"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
nk.net...
Private wrote:

Self sufficiency is an attitude and a lifestyle which cannot be
explained to
people who do not share similar feelings.

I have to smile when I see somebody, not necessarily "Private" above,
spouting off about being self sufficient while living on land as has
happened with this thread.

Really want to see if you can be self sufficient?

Become a cruising sailor, actually a single handed cruising sailor.

Get a decent sail boat, say about a 30 ft sloop, depart from somewhere
here along the left coast and set sail for say, someplace like Fiji or
even Australia.

You'll be by yourself, out of sight of land, for 30+ days, if you are
lucky.

If not lucky, add another 10-20 days sailing time.

No 911, no cell phone, no hardware stores, no towing service.

There are no gas stations at sea.

Good thing, you won't need one anyway.

There will probably be some rather nasty weather along the way.

Weather forecasts beyond 48 hours start to get iffy.

15 minute cat naps are the best you will get while underway.

If you are not careful, you can hallucinate.

It is what that is between your ears that will bring you safely to the
next port.


Lew

Similarly, a large part of pilot training is communicating the concept of
PIC (pilot in command) which basically means that the pilot is responsible
for everything and no matter what goes wrong:
A - the pilot gets blamed.
B - the pilot dies.

Similar attitude and resourcefulness is required in most mountaineering and
wilderness activity.

IMHO self sufficiency does not require the exclusion of external resources
but rather is a mastery of the technology that we choose to utilize and a
desire to 'do for ourselves' when possible and practical. The practical
part is a judgment call we must each make for ourselves. Many do not
understand the urge of some to steer their own boat when it is so much
easier (and usually cheaper) to just buy a ticket on a ship. Some of us
feel that the journey is at least as important as the destination.

I suspect that Lew and I share much agreement.