Final thoughts

I knew it couldn't go on forever, and it looks like the time has come when the 8+2TSOC must go its 8+2 separate ways. Time is short, and there is a lot to say, so I'll get on with it, before it's too late.

This post reflects much of what I have learned over the last 31 weeks. I have experienced a profound reaffirmation of my beliefs, as well as the much-needed kickstart to make overdue changes in the practical matters of how I live.

The big lessons:

- There is no quick fix, or even any "fix" at all. The entire premise of our society is inextricably linked to cheap and abundant energy. When it fails, everything around it collapses.

- The only answers are very small-scale and 100% dependent on the individuals involved. Have you ever been assigned a task to complete with a random group of people? Results are highly variable in this type of situation. Also, the way people behave under stress is radically different than under "normal" circumstances. The best case scenario is a group of "battle tested" individuals with deep personal bonds (i.e. family) that have access to an area of abundant natural resources. Communities may work as long as resources are adequate, but once they become critical, deep fissures develop that tear the group apart.

- The government (and corporate power structures) will continue, regardless of how bad things get. This means taxes will be collected, properties will be foreclosed, and people will be sent to camps if it comes to that. Government control will become progressively more authoritarian as things degrade, so your best bet is to be completely off the radar if possible. This means pay your debt, mind your own business, and avoid getting "rounded up" if you can.

- Alternative fuels such as ethanol are nothing more than a cruel mirage. Even conservation is ultimately pointless because of the Jevons Paradox. The best thing you can do is attempt to build a "transitional homestead" that utilizes alternate power sources as a transition into a low or no-power lifestyle.

- Survival has a VERY high learning curve, measured in months and years, not days. Learning to garden, hunt, fish, or do anything that involves extracting resources for survival is immensely complex. You need to have reliable materials to study, as well as someone to guide you. Trying to figure this stuff out when you are starving just means your final days will be agonizing and frustrating. There is only one thing that has kept us insulated from the reality of survival, and that is energy. Once gone, or diminished, that line disappears and you are now at the mercy of forces that have no regard for human life. Nature has its own cold, calculated equilibrium that rarely offers second chances. The more prepared you are to face this, the better your chances as things degrade.

- There IS HOPE. But, it is hope that you must create. There are a vast number of resources available, even in the height of the oil shock. There is a community here, for you to tap. There is an abundance of information. There are so many things you can do right now... they will all help. Just ask me how to start.

- Learn to let go of everything. Attachment to "things" is incredibly dangerous. The only things that will ultimately serve you are your own skills, attitudes and personal relationships. Forget the small squabbles or petty differences you have with your spouse, family and friends. In order to survive, you must learn the fine art of forgiveness, because those emotions are a luxury you do not have once TSHTF. The order of the day is humility, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to make it.

- Don't buy a gun! Unless you know how to use one with absolute certainty in pitch black night by touch, forget it. You are much likelier to injure or kill yourself or someone you love with it. Did you know you can pull the clip out of an automatic and have it still be loaded? Guns are a formidable tool, and not for the uninformed. You are much better served by running away from confrontation, or using a blade for self-defense.

- Watch everything around you (news, etc.) with Peak Oil as the subtext to every story. There are clues to what is really happening in every report. You just need to have your ears and eyes open. If you want to know (now) what the government is really doing, watch Fox News. It is the "official" propaganda channel for the USA and will tell you much more about what is going on than other sources.

- Build your life how you want it to be, but as simply as possible. Convert your dreams and ideals into concepts, then translate these into small-scale, or low-energy forms. Happiness is not things, it is experience, tranquility and purpose. There will be abundant opportunity for all of these, no matter what the future holds. For example, one of my happiest moments is eating the first asparagus shoot of the year. I wouldn't trade that single spear for a Ferrari! Learn to love the small wins, like when you learn to do something new, or when you kiss your spouse, or when the first seed you planted sprouts.

- The American Dream was a defective product that was sold to you. It is not real. It exists only to drive you into over-consumption. You don't have to own your own house, or car, or boat. What you do need is a life that is as sustainable as possible. Happiness follows simplicity and sustainability.

What WWO did for me:

I realized as things progessed that ad-hoc communities formed by connectionless neighbors in the sea of suburban sprawl only go so far. You may be lucky and find lasting success with this, but that will be the exception and not the rule. Local foods and even backyard cultivation is simply not enough to feed people... especially people used to chronically overeating. Most people have no idea what real hunger is and completely freak out if they don't eat for 24 hours. This makes community food-sourcing almost impossible, because people raid the garden, eat all the fruit without saving seeds, and generally don't consider anything except their own immediate hunger and needs. I am used to going hungry -- not because I am poor -- but because I want to be resilient. Others had little or no experience going without. This sowed the seeds of deep discontent, in-fighting and desperate futile actions.

After coming to this realization, I decided the best thing would be to sell our land near Forks, Washington (which is already prepared to support self-sufficiency for the potential buyer), and buy land here in Tennessee as soon as possible. We also decided that the co-op would not be a good primary living spot due to many of the issues that plague suburban communities. There is also a decided lack of arable land there, and virtually no one besides us has experience growing significant quantities of food.

Our plan is to start a selective community consisting of family and like-minded friends, and aggressively promote deconsumption, sustainability, energy independence and local products. We'll also give the community a decidedly artistic and musical bent. Creation of music is an important part of the common human experience. If we can find people with money to invest, we can get a larger piece of land with a greater ability to provide. Maybe someone from WWO will wind up joining us... There is no lack of jobs to do or skills needed.

In closing, I want to thank the 8+2TSOC for their tireless effort connecting the community in the face of tremendous challenges. YuckyMuck for heroically keeping the servers up, Dessum for connecting the dots, Inky for her youthful yet wise insights, Grace's Mom for her sensitive observations, Gala_Teah's great updates, Chuckles' real-world take on things, IS's unflagging work to make things better, LocalBoy's conviction, mpathytest's playful yet serious demeanor, and finally Pachinko's deeply-touching sentiments. I am honored to have known you all.

Final final thoughts

You know as well as I do that the work has just begun. From an idea springs one of two things: inaction or action. This work must continue. It will in my life... will it in yours?

I hope that this project is turned into a movie, or book, or story for NPR. And if it is, I would love to be a part of it in whatever way possible. I am in this for the long haul. I am in this for life. I believe WE have become something ultimately greater than the problem itself.

Where do we go from here? Let's draw the map. Let's walk forward hand-in-hand. Let's SOC. Let's SOW.