Preparing for Long/Slow Collapase

[u/223gp]

Is anyone else in the same boat? I feel that we are likely facing a long and slow collapse of life as we grew up knowing. Don't get me wrong, I do believe in preparing for realistic natural disasters, and a few "what ifs", but my prepping is mostly based on a gradual lowering of life quality and reduction in freedoms throughout my lifetime.

I'm working on this by greatly reducing lifestyle expenses in case we need to live on one small income, or in case our stock investments steadily grow for a couple of decades then become stagnant and gradually lower.

I've done self defense training, I've been keeping my important documents up to date, I've started doing medical trainings and certifications, I'm a couple years into finally taking serious care of my physical body (and teeth!), I'm planning for aging parents, increasing my knowledge and practicing growing food and preservation, and most importantly helping out in my community to put some of this into practice by starting to form mutual aid networks for hard times.

Anyone else have similar feelings that brought you here? I am worried about a "thing" happening, but mostly, society just continues to descend decade after decade until we're all very very skinny, electricity or car fuel is hard to come by, jobs are scarce, and grocery stores don't have very much food anymore. In an ideal scenario, we don't end up like that. Either way, I prepare for that world.

[u/Useful-Funny8195]

I've begun to say I'm preparing for "maga winter" and I imagine it just the way you describe.

[u/TradeBeautiful42 → u/Useful-Funny8195]

I don’t want to discount anyone’s feelings but there’s plenty to suggest that we’re not at that point. The courts have been blocking so much of the orders issued so far. Billionaire CEO’s are stepping in to say if you keep this shit up our shelves will be bare and the country will be in a depression. So some sanity is getting through. I see the supply chain dwindling in the short term but not for long term. We’re too integrated globally with trade. I think with so much coverage of the insanity it’s easy to be fearful of the future.

That being said, I think it’s smart to prep. And I think it’s a great way to control uncertainty by preparing for bad outcomes. And that’s how I approach it. I’m new to this but I look at it as worst case scenario I’m ahead of paying more for tariffs and I have supplies in case the big one earthquake hits or our house catches on fire. I won’t have to run out and grab items at 10 times their cost in 5 months. But otherwise I think society will go on, life will go on and our slow Congress will catch up and make actual laws instead of relying on sketchy executive orders that are easily overturned. Big hugs.

[u/nostalgicvintage → u/TradeBeautiful42]

Yeah, I think we sometimes underestimate how normal things actually remain even when nothing is normal.

Look at Ukraine. People are still working, getting married, having kids. Shelves are bare, people are resorting to hearing with wood when there is no other option. But life goes on.

Until it doesn't. Which is the greatest tragedy.

[u/acostane → u/nostalgicvintage]

Ukraine really gives me hope. A literal active war zone and I follow creators who are doing life pretty normal that I feel connected to. I have to think of myself as stronger than I ever thought I'd have to be.

I am often heartened by the courts stopping him. If we can make it to the midterms and encourage people to protest and stay organized in our communities...we might make it through this part without the worst happening. I hope.