IRL STL meet up | TheaterFire

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merikariu@reddit

Hi. My wife and I may move to STL next year. If we do, I'll contact you. You might also post in /r/CollapseSupport

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We're in Texas which is getting dumber and more dangerous. Dumber, because of the attacks on academia, and dangerous, because of the mismanagement of the water supply and energy grid. For around $200K, the wife and I can afford a 2br condo in the city. The city has some nice amenities without being too big or too expensive.

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Sarann8@reddit (OP)

Idk if stl is much better but at this point, I’m not sure where one can actually escape. I love it here and I do believe there’s a lot of great things here. I’m happy to discuss, introduce, show you around!

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Rick-burp-Sanchez@reddit

This is a bit vague.

Survivalist/Outdoorsy-type here, What exact does this entail?

Workshops on subjects like prepping, gardening, water filtration, firestarting, etc.?

What's your skill level at? Experience?

Anyway, my partner and I are nearby, there are a few different groups I could recommend depending on what exactly you're looking for, but personally I'd head over to r/prepping and get some advice from those guys first.

Let's get some more details.

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Sarann8@reddit (OP)

Hello, thanks for responding. It’s vague because it’s preliminary. I used to be involved in Zombie Squad—if you know about that? But really I’m looking for all of that. A place for people of all skill levels to get connected, learn and share resources. Even if it’s just in my living room and we talk about what we can do to be as ready as possible.

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Rick-burp-Sanchez@reddit

No, I have not heard of zombie squad. After a short google search, it looks like they're a disaster preparedness unit. It makes me smile seeing someone with actual experience trying to organize people, kudos!

I think I might not be what you're looking for, we're "build your own canoe" types. Offgrid-preppers is what I thought you were looking for. Building a new world is a daunting task, and you have to start from the ground up. My partner and I are experienced wilderness survivalists, preppers, whatever you want to call it, and when I hear "pooling resources" I can't help but think "why don't you have your own?"

We're not rich, we live paycheck-to-paycheck, but we have our food pantry fully stocked, ammo, and a clean water source.

I also suffer from extreme social anxiety, and am naturally distrusting of my fellow man, but my partner and I really want to get involved with something like this. Maybe I'm being a curmudgeon, but it's kind of a red flag for me as a prepper when I see someone saying we should "pool resources,"it makes me go like, "hmmm, well this this person is now panicking because they didn't prepare." Just saying.

The more I write, the more I feel like I'm coming off as an ass, and that's not what I want. Meeting in a living room to discuss general prepping is a good first step! I'd be interested in getting involved if I knew what the end-goal was.

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Sarann8@reddit (OP)

Thanks, I’m sorry to hear about the social anxiety and fear around people. That’s a really thing to be with when we are social creatures. I actually don’t know if the “type” you’re speaking of is what I’m looking for. No disrespect, of course—keep reading and you can tell me if we align. No one will ever have enough resources needed during a time of collapse and our desires for having everything—isn’t that what got us here in the first place? From what I understand, leaning into community and people are what we need to support such instability.

I’ve been reading books like Hospicing Modernity. Have you heard of it?

I’m also listening to Daughter of Umay on TT.

I’m all for sharing concepts and ideas on how to live off grid. But I’m more interested in how we stop reproducing the issues that created this mess. And that calls for deconstructing our minds, thoughts, intentions etc… I have a lot of “skills” but if I’m not looking at what reality I’m constructing, well just create more of the same.

So yes, we need skills and we need people with stocked pantries but we need more than that if we wish to create something else.

I will also say, your post has paused my search because I’m realizing my intentions are much more complicated than most are ready for. I mentioned the nervous system disposition because when people first learn of collapse, they either freeze or flee. Or freak tf out. And I want to find people who have already moved past that stage and are ready to get ready. However, just gathering around the climate concerns are worthy of connection. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Rick-burp-Sanchez@reddit

I just looked up Hospicing Modernity. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like it's trying to be a moral guide for the new world.

Honestly this is something my partner and I are really struggling with. It's difficult to find people that not only want a better future, but to work toward the same better future that you want.

There are quite a few intentional communities in the area, you might want to check some of those out to give you an idea of what people are already trying. There's also a new Lakota community out in Nebraska you might want to look into visiting, might give you an idea of how different cultures are addressing collapse.

The people I've met in these communities vary from hardcore-preppers to cosplaying-hippies so, you know, just be prepared if you venture out.

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Sarann8@reddit (OP)

Thanks for this. I totally hear what you’re saying and I have also had the experience of the wide ranging kinds of people. That’s what has me thinking, how do we know where someone stands to know we connect? I suppose that question could be applied in a lot of areas in life.

I’m curious if you’d be willing to share more about what your wife and you are struggling with? Maybe we are talking about the same thing.

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Rick-burp-Sanchez@reddit

At this point, I'm not sure if it counts as a struggle, really, we've just been trying to reach out to others in our area. We're Tuesday-preppers in a pretty rural area, and we're kind of on standby to see how bad things get at this point.

We have friends in town that we trust, but they are all much, much older than us, as is most of the town we live in, so any kind of STHF scenario, the friends we've made will not be able to help with hard physical labor that might need doing. The small population of people our age in-town are prone to drug-addiction and such, and we haven't made lasting connections with any of them. C'est la vie, right?

So we expanded our horizons, started look around, found some workshops, communities to visit, etc., and we're still running into issues finding people in our age group (millenials) that have the drive, passion and whatever else to pursue some kind of community collapse preparation. We've met a few individuals that are skilled and motivated but they are usually doing their own thing, older, and set in their ways (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).

We're still looking, and we're building connections wherever we go, and it's easier sleeping at night knowing we're about as prepared as we can be, but it's always nice to have buddies (I love my neighbors but they're all 60+).

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Sarann8@reddit (OP)

Gotcha. Yes, the rural areas have their issues for sure. How far away from the city are you? And possible in which direction?

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Sarann8@reddit (OP)

Bumping to follow up. Would you like to try to connect?

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KaiserPharaoh@reddit

Necrobumping this, I'm also in StL, hit me up please. Transwoman expecting to become a mother early next year and struggling.

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Sarann8@reddit (OP)

Hey! Mom of 4 here. The raising of kids is important, necessary, and terrifying during these times. I’m meeting up w someone tomorrow (Sunday) around 12 if you want to join us?

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No_Detail2408@reddit

I'm in the metro east but don't know anyone who doesn't have their head in the sand

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Sarann8@reddit (OP)

Close enough to come over sometime?? I also know lots of heads in sand

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No_Detail2408@reddit

Yeah I'd be open to something like that

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Sarann8@reddit (OP)

Hmm do you find yourself hanging out in certain areas of the city?

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No_Detail2408@reddit

Tbh I mostly only cross the river into MO for cigarettes or to see family on that side

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kerakerakera@reddit

I currently live in Denver (oof) but I'm from St. Louis and I feel like there is come great community there, especially around cycling, local food, and DIY. Not specifically collapse-aware but you might find your people? And if I end up moving back to Denver I'll keep an eye out!!

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Sarann8@reddit (OP)

Yes-there is great community here! I also have 4 kids so my community is often soccer parents and Girl Scouts. :/

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Ancient-one511@reddit

Check my (single) profile post. You may be interested in their approach.