WHAT IS A SURVIVALIST? 

by:
Sharon Ahern

Recently, a conversation came up concerning groups of people waiting outside a sporting
goods store to buy ammunition, arriving before the store was even open for business.  The person
had the impression that these “Survivalists” wasted so much of their lives waiting for the once-
in-a-lifetime, if ever, chance to defend themselves against their perception of the “bad guys.”
Sure, there’s plenty of bad guys out there to watch out for and, we still want to defend ourselves
against them, but isn’t there more to survival than just physical confrontation?
A Survivalist needs to do whatever it takes to protect their family.  Occasionally that may
translate to keeping everyone safe from physical harm. It means being aware of your
surroundings in order to take action in case of any potential dilemma.   On a day-to-day, more
boring level, it may mean working hard to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.  It
means making sure children get educated in both average school subjects and practical skills.
Survivalists teach their children that life is not always fair.  They teach them that there
are no set rules everyone is willing to follow and, that they have to think and decide for
themselves which way their moral compass points.  Children also have to learn that in order to
survive in this world the phrase “my way or the highway” will only lead to trouble down the road
when working with others.  Sometimes, listening to additional suggestions and working toward a
mutually agreeable compromise can lead to a better situation for all.
During the COVID pandemic, many people learned the hard way that being prepared is
not such a bad thing after all.  Suddenly, having extra provisions on the pantry shelves and more

than a day’s worth of toilet paper in the closet doesn’t make a person paranoid, nor does not
waiting until the last dose to reorder medication.  Having an extra blanket or two along with
some water and snacks in the family vehicle doesn’t seem so far-fetched in case of being
stranded during a storm, any more than a packed bug-out bag at the ready, in case your home is
no longer safe to stay in and evacuation is a must. These items can bring comfort, especially to
young passengers, even if you’re just stuck on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck.
Between wildfires, blizzards, and flooding, we don’t know what is going to happen next,
but I think there are a number of converts to the concept of Survivalism and that they are not all
hairy guys wearing plaid shirts living in a cave, feasting on road kill and beer.
What can you do to not just survive, but to survive well? Can you live through a
prolonged power outage or a shortage of clean water? Do you know how to grow your own food
on a limited budget? Wouldn’t survival feel better after a glass of homemade wine? A little
knowledge as to how things are made and how they work can make a difference. Survival skills
aren’t learned in a day but require a life-long commitment.
As The Survivalist, John Thomas Rourke taught us many years ago, “It pays to plan
ahead”.