Many times I have shared my interest in bushcraft and survival with people, and for the most part, they are accepting, and we simply move on to the next topic in discussion. However, there are those who question it further, replying with "Why don't you just carry a lighter?" when I talk about making fire with two sticks or "Buy a pocket knife" when I talk about flint knapping.
In theory this makes sense, but in reality, there are times when we are all caught short. Chances are, in most cases, you are not far from someone who is willing to loan a lighter, and we can carry on with our lives, or maybe you can pop to your local corner shop and buy one for next to nothing.
But there is so much more to bushcraft than just simply carrying a lighter...it's an insurance policy. It's knowing that when I am unable to reach out for help from others, I have backup options. It's about having the mindset to adapt or improvise in particularly challenging situations.
Taking this topic to the next level, during the recent global Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, many may remember that we had to stay in isolation bubbles to prevent the further spread of the virus. For those who lived in family groups, this had its benefits because there was potentially someone around to support and provide when money or supplies were scarce, but many people didn't have that luxury. There are people who lived on their own and may have suffered mentally as well as financially. I know that a few people close to me found it especially difficult.
Although governments around the world did their best to support their nationals, they too made mistakes along the way that undoubtedly affected their people, with some really bad results and leaving citizens feeling perhaps betrayed or frustrated. It was a difficult time for everyone.
But to be absolutely clear, I am not here to slate governments or authorities because for the most part, they have a lot of positive attributes, but at the end of the day, they are only human, and like people close to us, they will verifiably let us down from time to time... "To err is human. " But in spite of this fact, we were able to survive the pandemic for the most part, return to a somewhat normal life, almost forgetting what happened.
But let us take this topic to yet ANOTHER level and ask, "WHAT IF?"
What if for whatever reason, things got out of control and things became "apocalyptic", leaving very few survivors? You may even be one of those survivors. However, the infrastructure is likely to suffer... Sure, you may have food in your larder for a while, and you may not be above looting if things get bad, but supplies will only last for a period of time, and eventually, you will start turning your attention towards Mother Nature as you consider foraging or hunting.
Putting yourself in this scenario, could you honestly say you're close to ready?
You may scoff at this idea, and I'm sure you have your reasons, but if you really gave it some consideration, is it so ridiculous? With stories of war, famine, disease and poverty, it's not such a stretch to imagine. To go a step further, you only need to look at human history to see that history repeats itself.
So all things considered, I urge you to begin your journey into bushcraft and survival and learn and practise as much as you can for JUST IN CASE.
I pray that you never REALLY need it, but like ANY insurance policy, it's best to have it and not need it than need it and not have it."
BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY NOW!!!