This is really wonderful. I appreciate your message of cramming as a way of prevention in the first place. Excited for what’s to come! I met you from UMD Alternative Breaks program and am so thrilled/honored to see where you are today! Thank you for being a wonderful influence, then and now! :)
Ooooh thank you!!!! This is the one you messaged me about? Will definitely check it out. I'm seriously thinking about writing a story about where all the preppers are that exist outside the libertarian protect-my-own political leaning.
It will make you both roll your eyes and tear your hair out! There are some other really great episodes on that podcast about climate change and the many factors that play into it.
I JUST listened to the podcast. So good! I think I wrote down about half the podcast's worth of quotes. I just downloaded O'Connell's audiobook from the library, too! There's so much of a connection to what he's writing/talking about, but that instead of expecting the worst and preparing as an individual, I'm hoping for the best and preparing as a community. Cannot wait to dig into his book!
I really appreciate your efforts, Elizabeth. I am here for it.
I too have been prepping for climate change hellscape scenarios likely in our SoCal region (massive wildfires, heat dome, unbreathable air, drought or tsunami). Planning simultaneously for evacuation, long term shelter in place, survivalist drills, digitizing every precious document and image. Ready at once to protect and preserve, ready at once to abandon it all and flee.
One would think that effective preparation might ease the angst. But it does not.
Why do I feel no joy at stockpiling enough water and canned food to sustain the family indoors for weeks on end? (“Yay team! This stuff won’t expire until 2025!”)
No positive buzz of accomplishment after refreshing the grab and go bag with renewed passports.
To be preparing to race out and leave all preciousness behind, — running to where?—while also prepping for lockdown, ( “can you fill the bathtubs, duct tape all the windows and secure air purifiers with 20 minutes notice?”) it is all too much cognitive dissonance for one lifetime.
I want to stop all this madness at the root: quit my job and go full time medieval witchcraft mode: hex the capitalist patriarchy, visualize military-industrial collapse.
Glad you’re creating a space to share.
It will feel less alone with a community in creative commiseration. 🌎
Totally get that angst Alethea!!! Anytime I think about earthquake prep around her I get sweaty and kinda light-headed. It's definitely anxiety reducing. I'm really hoping that this process of research/skill-building (which goes beyond just building skills and will involve talking to people/experts/communities about resiliency) will help turn me into more of an optimist. It's hard to feel optimistic, but I'm already finding so much hope from what I've been learning these last few months.
I'm so excited that you're on this journey with me and we should definitely chat. I would love to learn more about what you're doing. I always love talking to you, too :). Sending you a big hug of creative commiserating!
This is really wonderful. I appreciate your message of cramming as a way of prevention in the first place. Excited for what’s to come! I met you from UMD Alternative Breaks program and am so thrilled/honored to see where you are today! Thank you for being a wonderful influence, then and now! :)
Aw Katie thanks so much for the comment. It's been so fun to follow you on your journeys as well and it means so much to me to hear that from you.
Elizabeth - you should listen to this podcast. It is extremely relevant to the whole idea of an apocalypse. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wild-with-sarah-wilson/id1548626341?i=1000577133305
Ooooh thank you!!!! This is the one you messaged me about? Will definitely check it out. I'm seriously thinking about writing a story about where all the preppers are that exist outside the libertarian protect-my-own political leaning.
It will make you both roll your eyes and tear your hair out! There are some other really great episodes on that podcast about climate change and the many factors that play into it.
I JUST listened to the podcast. So good! I think I wrote down about half the podcast's worth of quotes. I just downloaded O'Connell's audiobook from the library, too! There's so much of a connection to what he's writing/talking about, but that instead of expecting the worst and preparing as an individual, I'm hoping for the best and preparing as a community. Cannot wait to dig into his book!
Can't wait to dig in and report back!
I really appreciate your efforts, Elizabeth. I am here for it.
I too have been prepping for climate change hellscape scenarios likely in our SoCal region (massive wildfires, heat dome, unbreathable air, drought or tsunami). Planning simultaneously for evacuation, long term shelter in place, survivalist drills, digitizing every precious document and image. Ready at once to protect and preserve, ready at once to abandon it all and flee.
One would think that effective preparation might ease the angst. But it does not.
Why do I feel no joy at stockpiling enough water and canned food to sustain the family indoors for weeks on end? (“Yay team! This stuff won’t expire until 2025!”)
No positive buzz of accomplishment after refreshing the grab and go bag with renewed passports.
To be preparing to race out and leave all preciousness behind, — running to where?—while also prepping for lockdown, ( “can you fill the bathtubs, duct tape all the windows and secure air purifiers with 20 minutes notice?”) it is all too much cognitive dissonance for one lifetime.
I want to stop all this madness at the root: quit my job and go full time medieval witchcraft mode: hex the capitalist patriarchy, visualize military-industrial collapse.
Glad you’re creating a space to share.
It will feel less alone with a community in creative commiseration. 🌎
Totally get that angst Alethea!!! Anytime I think about earthquake prep around her I get sweaty and kinda light-headed. It's definitely anxiety reducing. I'm really hoping that this process of research/skill-building (which goes beyond just building skills and will involve talking to people/experts/communities about resiliency) will help turn me into more of an optimist. It's hard to feel optimistic, but I'm already finding so much hope from what I've been learning these last few months.
I'm so excited that you're on this journey with me and we should definitely chat. I would love to learn more about what you're doing. I always love talking to you, too :). Sending you a big hug of creative commiserating!
I'm here for the journey, and looking forward to learning from and with you. This is going to be fun! xoxo Mindi
Thanks M! Thanks for all the support always! love ya!!
Have you read the book Active Hope? Highly recommended!
I haven’t! Adding to the list! Thank you!