What Is Neo-Survivalism?

Survivalism has typically been only for the fringe minority of hippy, long haired, wilderness, anti-corporate, anti-government, anti-21s-century, anti-you-name-it individuals.  Times have changed as survivalism has gone mainstream.

Since the economic crisis of 2007 and 2008, many people have lost faith in "the system".  What is the system?  I view "the system" as the way our society works.  It also refers to the things we're dependent on.  What systemic entities are we dependent on?

1. A functioning bank system - most of us have zero cash or other valuables in our possession.  We require functioning ATM machines and online banking websites in order to retrieve our money.
2. A functioning food distribution system - We definitely take the just-in-time delivery system of food to our local grocers for granted.  A slight disruption and millions of people would be hungry.
3. Law & Order - We definitely rely on an orderly society.  Should a breakdown in travel, road safety, and local police occur, things might change rapidly.
4. Outsourced Skills - Gone are the days when individuals develop a wide range of useful skills that help people become independent and self-reliant.  Typing and sitting at a cubicle won't do you much good if there is a massive breakdown of society.  Simply put, we don't do anything ourselves anymore.  I pay a lawn man to cut my lawn.  I hire a service man if anything breaks.

The economic crisis which has led to vanished savings and wealth along with massive unemployment has triggered an awakening to be utterly helpless when there is even a minor breakdown in "the system" as described above.

Furthermore, recent tragic natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the Asian Tsunami and the Earthquake in Haiti give clear examples of how fragile society really is.

The result of these events is a resurgence in survivalism, or a movement into the mainstream.  Neo-survivalism might not be as hardcore as the traditional survivalism that was confined to a small minority, but it is applicable to more situations and lifestyles.  For example, urban dwellers and suburban families are turning to some of the survivalist tendencies of stocking supplies and learning how to protect onself.  These neo-survivalists might not own retreats in the vast undeveloped land in the western United States, but they are definitely moving towards a more self-reliant state.

The reality is that in today's economy, things are not good.  As of August 2010, we're almost three years into this current economic downturn and we're still attempting to climb out of the hole.  While some people view it as a severe recession, others are calling if a full-fledged economic depression.

However you label the current environment is irrelevant.  The important thing is to continue to push towards a state of financial freedom and towards a state of well-preparedness.

My opinion is that everyone should take some simple steps to protect themselves and their families from certain real risks that are on the horizon, but don't take my word for it. Answer the following questions:

1. Is your job & income 100% secure?
2. Would you be able to have the basic necessities (shelter, food, water) If you lost your income for any prolonged period of time?
3. Would you be ok if your local grocery stores didn't have any inventory for a few weeks?
4. How would you hold up in a currency crisis where the dollar loses much of its value?
5. Would you be able to protect your family in the event of increased crime and decreased police presence?

These are all important questions and if you have a family, I'm sure a few of them hit some of your emotions. The important thing to do is act on those emotions. So, if you're convinced that you need to become a neo-survivalist, read on to see some simple steps to move you in the right direction.

Simple Steps To Become More Self-Reliant and Independent

The goal here is to be more independent, less reliant on others and to be able to withstand emergencies and system breakdowns. Here are a few small steps to get you moving in the right diretion.

1. Create a stockpile of food & water - Start with the goal of enough food & water for seven days, then build from there. I recommend buying bulk products and just picking up extra items each time you go to the store. Be sure to set aside the extra items each time to build your stockpile.
2. Build a cache of emergency supplies - This might include flashlights, batteries, candles, matches, a weather radio, a first-aid kit, blankets, ponchos, generator, etc. Think about what you might need in an emergency.
3. Consider buying a firearm - Many Americans are armed and for good reason. If you're not, you might consider getting some basic training and purchasing a firearm. If crime increases, you will be kicking yourself by not having a gun available for protection.
4. Keep cash & other "money" at home - I would recommend storing some cash and some precious metal coins at your house to be used in the event of society breakdown or an emergency. If you can't get to your money in your checking account, the cash will help pay for goods. If a currency crisis occurs, the gold or silver coins you have might be the only thing of value. Be sure to keep cash and coins very well hidden to protect against theft.
5. Start a second income stream - I definitely recommend doing this step no matter what happens in the future. Diversifying your income is a great idea in any economic environment. Check out some ways to earn money from home.
   

The above steps are simply a starting point. You can take this much further, and many do, but this is the face of neo-survivalism. It is a milder form of survivalism aimed at everyday people of every sort. I'm a neo-survivalist, are you?

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Additional Resources

- What is a 72 hour kit?

- How to start a food supply

- How to start a water supply

- Do you need a water filter?