Social distancing is a big deal as I’m writing this article in April of 2020. The COVID-19 virus and it’s fallout are the big headlines of the day, and the phrase social distancing has now become ingrained in our culture.
After I look at a few observations about how things have progressed over the last month, I’ll give you a look at what I’ve been doing while I “social distance” myself.
Learning Lessons & Validating Assumptions
As this crisis has slowly developed both on the medical side and the economic side, it’ has been fascinating for us long-term preppers to see what of our assumptions about how a “soft” SHTF situation (i.e. it’s not Mad Max out there but people are hurting) would go down.
Some of my assumptions are holding water at least so far, and some are not. Since we don’t do politics, even a little, I’m not going to be talking about several things that have politically surprised me, I’m going to keep this on a social and physical level.
Here are several assumptions that I have made about a SHTF situation (at least as much as one as this is, so far).
- Assumption: Denial of reality will be rampant. Verdict: So much so that people can’t even agree that there is a medical crisis and an economic crisis.
- Assumption: Living in a “bug out” area will be much more comfortable than living in a suburban or city environment. Verdict: This one’s a big fat yes!
- Assumption: Cold hard cash money on hand is critical to have in the early part of a SHTF situation, because economic breakdown will take a while for people to recognize: Absolutely.
- Assumption: The last thing in the world a prepper should do if the SHTF is go to a big-box store and fight it out for that last supply: Verdict? Yes, panic buying is very, very dangerous and should be avoided.
- Assumption: Most people will follow sensible guidelines and be conservative in their actions. Verdict: This is too broad of a statement, some have been conservative, some go to meetings with hundreds or thousands of other people like it’s just everyday normality.
- Assumption: You can’t believe the government or the media. Verdict? Exactly.
- Assumption: Choosing the wisest path for you and your family will be very, very hard because of a lack of reliable information. Verdict: Again, exactly.
Salty’s Social Distancing
The truth is, I’m a bit of a hermit naturally, and my non-work activities (in the summer I ride my bicycle a lot, driving fast powerful cars, photography, blogging, etc.) are basically composed of just the two of us, or myself alone.
When the need for social distancing was announced, my first thought was “well, OK, sports photography (for which I get paid) is done for the year, so let’s switch over to wildlife and landscape photography.
I’ve been spending a couple of days a week at area lakes and wetlands shooting pictures of shore birds, water fowl and wildlife during the annual migration season.
I share my pictures on social media, and I also sell some of them to the services. I’m a contributing editor to my regional newspaper group as well as their area wildlife photographer and journalist.
Here are a few of the pictures I’ve taken over the last week or two, just to give you an idea of how I’m personally “getting away from other people”.
Photos
Excellent photography! Good points on preparedness and awareness.