Survivalism in 2008

[MikeWaters]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080524/D90S5MLG0.html

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080524/D90S5MLG0.html

So which one was you?

[il Padrino Ute]

Not sure which one is Mike, but Peter Laskowski has a remote home in Waitsfield, Vermont.

[SteelBlue]

This is kind of funny. In the last month I've quit driving to work, I turned my back lawn into a vegetable garden, and I'm getting 2 chickens for the eggs in the next couple of weeks. I certainly don't think of myself as a survivalist though. I just have this urge to be more self sufficient lately.

As far as oil/gas prices go, I lived in Europe when gas was $5/gallon in the 80's. They did just fine there and with lifestyle adjustments we'll do just fine here. It's going to take a while though for Americans to change their consumption habits. I kind of feel sorry for those who will be teenagers in the next 5 years and beyond. I think they are going to miss out on that American rite of passage of getting the driver's license and just cruising around on weekends. Teenagers driving for anything but errands will soon be a thing of the past.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

This is kind of funny. In the last month I've quit driving to work, I turned my back lawn into a vegetable garden, and I'm getting 2 chickens for the eggs in the next couple of weeks. I certainly don't think of myself as a survivalist though. I just have this urge to be more self sufficient lately.

As far as oil/gas prices go, I lived in Europe when gas was $5/gallon in the 80's. They did just fine there and with lifestyle adjustments we'll do just fine here. It's going to take a while though for Americans to change their consumption habits. I kind of feel sorry for those who will be teenagers in the next 5 years and beyond. I think they are going to miss out on that American rite of passage of getting the driver's license and just cruising around on weekends. Teenagers driving for anything but errands will soon be a thing of the past.

I would feel badly for the future teenagers, but I looked at how much it is going to cost me to insure my oldest daughter when she starts driving next year. It would be more cost effective to buy her a mass transit pass. Plus, she'd be doing her part to help the environment by riding Trax or the bus rather than drive.

I need to increase the size of my vegetable garden. I'd like to grow more than just the usual squash, lettuce, carrots, tomatoes and potatoes. Corn would be good. So would radishes and cucumbers.

[SteelBlue]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

I need to increase the size of my vegetable garden. I'd like to grow more than just the usual squash, lettuce, carrots, tomatoes and potatoes. Corn would be good. So would radishes and cucumbers.

I planted a whole lotta corn yesterday. I'm planting another 4 rows in 2 weeks so I get a 2nd harvest (we have a long growing season here). I love fresh corn.

[Mormon Red Death]

I got my garden going over the weekend... Should be a great harvest in the fall.

[scottie]

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

This is kind of funny. In the last month I've quit driving to work, I turned my back lawn into a vegetable garden, and I'm getting 2 chickens for the eggs in the next couple of weeks. I certainly don't think of myself as a survivalist though. I just have this urge to be more self sufficient lately.

As far as oil/gas prices go, I lived in Europe when gas was $5/gallon in the 80's. They did just fine there and with lifestyle adjustments we'll do just fine here. It's going to take a while though for Americans to change their consumption habits. I kind of feel sorry for those who will be teenagers in the next 5 years and beyond. I think they are going to miss out on that American rite of passage of getting the driver's license and just cruising around on weekends. Teenagers driving for anything but errands will soon be a thing of the past.

Just in my small dept. of ~10 guys at work, five of us live within about a 3 mile radius of each other and we drive 20 miles each way to the same office, yet NONE of us carpool. With gas at $4 we're now starting to discuss carpooling but that's it. Old habits die hard.

[MikeWaters]

I carpool to go play basketball. Does that count?