Author Topic: Doomsday fears  (Read 2926 times)

HovEratoTo

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Doomsday fears
« on: June 27, 2019, 12:22:38 PM »
I just read another article about a city of 10 million running out of water: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/06/25/734534821/no-drips-no-drops-a-city-of-10-million-is-running-out-of-water

Being the worrier that I am, I naturally start to spiral into the "what if" scenarios. It seems like climate change events are already set in motion and I just can't see how we will head off more disasters - food and water shortages, unbearable living conditions, etc. And in my mind, early retirement kind of becomes moot if we're all fighting for basic survival.

I guess my questions is, any other mustachians worried about this? I don't intend to become a full on "prepper" but I'm just wondering at what point you start thinking about this stuff. Or really if there's anything that can be done.

dcheesi

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2019, 01:06:32 PM »
* Prepare for short-term emergencies and natural disasters. Disaster preparedness kits, 72-hr food & water stockpile, etc.

* Pursue your FI nest egg so that you can buy your way out of trouble if/when possible.

* Monitor the news enough to be aware of worldwide trends that might impact your community directly.

* Decide how much further you want to take it. Even if you could manage it, do you really want to be the "last [person] on Earth"?

* Realize that at some point, things are just out of our control. You can't prepare for every possible future event. And we all have to die someday. Don't let preparing for uncertain futures get in the way of enjoying the present moment.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2019, 01:09:01 PM by dcheesi »

chemistk

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2019, 01:31:23 PM »
* Realize that at some point, things are just out of our control. You can't prepare for every possible future event. And we all have to die someday. Don't let preparing for uncertain futures get in the way of enjoying the present moment.

So important.

A while back, when we were in the public pissing contest with N. Korea (and TBH will it ever actually end), I started to panic mentally for a hot second about the thought of a nuclear disaster. Then I thought about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. One day, it could just simply be over.

We didn't choose when, or where we were born so I sure as shit don't think we need to worry about something that's similarly outside of our personal control.

It's one thing to be cautious and try to avoid perilous situations, but there's a point where you just gotta say ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Plus, do you really want to be in competition for scarce resources with preppers? Not I.

Fishindude

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2019, 02:00:42 PM »
Move to someplace rural and develop a more self reliant lifestyle.

ChpBstrd

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2019, 03:06:18 PM »
The time to be concerned about worldwide problems is on election day.

For the other 364 days per year, it makes more sense to focus on the factors that will change the whole direction of your life:

-your health and fitness, including psychological
-your education / skillset / professional growth
-your intellectual growth
-your savings rate
-your significant other's happiness and wellbeing
-your kids' happiness and wellbeing

Every time I've ever sought life advice from a 90+ year old person they've always said take good care of your teeth. *

*This from people who lived during world wars, the obliteration of hundreds of thousands of people by nuclear weapons, and the 4 decade doomsday waiting game known as the cold war which itself killed millions.

mozar

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2019, 07:24:34 PM »
It might be helpful to think through what it is you are actually afraid of and what you would do if it happened. The closest thing i can think of to an apocalypse is what happened to the native Americans (usa) between 40 and 70 million died. Imagine chillin in your yard and all of the sudden these boats show up. They have hand tools that kill you immediately (guns) they wait until people are asleep and set their teepees on fire and if that's not bad enough everyone around you is dying from mysterious diseases.
Between 70 and 85 million died in ww2. In the 20th century 90 million people died of famine, and humans keep on truckin. So what is it you are afraid of? Being tortured? If you are tortured to death at least eventually you will be dead. Starving? Store some food and water. Water especially. 
As a previous commenter was implying YOU as a person living in the "west" have a greater chance of dying from your own poor dietary choices (or dental choices) than some doomsday scenario. 
Do some research on what actually happens to people in bad situations.
I think the concern about doomsday boils down to 2 things: fear of being in pain and fear of uncertainty.

Radagast

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2019, 10:02:52 PM »
Running out of water is something that can be foreseen decades in advance, so that is an easy one to avoid.

Sibley

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2019, 07:56:10 AM »
...
Being the worrier that I am, I naturally start to spiral into the "what if" scenarios.
...

This is your real problem.

RyanGreener

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2019, 08:01:36 AM »
I just read another article about a city of 10 million running out of water: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/06/25/734534821/no-drips-no-drops-a-city-of-10-million-is-running-out-of-water

Being the worrier that I am, I naturally start to spiral into the "what if" scenarios. It seems like climate change events are already set in motion and I just can't see how we will head off more disasters - food and water shortages, unbearable living conditions, etc. And in my mind, early retirement kind of becomes moot if we're all fighting for basic survival.

I guess my questions is, any other mustachians worried about this? I don't intend to become a full on "prepper" but I'm just wondering at what point you start thinking about this stuff. Or really if there's anything that can be done.

Can't prep for everything because a lot of things are out of your control. Thinking about what ifs just makes things worse. It's not particularly productive and it just stresses you out which probably shortens your life span.

ender

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #9 on: June 28, 2019, 09:57:02 AM »
There are a lot more issues related to water conservation that will impact people, regardless of geography.

Particularly as underground sources become slowly depleted - many areas rely on these for irrigation purposes.

HovEratoTo

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #10 on: June 28, 2019, 10:57:19 AM »
As always, mustachians to the rescue with good perspectives.

...
Being the worrier that I am, I naturally start to spiral into the "what if" scenarios.
...

This is your real problem.

Sadly yes, me and my anxiety disorder duke it out fairly often.

It might be helpful to think through what it is you are actually afraid of and what you would do if it happened.

Ultimately, I'm afraid of watching my children suffer and not being able to do anything to help them or fix it. But you're right, humans endure.
* Prepare for short-term emergencies and natural disasters. Disaster preparedness kits, 72-hr food & water stockpile, etc.

* Pursue your FI nest egg so that you can buy your way out of trouble if/when possible.

* Monitor the news enough to be aware of worldwide trends that might impact your community directly.

* Decide how much further you want to take it. Even if you could manage it, do you really want to be the "last [person] on Earth"?

* Realize that at some point, things are just out of our control. You can't prepare for every possible future event. And we all have to die someday. Don't let preparing for uncertain futures get in the way of enjoying the present moment.

This is a list I can work with :)

Thanks all. You're right, my mind is a greater enemy than most other things ever will be, but I appreciate perspectives from folks who think about life and money a little differently.

AnnaGrowsAMustache

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #11 on: June 29, 2019, 06:09:57 PM »
Prepare for likely scenarios. If you're in a flood prone place, prepare for floods. If you're in a quake prone place, prepare for quakes. If you lose power in winter sometimes, prepare for that. Don't prepare for things you can't really anticipate reasonably in your area. That ought to cut down on your worry levels a bit, because worrying is mainly about the unknown. Find the known risks and do something about them.

Metalcat

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #12 on: June 30, 2019, 05:56:01 AM »
I just read another article about a city of 10 million running out of water: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/06/25/734534821/no-drips-no-drops-a-city-of-10-million-is-running-out-of-water

Being the worrier that I am, I naturally start to spiral into the "what if" scenarios. It seems like climate change events are already set in motion and I just can't see how we will head off more disasters - food and water shortages, unbearable living conditions, etc. And in my mind, early retirement kind of becomes moot if we're all fighting for basic survival.

I guess my questions is, any other mustachians worried about this? I don't intend to become a full on "prepper" but I'm just wondering at what point you start thinking about this stuff. Or really if there's anything that can be done.

My DH is literally an expert on domestic emergency preparedness.

Trust me, you can't prepare for anything beyond a minor disruption. It's also not worth concerning yourself with because there is a myriad of other risks in life that are worth mitigating.

If you are concerned for the well being of your children, then prioritize helping them learn what risks they can mitigate and what risks aren't worth wasting their energy on.

The impact of flossing will likely have far more profound long-term consequences for them than the impact of prepping for doomsday.
Think about that.

If you really want to teach your kids practical, day-to-day-incident preparedness:
-Teach your kids to always carry a backup cell charger and to make sure to keep it fully charged.
-Teach them how important it is to have jumper cables and know how to use them, also changing a flat.
-If your kids wear high heels, teach them the value of carrying flats with them, even to a formal event (I keep running shoes in my trunk too)
-Reinforce that they should never leave the house without a supply of meds if they are on meds.
-sign them up for swimming classes and first aid classes.

Teach your kids about their "circle of influence", and how to understand what they should be concerned about what they shouldn't.

For example, teach them the lifestyle habits that help prevent cancer, but also teach them not to worry constantly about getting cancer.

Most people have it backwards, they spend a TON of energy worrying about what they can't control, and spend too little energy mitigating what they can.

Want to know what my DH's advice is when it comes to preparing for major disasters?
He recommends to live a life without regrets.

FIREstache

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #13 on: June 30, 2019, 08:35:43 AM »
I just read another article about a city of 10 million running out of water: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/06/25/734534821/no-drips-no-drops-a-city-of-10-million-is-running-out-of-water

Oh, that's just one small fraction of the people affected.  The problem is actually going to be much worse, and not just for India.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/27/india/india-water-crisis-intl-hnk/index.html

harvestbook

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Re: Doomsday fears
« Reply #14 on: June 30, 2019, 10:44:46 AM »
Once you remove yourself from an anthropocentric worldview, and, even more difficult, an egotistical worldview, then it really doesn't matter. Human life isn't sacred, special, guaranteed, or permanent.

That said, do the best you can do today and call it a win.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!