
No offense, Mudjaw, but that 2012 link seems like total B.S.
I feel sorry for the original poster. My wife supports my lunacy maybe 70%. Maybe. But I've been working on my inlaws, and I have my dadinlaw and mominlaw turned, or so I think. Mominlaw's breaking point was when she heard prep/survivalist talk on Glenn Beck's program. She looked at me like I was off before that, and now she is talking about TSHTF concepts. I would be in a tight spot for sure if my wife was like yours. But I don't believe in leaving my kids just cause my wife isn't perfect. Hell, I know I'm one fucked up individual, but I'll be damned if I'm going to cause my kids to go through their childhood with a split home just because I can't get along with my wife. I don't know other people's situations, but I know mine is nowhere near bad enough to consider that. My wife is okay with my spending on prep stuff as long as we have money. She got pissed when I bought a Ruger 10/22 with the tax return money. Our return was like $4K, but it had a lot to cover, so the disposable was next to nil. People say to keep a low profile, and I agree. But when it comes to people I love, I gotta try to turn them. It's like Christians. They wouldn't miss a chance to turn a possible convert, since it will save them. Same thing with me.
-Humongous
Great blog... I like the focus on the basics.
I have to say, I think that trying to alert people is useless. My wife and I had dinner last night with some friends, one of whom is a psychologist. For most of the evenings, I behaved myself, talked about a new business venture I'm working on (absurd -well, the client has plenty of oil $, so it's possible it may succeed).
At the end of the evening, after a bit too much wine, I starting talking about my take on the economy and the likely collapse.
The psychologist told my wife, while she was in the kitchen with the host doing dishes, that "she really has her hands full with me." She advised my wife to just not respond to my ideas or concerns about the ongoing economic disaster. I'm glad my wife told me - but I feel humiliated and almost a sense of shame. That really is how most people view our ideas. They are in a trance, an alternate reality. Jeremiah and the other Old Testament prophets succeeded in changing their societies how often?
I'm giving up.
Anon 10:14,
I am glad your marriage held together. I am on the doorstep of divorce myself and that was a huge factor in deciding to purchase my cabin. Divorce/bankruptcy were the main factors in my decision to buy the cabin. My hope is that if my wife and I do pull the plug early that she will agree to let me keep the cabin. In exchange I will agree to give up any further equity stake in the house. Problem is the house keeps dropping in value so there isn't much equity left. My wife and I have a mutual understanding that we will be parting ways after the kids leave home. I just hope she and society will hang on that long. As I may have mentioned previously my plan is to move to the cabin in about 15 years but a divorce/bankruptcy may accelerate that time frame a bit.
Anon 3:13,
I knew I should have back handed her then and there when she ridiculed me. That probably would have deterred my friends from asking me for preps as well. Do think it would increase my chances of surviving post collapse if I started knocking the kids around too? Maybe I could start shooting the neighbors pets to sharpen my marksmanship skills.
Thanks for the pep talk.
Anon 10:01 am,
For the kids sake I will stick with Option 1 with a little Option 3 thrown in for flavor. Option 2 will be my back up plan if she doesn't come around PDQ.
By the way I feel lucky because my wife only gained 50 lbs, but I did to so I can't bitch about that.
Thanks all for the good words. I will keep the prepping on the down low. I am still looking for a year round cool spot for the buckets to live. I am probably going to have to utilize the crawl space, man I hate crawling down there. It flooded down there shortly after we moved in and I spent way to many hours down there replacing the vapor barrier and digging a hole for a pump we put in. Nightmare I tell you, nightmare.
Anon 9:20 am,
I have seen the way the city dwellers lived back then and I can't imagine that most of them didn't envy the gutsy folks who headed west. At least the gutsy ones who made it alive.
Cheers.
Humongous,
I wrote this post and I am glad to see your wife put's up with 70%. Don't feel sorry for me though, I was able to purchase a half dozen firearms 5 long and a revolver in the past two years. The answer to the small purchases was separate checking accounts. We split the common bills 50/50. The cabin purchase was a little trickier. Our marriage had hit a particularly rough patch of road last spring/summer and I just told her I was taking half the equity line we had open and she could have the other half. I told her i would make the payment on that portion of the home equity loan. Payment is $195 a month but I have the deed to the cabin on 2.25 acres free and clear. I made sure that even if I have to claim bankruptcy that the cabin will be safe. The homestead exemption here in my state is about $10,000 more than I paid for the cabin/property. It is the best investment I have ever made.
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