Some of us are attentive of the forthcoming peak oil problem and the accompanying symptoms it will bring with it, when the time comes. In preparing for the challenge ahead, numerous intricate tests arise as anyone taking up the challenge will attest.
There seems to be a never-ending wave of obstacles to overcome, many of which cost time and money and demand courage, strategic planning and prudence. There’s no use in sugar coating this pill – transition preparation is far from easy.
Yet in the midst of the enveloping fog of adversity, there’s a wonderful opportunity to profoundly connect with yourself, your environment and friends and family in a life changing manner.
For many of us, this connection has been virtually dulled out of existence via a lifestyle resembling a quest for the plastic grail of meaningless consumerism, vicious debt slavery and hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic on our way to and from our hollow cardboard Camelots in mortgage hill suburbia. Is it any wonder we look at the reflection in the mirror and know not who we see?
As relocalisation begins to tighten its grip on our reality, our connection to the food we eat, the water we drink, the paths we travel, our neighbours, skills, work and sense of community will need to be re-established in a way conducive to a post peak framework. Everything in our lives will shrink back to local centres without the magic of the black goo. Of this, we can be sure.
This current concept and future reality of relocalisation will first and foremost impose the need for all of us to look within ourselves to find the answer to the new riddle of survival ahead. In the process of finding the answer within, will be the communal awakening of cooperation on every level as the one and true key to success in transition.
The current ideal of every MacMansion as an individualistic island bubble is a product of absurd abundance. It will have no place in our not-too-distant reality. What will occupy a place is the clan. For the clan will be responsible for it’s own food, water, protection, trade, peace and prosperity, all within a 20km radius of home. This is the future, folks.
It takes little imagination and consideration, however, to realise the impacts the above will have on a substantial portion of the population, especially those who fly into a fit because they are unable to get their hair done at the mall next weekend. Its not too difficult to conclude that those who have not been strengthened with adversity, will have to learn in less than ideal circumstances or lose their mind in the process. Such is what we have become.
As individuals, we need to embark on a great journey within, to seek and find our centre once again. This does not have to be a hocus-pocus combi-van concept. The first steps of this journey materialise in a set of simple and practical, real world tactics.
- Do your job well. Earn your money. Spend less than you earn
- Spend only what you earn. Forget credit and free your body and mind
- Consume less and produce more
- Move close to a train station and your local producers
- Go for walks, ride your bike and go camping with your family and friends
- Try saying hello to your neighbours
- Spend more of your money with your local butcher and fruit and veg store and spend less at the multinational supermarket
- Put some effort into the above points. Take some pride in yourself and look at these simple steps as a spiritual wakening of sorts. Give your kids a big hug and your wife or husband a big kiss. Hold hands on your walks and laugh a little, even if its at yourselves and how ‘crazy’ you're becoming
- Understand that life will go on for better or for worse. So it’s best to be prepared for the worst
- Start saving money
Seems so simple does it not? For the 1% of you out there in blog-land that attempt to actually carry out the above ten points, the first three paragraphs of this entry will take on a whole new light. All this inner journey stuff will start to make sense. Hell, you may even become a better person in the process.
For the rest of you – I hope you enjoyed this post. Keep coming back to visit and tell your friends about this blog.
Michael
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