Being alone and the impact it has on your survival rate, your health and quality of life.
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Continuing with the line of thought of my post about preparedness as we grow older, I’d like to bring up another taboo subject.
Being alone.
Coming from a Latino culture, I fully understand the hesitation to even talk about something like this. You’re supposed to be tough, rugged and not complain about silly things such as feelings. Feeling lonely falls well within such category. Making matters even worse I actually do enjoy some alone time, maybe a bit too much. At last for people like me (and many in the survival community are this way) its dangerously easy to be ok with being along. In spite of all I also know perfectly well that without my wife and kids I’d be miserable.
A lot of people are very much alone, they do feel lonely and its not by choice.
Census figures show that one in 11 Americans age 50 and older lacks a spouse, partner or living child. That’s roughly eight million people in America.
The Loneliest Generation: Americans, More Than Ever, Are Aging Alone
We also know that being lonely isnt good for you, it directly impacts both your health and quality of life.
Loneliness Is as Lethal As Smoking 15 Cigarettes Per Day. Here’s What You Can Do About It
What I do and would advise others to do is work at making these relationships work.
To that end, here’s my piece of advice of the day:
Work at making your marriage work. Work at having a good relationship with your kids. I’m lucky in that I have a great family and love wife and children. But I also admit it wasn’t all some lucky coincidence. I did go out there to find the right woman and didn’t settle for anyone less than what I wanted. Once I found her, I made the conscious effort to make it work, as a father and husband. We live in this screwed up, selfish and disposable society. People are just as disposable as relationships and we are told that’s the way its supposed to be. If you don’t want that to be you then act accordingly.
Work at making friends. This one is hard for me because I enjoy more being with my wife and kids than anyone else. Of course, I’m lucky in that regard (we already addressed the matter of luck when it comes to these things) but it also means I struggle a bit to get outside that circle and make friends.
I do try though, and trying enough you eventually have success. Do try to talk with people, do smile, say hi, engage in conversation. Even if it seems like silly small talk it is still social interaction that is good for you. It’s also about practicing that skill which you probably need to get better at anyway.
Just a couple things to think about people.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”
Hi Fernando,
This is the new version.
https://www.rt.com/news/452925-india-russia-plant-kalashnikov-rifles/
What I find interesting is that after nearly 50 years of the M16 the US has finally admitted its a fatally flawed design. It is strange they just did not make an AK 47 in the USA.
-Steve
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Hey Steve, thanks for the link.
Nice AK. Don’t see how ergonomics are improved “dramatically” though.
Guns in the military aren’t just guns, they have a symbol and political status as well. That’s one of the reasons why the US military stuck with the M16/AR platform for so long.
I’m not much of a fan of the AR platform though. Direct GI is simply inferior to piston by allowing hot dirty gas directly back into the action of the gun. The bolt isn’t much to admire either and stripping is simple enough but there’s easier guns with less small parts to mess with.
Of course its also light, accurate, there’s tons of magazines and accessories.
In spite of not being my favourite rifle, at today’s prices the AR makes a lot of sense.
While not my first pick for SHTF (I’d rather go with an AK47 or FAL for long term) with some training on how to run it, it will do the job. Its also a good gun for when shooting 3 gun competition.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”
Now that I’m older, just turned 61, this video was for me. Thank you for bringing up this delicate subject most like to avoid. Though I’m in good health, physically fit, eat right. Ect., I have noticed pronounced changes in the last few years. Namely, eyesight is less focused, slower in moving, get tired more easily and temperament.
Just the way it is! A couple of things besides those mentioned is taking supplements.
Number one is for joint health, which has glucosamine, chondroitin, some brands have additional boosters like vitamin D. It something I’ve taken for decades, start young, pays dividends later on. Yes, exercise is critical, move around and stretch!
For me, light yoga and minimum walk at least one hour a day (3miles).
A little trot run to speed it up for a hour is better.
I’ve read we age in spurts, so be prepared for a lot of change in a short time frame. We don’t like to face it but when the hair gets sparse on top of the head and your eyelids droop so it affects your eyesight, one is forced to deal with the change. In my case, preparing for the day when I have to get an eyelids lift procedure.
Being without children, I will have to create an extended family. Translation, perhaps again going back to sharing a resident. That means being active maybe in church religious, social clubs ect.
Oh, thumbs up for the recommendation on DOGS…important, yes the are excellent security measure and company.
Lastly, it can really suck getting old, so learn how to keep a smile on your face!
I read amateur runners in a long distance run preformed better when they smiled while doing it!
Attitude works wonders.
Thanks again and looking to reading your next book, Ferfal.
-A
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Thanks, thank you for your honesty and observations.
Yes, attitude is essential in all stages of life but it seems to be even more so the older we grow. You just have to stay positive and active. Some of the older people I admire the most work harder than many that are ¼ their age. There’s some 80 year olds out there that wake up every morning excited about the day ahead of them and that makes all the difference in the world.
Sharing residency sounds like a very good idea. Not sure how it works but I see how splitting bills between two or three people helps a lot. You also have other people for company, help one another and think of ways of staying busy. We often complain about other people and prefer to be alone (I know I do) but at the end of the day we are social creatures and not meant to be alone.
Take care and good luck!
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”
Not a cool flashy video but a relevant one for many of you out there. I feel this one went well.
How preparedness and survival changes as we grow older. Not as fast any more, not as strong, how some things change regarding self defense. What supplies you want to stock up.
Leave a comment below and let me know if you can think of others ways in which preparedness changes as you grow older.
Very simple tip on making that front sight more visible.
Sure, get proper high visibility sights with tritium for your main carry gun, go with these if you can:
TRUGLO TFX Pro Tritium and Fiber Optic Xtreme Hangun Sights for Glock Pistols
But if you want to try something that costs next to nothing then give this a try. Especially if you have several guns, backups and you don’t want to be spending a lot of money on getting fancy $100 sights for each.
In my case it was more about not modifying my revolver. My Manurhin MR73 is a work of art of a firearm and I’m not about to mess with it. But the target style sights are honestly hard to see in low light conditions with that black front post.
This is how it compared to the orange front sight on my Colt Python (left) and my home made one on my MR73 on the right:
This DIY High viz project is very easy. Follow the steps and watch the video.
1) Clean the front sight with rubbing alcohol
2) Tape around the area you plan on painting
3) Start with a base layer of white nail polish. You could give it a go with liquid paper if nothing else. Keep in mind that with nail polish you’ll need about three or four layers to have a good white foundation.
4) Paint on top with bright orange fluorescent nail polish. The brighter the better. There’s dedicated glow in the dark orange paint ($9) for this called GLOW-ON Orange Super Phosphorescent Gun Night Sights Paint.
5) Final step, once everything is dry use a coat or two of super glue. This will make the painted area far more resistant to chipping, holster wear and easier to keep clean.
6) Remove the tape. You may want to cut with a razor or xacto blade next to the tape, so as to not pull off the paint along with it.
That’s it. Give it a try. If you don’t like it its easy enough to clean everything up and leave it as it was before or give it another try.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”
Replying to: Teaching your kids to not only to Survive but to do well in Life
All wise words, mate. Sounds like your kids are well on the way to being the kind of people we all want to be around.
I am also trying to encourage my daughters to learn about the expectations of doing work, both paid and unpaid. Giving youngsters some kind of chores to carry out ( laying and clearing the table around meals, caring for and feeding the dog, keeping their room tidy etc) encourages them to see that looking after themselves, their environment and community is normal and rewarding. They also have the opportunity of volunteering for extra task ( chores are expected and unpaid ) to earn a bit of pocket money. I encourage them to save some of it and budget to some extent, as learning to delay immediate gratification in exchange for a longer-term goal is a very valuable skill which few adults have mastered.
-Orsotoro
Great topic, thanks for bringing it up.
In our home we have it written down in a chart kept on the fridge, who’s in charge of cooking and cleaning up each day. It does help a lot and it gives kids and teens a sense of order and reasonability. It also teaches them to value what parents do for them every day and not take it for granted so much.
As you said, its chores, it’s their obligation. They do a little bit to help around the house, it both helps parents and it helps them so as to know how to do things when they end up living by themselves.
Money from Christmas or birthdays, it all get put away and saved. The money stash soon reaches interesting figures when its not thrown away on silly junk.
For our oldest son, he’s been doing a bit of freelance programing. My wife and I told him several times how great it is to have this experience at his age (16) to actually earn your own money, to be able to do it online and while doing something you like. Not only that but having the work experience, talking and communicating with a client, learning how much he should charge per hour and how long it takes him to get the job done. All invaluable.
Some may not realize this, but these skills, knowing how to budget, how to save money, how to make it, these are all very important survival skills.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”
“FerFAL, what are good barter items to stock up on?”
That’s a question I get asked a lot. Barter became very popular in Argentina when the economy crashed. Still, for a number of reasons, I don’t believe that in general it’s much of a good idea to stock up items and supplies specifically for barter after SHTF. Most people that ended up bartering to make it through did it because they had no other choice.
But while I don’t believe much in stocking up barter items, I do believe in stocking up items that are:
1) Consumables that are going to be used eventually, SHTF or not
2) Affordable
3) Compact and light weight
4) Have proven to be in high demand during past SHTF events
5) And yes, could potentially be used as valuable barter items, if such a scenario ever plays out.
Lighters and matches definitely score high on all of the above so I keep plenty of those. As for matches, hands down my favourite ones are strike-anywhere Swan Vesta matches. Keep them nice and dry in a match box or small Ziploc bag and you’re good to go.
When it comes to lighters, I favor Clipper lighters. Now, you can just stock up on some generic brand (not a good idea, quality is mostly poor) or a trusted brand (usually Bic) But Clippers have a few advantages.
1) They are made in Spain under rather strict safety and quality control standards. Unlike Bics, Clippers are made of Nylon which is much harder to break on impact and more fire resistant.
2)The pentagon shaped wheel is easier to strike, especially when compared to the silly child proof wheel in current Bics.
3)They are affordable, just a few cents more than disposable Bic lighters.
4)They are refillable lighters. Yes, you can refill disposable ones as well but they aren’t intended for that and the Clipper has a proper valve at the bottom for refiling.
5)The flint striker can be removed and the flint replaced.
6)The flame adjusts automatically, increasing in size when turned sideways for pipes.
7)They come in a variety of designs, colors and materials. From utilitarian see-through plastic to know how much fuel you have left, to bright colored ones for easy location when dropped, ideal for survival kits, or classy metal version both in chrome and gun metal, suited for EDC carry.
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”
I took my 10 year old to the movies this past weekend. We saw “Alita: Battle Angel” (liked it, good action movie and true enough to the comic).
So we’re sitting there, waiting for the movie to start, when I see this kid walk into the theatre. He must have been about ten years old too, same as my boy. But this kid was easily twice his size, maybe more. The boy had no neck, just a giant roll of fat and a belly like a 9 month pregnant woman. Boobs like one too, printing through the loose basketball tank top he was wearing. He really did NOT need the large soda he had in his hand and whatever junk food he had in the other. The kid climbed the steps towards the row of seats in the back. Half way there he was already short of breath and you could hear him gasping for air. This ten your old literally struggled to walk across a room and climb a few steps.
The movie started and it was quite good. No, thankfully it wasn’t a liberal girl power mess but rather similar to the original Gunnm: Battle Angel Alita of 1993.
Driving back home I found myself again thinking about that kid, how bad his parents had clearly screwed up and how, while not perfect, I do pat myself in the back about how mine are turning out. My wife had asked our paediatrician about our ten year old being too thin. He emphatically told her not to change a thing in the boy’s diet, that he’s perfectly healthy and that she has no idea how many children are overweight and the many problems they have because of it.
Being a good parent isn’t always easy but it’s not rocket science either. It’s not that most parents out there didn’t read the right parenting book. It’s simply that they don’t care and that they’d rather be doing something else than spending time with their own children.
It’s easier to stuff a kid full of junk food than to teach him to eat fruits instead and explain why those are better for him. Or why even in Halloween he can only have so much candy because large amounts of processed sugar are terrible for him. If you let them eat an entire bag of candy they’ll let you watch TV or check out your Instagram in peace which is what most people want these days.
I’m no Dad of the Year but these are a few things I do with my kids, so that they are healthy, strong of mind and body.
Once your kids know what they are passionate about, then encourage them to be good at it. There’s a chance that either directly or indirectly, it may become a way or earning a living for them. If that’s the case, when you do that which you are passionate about, then they wont work a day in their lives and that goes a long way not only towards professional success but also happiness.
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”
Just got back from BA, Bariloche, and Villa Carlos Paz near Cordoba (visited for the holidays; my wife grew up in Barrio Norte, across the street from the Israeli Embassy the Iranians leveled. She lived there in the 70’s and 80’s). However, we were last there back in December, 2001. Yep – fleeing tear gas and rioters pushing a pram not from the Obelisk.
But, Retiro is now….horrible. And, never in my life did I think I’d be stepping over homeless people in BA in the better areas. Many of the people we spoke too said things feel much like 2000, but with differences, because nobody really is all that eager to jump back in bed with the leftists.
What’s your latest read on Argentina…or would you mind directing me to further reading or reports on the situation?
Interesting though, because this time as with the last in the outer areas such as Bariloche it was as happy as could be, though everybody was certainly watching the value of the peso quite intently.
-Greg
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Hi Greg, thanks for your message.
Unfortunately you don’t fix 60 years of Peronism with four years of President Mauricio Macri.
The poverty, the corruption, the disastrous economy and weak industry, the collapsed infrastructure and education, its endemic and wont change overnight. Peronist populism also survives in the Argentinean political field like an infection, a spreading rot that never quite goes away.
My read on Argentina is still very much the same, unfortunately. You see, although 2001 was the time in which the country collapsed, socially, economically and politically, what came after that was far worse. The leftists Kirchner scum that took over was a complete nightmare straight out of the 70’s.
They reinvented themselves as romantic revolutionary socialists. The truth though is quite different.
Nestor and Cristina Kirchner, they started with a law firm. They worked for banks and financial groups which filed foreclosures, since the Central Bank’s 1050 ruling had raised mortgage loan interest rates. Through political contacts and bribes, they also acquired 21 real-estate lots for a low price when they were about to be auctioned. Their law firm defended military personnel accused of committing human right crimes during the “Dirty War”.
But being the clever criminals they were, they understood the power of the left, the socialist and social justice speech they saw in their youth.
All of a sudden they reinvented themselves not as a greedy, shady law firm turned politician, kicking poor people out of their homes and defending military personnel accused of torturing civilians. Now, according to them, they were practically Che Guevara with a rifle in their hands fighting the imperialist Americans.
As laughable as that sounds for the people that knew them for what they were back in the day, it sounded good and people ate that up. You had the real commies from back in the day, beaten like street dogs all of a sudden being vindicated. Support from “Madres de Plaza de Mayo” gave them international legitimacy, siding with the mothers of those killed during the Junta. Of course we wont talk about those that faked their deaths only to later be found alive in Spain, or those that had been killed in gunfights with the police, or the ones that died while planting bombs to kill innocent civilians. They were all freedom fighting heroes now, all of them. And all the police, the armed forces, they were all nazi pig dictators.
That’s what an entire generation was brought up to believe. The mugger, the criminal robbing at gunpoint, he’s a poor victim of the evil American capitalist system. The politician that steals millions? He’s stealing for the crown, for comrade Cristina and comrade Nestor, and they need money to fight the evil capitalists.
This madness, I kid you not, is very real. And it only got worse year after year with increasing indoctrination in schools, TV and other media, even cartoons for kids had this message.
The damage was very real and it doesn’t just go away because the dictators finally leave.
Kid, children, education, schools and the agenda in Universities. That’s where it’s at, and these scumbags knew that. After 12 years of constant indoctrination the damage is generational. You have an entire generation of young adults that today believe Cristina Kirchner is a saviour. There’s some older fools that believe Peron was their saviour too.
Of course, you also have hundreds of thousands that got used to stealing through the government. Getting paid for doing nothing. You have generations of poor welfare soldiers that make a living out of going to protest and marches and shouting “Cristina! Cristina!” or insulting the current President, Mauricio Macri. And of course there are thousands of millionaire politicians. Drugs, bribes, police corruption, anything goes. Even a lousy local small time politician can make a fortune.
As things stand today, nearly half the country would STILL vote for Cristina Kirchner. There’s no hope for people that are either that corrupt or that stupid.
Finally voting for President Mauricio Macri, that was a big first step. But now he needs to be re-elected. After him, another honest politician needs to become president. Maybe Maria Eugenia Vidal. If that happens and that woman gets re-elected, then maybe Argentina can actually become a 1st world country like its supposed to be.
But as things stand today, Cristina Kirchner could be president again this year. If that happens, Argentina will be taking giant leaps backwards. Back to the old ways, closer to becoming another Venezuela.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”
Being alone and the impact it has on your survival rate, your health and quality of life.
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