To stay alive make your self of value to others

**Rick** · 11-26-2007, 08:56 PM

Sarge - click on USER CP at the top. Edit Avatar. Click on Custom Avatar and upload the avatar you want. If you tell me what you'd like to use, I'll send you some to choose from.

Ole Coot - Not cool. Family is the most important thing IMHO, just as you said, and if I had a wish for you it would be to for you to be surrounded by family and friends that you could count on and trust. None closer than one foot farther than the boundary of your land of course

) I'd welcome you in camp anytime.

**Sarge47** · 11-26-2007, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

Sarge - click on USER CP at the top. Edit Avatar. Click on Custom Avatar and upload the avatar you want. If you tell me what you'd like to use, I'll send you some to choose from.

Ole Coot - Not cool. Family is the most important thing IMHO, just as you said, and if I had a wish for you it would be to for you to be surrounded by family and friends that you could count on and trust. None closer than one foot farther than the boundary of your land of course

) I'd welcome you in camp anytime.

Rick: Thanks. I dug this out of the archives. One of our own designed it back when we 1st started calling ourselves the "Wolf-Pack". I'll probably change it later though.

Ole Coot: Remember the old saying: "No man is an island"? How about "Safety in numbers"? And who can ever forget Vince Lombardi's "Who's jock strap is this"? The solo act works only as well as you do. I remember the question that I asked "The Bare Wilderness" guy when he was telling us all how he and his buddy were going to go out into the Manitoba wilderness with nothing but their knives and the clothes on their backs in October for 30 days. "What if you fall and have a compound fracture of your leg?" Who's there to help? even if you're the kinda guy who can get along with only yourself for company it's always wiser to "share the fire". It can be a lot of fun as well.

**Ole WV Coot** · 11-26-2007, 10:28 PM

Guess I will think on that some. I am probably wrong, but that's me.

**Sarge47** · 11-26-2007, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by Smok

If you are of value to others they will help keep you alive that was what I was told onetime .But how do you do that ??

I can now answer this question. Your skill in Fly Tying as well as Fly fishing would be a very valuable asset!

**Sarge47** · 11-26-2007, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Ole WV Coot

Guess I will think on that some. I am probably wrong, but that's me.

Remember, we're talking about "Survival" here, not marriage!

**NorthWindTrails** · 11-27-2007, 12:30 AM

Great thread! I also agree with owl girl's observation that "I'm responsible for keeping myself alive", and at the same time there really IS a need for social contact. Call it "strength in numbers" or simply "someone to help in time of need", we'd all best be starting to develop our "network" of like minded folks we can possibly rendezvous with in the event of TEOTWAWKI. I really do not see this as so far-fetched. Hey, even if the need never arises, just how much of these skill could we pass along to those who someday MAY need them (Read that "grandchildren", etc.) ... and have a completely satisfying hobby in the meantime? I'm having a blast learning these skills, and knowing that it's always time well spent. Of course, meeting you all has been great, too! Keep your tinder dry ... NorthWind

**NorthWindTrails** · 11-27-2007, 01:25 AM

OK ... a few more ruminations. If several "survivors" were to band together, the need for several skillsets becomes apparent. For anything medical, the more knowledge (read this "actual, hands-on experience") an individual has in herbs / homeopathy the better their contribution to the needs of the pack. Emergency medical training would be a real benefit, it would seem. Midwifery skills also. Since food gathering is essential, specialists in trapping fish and game would be necessary, as well as those skilled in identification and use of local plant life. Not that we ALL could get along for long without as much knowledge in as many of these areas as we could learn and put into practice, but it seems that some could be more or less specialized in, say, tanning buckskins and leathercraft for example, while at the same time other members were gathering herbs, etc. Isn't this precisely the way of the Native tribes, before so many of their ways were lost? I'm more persuaded than ever that there truly IS a place in these discussions for a more "Tribal" approach to this subject. Logistically challenging for now, but some sort of pre-determined arrangement of specialties could possibly be agreed upon in the mean time. What do you all think? Impractical? Or ... ? NorthWind

**Smok** · 11-27-2007, 02:25 AM

Northwindtrails good idea or those of us who have specialties can help teach others . it would be nice to meet all of you , but how ?? anyone ?? we all need a tribe

**nell67** · 11-27-2007, 03:49 AM

WarEagle has suggested this before,and not a whole lot commented on it,maybe you would like to visit his thread? Pesonally I think it is a great idea.

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...read.php?t=824

**Rick** · 11-27-2007, 10:18 AM

Thanks Nell for the link. It is a good idea. Northwind, bingo, bingo, bingo. You are right on the money. For a long time I've tried to stress that technology is a great thing (I really do like it!) but not at the cost of older skills and knowledge. As a specie, we seem to move forward and never look back and that's not a good thing. It's important to pass that knowledge along. We need a blend of old and new. Ole Coot said he has had to depend on himself since '63. I can't imagine the knowledge and skills he has. If things were bad and he and I were together, I know there are many strengths he has that would benefit me and, hopefully, the reverse would be true.

**trax** · 11-27-2007, 12:58 PM

Personally, I find it a little alarming how certain some people are that the last shreds of civilization are going to immediately fall away if we are ever in a shtf situation. People will still want to group together for survival.

But here's the thing, and in some ways the point of this thread. You probably won't get to choose people with specific skill sets in your group. It would be wonderful to have a couple of hunter/gatherers and a couple of emergency medical technicians, and leather workers and tent builders or whatever. You might wind up with a bunch of computer programmers who've dedicated their lives to only that...not much good in the wilderness at first blush. What's pretty amazing though, is how well people will react and learn the necessary skills to survive and the odds of that happening are far better if they're part of a group.

**Rick** · 11-27-2007, 01:06 PM

On the mark as usual, Trax. Natural selection being what it is there will undoubtedly be a leader emerge in each of those groups. Some won't survive because they lack the skills. Others will flourish because they have the skills and mental ability to succeed in those conditions. Sadly, some will be predators and some will be prey but I think the vast majority will just want to survive. Smaller groups will band together with larger groups until we have something that resembles the very early settlements. Although we'd like to think otherwise, we are not too far removed from other animals. Just a lot more greedy. My two cents has just been revised to four cents. Inflation, you know.

**trax** · 11-27-2007, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by Sarge47

Remember, we're talking about "Survival" here, not marriage!

sometimes they're the same thing, sometimes marriage is harder to survive than any of the scenarios we've posted here (and sometimes you just have to fade back into the "tall corn")

**nell67** · 11-27-2007, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by trax

sometimes they're the same thing, sometimes marriage is harder to survive than any of the scenarios we've posted here (and sometimes you just have to fade back into the "tall corn")

Oh God! Isnt that the truth!

**trax** · 11-27-2007, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by nell67

Oh God! Isnt that the truth!

Still!

We survive!!

**nell67** · 11-27-2007, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by trax

Still!

We survive!!

Yes,and surviving is what its all about,so I've been told LMAO!

**Proud American** · 12-01-2007, 03:04 PM

Sorry folks. I'm not a "me only" kind of guy. I think there are strengths in numbers and I think others compliment my weak points (not that I have many mind you). Even a SHTF situation requires a team play. Maybe more so. Those of you that have been Rangers, Seals, Recon, SOS, SAS, know what I'm talkin' about. Lady Owl was right on the mark when she said, "I am the one responsible for keeping me alive." But we had better be prepared to help each other as well.

You'll be welcome in my camp and you can share my coffee. I would like to think I would be welcome in yours even in the worst of times.

I like to think like Rick (seeing that i would be one of those cluless city people who get killed ) So Rick id tag along with you, cause you wouldnt eat me when you got bored of snake and rabbit for dinner. Plus I dont drink Coffee so no need to share that.

**MidWestMat** · 02-27-2011, 09:41 PM

Whomsoever amongst you would be great, let them serve.

We should be strong enough to stand on our own, but our greatest strength is in working togather. We should be responsible in developing and maintaining knowledge and working skills so that we CAN be of benefit to ourselves, our familys, and our communities.

Just my thought.

**SARKY** · 02-27-2011, 10:12 PM

I would say first off, make a list of what skills you now have. Are they enough to make you useful or keep you alive? Then make a list of what skills (be realistic) you would like to have. Then go out and acquire those skills.