American Preparedness Community

"...you're seeing average people taking smart moves and moving in intelligent directions to prepare for the worst. (...) So survivalism in every way possible. Growing your own, self-sustaining, doing as much as you can to make it as best as you can on your own and it can happen in urban area, sub-urban area or the ex-urbans. And it also means becoming more and more tightly committed to your neighbours, your neighbourhood, working together and understanding that we're all in this together and that when we help each other out that's going to be the best way forward." -Gerald Celente

Consider this a content advisory.

I don't think I should run outside with a cardboard sign proclaiming that the end times are nigh.  I'm not crazy, but you know what is?  The world, not to mention the universe.  Did you know that the Earth is one third the age of the universe?  I just read that shit on Wikipedia.  Blew my mind.  Imagine all that has happened since the Earth was created, and compare it to what we know.  We don't know jack.  Looking at our situation from a logical viewpoint, I would say we need to do whatever we can to prepare for what we can't imagine, because WTSHTF (when the shit hits the fan) we have to be prepared for anything.

We'll do the best we can.

Even if the S doesn't HTF, we could pass on valuable lessons to the generations that follow us.  Imagine a family of four completely providing for all of their own needs.  Imagine a neighborhood that was it's own bastion of civilization in an uncivilized world.  Imagine if entire cities began to work together to be self-sustaining.  What if mankind stopped taking from the Earth and began giving back?  Prepping, survivalism, whatever you want to call it, it is more than being ready for TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it).  It's about living better.  Taking care of yourself.  Using our freedom as Americans to be actually be free.

'Merica.

Realistically, I don't plan on changing the world, but I do plan on gathering a group of like-minded individuals and founding the American Preparedness Community (APC).  It is the AMERICAN Preparedness Community because I believe that our founding fathers had the right idea.  I believe the Constitution is something worth upholding and I believe that freedom is important and America is still the home of the free.  It is a community because we will believe in our cause and in each other. 

Now, I don't want the APC to be a group of preppers who get so deep into their preparations for change that they don't take advantage of what we have right NOW.  We can make this beneficial to ourselves pre-SHTF as well as post-SHTF.  Not only through becoming self-sufficient in a culture of sheep, but by helping sheep not be sheep.  More on that later, but I'm sure we can convince people to throw money at us. 

"A fool and his money are soon parted."

Which somehow leads me to another point: opsec.  Operational security.  It sounds all action-movie-esque, but it's simple.  "Speak softly and carry a big stick."  Get the biggest most badass stick you can find and carve it into a blunt object of exquisite beauty, and then DON'T show it to ANYONE.  I don't think APC members should retreat from the world, I just think they should try and maintain a tactical advantage over it.  Want to be a part of the APC?  Create a pseudonym.  Build an entity out of your ideals and beliefs, your humor and personality.  For any Robin Hobb fans out there, carve a dragon.  You might just learn something about yourself.

 I don't want to be the leader, I want to be a leader in a community of leaders.  If the APC had a mission statement, I think it should be something like "Survive, Secure, Sustain, Syndicate."  I think that the APC should have what I like to call the "Cabinet."  There will be four "Chairs" in the "Cabinet."  The "Survival Seat" will be in charge of health: medicine, fitness, sanitation, etc.  The "Security Seat" will be in charge of shelter: from weather, stupidity, disasters, people, animals, aliens, etc.  The "Sustenance Seat" will handle food, water, energy, etc.  Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, is the "Syndication Seat."  Syndicate means 'a group of individuals or organizations combined or making a joint effort to undertake some specific duty or to promote a common interest.'  This seat will be in charge of building the community as a group of people.  It will handle communication, organization, public affairs (bartering, crimes, etc), and also maintaining and expanding knowledge (education, the library, etc).

All seats are required to look dashing.

I don't have much, just an idea, but we can put our heads together and build something legit.

Which does not include this.