The-Atlantic-thefemalesurvivalist

I wrote about reusing containers on the 12 of April. This is not to encourage saving of all kinds of plastic and glass ware. If we can reuse something instead of buying something new, we reduce the impact on earth resources, especially oil needed for manufacturing and shipping all this stuff around the globe.

But that's almost too big to get our heads around.

If we reduce our square footage of living space, and reduce the quantity of goods we fill it up with, then we'll make faster progress as a nation.
The more compact the housing, the less it takes to heat and cool it.

What if there's so much stuff in that square footage you start to feel claustrophobic? I know I do. I took an inventory on the amount of hair care products I have right now, on my shelves, in my home.Eight different things, not including combs or brushes. Just liquids. There are two kinds of shampoo, two kinds of conditioner, some various styling products, and some coloring agents.

Now, basically what happened is none of it seemed to be working for me. Finally I realized I expected product to solve mechanical issues: bad haircuts, brushing while wet, sun damage, etc. Instead of throwing it out, I'm going to use up what I have and not replace it, thereby getting this inventory cut in half.

I can take that approach to my closet as well. Why do I have twenty pairs of pants? Which ones haven't I worn in over a year? There's a reason I never use this jacket. In those cases, the sooner I get rid of it, the better.

I read about the 100 Items Challenge. This project can be interpreted in two ways: either each item ( one pair of shoes, one pair of pants) is counted, or each category is counted ( the jewelry is one, the shoes is another). You can see that with 100 categories a person could still end up with a ton of stuff. Yet, 100 individual items would be difficult to achieve. I probably have that in wardrobe alone.

A recent post at http://thesurvivalistblog.net/ suggests that its important to be in the right location, and be mobile when necessary. Being able to move out, and leave it all behind is a mindset. I'm constantly watching out for Stuff Overload. It can creep up on you, one item at a time.

I wanted to talk about the first R in Five Survival Strategies today: reuse. The photo below was taken yesterday. You can see a variety of containers that I bought food in. After using up the food, they were washed, and continue to be used. Glass jars, large plastic jugs, soda bottles (excellent water bottles and ice packs for the cooler), and stackable cocoa powder containers are all sturdy and saveable.



Seems sort of pointless to do this to "save the planet". This morning I read an article about

Japan Upgrades Nuclear Disaster to Chernobyl
and I'm scared, pissed and discouraged.

Not that we didn't know they were spoon feeding us information all along. With so many world wide crisis,its easy to loose interest, get distracted, and forget the monster across the ocean.

Forgetting there are many of these here in America.
Forgetting there is a nuclear reactor sitting on the coast in California, earthquake belt, tsunami in waiting.

But, here I am recycling, reusing containers to limit my carbon footprint cause I love the earth. I love the green forests, the clear running streams, the living breathing planet.

I'll keep on reusing stuff cause I can't help it. I'll reuse zip lock bags, aluminum foil, candle stubs to make fuel sticks, wash clothes instead of one use disposable "Handi Wipes".

Leonardo daVinci wrote in 1452, Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. I think that qualifies for sustainable survival skills.

My friend from http://Coolworks.com
posted this, and with his permission, I share it with you.

The journey ahead , I am about to be Dead . I am petrified . The pictures of Death are frightening .
The handbooks are very subjective ( Bible , Quoran , etc ) and I feel are antiquated . This is the premier journey but there is a noted absence of relevant information .

For instance, the timetable of departure is ambiguous. Yesterday , I begged to be taken immediately . This evening I am chipper , with a bit of color , a stroll to the pub may be ahead .
How to prepare ? I revert to my old standard - take on the challenge with vigor . Therefore the practical arrangements are complete . I have ordered cremation . Scatter the ashes in the garden . I see no real glory in tying up a sliver of our precious Earth in order to store a bit of tissue .

My real questions . Will the pain be gone ? Do I see my dear Mum ? And what of my mates ? Will our bodies be torn and abused , or will we be whole ? If I am whole , then the pain must be gone .


Oh so many questions . I am petrified .

I have prepared as much as possible in order to free my mind for the present . Living Here Now . The journey of light will come . My affairs are arranged and all the wags at the pub are lining up for pints at the wake .
I am petrified of height . Walking out of a perfectly stable in-flight craft is an outrageous example of stupidity . I am puny , the frame of an underfed pullet . The big lads did enjoy a toss now and again . I do admit a joy as I toss the big lads . Judo created equality among the brawny .

I absolutely deplore spiders and snakes . I became an Instructor at the jungle warfare school . I say all not to be a braggart . I say all as a message . The real great fear of life , is death, because it is unknown unseen . All other fear can be overcome or dealt with . I'll not visit again . This site is about the future . I am a part of the past . Oh yes , the drugs . The hashish brownies are splendid and helped so much with my appetite . Although a biscuit at tea is more preferable .


And yes,Go Now - Tomorrow May Never Arrive .

Goodbye All , please delete as needed .

Thank you, Polident/Scarface for this moving reminder of our mortality, and fierce love of life.

The Five Rs I've identified for the Survivalist are:

Reduce the clutter, the obligations, the amount of stuff you own.

Reuse the things you have until they are worn completely out.

Repair the things you have to prolong their use.

Recycle everything you can by remaking it into personal use items, donating them to a thrift store, or to a recycle center.

Redefine the things you need in life for comfort, safety and emotional well being.

Redefining your needs is a long term project if you've been raised in a middle or upper class environment. I take it one day at a time. It doesn't mean buying cheap stuff. Maybe it means buying one good thing, and spending more on it.

These skills are earth friendly and reduces your carbon footprint.
In a true survival situation that wouldn't be the primary concern. Right now I can afford to care about the planet. I also love the idea that it lowers my consumerism.


Each of these Rs will have a day of its own to be really explored. Please stay tuned, share and comment.

Five years ago I bought this 12 x 16 metal building and had it delievered to my home in the woods.
It has a pressure treated wood floor, regular mobile home door, 4 windows, steel stud construction in walls and ceiling. The roof is not as strong as I'd like. A branch fell during a storm and punctured it, causing a leak. I repaired the leak, recoated the roof, and its been fine ever sence.
I had hurricane anchors installed when it was delievered, after they backed it in, leveled it and checked to be sure everything was working.




I bought 13 R insulation, panelling, some wood stripping and carpet.
The entire package and interior finishing cost under $4,000.
The bed has storage under it. The chest doubles as storage and seating. There is electricity and internet. My heat is either electric space heater in spring and fall, or the Mr. Buddy Propane Heater in winter or brutal cold snaps.

I create my artwork outside mostly, because of the fumes and messy mica and paint work. Additional found objects are added over a period of time. The folding table is portable and used outside.

I'm working on a passive water collection system. If and when the power goes out, I can filter and treat the water collected in these buckets. I can use untreated water for the garden, filtered water for washing, and filtered-treated water for cooking and drinking. By using several buckets instead of one large holding tank, I can carry the buckets to the garden, or inside the main house as needed.

I purposely chose a metal building with the roof overhanging on the door side so that a portch can be easily added.

There is no indoor plumbing in this studio. I have potable water used for coffee in jugs under the desk. An outhouse could be built.

This building is easy to set up. In retrospect, wood wall studs would have been easier to work with while installing paneling and hanging shelving and artwork.
However, the steel studs are stronger, and once everything was installed, gave me peace of mind. With Steel studs, its less flamable, fewer worries about termites and warping due to moisture.

This housing system is totally sustainable and doesn't require any electricity. Because of the insulation, windows, and solid floor, it heats quickly. Opening the windows provides excellent air flow for cooling.

While shopping for this building, I was able to choose color, size, window placement, type of door, wood or steel studs. I chose to have one side of the building with no windows or doors, and three sides to have openings for air flow. I chose 4 windows instead of the customary two vents and two window combination.

This 2003 German film has English subtitles.
Since we subscribed to Netflicks, I've been venturing into movies I wouldn't necessarily rent.
Most of the time, a person wants to just lay back and enjoy, not read, throughout the movie.

But this one is well worth it. Besides, how often do you get the other side of the story?
A German soldier promises his little girl he'll be home by Christmas. Unfortuantely, or from the allied point of view, fortunately, he is captured, and sentenced to work camp in Siberia.
World War II was a horendous event for all, and of course its natural to blame the instigators of all this bloodshed and distruction.

For three years, our central figure, Clemens Forell, works in barbaric conditions so brutal he tries to escape. His first attempt is foiled, and his comrades were forced to beat him as punishment. The doctor comes to his rescue, makes them quit, and gives him all his stashed escape treasure trove because the doctor found out he had terminal cancer and can not make it.

Of course, all this planning is done hidden from the Soviet guards.
Finally, Clemens escapes, completing over 8,000 miles to complete the journey from a place so devoid of anything, so remote there never were any fences.

Watch if you get a chance, check out all the special survival techniques, the cut throats he meets along the way, the loving natives who help him, and the relentless pursuit of his guards.

Self Portrait by Hawkeye, a trail friend




It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood,
who strives valiantly,

who errs and comes up short again and again...

who spends himself in a worthy cause; who
at the best, knows in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst,
if he fails,
at least he fails while daring greatly.--Teddy Rosevelt



Self Portrait-Woman Who Runs With Wolves-Brawny