The Case For Resiliency

The Inner Side of Resilience

Whenever I get the chance to share something that matters to me, I often begin with the “spiritual” dimension. It’s not always appreciated, but to me we are nothing more than consciousness, expressed uniquely through each of us. We may appear to do this or that, but there is never really anything happening other than this consciousness.

When one understands this, consciousness itself becomes the focus of attention. When I study “my own,” I see that it is flavored by feeling. In my case, I feel taken care of, secure, grateful, competent, loved, healthy—and resilient. This feeling of resilience is with me all the time. It has value of its own, even if it is never “cost‑justified” by an emergency.

It did not require that much money (relative to what is already invested in the house) or effort to become resilient. I wasn’t motivated by fear. It was simply the next logical step after more pressing needs were met. It was fun, I learned a lot, and I found real satisfaction as each new capacity was added.

Why So Little Interest in Resilience?

I’ve often wondered why so few people with the means to be more resilient show any interest in it. Some seem to believe services will continue to be available as they always have been. Others, imagining nuclear war, decide it’s not survivable, so why bother. Those reasons made some sense to me for a while.

Another explanation now makes more sense. My fellow citizens, besotted as we are with beyond‑pharaoh‑level luxuries—travel to anywhere, abundant food from everywhere, comfortable private transportation, 24/7 entertainment, air conditioning, hot and cold running water, cell phones, internet, social media, home delivery, and more—simply do not want to imagine life without these things. Life without comforts that no humans had before 1900 feels unimaginable, and to many, perhaps not worth living.

How strange. How very unsustainable.

The End Game of an Unsustainable System

People are not really “against” resiliency. They are resistant to accepting the truth that we are in the end game of a centuries‑long assault on the planet. Our 24/7, on‑demand‑everything lifestyles are built on top of hundreds of personal “petroleum slaves” and the mining of finite biological capital far beyond the rate of replenishment.

A correction is coming, and it is coming fast. The likelihood is compounded by a multiplicity of gathering risks: more virulent pandemics (some state‑manufactured), climate change, disrupted internet, AI, nuclear proliferation, political instability, profound income inequality, unsustainable debt, pathological leaders, and much more. It’s not looking good.

We do not know how this correction will play out. It could come fast and severe or unfold more slowly. Whenever it comes, there will be panic.

What I Actually Want

I do not want to participate in that panic. I do not want to be fighting for food or gas or be at the mercy of some desperate person with a gun. I want to be calm and relatively comfortable and, if necessary, say goodbye to this fabulous life and my loved ones with dignity and on my own terms.

Survival may or may not happen. If it is possible, I wouldn’t mind helping rebuild a saner world. But survival is not my core goal. I simply want to be calm and relatively comfortable as things sort out.

We are in an age where the amount of money we have appears to determine our freedom and physical well‑being. But that reality does not hold in a real emergency. During a bona fide crisis, money sitting in a bank will not insulate you from physical and emotional distress. Your resiliency will depend on the planning you do and the actions you take before the emergency.

What Most People Won’t Be Able to Do

Most people will not be able to do most or all of the following one day to three months into a severe nationwide emergency:

• Flush the toilet

• Stay warm

• Keep food refrigerated and frozen

• Cook

• Eat regularly and well

• Drink clean water

• Grow food

• Take hot or cold showers

• Use their electrical appliances

• Communicate with loved ones

• Get news

• Drive their gas car

• Recharge their electric vehicle

• Keep the lights on at night

• Listen to music

• Obtain necessary medications

• Wash their clothes

• Use power tools to fix anything

• Defend themselves if necessary

• Call the police

• Obtain medical services

• Access downloaded information

• Access digital currencies

• Access digital information or social media

• Solve basic medical emergencies

• Purify the air in the house if necessary

• Rely on previously stored household items like soap and toilet paper

  
  

It is not necessary to be that vulnerable. I strongly suggest correcting that vulnerability now, while you still have time, energy, and options.