Friday, June 30, 2023

"An age of censorship and cancel culture."

By Tim Gamble 

We are in an age of censorship and cancel culture. I was "canceled" during and immediately after the 2020 election, so I know it can happen again. Please help fight future censorship by subscribing to Dystopian Survival by email (click this link) if you haven't already, and by bookmarking this website on your favorite browsers. 

I know what your thinking. Why would a preparedness website be censored? As strange as it sounds, back in the lead-up to the 2020 election, Big Tech and cancel culture went after Dystopian Survival first, then moved on to my news and politics accounts. 

That's right, cancel culture permanently locked me out of my Dystopian Survival Twitter account first, before any others. Next to be cancelled was my Dystopian Survival Facebook page, small and fairly new, which was deleted by Facebook. And I wasn't talking politics or news on either account! 

Shortly thereafter, they heavily restricted, and in some cases deleted, my other accounts and even deleted my email list (I'm with a new pro-Free Speech company now). But they came after my preparedness accounts first, something I still don't understand why. 

It is sad, as we go into the Independence Day weekend, that censorship, cancel culture, and the Left's hatred of Free Speech, is such a force in modern America. But it is.  

Have a Happy Independence Day weekend, anyway. Stay Safe!

Tim Gamble

*** You can once again find Tim Gamble on social media! Follow at Gab (@TimGamble), Twitter (@TimGambleSpeaks), and TruthSocial (@TimGambleSpeaks)
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Thursday, June 29, 2023

#ThrowbackThursday - Six Hacks to Supercharge Your Health and Healing

This classic Dystopian Survival article is from 2019.

By Tim Gamble 

In a dystopian future, which I believe we've already entered, healthcare will be almost prohibitively expensive, as well as rationed. Only the wealthy, powerful, and privileged will have access to the best healthcare. The rest of us will have to settle for the "scraps" that healthcare corporations and the government allow us to have, when they allow us to have it. Don't expect those scraps to be quick, timely, or of the same high-quality the elites get. 

One way to deal with this situation is to limit our need for the healthcare system. This means maximizing our health, and when we do get sick, trying to heal ourselves first, before throwing ourselves on the mercy of the system. And that is possible. The human body is meant to be a wonderful self-healing machine.

I am no doctor, and I cannot diagnose or treat anyone. But I do have experience of the medical system. My mother is a breast cancer survivor. My sister had MS before she succumbed to it a few years ago. I've dealt with my own health problems over the last five years - type 2 diabetes and severe diabetic retinopathy of my eyes. I've seen the healthcare system from the belly of the beast, and I've explored a variety of alternative options. In this article, I want to describe six hacks for supercharging our health and healing.
    
1- Stop digging a hole. What do you do if you've dug yourself into a hole? Stop digging and put down the shovel. This old joke is actually quite applicable to our health. The human body isn't meant to be sick. Although genetics can play a role in some diseases, even in those cases we have some control over our health. When we get sick, it tends to be because of years of bad habits (digging a hole) on our part. Some of the "shovels" we use are:
  • Smoking and using tobacco products
  • Abusing drugs or alcohol
  • Consuming too much sugar
  • Routinely not getting enough sleep
  • Leading a high-stress lifestyle
  • Eating an unhealthy diet
  • Overeating or binge eating
  • Maintaining an unhealthy weight (high or low)
  • Poor dental hygiene (poor brushing, not flossing)
  • Living a couch-potato lifestyle 
  • Avoiding or putting of dealing with health issues

Ask yourself "What have I done to contribute to my illness?" Answer that question honestly, then stop doing those things. Your body cannot heal if you keep doing the same things that made you sick in the first place.


2- Sleep. Have you ever felt yourself getting sick, and thought "What I really need is a good night's sleep." You have no idea how accurate those words are. Sleep is important to health and healing. Your body's immune system, its ability to heal and repair itself, only operates at maximum efficiency when you are asleep. When you routinely fail to get enough sleep, you are not allowing your body time to heal. Adults really do need 8 hours of sleep each night. You might be able to "get by" on less, but from a health point of view, getting by is all you're doing. And just getting by will eventually catch up with you.

As a diabetic, I've spent almost five years closely monitoring my blood sugar levels. When I am having trouble getting enough sleep, it absolutely does show up in higher blood sugar levels (possibly due to higher levels of stress hormones, which are known to negatively impact blood sugar).

Getting enough sleep is one hack that will allow your body's natural healing to operate at maximum efficiency.

3- De-stress. The grinding, day-in and day-out, never-ending frustrations of dealing with traffic, long lines, stressful jobs, bad bosses, rude and toxic people, and a whole host of other things beyond our control, can cause many problems with our health. Stress can cause high blood pressure, increase stress hormones, lower testosterone, and negatively impact other hormone levels. In turn, each of those problems can contribute to additional health problems, in a cascading effect, similar to dominoes falling. 

Learning to manage stress well is an important health hack to master. Some ideas to manage stress include:
  • Prayer, Reading Scripture
  • Meditation, Deep Breathing Exercises
  • Quiet, calm hobbies you enjoy (reading, knitting, doing puzzles, arts & crafts, listening to music, etc.)
  • Physical Exercise (walking, running, swimming, biking, hiking, golfing, yoga, tai chi, gardening, yard work, etc.

Eliminating the source of the stress may also be necessary.  For example, if you have a high stress job, or a difficult boss, you may want to find a new job. If you love your job, but find the hour-long commute each way every day to be too stressful, perhaps its time to move nearer your job. 


Finally, if the stress gets too much for you, or you simply can't get a handle on it, talk to someone - a spouse, family member, or friend. Sometimes, simply talking about an issue helps reduce the stress. Local clergy (pastors, priests, rabbis) often will be able to refer you to local programs, support groups, and counselors that can help. If your stress is causing anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts, here are a couple of important resources:

4- Physical activity. According to a study published in 2014, a lack of exercise is a major cause of chronic diseases (source). Exercising on a regular basis has many health benefits, including:

  • Reducing stress and decreasing stress hormones
  • Decreasing feelings of depression and anxiety 
  • Increasing energy levels
  • Lowering blood pressure
  • Increasing insulin sensitivity 
  • Increasing cardiovascular fitness
  • Raising testosterone levels
  • Improving weight management
  • Building and maintaining strong muscles and bones

Yes, this means that getting more physical activity on a consistent basis over time will help your body heal. Even if all you can do is to take a short walk around your neighborhood, doing so regularly will pay benefits to your ability to heal.  Start slowly, and increase your activity over time.

5- Nourishment. Your body needs resources to heal and repair itself. Look to sound nutrition to provide those resources. Unfortunately, this is a complicated area with lots of conflicting information. Based on my experiences, I have found the best diet for me is one with lots of good fats (eggs, fatty fish, avocados, cheese, nuts, olive oil, coconut oil, etc.), moderate in protein (non-fatty fish, chicken, turkey, beef, etc.), and healthy carbs (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, lettuce and salad greens, etc.), while avoiding all grains, white potatoes, and sugar as much as possible. And I drink plenty of water and unsweet teas (no fruit juice of any kind - way too much concentrated sugar).

I know this is the best diet for me because, for the past five years, I've carefully monitored my weight, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, blood pressure, iron levels (I was also diagnosed as mildly anemic when I found out I was diabetic), energy levels, sleep habits, diet, and exercise. Which brings up the final hack. 

6- Keep track. Get a notebook and start chronicling your journey to good health. More than just a food diary, also keep close track of your physical activity, weight, sleep habits, and stress levels. Track the effect they have how on you feel and your energy levels, as well as blood pressure, blood sugar, and any other health metrics you monitor. Try changing your diet, sleep habits, exercise routines, and so forth. Over time, you will start to see trends emerge. You'll learn what foods are good for you, and what foods are bad for you. You'll learn how much sleep and how much exercise you actually need to feel at your best. Feel free to share this notebook, and your observations, with your doctor. It can help your doctor make better diagnoses and improve treatment recommendations.

Please Note: I am in no way discouraging you from seeking professional medical help.  Early detection and treatment is extremely important for any disease, and the best way to achieve that is through regular medical checkups. This information is meant to supplement professional care.

*** You can find Tim Gamble on social media! Follow at Gab (@TimGamble), Twitter (@TimGambleSpeaks), and TruthSocial (@TimGambleSpeaks)
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Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Check Your Water Storage

By Tim Gamble 

Here is a quick project you can do:  Check and change your water storage if you haven't done so recently. Also, check to make sure your water storage containers don't have any slow leaks. I had trouble with this in the past, as ALL of my Ozark Trail 6-gallon water jugs eventually developed slow leaks, damaging my floor before I realized it was happening

Do you need more water storage? I use the 7-gallon Aqua-Tainers by Reliance (available on Amazon) for much of my water storage, and have never had a problem with them (no leaks). I also use 1-gallon glass wine bottles that I've been saving for years (I have about 65 or so). I also use empty 1-gallon hard-plastic vinegar bottles that I store outside for my non-potable water (flushing toilets, watering plants). You may also consider getting a 100-gallon Bathtub WaterBOB (available on Amazon) - I have one. 

*** You can find Tim Gamble on social media! Follow at Gab (@TimGamble), Twitter (@TimGambleSpeaks), and TruthSocial (@TimGambleSpeaks)
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Monday, June 26, 2023

Dystopian Survival Situations And Skills

By Tim Gamble 

You may have noticed that Dystopian Survival is not your typical prepper or homesteading website. That is because it is not about prepping or homesteading. It is about survival. Not surviving the fantasy of a week alone and naked in the wilderness, but rather surviving the reality of life in a dystopian world. 

Sure, some of my articles are about typical prepper stuff - having a bug out plan, stockpiling food and other supplies, and raising some of your own food. But I'll probably never write an article on how to survive a bear attack while wearing no clothes. Why? Because statistically for most of us it is highly unlikely that we will be attacked by a bear while we are running around butt-naked in the woods. There are much more realistic dangers that many of us do  face as we try to survive our modern, dystopian world. 

So, what is Dystopian Survival about? What are these dystopian survival situations I claim are more common than a bear attack? What skills do we realistically need to survive the actual, real, hardships in our future?

A Few Potential Dystopian Survival Situations: 
  • Direct Loss of Freedoms & Privacy (though legislation such as "hate speech," "red flag," and "climate change" laws, as well as regulations against "misinformation" or forcing "diversity and equity" as defined by ?)
  • Indirect Loss of Freedoms & Privacy (through political correctness, "wokeness", corporate ESG, Big Tech censorship & data mining, etc.)
  • Continued (and intentional) breakdown of traditional institutions and concepts, such as the family, the church, gender roles, etc.) 
  • The (Intentional) Breakdown of Infrastructure, particularly relating to food, energy, and the supply chain
  • Recession, Job Loss, High Inflation, and Economic Turmoil
  • Workforce Displacement via High Tech, AI, Robotics, etc.
  • Political Turmoil & Police State Actions  
  • Surveillance State Technology
  • Technocracy and Smart Cities
  • The Looming Digital Economy
  • Social Credit Scores
  • Medical Passports and 15-Minute Cities
  • Civil Unrest, including Riots & Looting
  • Identity Theft 
  • Cyber Threats 
  • Violent Crime 
  • Active Shooter Situations 
  • Terrorism 
  • Epidemics & Pandemics 
Knowing how to build an emergency shelter or start a fire in the rain probably won't do you much good in most of those scenarios. Not that there is anything wrong with those skills. They are useful and are worth learning. But there are many other skills that you should also learn in order to survive dystopia.

Dystopian Survival Skills

Dystopian survival starts with a) awareness of potential problems and b) developing self-relianceBuilding on the foundation of awareness and self-reliance, there are many useful skills for surviving dystopia, including:
  • Situational Awareness & the OODA Loop 
  • Attitude and Skills of Self-Reliance 
  • Non-Violent Resistance
  • Organized Resistance should the need/time ever come
  • Self-Defense and Home-Defense Skills (much more than just guns & ammo) 
  • Operational Security/Privacy Protection 
  • Dealing with an Intrusive Government 
  • Dealing with Busybody Neighbors, Landlords, etc. 
  • Local Knowledge (knowing your area) 
  • Being the Gray Man (fitting in and going unnoticed) 
  • Making yourself an unappealing target for bad guys (know how to not look like a victim) 
  • Mobility (the ability to pull up roots and move away from threats and towards opportunities)
  • Money Management & Personal Finance Skills 
  • Computer and Technology Skills (using technology to your benefit, while knowing and protecting yourself from the risks)
  • Knowing what to do in an active shooter situation 
  • Knowing what to do if you get caught in a civil unrest or riot situation 
  • Health & Fitness (you do not want to be dependent on the government public healthcare system)
  • Stealth/Alternative Medicine (you do not want to be dependent on the government public healthcare system) 
  • First Aid (including dealing with gunshot wounds and other severe trauma) 
  • Basic Auto Repair, Home Repair, and DIY Skills
  • General Employability and Hard Work
  • Employability in an era of High Tech and Artificial Intelligence
This list is, of course, just the tip of the iceberg of needed skills. If you have suggestions for other needed skills, just put them in the comments section below.

I've actually already written many articles on these topics. Over 430 articles on this website alone, with many more to come. Thank you for making this website a success! 

*** You can find Tim Gamble on social media! Follow at Gab (@TimGamble), Twitter (@TimGambleSpeaks), and TruthSocial (@TimGambleSpeaks)
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Are We Already Living In Dystopia?

My fellow Dystopians, 

I recently wrote a Resistance article on my other website (TimGamble.com) that I thought I would also share here. The article discuses the question Are We Already Living In Dystopia?. You can decide for yourself, but my answer is yes, we are at least living in the early stages of dystopia. To understand a bit more of how we got here, and what the Elite's have planned, check out my 2022 article Technocracy, The Power Elite, and the Transformation of Human Civilization.

Stay Safe,

Tim Gamble

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Resistance 28

By Tim Gamble
Join the Resistance! Please subscribe by email (click this link) [NOTE: This link is to join the email list for TimGamble.com, not DystopianSurvival.com - you should be on both, in my humble opinion, as both provide great content.]

Dystopian dis-ˈtō-pē-ən adj.1) of, relating to, or being a world or society in which most people lead wretched, dehumanized, fearful lives; 2) a world of high technology, marked by authoritarian government and powerful corporations, with a huge divide between a privileged elite, and a disempowered underclass they rule over.
In science fiction, a dystopian world is typically presented as one in which a small class of elites use a combination of authoritarian government, powerful & wealthy corporations, and highly advanced technology, to rule over the common people. The world the elite create for themselves is one of extreme wealth, power, and privilege. It is created at the expense of a much larger underclass, who have slowly lost their personal liberties, economic freedoms, and privacy rights. A deep network of unelected bureaucrats and corrupt politicians, often financed and aided by the deep pockets of the corporate elite, work diligently to entrench this new order into the regulations, laws and treaties governing their world.

But, wait... Did I say "In science fiction?" Yes, but this also sounds exactly like the world we are currently living in. Science fiction has become reality.

However, it is a reality we are not allowed to talk about. Say the wrong things, express the wrong opinions, and you become a target. It is not just the social justice warriors and the mob mentality of cancel culture. It is the bias of corporate mainstream media. It is Big Tech kicking folks off social media and shutting down websites. It is corporate bullies like Blackrock, JP Morgan Chase, and Bank of America using their power to force other companies to pursue their woke social and political agendas. It is the weaponization of the FBI, the IRS, the DOJ and other government institutions to punish anyone who stands in the way of the elite's technocratic agenda. It is the power of political correctness to instill fear in ordinary folks of accidently offending certain groups.

They cannot (yet) take away our Constitutionally-protected Right to Free Speech. But they have learned how to suppress it.

Control Language, Control Thought. 

*** You can find Tim Gamble on social media! Follow at Gab (@TimGamble), Twitter (@TimGambleSpeaks), and TruthSocial (@TimGambleSpeaks)
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Sunday, June 25, 2023

Wagner Coup in Russia? My Thoughts.

By Tim Gamble

What the heck just happened in Russia, and why?

Full Disclosure: I don't know. I wasn't there. No one knows, unless they were directly involved. Everything you read or hear is speculation, including my comments. 

The attempted coup against Vladimir Putin by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner Group lasted less than 24 hours. It failed. Prigozhin has been exiled to the Putin-friendly country of Belarus. Here are two of my thoughts on this situation:

1) Something smells rotten. Little about this supposed coup makes sense. Prigozhin accomplished nothing, gave up too quickly and too easily, and apparently without much reason. He certainly wasn't forced to give up at gun point or in battle. It was showy, but in the end it really wasn't much of a coup attempt.

2) Some folks are saying that the attempted coup shows how unpopular and weak Putin is. I think it is the opposite. After all, this was the perfect time for others to join the Prigozhin/Wagner coup against the supposedly unpopular Putin. They didn't. The people didn't rise up. The regular military didn't join in. The oligarchs didn't join in. Maybe Putin and his war in Ukraine isn't as unpopular as we are being told. 

What does this mean for you and your family?

The lesson you should draw from this situation is how unstable and chaotic the world situation really is. Use it as motivation to continue prepping hard for any chaos and hardships we may face. And realize that those hardships could come without warning in a single day. 

*** You can find Tim Gamble on social media! Follow at Gab (@TimGamble), Twitter (@TimGambleSpeaks), and TruthSocial (@TimGambleSpeaks)

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Friday, June 23, 2023

Taking the Prepper, Survivalist, and Homesteading Community To The Woodshed...

...well, some of those folks, anyway. 

By Tim Gamble

Over the last couple of years, I've noticed a lot of prepper, survival, and homesteading video channels resorting to click-bait headlines, misleading headlines, over-the-top fear mongering, fake controversies, and even out-right lies, in order to boost their channel views. Disgusting behavior from folks who should know better. And its getting worse. 

Maybe if you have to resort to such tactics, you don't deserve to have a video channel? Maybe the material you put out isn't good enough to draw views on its own merit? Maybe if your ego, or greed, is the driving force of why you have a video channel in the first place, you have the wrong motivations?

Whatever the reason, I've had it with those folks. In the past several months I have unfollowed many, including some I otherwise like. I have even completely blocked many of them. There is an app for that, and it works great. Their videos no longer appear in my recommended videos or YouTube searches. The app is called "Channel Blocker" and is available for free in the Chrome and Brave browsers, and probably others, too. Search the Extension or Add-On store for your browser to find it. 

For me, the breaking point was several months ago with a particular homesteading channel that I enjoyed. I noticed they had been using click-bait headlines more and more frequently. Then came a video with the headline declaing a dangerous secret about chickens that "THEY" don't want you to know. I watched the video. I watched it twice. No secret. In fact, no mention of chickens or eggs whatsoever. The headline was 100% false - 100% a lie. I immediately unsubscribed and went looking for a way to block channels. I did block that channel, and eventually many others.

Of course, not every negative headline is wrong or inappropriate. Not every headline can be happy in tone. We, out of necessity, often talk about bad news and scary topics. That is not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about false headlines, out-right fear mongering, and obvious lies, especially when done repeatedly. 

We need to restore sanity to our community. I urge folks to simply unsubscribe to anyone using those tactics. Quit falling for their manipulation. Quit supporting their lies. Unsubscribe. 

***You can find Tim Gamble on social media! Follow at Gab (@TimGamble), Twitter (@TimGambleSpeaks), and TruthSocial (@TimGambleSpeaks)
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Surveillance Report - Olive Oil Shortage?

By Tim Gamble

I occasionally post my personal observations of what I am seeing and experiencing in my area (small town in western North Carolina). Compare this with what you are hearing from other parts of the country, and with what you are experiencing in your area. Look for and react to trends, not isolated incidences.

Olive Oil Shortage?

I went to Walmart this morning. With three notable exceptions, their shelves look fully stocked. The areas that are not well-stocked are the pharmacy section, the canned meats and canned fish section, and olive oil.

The pharmacy section is at most only 2/3 stocked. Lots of gaps of the shelves with many items out-of-stock - OTC medications, vitamins and supplements, first aid supplies, and even reading glasses. 

The canned meats and canned fish section also has many gaps and out-of-stock items. Not quite as bad as the pharmacy area, but the shelves are only about 3/4 stocked. 

Olive oil was almost completely non-existent at Walmart. There were a few small bottles of the fancy, very expensive brands, but no - as in zero - bottles, big or small, of the Great Value brand or any of the other less expensive brands.  The bottles of vegetable oils were obviously spread out to make those shelves look full, but even doing that, there are noticeable gaps. 

*** You can find Tim Gamble on social media! Follow at Gab (@TimGamble), Twitter (@TimGambleSpeaks), and TruthSocial (@TimGambleSpeaks)
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Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Gypsy Survival Q & A - Exploring The Nomadic Lifestyle

By Tim Gamble


Gypsy Survival Q & A

Q.  Is a nomadic lifestyle really suitable for all preppers?

A.  No. I am merely proposing that it is an alternative that some folks might want to consider. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide what is best for you and your family depending on your own unique circumstances and personal concerns. There is no "only one correct way to prep" despite what some may think. I do believe there are aspects of the "gypsy lifestyle" that are intriguing from a survivalist standpoint, as I explained in my previous article

Q.  What does "home" look like for a Gypsy Survivalist?

A.  For the Gypsy Survivalist, home is wherever they are with family and tribe. It is not a physical address, which would only be temporary anyway. Most likely they sleep in a tent, camper, trailer, RV, or mobile home of some sort. Some may rent apartments or even houses, but they avoid accumulating a lot of stuff. Everything they own fits inside their vehicles and/or mobile home. They own little, probably no, furniture or other large items.

Q.  How would a Gypsy Survivalist "bug-out" if there is no gas?

A.  I guess the same way you would bug-out if there is no gas. Use the gas you do have in your vehicle (which is why everyone should keep their vehicles topped off), as well as any gas you have safely stored to get as far as possible, then walk.

Keep in mind that everyone, even country folks and those living in remote areas, may have to bug-out at some point. Think about a massive wildfire sweeping through your area for just one possibility forcing you to leave your retreat. 

Q.  Without "roots" in a community, aren't Gypsy Survivalists just lone wolves?

A.  Community isn't defined by geography. It isn't a neighborhood or town. A Gypsy Survivalist's roots are with the community of like-minded family and tribe they travel with and share life with. Interestingly, Roma and other "gypsies" never marry, date, or even have strong friendships with non-Roma; all that is done within the larger Roma/Gypsy community. I would argue that the unique lifestyle they share allow them to forge a stronger nomadic community than the geography-based community that most regular folks have. 

Q.  How do Gypsy Survivalists make a living? 

A.  Gypsy Survivalists are typically self-employed or take temporary or part-time work for which they feel no particular loyalty towards the employer. Easy to just leave whenever.

Traditionally, gypsies tended to be entertainers of some sort (singers, musicians, actors, storytellers, fortune tellers, etc.). Think vaudeville. This seems to hold true today, although to a lesser extent. Other common gypsy employment is as artisans, craftsmen, handymen, tinkers, construction workers, and similar professions. Retail and restaurant work also fits the gypsy lifestyle nicely. Gypsies can be professionals, and some are, but their lifestyle often makes for a difficult career path in terms of advancement, though there is always some need for temporary nurses and other professionals. 

Q.  But aren't all Gypsies thieves and prostitutes? 

A.  If your knowledge of gypsies comes mostly from Cher's song "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves" and other pop culture references, sure. But the reality is different. Yes, some gypsies do resort to crime and prostitution, just like some non-gypsies do. Crime is not unique to any group. 

But this does bring up one potential drawback to being a Gypsy Survivalist. Gypsies, past and present, tend to be regarded with great mistrust and suspicion by regular folks, often leading to harassment and even worse. This is due to the Gypsy refusal to assimilate into the outside world, and to conform with outside societal norms. Also, their lack of roots within the geographical community means they are forever seen as "strangers" and strangers are never to be trusted. 

Q.  How do Gypsy Survivalists stockpile food, water, and other supplies?

A.  This is one area where Gypsy Survival is very different than other survivalist strategies, and why some folks automatically reject the idea. Most "regular" survival strategies depend heavily on stockpiling food and supplies to ride out a disaster, or at least buy us time until we can provide for ourselves. Gypsy Survivalists have very little room for a deep larder,  lots of water storage, and a host of other supplies. 

A Gypsy Survivalist would have to keep their stockpiles minimal. Maybe a couple of weeks worth of food and supplies at most. Emphasis would have to be on collecting or acquiring as needed, rather than storing.

Examples: Instead of storing lots of water in jugs or tanks, the Gypsy Survivalist would depend on their ability to collect and treat water using tools like the Lifestraw Family Water Filter or Lifestraw Go Bottles. Food is obtained by buying or trading with locals, by hunting, fishing, and gathering wild edibles, and possibly by having small gardens when camped at a suitable location for a period of time. 

Q.  Can Gypsy Survivalists really have gardens?

A.  Gypsies don't move around constantly. It is not uncommon for them to stay in one area for months, or more, at a time. I've seen documentaries where the gypsies grew small gardens, and had chickens, rabbits, and even a few goats. Some food production is possible by Gypsy Survivalists, although not on a scale that an established homestead can produce. 

Q.  But won't Gypsy Survivalists have to leave their garden behind when they have to bug-out?

A.  Yes. But so will you when you have to bug-out. In fact, it will probably be more difficult for you to decide to leave your well-established homestead, than it will be for them to leave their small garden. And in certain circumstances, delays can be deadly.

Q.  But being prepared requires lots of books, tools and other gear. Where will the Gypsy Survivalist store it all? 

A.  Does survival really require lots of gear, or have we fallen into a consumerist mind-trap? If you are not homesteading, your need for tools and gear drops dramatically

The Gypsy Survivalist will make do with minimal tools and gear with little redundancy. They will emphasize quality, usefulness and practicality, over quantity. This will require a certain amount of ingenuity and creative thinking. Strive to get the most "bang for your buck," so to speak. No need to have much in the way of yard or garden tools (I would recommend a shovel and an axe at least). Probably no need for power tools (except maybe a gas-powered chain saw?). They should a good set of basic tools and skill to use them, and a few tools of the trade for tinkers, metalworkers and handymen types. 

Same goes for books. Many preppers and survivalists, myself included, acquire lots and lots of books. The Gypsy Survivalist will have no room for a large library. Maybe one or two 3-foot shelves worth of books. This will force them to be choosy about what books they keep. Only the most important, useful, and often-used will make the cut. Again, quality over quantity.

***You can find Tim Gamble on social media! Follow at Gab (@TimGamble), Twitter (@TimGambleSpeaks), and TruthSocial (@TimGambleSpeaks)
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