New York Times “Duck and Cover: It’s the New Survivalism” Article

Survivalism is hot, steamy, and sexy. It’s alllll the rage! There’s an article in today’s New York Times on the new face of survivalism, AND – it’s in the “Fashion and Style” section. YES!

We’re becoming mainstream my SHTF party peeps. We are – trendsetters! And knowing that a prepared neighbor is a good neighbor – we all benefit from this increased exposure! READ:

Survivalism, it seems, is not just for survivalists anymore. Faced with a confluence of diverse threats — a tanking economy, a housing crisis, looming environmental disasters, and a sharp spike in oil prices — people who do not consider themselves extremists are starting to discuss doomsday measures once associated with the social fringes.

They stockpile or grow food in case of a supply breakdown, or buy precious metals in case of economic collapse. Some try to take their houses off the electricity grid, or plan safe houses far away. The point is not to drop out of society, but to be prepared in case the future turns out like something out of “An Inconvenient Truth,” if not “Mad Max.”

I won’t recap the article, because you have to read it in full yourself, but I should say that our very own James “The Legend” Rawles was quoted as such:

Preparedness activity is difficult to track statistically, since people who take measures are usually highly circumspect by nature, said Jim Rawles, the editor of www.survivalblog.com, a preparedness Web site. Nevertheless, interest in the survivalist movement “is experiencing its largest growth since the late 1970s.”

One thing I was happy to read in the article is the influx of more liberal minded survival ninjas. Ranger Man can roll with some of these characters. I tend to think of myself as a Conservative Democrat or a Liberal Republican, someone with a Libertarian streak. It all depends on the issue really, but I dig the environment, like literally, with a shovel and stuff – compost and crap – literally – crap – in the compost – cow crap.

I liked this paragraph:

Such fears caused Joyce Jimerson of Bellingham, Wash., a coordinator for a recycling-composting program affiliated with Washington State University, to make her yard an “edible garden,” with fruit trees and vegetables, in case supplies are threatened by oil shortages, climate change or economic collapse. “It’s all the same ball of wax, as far as I’m concerned,” she said.

Making one’s yard an edible garden only makes sense. Eat better food, close to home, food security, don’t have to truck the stuff from who knows where, no pollution in the process, no nasty pesticides, tastes better, and costs less, too.

Let us now revel in our SHTF fame survival ninjas – rise – Rise – RISE! Teach your ostrich neighbors that you can, in fact, survive doomsday with your sunglasses still on.

– Ranger Man