How would you fare if civilization collapsed?

Let's say that the government just ceased to be for whatever reason and the infrastructure that we all depend upon could no longer support itself. How well would you do in that situation? How well would your community fare? This community that I live in now would be hopeless, for them I would predict mass looting and people getting killed over a loaf of bread. My old community, back in Hawai'i would do splendidly. People are very resourceful there and help one another out. You can grow a garden year round and there are large herd animals and fish. Half the people in our old community weren't even on "the grid". My girlfriend and I had a house that was on a catchment system to obtain our water. So, if the shit hits the fan while I'm on the Mainland, I'm headed for the hills. Cue: Iron Maiden Run to the hills run for your lives

At my farm that is. Small, good hearted community who would stick and work together. We would have most everything we need except a house but I have a small apartment on my horse barn. I would certainly offer space to any likeminded person around the area (Kansas DUers!).

If the federal government disappeared tomorrow, I'm not sure it would make a bit of difference to our city government, for example. Other than the fact that nobody would receive social security checks, federal pensions, etc...On the bright side, we could easily legalize marijuana here. :)

Same with our state government. We send far more money to Washington than we get back. My state of Wisconsin is at least as large as many countries. Heck, Dane county is probably as large as Luxembourg. We have the resources here to be self sufficient (not so sure about places like Phoenix, AZ, though...).

And even apart from all that, is heading to the hills to deal with the warlords on your own a good idea, or is trying to gather what remains of your neighbors to work together a better idea?

As for myself: I'm a coop guy. I'm staying where I am, and if things fall apart, I intend to work to create new structures that serve us better.

But that's just me.

So heading for the mountains would be my best option. Maybe trying to get back to Hawai'i

I live out in the country, and due to my passion for collecting antiques, I have many old, quite functionable hand tools, from brace and bits to a two man crosscut saw. Deer and other wildlife are plentiful, and I can grow food easily. Heat won't be a problem, as I'm purchasing a woodstove soon, and give me another couple of years and I'll be producing my own electric power.

The part of the country I live in, the people are nice, and we already help each other out. We would fare much better than any urban area.

Everybody predicts mass looting. But when major social breakdowns actually happen, the normal response is depression and fear. Looting and rioting only happen among a small number of people, and it stops pretty quickly, even without police or soldiers shooting looters. Killing for small amounts of food or medicines would happen, but very infrequently. Most such killing would be done by people thinking they were being attacked, even if they weren't.

Punk rock gangs and "Mad Max" scenarios are also unlikely. Underworld crime would thrive for a little while, then collapse when the footsoldiers died, defected, or otherwise were out of commission. Survivalists would do pretty good. Utah would probably be in good shape, since disaster prep is a matter of Mormon faith.

People would drink heavily, and take lots of drugs if they were available. Children and women would get raped a lot more. Religious mania would become much more prevalent. Agoraphobia would become very common, too.

In the winter, lots of people would die from the combined effects of hunger, cold, and illness.

The survivalist fantasies one can read in fiction are just not realistic. If society broke down, it would suck long and loud.

--p!

if it was a "permanent" end times, you'd be far safer in the country, at least initially.

You would have access to running water, and hopefully to game and room to grow food. Hopefully you would be in or near a geographically defensible setting because sooner or later you would have starving desperate people streaming out of the city in every direction and you would want to be able to determine for yourself how much you were going to share as opposed to having taken from you.

The city would become a direct and very dangerous competition for very finite resources and a dangerous place to catch end-time diseases like cholera and other plagues from all the dead bodies and unregulated unclean water and rat and insect explosion.

Yeah, head to the hills is probably best advice

but I have been thinking about it a lot lately.
I've started stocking up on food that keeps well rice,noodles, canned meats,powdered milk ect...
I've even been bugging him to buy this little gizmo that pulls fresh water out of the air by condensation.
I'm also stocking up on veggie seeds.
He thinks I'm nuts,But I figure if I'm wrong that just means a few less trips to the grocery store later,and lots of yummy fresh veggies this fall.
My motto hope for the best prepare for the worst

Of course I might just be crazy :shrug: