For me it has been a tough couple of years of seeing things fall apart and go downhill. Relationships, business, community, money, family member's health, etc. all have gone negative.

Lots of self-doubt along the way. Lots of disappointment in other people. I was over-extended and taking chances in life that made little sense.

This forum has helped me regain focus on what survival and preparedness mean. It is not about doing, it is about doing the right thing. It is not about stuff, it is about having the right stuff. And above all it is about always learning and practicing doing the right thing with the right stuff.

So I resolved to slow down, downsize, retreat to a firm foundation, take some time to regroup, and then start over. I am in the downsize-retreat portion of the program.

I am conserving and concentrating my resources for a positive, new start. I am posiitoning myself to encounter challenges from a better, more playful and adventurous place within my resources and well-thought-out boundaries.

From the outside I am sure it looks bad to be giving up so much, but from the inside I think I am regaining the only things that have true value. I guess time will tell.