I think most preppers and survivalist go through an annoying stage! We have started prepping because we are aware just how bad things can get and we try to convince our loved ones to prepare. I know when I was in that stage I was probably very annoying as I forgot just how big of a smack upside of my head it took for me to wake up. I have done a lot more good since I have stopped trying to wake people up and just live my life. Being happy, engaged and at peace is attractive to people, preaching to those who don’t want to listen not so much. Let’s face it being a prepper is a pretty hard sell, as all to many folks believe in the consumer paradigm and are taught what they buy defines them as a person.
Being self reliant is all about being an adult and taking on adult responsibilities. Sad to say we have raised a nation of overgrown and spoiled children. We have been saying the toys you have count more than the character of your heart. What you can get from society counts more than what you give. I have been seeing more stories lately of people who are simply parasites on society. The get a stipend(SSI, SSDI) EBT energy and housing assistance and then sit around watching TV, smoking dope, drinking and playing with their friends. Then ask who would blame them? I do! I think every human should aspire to a higher purpose than simply turning the food they eat into crap that goes into the sewer.
I believe that each person has a spark of the divine and they can work to reach more than what they are today. I understand good jobs are hard to come by. But there is no reason a person can’t start doing for themselves in a small way to become self reliant. It can be as simple as starting a little herb garden or baking your own bread that saves you money and you eat better food. I think we are headed for an economic collapse of the dollar. How long do folks living on handouts from the PTBs think they will last? We have already seen that the PTBs have threaten to cut all entitlements to make a political point/threat. It won’t matter that I’m a vet or that I worked for over 20 years or that you are a single Mom with 8 kids and 6 baby Daddies that won’t pay child support. No money means no money! Actions will have consequences and it doesn’t matter my fault, your fault or nobodies fault!
I know I can eat, have shelter and security as well as be a blessing to others. I am the change I wish to see, how about you?
My Adventures in selfreliance 
There are circumstances that you will never understand until they happen to you. Two years ago, I was as self-righteous as you are and threw around judgment and condemnation as easily as you do. I paid a high price for thinking I was so high and mighty, so immune from circumstances that I had never considered could happen to me. . Then I started to lose things. My dad, my job. To survive I sold my car, my motor home, collections I had treasured for years, my furniture, and the food I had canned. Then I lost my health (multiple sclerosis) and had to abandon a HUGE and prosperous garden that fed three families because I fall multiple times a day. So, I have lost my abilty to walk freely. I have lost my ability to make choices with my time because even though I am disabled, it falls to me to care full time for my mother. I can’t provide for myself, live on Social Security (not disability, I don’t get it because I never paid into it, being self-employed. You never know what is going to happen, so it is wise to keep your opinions a little kinder. Tomorrow, it may be YOU who is being called a ;drain on society, lazy, unmotivated, or any of the other ignorant and hateful names that you so cavalierly bandy about. But for today, just try and be thankful it isn’t YOU that people generalize about. In other words, stop being a jerk. Kharma is not a joke.
Kris, I don’t think what I said applies to you and I do know what it means to become 100% disabled and live on SSD. (that was the big smack upside the head that woke me up)
I understand why you might feel a little defensive because there are a lot of people that fit that description and so all of us on disability get painted with the same brush. I sometime feel a little defensive myself.
But you are not a healthy person just sitting around watching tv and not doing anything with your life. You are helping to care for another person even though that must be very difficult with your MS.
Take a look at some of my pages about saving money and how to get prepared on the cheap they might spark a few ideas for you. I think that you might feel a little more control and peace of mind knowing you have a few days to a few months of the basics on hand. It is a slow process but I have done it and it sure gives me peace of mind!
Everyone has a sob story. It’s the entitlement, wealth redistribution Left’s ultimate weapon to attempt to guilt and force tax payers into paying for something that should be voluntary only and a matter of charity and family responsibility. We are saddened to hear about other people’s problems but they are just that, other people’s problems and neither you nor I should be forced to pay for them, especially not to the point that it is causing us the same problems or worse and forcing poverty on all.
I wonder what is worse. Those who must harden their hearts in order to survive and promote mankind as a whole or those who use guilt and government force to bring everyone down for their own comfort?
We can only decide for ourselves and pray the mob doesn’t come looting.
“Sad to say we have raised a nation of overgrown and spoiled children.”
So true, Jamie. We are! I learned a long time ago, that when anything goes wrong. Whenever anyone cheats me, steals from me, or treats me wrongly. Whenever I have a problem of any nature. To look to find my part in it. We always put ourselves in positions to be hurt. We always have some role in it. We create our own problems. If we look hard enough, and are honest (and that’s a hard word to truly understand and accept), we will find it. We are our own worst enemy. The key to life is to assess each day. Admit our faults, make restitution (or at least be willing to) at the earliest opportunity, and to not make those same mistakes again. It’s called life.
What use to be neighbors and church, have been replaced with a depraved mentality of the State. The expectation that health care, housing, food, clothing, gasoline, cable TV, computers, and Turkey for thanksgiving, security and happiness is somehow owed. I’m sorry, but that is a great lie that has been implanted in us. We must lift ourselves out of that mentality. Perhaps there is something to church and neighbors…, or Community. Ya think?
There is also such a thing as gratitude. People need to learn it. Nobody wants to help an ingrate. I am no man’s responsibility.