Talk About Rural Living

Fidler4 · Jan 5, 2015

I watched a good documentary on Netflix the other night called "Happy People: A Year in the Taiga." Its about trappers in Siberia. They know how to live a rural life.

"A documentary depicting the life and work of the trappers of Bakhtia, a village in the heart of the Siberian Taiga, where daily life has changed little in over a century"

It looks like it is also available on Youtube.

oosik · Jan 6, 2015

I saw a special, couple years ago, about folks living in some remote area NE of Novosibirsk, Russia. The living part was OK - the winter temps were just too much.

doxford jim · Jan 6, 2015

As nice as it is to be out in the country, when the power goes down it ain't quite as nice. In our area we are subjected to lots of snow in winter, when that arrives it proves to be challenging.

A lot depends on how one wants to live and how much money you have to but what you "think" you need. In real terms, we can get by with very little. With what most people expect in the way of comfort and convenience, it could prove to be somewhat expensive.

I watched a show recently, that showed a remote settlement in Russia during winter. The houses were traditional log built with wood stove for cooking and heating. It looked like they had propane or gas lighting (gas bottles outside) and I would think their water came from wells. The people seemed healthy enough but I don't think I would live like that out of choice.

joecoin · Jan 6, 2015

I just watched that same show, the Soviet government dropped the guy and his buddy off when they were 20, said they would bring them some food in 6 months. No roads, no train, boats only 3 months out of the year. Of course, they never showed up wit the food. The guy said his buddy didn't make it, but he didn't explain what happened to him.

MH8675309 · Jan 6, 2015

As nice as it is to be out in the country, when the power goes down it ain't quite as nice.

I'd rather be in the country than a big city when the power goes out. I can get food water and heat easily where I live.

Steppenwolfe · Jan 6, 2015

If the pooh ever hits the fan, the country is the place to be. Look at what just happened in Ferguson. Now imagine a total catastrophe...

phiferpharm · Jan 6, 2015

joecoin said:
I just watched that same show, the Soviet government dropped the guy and his buddy off when they were 20, said they would bring them some food in 6 months. No roads, no train, boats only 3 months out of the year. Of course, they never showed up wit the food. The guy said his buddy didn't make it, but he didn't explain what happened to him.

Maybe Filet of buddy....:ashamed:

KiotiKowboy · Jan 6, 2015

Steppenwolfe said:
If the pooh ever hits the fan, the country is the place to be. Look at what just happened in Ferguson. Now imagine a total catastrophe...

In a major catastrophe it only takes a day or two for societal structure to collapse. Just recall Katrina. People that prepared to defend themselves were summarily disarmed by tyrannical authorities. Others waited days and days for the most basic of survival materials to arrive - in far too small amounts. The government simply cannot handle any kind of major disaster ... you are on your own. Katrina was a small problem in relation to -)what could actually happen.

I retired and moved to a small town of less than 5000, about an hour to Joplin and 90 minutes to Tulsa. I didn't do this out of a prepper mentality but it certainly improves the safety factor. Of course, at some point, gangs would venture into the countryside and you will still be robbed, raped and murdered. We'll be able to survive until we are out-gunned. As for food, almost anything you normally buy in a can will last several years - so we just cycle our way through the stored foods and donate things that get beyond our desire to keep them (still safe but we refresh from time to time). We have a well but also store several hundred gallons of treated drinking water. We try not to be extreme about any of this but consider ourselves fortunate to have made some attempt to wait out a serious disruption of services and/or chaos.

Steppenwolfe · Jan 6, 2015

KiotiKowboy said:
In a major catastrophe it only takes a day or two for societal structure to collapse. Just recall Katrina. People that prepared to defend themselves were summarily disarmed by tyrannical authorities. Others waited days and days for the most basic of survival materials to arrive - in far too small amounts. The government simply cannot handle any kind of major disaster ... you are on your own. Katrina was a small problem in relation to -)what could actually happen.

I retired and moved to a small town of less than 5000, about an hour to Joplin and 90 minutes to Tulsa. I didn't do this out of a prepper mentality but it certainly improves the safety factor. Of course, at some point, gangs would venture into the countryside and you will still be robbed, raped and murdered. We'll be able to survive until we are out-gunned. As for food, almost anything you normally buy in a can will last several years - so we just cycle our way through the stored foods and donate things that get beyond our desire to keep them (still safe but we refresh from time to time). We have a well but also store several hundred gallons of treated drinking water. We try not to be extreme about any of this but consider ourselves fortunate to have made some attempt to wait out a serious disruption of services and/or chaos.

I agree with your philosophy, but as far as the gangs go, I'd rather take my chances in the country.

BethelHntr · Jan 7, 2015

I agree as well, Of coarse the key is to be mostly self sufficient which is hard work we all know but having a well is half the battle. Having that fresh water in times of need is the key to survival along with plenty of ammo