I’ve been out and about today with a shopping list of items that are needed for Christmas. I use the word needed when in fact these items are just for trimmings. It’s going to be a good time again but all the work, not mine, that is going into it must be equivalent to another space program.
It makes me wonder what would happen if an event occurred now. Would everyone still eat everything in one feast and not worry about the future or would people be a bit more frugal? I suspect it would be one big feast and then they would worry.
The way people are out buying shows that many still have the British spirit. It doesn’t matter what the economy is like and they don’t see the risks we do due to the media talking about recovery and so we are going to have fun. From what I can see it is being done on a smaller budget than previous years as well. A lot of the expensive goods are still available and they usually are gone by this time. The shelves are still well stocked in all of the stores I have visited. No shortages of anything. People could very well be waiting for the prices to drop and grab a last minute bargain but from the people I now most of them have finished their Christmas shop now. Only fresh veg to go.
I was originally thinking that these people were being stupid in spending so much money on a single day when the economy is in the crapper and fixed bills like electricity, gas, food, etc. are going up. Watching these people buying their goods though has made me reconsider. It seems they are not quite as stupid as we think. They are starting to grow their own veg, grow their own tobacco. Spending less on luxuries and toys.
Of course there are still many who do. We should be encouraging those that are waking up to look at prepping. It seems the sort of people we would rather be around are looking around and starting to help themselves.
Next year will be very interesting for us. There could be a few more people like us around.
I suppose at this time of year the Christian Spirit is a little more pronounced than at most other times. Sadly it does not seem to last for very long. Sadly, also, the whole thing seems to have been perverted into a consumerist retail bonanza with a lot of organisations saying that unless they have a good Christmas they do not make a profit all year. That leaves me somewhat speechless – what a way to run a business, any business.
I was somewhat surprised and also pleased to see recently a ‘preppers article’ in the Mail. It was competently written and non provocative but obviously staged and promoting freeze dried meals. At least it got the subject out into the ‘main stream’.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Iaaems,
In general you are right. I, being fairly positive despite being an end of the world thinker, think that people are changing. they are being forced too and we have always responded well to adversity.
Christmas is commercial, to companies, to us, it is a time for celebrating and family. There are many companies with similar business models. They make a living during the year and their profit at a time, holiday companies for example, Butlins, etc.
The Mail article is a source of discussion on the forum. We thin it was an advert as well.
Merry Christams and a Happy New Year to you too.
For me observing mainstream society Christmas has become a time for extravigant spending, over indulgence and excess and damn the consequences. 8 weeks times the TV will be full of sob stories about people in debt and naturally its never their fault. c,mon peeps go into your town center and watch speople spending like Armageddon is coming and as they do it they will ignore homeless teens sleeping in doorways, walk by unemployed folk trying to maintain their dignity by selling The Big Issue. Naaaa society today is just self indulgent, self serving and immoral.
As for the preppers I know individually well two at least are working with a homeless charity, another is providing digs for the hols to a homeless teen and one has managed to collect over 30 bags of decent quality outdoor clothing he has plans to deliver to a homeless shelter.
The best crimbo I can have is hearing the prep community are all OK and with their families on Boxing day. The sheeple will be attacking each other on the 26th trying to get bargains in the sales.
I’m not so sure. None of the shops are sold out of anything. Food seems to be going sure but I get the impression that views are changing.
I’m not disagreeing though that most will be as you say just think that changes are afoot.
TBH, I think SD has it right. I’m fed up with people putting down Christmas and Christmas shoppers. Christian or not, a midwinter feast has beneficial effects far beyond the overindulgence. It’s a sign of hope, the shortest day has passed, we’re now on the road to spring and new life. In a post-collapse society, it may be even more important as a morale-booster to see folk through a winter.
I agree it’s crazy to get into large amounts of debt for Christmas – but people will learn from their mistakes, it’s their business and preppers looking down their noses at them with supercilious self-righteousness does nothing to help anyone.
Wishing you all a merry, blessed and peaceful Christmas. I’ll raise a glass to the future and wish for wisdom, prosperity and health for all. May your God go with you.
Health and Happiness to All who read this and a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to You All. Kenneth Eames.
Preppers Greetings and a ready new year, see you all safely on the other side
Merry Christmas and Happy new year to my British cousins. I want to thank SkeanDude and his subsribers for putting up with this North Carolina Rednecks comments. Skeandude has much helpful advice on his website for people on either side of the Atlantic.I have an open invitation to any of you who travel to the USA to stop at my place and have a meal , hunt or just shoot guns. I am a humble , everyday working stiff so don’t expect the Taj Mahal.You will , however be treated like kings.
Thanks for that.
Jeff,
Thanks for the offer. If they relax the KGB style visitor treatment I’ll be back and I’ll make a point of calling in. Make sure you have plenty of ammo.