Pessimistic new member

**Teotwawki** · 05-26-2008, 09:46 PM

Hi all,

I may compete for being one of the most pessimistic about where we are quickly headed... if not I will feel right at home.

I am a country boy by upbringing, city dweller for quite a while and country boy again by choice - dropped out of the rat-race 5 or so years ago and now live on a mountain somewhere in the Appalachians.

I'm here to learn mostly - I have a sort of "I don't know what I don't know" feeling in my gut.

I'm looking for a good checklist for long-term survival. Most of what I have seen online has been fairly lame and intended to get a person through a week or so of hard times. I think we are heading into an extended period of hard times (see pessimism).

Here is roughly where we are now with preparedness.

Wood burning stove and fp insert for heat & cooking.
All the wood we could ever burn.
Propane generator (1000 gal tank)
Freezer full of food (see generator)
Looking into biodiesel and related generators for longer term sustainability.
Stockpiled non-perishable food - goal is 3 years worth and we are short of that right now
Grow and can our own food
Fully stocked root cellar
Water is from a well - have just ordered a manual pump - stream nearby too
Outhouse
Goats and chickens for meat, eggs and milk
Plenty of wildlife around: deer, bear, squirrel, rabbit, turkey, quail...
Wild edible plants: morels (but haven't found any yet), berries, cattails
Have learned this year how to tap birch trees and reduce to syrup

--- Needs / wants / dream of
As mentioned above, looking into biodiesel but doesn't seem self-sustainable
Need longer term energy source (solar? wind? not sure)
Need more hunting / trapping supplies
Need more trade goods stored up (coffee, tobacco, liquor)
Need to learn more about wild edibles / herbal medicines
Would like to add a dexter cow, some pigs and horse / mule to the livestock
Wish I had a cave!

Anyway - we are in the middle of the wilderness - approx 100 acres and surrounded on 3 sides by thousands of acres of wilderness.

Do I sound extreme?

**volcanoman** · 05-26-2008, 10:05 PM

Sounds like all the makings of paradise to me, transplant some fruit trees and I'll barter with you with salmon, halibut, king crab and cold water prawns.
Making your own snares is a good way to go on cutting down on material costs and weight for running a line.....

**Teotwawki** · 05-26-2008, 10:12 PM

Apples? Peaches? Plums? Cherries?

We are also trying a couple of potted (so we can bring em in in the winter) coffee trees.

**BraggSurvivor** · 05-27-2008, 12:15 AM

Extreme? not in the least, sounds like your right on track to me. What your doing and want to do, I have been doing up for over twenty years now.

Welcome aboard!

**DOGMAN** · 05-27-2008, 12:28 AM

Extreme?...Heck no, you sound like a reasonable normal fella' to me.

**Sourdough** · 05-27-2008, 01:14 AM

Ya, you sound like a "EXTREME" FREAK. And I just want to say that you extreme TEOTWAWKI freaks are give some of us normal people a bad image. Just kidding. Welcome freak.

For old people the world has all ready ended as we knew it. And I am not very freaking happy about it.......

And I did not see anything listing firearms. Your not one of those anti-firearms freaks are you....?...

Just kidding:

**Chicago Dan** · 05-27-2008, 01:51 AM

Welcome Teotwawki!

Congrats on your dropping out of the rat race.
I also don't see anything in your post as being extreme.
Take a look around the board and get to know the crew. All levels of personal, local, national and international outlook and opinion can be found from the prepared but optimistic to the rampant hard core pessimists(rational realists some say).
I bet you have some great first hand experence that would be of value to many on the board(myself included).

**AKS** · 05-27-2008, 04:57 AM

Dude, you got problems! Sounds like you will probably fit in pretty well around here.

If you figure out what it is that you don't know, try giving it a search on this site...you will probably find some good information on it.

**crashdive123** · 05-27-2008, 06:08 AM

Hello and welcome.

**Riverrat** · 05-27-2008, 06:23 AM

Welcome, lots of good info on here, and as to being extreme, not even close ...

**Rick** · 05-27-2008, 07:21 AM

It doesn't matter what your long term beliefs are planning is just good sense. Even if nothing happens you've cut down on expenses and are enjoying what many would consider to be a great life.

If you plan on adding large stock then you might consider methane from the manure to power your generator. You could even add your outhouse to the mix. Grundle posted some information on bio-digesters. Of course we poked fun but that's what we do. There is some good information he shared.

Welcome home.

**Teotwawki** · 05-27-2008, 07:49 AM

Hopeak: Firearms a-plenty but need more and need to stockpile ammo. Here's the list:

22s, 1SKS, several shotguns, recurve bows.

I've heard bad reports on the SKS but I love the one I have - a gift from mom!

Thanks all for the fine freakin' welcome!

**Rick** · 05-27-2008, 07:53 AM

You gotta love a mother that would give a firearm as a present. Way to go, mom!

**Teotwawki** · 05-27-2008, 08:20 AM

Mom is actually the true survivalist here in the mountains / family compound. She raises the goats and chickens, makes cheese and butter and yogurt from the goat milk, is teaching the rest of us how to can, has invaluable family heirlooms such as a foot-pedal sewing machine, wind-up 45RPM record player and collection of records...

**Rick** · 05-27-2008, 08:32 AM

Ask her if she'd like to adopt another son. I could use an SKS, too.

**Teotwawki** · 05-27-2008, 08:47 AM

Rick: Not surprisingly, there is a waiting list!

**buttercup** · 06-02-2008, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by Teotwawki

Mom is actually the true survivalist here in the mountains / family compound. She raises the goats and chickens, makes cheese and butter and yogurt from the goat milk, is teaching the rest of us how to can, has invaluable family heirlooms such as a foot-pedal sewing machine, wind-up 45RPM record player and collection of records...

His mom is a great gal. Trust me . . . I know from personal experience!!!
If and when TSHTF, they will all do fine since Mom is very good at 'taking care of business.'