Just 50 years ago only the farthest thinking individuals would have conceived of global wireless communication. Now it is something we take for granted. As preppers we tend to stock pile things we think we will need to survive and thrive in a SHTF or TEOTWAWKI event. I see tons of sites selling food stores, guns, ammunition, shelter, generators, all sorts of consumables.
How many of us know how to repair that $1000 generator once it breaks?, How many of you know how to make medicinal remedies once the Aspirin or penicillin runs out? Me either. Do you think that just having a book about generator repair will help save you? I am not telling people to not buy generators or other technological wonders that will increase their survivability. On the contrary I think that technology is great.
What I am telling people is that they better know how to repair their technology and make the other things they rely on if they are willing to base their lives and the lives of their loved ones on it working or being there for them when they need it. Now I know that somethings we may not be able to repair or create on our own. But in general I think that given the knowledge and the experience a person could make do.
Thus the t-shirt comes to play. If you look closely it tells the details about many of the major technology advancements in known history. Now don't get me wrong, I would no more base my survival on this t-shirt as I would on a generator.What I am betting my life on is my ability to learn (both prior to an event and in the days following). That is why a large prepping goal for me revolves around acquiring skills and practicing them.
Part of my prepping has been to build a broad and deep knowledge base. I have a library both paper based and digital like many preppers do. I take courses and study when I can. However, the main focus for me is not simply collecting the books, or the filing away of knowledge. It is knowing how to apply the knowledge with hands on experience.
You would never bet your life on an unfamiliar or untested firearm or other survival implement. Would you go into the woods for a weekend with only a knife that you had never used? So why would you trust your life to knowledge that you had never applied? Now I know that we all do not have the time or resources to learn everything. That goal is unrealistic at best.
What I do advocate is that you take stock on what is important to you or your group. Once you know what you need to know about then you can start working with your family and other preppers in your network to get hands on training and experience to support those needs.There are many resources available in both rural and urban communities to help you get hands on knowledge with technology, tools, crafts, and any other number of critical skills.
I happen to enjoy tinkering and seem to be wired to understand mechanical and electronic device (better than people my wife would say).I grew up taking things apart and putting them back together. This has helped me to feel comfortable repairing that type of equipment. However I couldn't repair or replace a damaged pair of pants to save my life (with any level of competence).
My wife on the other hand can sew very well and feels comfortable with it. I am learning from her how to sew. I will never be as good as her but my skills and knowledge will improve.I will be more capable from having actually sewn an item rather than just reading about it in one of the books on my shelf.
She is also teaching me how to operate the sewing machine. It was a hand me down that works well, but occasionally like all machines needs work. This is where my understanding of mechanics and electronics comes in handy.Not only can I fix or maintain her machine, I can teach her how to do it. She may not be as good at it as I am but she will have that hands on experience, which in turn will give her more confidence if there is an issue and I am not there.
This sort of cross training is one of the reasons that makes the Special Forces so formidable in everything that they do. I am not and would not compare myself or my family to those men. It is apples to oranges. However, we can learn from their example. Get hands on training. Practice your skills. Teach others around you. Become a force multiplier.
Remember the old saying, if you give a starving man a fish you have fed him once. If you teach him to fish he will eat for a life time.
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