I'm certainly glad to have found this forum. I stumbled upon it while stumbling upon other websites on the matter. I thought I'd join to learn from and network with some relatively like-minded individuals to help me prepare all-too-late for what I believe is coming.

I've been a conspiracy theorist since I was a young adult -- I don't know what spurred it on. Perhaps an over-active imagination, maybe the couple unexplainable experiences/things I've witnessed. Perhaps I'm just a crackpot (I think this is more on the ball). More recently than not, I started to get an overwhelming feeling of desperation thinking of the what-if and the how. Though I do not necessarily believe in a total end-of-the-world (eotw), I do see a drastic governmental and financial collapse as well as a series of incredible natural disasters that will rattle the world and drastically reduce the population. Though it's a cliche and prophetic time period, I believe it will happen before the end of this year; I do not have enough time to be prepared.

Despite my radical theories, preparedness failed to reach my radar until recently. I think being flat broke in a career I am not a fan of, with a budding efficiency farm outside the city, the need to be prepared has hit me in the face with a reality cheque book. I have $25 remaining for the next 2 weeks to feed myself, my fiance, 4 cats, 2 dogs 70 chickens, 2 turkeys and 1 guinea. A series of unfortunate events has taken us aback and I can't help but think if I had just spent $20 every week on groceries to stash away and preserve, if I had just learned how to can food from my Mom and Grandparents, I wouldn't be worried about hunger, food security, health or safety. But I didn't. I'm here to learn from this lesson and get things in motion, even if it's just a can of vegetables here and there stashed away, it's something.

I'm a writer, poet, independent researcher, theorist, wannabe sustainable farmer and spiritual crackpot (not to be mistaken with religious or religious crackpot) looking for a life I consider to be more 'Genuine'. I've come to Saskatchewan fearing global climate changes and to be away from the coast in case of a massive tsunami that I believe could send flood waters raging through rivers and streams felt into central Alberta. Perhaps it is unrealistic, but it is a reason I moved here. My preparedness plan, at the moment, consists of butcherable birds, sharp knives, and an hour's commute by car from the nearest large city. I have a shallow well on my property (though laden with agrichemicals I'm sure), make my own toothpaste and cleansers (I've eliminated all chemical cleansers from my home except bath and body supplies); I hand wash my clothes, hang them to dry, companion plant and I'm starting to forage. I've managed to stash matches out the wazoo and have started keeping small stacks of newspaper stashed away for fire starting material. Other than that, I'm completely unprepared.

Sorry to run on -- poets babble. I look forward to speaking with all of you.