OK, so I took a look at the Survival Forum™ Rules and Courtesies page and the survivalist definition page. From those it would seem that I was probably mis-understood. <br><br>I have been reading this site for the past month and receiving a great education. I have also run accross many of the "survivalist" sites in my pursuit of education. <br><br>I understand that this is not one of them. My question is this: <br><br>What Now? <br><br>Now that I have a PSK in my pocket, a Vehicle kit in the trunk of my car and my wives car, gas masks for the whole family, 3 months of food and water in the basement (really - I do), a leatherman wave on my hip, a decent library including both the SAS wilderness and SAS urban survival guides in my bed table - I feel fairly well prepared. (Yes I have read the books and taken the tools out into the wilderness and used them - Thanks to all who reviewed them here, you save me much time and expense avoiding the toos of lesser quality. No, I don't yet have firearms). Should my family encounter another blizzard such as the one that put us in a blackout for 2 weeks in '96 I expect we will thrive somewhat better than before. Should we encounter something else we will certainly soldier through as well as any. <br><br>What Now? As a new Amateur radio operator I look forward to participating in the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/sec1-ch1.html ) and helping out during whatever happens that I am prepared for. There are also programs sponsored by local and federal emergency management agencies such as the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT http://www.fema.gov/emi/cert/prog.htm ). Which started by the LAFD in response to The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 . <br><br>During this time of heightened anxiety and threat it is reasonable for people to participate in making the society more resilient. Whether it be by joining the Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/donate/volunteer/ and becomming better trained and prepared to handle medical emergencies for their neighborhood or by setting up emergency communications through Amateur Radio or something else there are many ways that individuals can help the community to become "Equipped to Survive". This is usually more a matter of skill, education, and awareness of the threats, natural and man-made, neutral or hostile than it is of gear but should still fit within the topics of "survival equipment and techniques" when viewed from a community perspective.<br><br>For the totally Gear-Inclined, a review or discussion of various SAR tools or EMT tools or Ham Radios and experience with such would be helpful.<br><br>If I am too far off topic with this let me know. I won't be offended, nor will I go-away. Even without a discussion on this particular topic as I have framed it, this forum is very useful to me and I will continue to enjoy participating in the topics expected.<br>