what is your specialty?

I have a more than average heightened sense of whats going on. I am ok at shooting various firearms( AK's, Remington 870 12g, .280 bolt action rifle, 9mm handgun), I have a basic knowledge of how to shoot a bow, but never have. I now how to trap. I tend to think atleast one step ahead if not more and that can come in handy just about in any situation.

I have taken the skills I learned while growing up for granted. I had an uncle that grew up during the depression and at a young age had to help support his family. He taught me how to hunt, trap, fish, plant a garden, can food and be an outdoorsman. Over the years I taught these skills to my son and now have someone very skilled I can count on if the shtf.

I grew up poor...Still am, so I'm not going to freak out when there's no running water or electricity. I also spent a lot of time gardening when I was little, I'm pretty good at it. I can cook too, (for large groups, big family) which is necessary, no one will get food poisoning with me around and it will be filling. Also I lived on a farm for a while. I know a few ways of filtering water but the best I know for large quantities is the charcoal and sand method. I have some, not a lot but some, carpentry skills. I have always loved working with my hands.

The only problem I have thus far is getting a group together. The closest military surplus store is over 2hrs away and the people in my area...Well I'll just say, from the ones I have met I would not like to be stuck in the woods with them. Because of this my immediate family will be heading away from the area we are in now.

reply to post by rubbertramp


Actually a lot of people care about what I think, maybe you should to. You didn't answer my questions about how do you judge your current skills?

Originally posted by amc621
reply to post by rubbertramp

 

Actually a lot of people care about what I think, maybe you should to. You didn't answer my questions about how do you judge your current skills?

nor did you answer mine about how said skills are judged.

otherwise i'm not sure what standard your judging me by, nor do i care, but if you'd like to explain i will respond.

i could tell of how i've used my tracking in the past, but i'm sure that is not what your asking.
the vibe i'm getting is that you are current military/contractor, something similar, and are going to say i have no skills because i didn't get the same training as you did.
am i close?
i'm really not sure what your looking for.
and when someones words are to call what i say bull# right off the bat, i'm not that pleasant in general.
i'm still willing to continue this, but give me some idea of your meaning and what you're looking for.

Not a bad idea to make a list of a skills inventory, and then identify what one needs to hone.

Myself, I'd really love to learn how to track, and how to identify wild plants (particular edible and harmful ones) and wildlife.

I'm a pretty decent basic camper, and I can read a map and compass (was once a boy scout), though haven't done much of it lately...my wife isn't into it as much, and our vacations have involved more hotels instead.

I'd say my specialty is probably organization and leadership. I'm also very diplomatic, and can often smooth things out between groups.

Other than that, I'm more of a jack of all trades, master of none. I've got basic construction and repair skills, and can troubleshoot problems. I'm decent at finding out information (whether online or in the real world), and I'm good at looking at a situation and analyzing what is needed.

I can swim, ride a horse, ride a motorcycle, drive, and pilot a boat. Would be neat to learn how to fly aircraft, but not a current skill set. I can shoot pretty well, especially with a handgun and reflex shooting. I'm also pretty decent with a bow.

Does anyone know how to purify water? I don't remember that the water has to be sifted through to become clean. Is it sand, rocks, sand?

I'm Metis and my father was from the bush and a combat vet.
You have to have the right attitude to survive difficult times.
Change favours the prepared mind as the Chinese say.

I use all my skills now because every thing I do that is self sufficient is a victory over the PTB.
Plants / trees for food, meds, shelter, and tools, etc
Making blades from stone or metal
trapping and fishing.
basic orienteering
canoeing and sailing
biking hiking
camping
Guns...well I was taught man did OK without them for most of his history.
They are a handy tool, but limited.
If I have my druthers I'd rather have a box of pertinant books.

Originally posted by rubbertramp
any skills you've been honing?
there's quite a few about myself that cross my mind.
also quite a few i should be working on, like my accuracy with my .308.

the 2 that i'm actually relatively proud of are my ability to track, anything
and my built in sense of direction. i can't get lost. spin me around on a pitch black night
and i can point north.
i hit magnetic north within a few degrees every time.

I can rely upon alien artifacts and technology to disappear and re-appear at will

i am an artist good at drawing . and can tune and play an acoustic guitar . my creativity is a good skill to hone i like to look at said challenges from new uncharted angels. very very resorsfull. and once week could do about an hour or so of live music. a skill i value highly . oh my best skill is highly charismaticagain great leader nice work op thred is nicley
-jplays


please forgive my spelling

Originally posted by Forgoten_Whisper
I grew up poor...Still am, so I'm not going to freak out when there's no running water or electricity. I also spent a lot of time gardening when I was little, I'm pretty good at it. I can cook too, (for large groups, big family) which is necessary, no one will get food poisoning with me around and it will be filling. Also I lived on a farm for a while. I know a few ways of filtering water but the best I know for large quantities is the charcoal and sand method. I have some, not a lot but some, carpentry skills. I have always loved working with my hands.

The only problem I have thus far is getting a group together. The closest military surplus store is over 2hrs away and the people in my area...Well I'll just say, from the ones I have met I would not like to be stuck in the woods with them. Because of this my immediate family will be heading away from the area we are in now.

Sounds like you're either living amid the two-legged animals in a bad town gone wrong or there's eye's in them thar' hills!
Or do you just mean they aren't survivalists and would be turning on each other etc?

Originally posted by ThinkingMe
Does anyone know how to purify water? I don't remember that the water has to be sifted through to become clean. Is it sand, rocks, sand?

There are numerous ways of putting together water filters on your own. Here is a link to a discussion about some....

Field expedient water filters

This is a skill set worth honing.

I'm a process specialist, recently that has meant business processes and software implementations, but my foundation is in construction processes and techniques dating back to the Roman era

[I am a master craftsman, not that it means anything any more in the UK]

I have dabbled in expanding underground nuclear facilities (Mid 80s) and would like to expand that knowledge in a more modern context and I would also like to expand my fortress design/building skills

reply to post by rubbertramp


Mine has always been problem-solving,

My degree is in comp sci, but I've always made things to solve the problem - tools.

I can grasp a situation and figure out how to make it better.

I can weld, I can survey land and plot a course with the stars.

I can dress a battle wound or take out an appendix.

I can dress a deer or a pig.

I shoot proficiently.

I can use a geiger-counter and a dosimeter.

I can program a computer and hunt with a bow I made.

I can deliver a baby and change it's diapers.

I can knife fight, but a katana is my favorite blade.

I am a generalist: as Heinlein said - specialization is for insects.

reply to post by WatchRider


I'm sure there are those who could survive living around me somewhere but I haven't found them.

one thing i do believe makes us stronger is the fact that many of us will not have a problem living off next to nothing.
it's those who are in the concrete jungle that will struggle the most if the grocery store shelves are empty.

Does anyone know how to purify water?

Boil it...

There are several other methods on the market also, check emergency preparedness sites...but boiling is the old standby....

Originally posted by Gazrok

Does anyone know how to purify water?

Boil it...

There are several other methods on the market also, check emergency preparedness sites...but boiling is the old standby....

Better to start with straining it through a large container layered with sand/charcoal/sand/activated charcoal/sand then boil what comes out of that. Activated charcoal is easily made at home, make it now and store it for wtshtf.

Here is one article on making activated charcoal.

www.ehow.com...

Physician- both western medicine and tcm , acupuncture. Gardening - grow my own food and medicinal herbs. Fishing, carpentry built my house without using nails. Skilled at aikido, iajutsu, qigong and tai chi have no use for firearms tho do have skill with them. dont need the modern conveniences am quite content leading a simple quiet life out here in the jungle in s.e asia . Cant stand cities and refuse to go to western countries anymore.. Too old to put up with the stupidity and police state that western countries have become..

herblaw... its keeps you well and feeds you and ofc it can be enertaining too....

kx