Interesting article. Lots of fodder for discussion here.


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D98DCLJG0&show_article=1

Crisis spurs spike in 'suburban survivalists'

...they are mostly urban professionals with mortgages, SUVs, solid jobs and a twinge of embarrassment about their newfound hobby.

...The surge in interest in emergency stockpiling has been a bonanza for camping supply companies and military surplus vendors, some of whom report sales spikes of up to 50 percent.

...Those preparing for the worst echo those thoughts and say learning to be self sufficient makes them feel more in control amid mounting uncertainty—even if it seems crazy to their friends and families.

...The niche Web site SurvivalBlog.com has seen its page views triple in the past 14 months

I foresee two benefits for "us."

1. Stimulating peoples' interest in preparedness is generally a good thing.

2. When most of those people lose interest as the economy cycles up again, I'm thinking there's gonna be some wicked good garage sale bargains out there!

Everytime we have an earthquake ( and there have been several lately) people rush out and buy the car kits with boxes of water, a space blanket and cheap flashlight. Most of them sit in the trunks forgotten, mere placebo. The news stations again remind people of the need for an emergency kit while covering stories of 'survivalists.' Local companies sell assembled 'kits' who's only updates are naming them for the latest apocayptic event including the lakers losing.
What are you going to do? Just smile and be helpfull to people who 'get religion.'

I really need to start making money in survival instead of spending it.

If anyone wants plans for my dumpster fruitcake gigging spear just send $5 to..........

A friend and I thought about ways to make money teaching the things we love, the whole range of pioneer skills, to people who were willing to pay.

But looking into it as a business proposition, the cost of liability insurance and the general hassle and B.S. took the fun -- and profit -- right out of it. Nice to think about, though.

Some folks have found a different niche. This made me LMAO:

"Tents with Wi-Fi? Yurts and wine tastings? Call it recession luxe. Resorts, campgrounds and luxury 'camps' are bringing creature comforts to the great outdoors."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/roughing-it-hardly/article1143569/

Yep, "glamping."

I'd be all for Wi-Fi in the campgrounds we frequent.

We could camp more if I could e-mail work.

Along this vein, I'm thinking there will definitely be some good sales on ammo in a couple of years. Here in the west, people are buying up every box the stores get the same day the stores get it!!

Sure we'd all like to have 15-20,000 rounds of ammo but at what point does it get ridiculous?

> Tents with Wi-Fi? Yurts and wine tastings?

Sounds like Burning Man.

I have a program out here that I run. It's "Basics of Firearms". I market it to executives of large companies. My instructors are all combat vets with 15+ years experience in weapons and tactics. None of them are more than 24 months past their last actual firefight.

They get basic handling, safety, and operation instructions, and then a trip to the live-fire range where they get to handle, load, unload and fire the:

- RUGER 10/22 and/or Marlin 60
- Winchester 94 in 30-30
- Various Scoped Hunting Rifles in 7mm and 30-06.
- Remington 870 with shot, buckshot and slug
- Mossberg 500 with shot, buckshot and slug
- AK47 (actually SK47, it's Semi-Auto)
- M16
- Ruger SP101
- Glock 19 and/or 17
- Class 5 guns as we can get them. (M5, Tec9, Uzi, etc.)

After that it's dinner and a night at a local B&B if they want it.

Expensive, exclusive and fantastic.

Nicely done.

The bonus is that, unless you goof up royally, you're pretty safe against lawsuits. No CEO is going to admit publicly that he shot his own toes off. :-)

Now you need to add a "Homesteader Hell Weekend" where they fell trees, buck up and split wood, burn brush, plant survival gardens, and practice wilderness first aid. All for a price of course. Now if you could only think of a suitable location ... hmmm ...

Actually, if I could work out a way to get people to PAY me to cut, split and stack firewood, manage my garden, water and feed my chickens - well that would be neat, right?

Absolutely! In fact, I believe there's a pile o' grant money out there waiting for you now...

The grant money will only follow if the experience is packaged as 'outdoor education for troubled adolescents (ODETA)'. Most of the existing ODETA programs do not include firearms components, except for the original prototype ODETA provider, the Marine Corps. Most of the corporate executives I know have managed to prolong adolescence beyond all previously known limits, so there might be some wiggle-room for the older population, particularly if you can obtain signed affidavits attesting to adolescent behavior and emotional development. The execs' ex-wives should be able to provide such affidavits. Long-range program development could include paint-ball and live-fire competition between younger and older cohorts.

Or their stock holders.