I don’t usually post on Friday afternoon but I did want to thank everyone for their support during my blues fest. I’m feeling much better. The sun is shining and I got a lot accomplished today.
The book I complained about is Shut Down by W.R Flynn. Why is the picture of any new world so violent and cold? Is it possible to envision something else? Sharon Astyk has written an Ark piece that was more in line with what I’m looking for in a novel. What do you envision? How do you see the world changing and what would be your hope? You can’t create it until you imagine it. I’m putting on my thinking cap and to see what I come up with. I would love to hear from you all. I need ideas and inspiration.
Fondly,
Kathy
November 18, 2011 at 8:01 pm
I expect you will get a whack of answers to your questions. Invariably, those answers will deal with “things” supranatural to ourselves. That is because of that inner sense we all have that things should make sense and that we all should just “get along together” and everyone in the world should be nice to one another. We know that we don’t and we know that we won’t.
I am a C.S. Lewis fan, so my thoughts run toward his explanations and answers for the “why” of it all and the solution. His books, both fiction and non-fiction are interesting places to start.
November 18, 2011 at 11:26 pm
I see a world very different from what we have had in the past, much less money, more hands on work, life skills will be a must, families will need to work together to support the family as a whole. Eating habits will have to change, entertainment will no longer come from a pocket size machine. A different world but not dark and nasty
November 19, 2011 at 12:38 am
In studying the book of Revelation I see things that are coming to pass in the world today concerning the economy, wars, and a one world government. If someone is a believer, there is hope for a beautiful new world much different than the one we live in today. I agree with listening to Family Life Network! Very uplifting and encouraging and great music.
November 19, 2011 at 8:17 am
I think if there was a major grid down situation, some cities might be ugly like those books show, maybe the highways also, but then nature would take over and start cleaning itself up. Without all the machines running, it would be much cleaner in a relatively short time.
November 19, 2011 at 9:22 am
I agree with both Kenneth and Deb B. There will surely be darkness and strife across the world. BUT… for believers there will also be the peace that comes only through the Holy Spirit, and the knowledge that comes from knowing that we truly are “not of this world.” And we have the promise of the beautiful and wonderful days to come after the strife – we just need to be prepared as well as we can to help our families and others as we are able. People who do not have this hope to cling to during the troubled times, well, I just don’t know how they will cope if all they have to hold onto is their own resources, no matter how much they have “prepared.” I, too, love C. S. Lewis, and also think his writings are a good counter-balance to read along with all the survival-type books that are out there today. There IS hope and promise of joy in the morning!
November 19, 2011 at 10:53 am
Dies The Fire by S M Stirling and the other books in the series are wonderful post-apocalyptic novels. A bit bloodthirsty in his battle scenes, but the books are eminently readable. His Island in the Sea of Time and it’s two following books are set around the same “event”. I loved them.
November 19, 2011 at 12:36 pm
I have to hope that there will be some amount of gathering together and pooling of abilities and strongpoints. I can envision a SHTF situation for about the first 72 hours, then my mind switches a “later” scenario. As a spinner/knitter/weaver/quilter/seamstress/baker I try to hope I have something to offer to a collection of people who can live and work as a collective. The long-term “nastiness” of so many of the novels and stories leave a feeling of “Do I want to survive to live in such a world?” Perhaps I’m simply too naive, but I have to hope for the best.
November 19, 2011 at 1:34 pm
I just think we’ll have a lot less of everything, literally, less of everything. I’d think we’d have a mix of animal and machines–like some vehicles–for transportation. We’ll have an uneven match in what is available in some cities and some areas. Some places with have less food than they need and some will have plenty. I don’t think cities will be death traps, although some parts of them may be. We’ll just have to adjust as things come. People will survive well and some won’t. but humans adapt to lots of circumstances and live and marry (or not!) and have children and love their families, friends and lives.
Don’t beat up on yourself for haveing the blues! We all get them.
the day here is beautiful, a cool sunny day so I wish you all a bright good day whatever you’re dealin gwith.
peace, Shamba
November 19, 2011 at 3:41 pm
My hopes for a changing world is based primarily on attitude/motivations – as it stands now, it seems as though society as a whole is so focused on acquiring things, feeling “entitled” to what everyone else has regardless of earning (or being able to afford) it (now, I am not speaking of basics like food/shelter, rather the extras … larger home than can be afforded, latest gadgets,. etc) and basing worth and self and others on the superficial (looks, possessions, social status). I’d love to see a transition to humankind being less like that, and to have a day’s hard work valued, and not mocked (in my area, those who work on farms or other manual labor are belittled by the teens in the area, and I find that heartbreaking on several levels).
I would also like to see things last more … from relationships to the things we use daily. When I was younger, it seemed as though craftsmanship and quality were valued … today it’s plastic, pressed particle board, etc that isn’t meant to last. There doesn’t seem to be a “history” or sentiment to anything anymore.
Personal accountability is another biggie — with people taking measures to care for their families and not look for the government (or others) to bail them out or come to the rescue when there’s a disaster (personal, natural, etc). Watching the news after recent events, people on the news seem irate with government agencies and utility companies who were not fast enough to bring things back to the way they wanted them … I wish more would prepare in advance and not be so quick to place the blame.
Tolerance is another biggie that I’d like to see come about. I understand and respect that we all have different political, religions, other views, and that some of those lead adherents to think that their way is the only way … but in a perfect world (or one I’d like to work towards) there would be those viewpoints if individuals chose to hold them, however while not being stripped away, to be expanded to include a perspective of “this is what I hold dear but am not going to insult, harm, kill anyone who doesn’t hold them”. Again, I am not speaking overlooking or embracing crazy, extreme things like child abuse or anything like that, rather things like religious and political views – who someone supports or prays to should not (in my opinion – or ideal world
)be a cause or hatred/harm.
November 19, 2011 at 4:28 pm
We’ve started the process of slowly powering down, here, and we’re already seeing some lifestyle changes that would probably be typical in a long emergency. We’ve (intentionally) lost half our income, and have no TV. With the livestock and the move to a rural area quite a ways out of town, we don’t go for weekend trips anymore, and we eat out much less. We spend less, and try to avoid buying things we don’t actually need, and even then, we look for second-hand things before buying new. We trade with our neighbors, and go for coffee with them and play cards. We grow and make a lot more of our own food – including a lot of dehydrating, freezing, and canning, but also quite a bit of figuring out new and creative ways to eat the things we have lots of, like pumpkins and turnips. We play board games and read books and go for walks on our land or in a nearby forest. We make daily activities like cooking or doing barn chores, into fun shared activities that we can enjoy as a couple. We talk to each other more, and have real conversations.
While all of this could be interpreted as deprivation, we actually are less stressed, more content, and happier in our relationship, so we view it all as being positive, even if some of our friends and family look at us with a certain amount of pity. We like our lifestyle, and would not willingly go back to the city.
I think a lot of the feelings of desolation in the post-apocalyptic books come from the authors’ own fears that they will feel afraid or deprived. Maybe they are cut off from their families and communities, and can’t imagine their neighbors actually being kind and generous. Maybe the authors are not kind and generous, and can’t imagine anybody being like that without some creepy ulterior motive. I don’t know. But really, while I understand there is likely to be conflict, I also think there is a lot of potential for people / families / communities to pull together and become stronger and more sane, especially in a long emergency (slow crash) scenario, but even in an acute local emergency. Personally, in our location, I expect that the only reason a neighbor here would come down our lane in an emergency is to make sure we’re alright…
November 21, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Glad you’re feeling better! I wonder if Ben and Maggie moving out might have been part of the melancholy? No matter how glad we are to have time and space to work on other things, I know that when family leaves after an extended stay I always hit a bit of a slump.
I hope part of what you’re working on is a wholesome, un-grim post-apocalyptic novel. I’d love to see how you sketch things out!
November 21, 2011 at 8:10 pm
John Michael Greer has had a short story contest going on The Archdruid Report in which he asked people to envision a post-collapse life that was not devastation and apocalypse. I believe the links to the stories are on his forum. I have only read one so far, and it was quite interesting.