survivor-edc

Wow.

I haven't posted for six months. It's not that I didn't have anything to say, I just didn't know what. Plus, by now, what I could say would fill a book. Suffice it to say  that I've been through a lot of changes. I let a lot of things go in the process of figuring out what I want. Well, now I know.

I've been fascinated with military clothing, gear and accessories since I was 5. That was the original focus of this blog in the first place. But at some point, I started to move away from all of that. I sold most of my guns and a lot of the gear I thought I had no use for. Part of why I did that was because I needed the money. Part of it was because I didn't really know what I did want. But it's bigger than that.

I was in search of an identity. I've played so many roles in my life, I've never quite known who the hell I really am. But, over the last year or so, a couple of things have become abundantly clear:

1. I AM A SURVIVOR

I have been living at a pretty hard-core survival level for several months. Not on the street, but not far from it. It's been difficult, to say the least. But, I have a lot to be thankful for.
Living at this level provides several things. For one, you learn what you really need. The list is short. Food, water, shelter, clothing, heat/fire, communication and transportation. Same as in any survival situation. The rest is fluff.
Second, you learn what you're capable of. Resourcefulness has long been one of my strong suits, but I've pushed that beyond what I knew was possible. A somewhat-minimalist lifestyle has served me well. Being from the working class has helped me develop skills that I can apply across a broad range of situations. There's a saying: "We've done so much with so little for so long, that by now, we could probably do anything with nothing." There's a lot of truth in that.
Third, you learn who your friends are. Not much more to say about that. My friends know who they are, too and I love them and thank them very deeply.
Last, you learn what's important. The process of letting go brings a lot of clarity. By letting go of what I thought I didn't want, I figured out that I really did want it after all. What do you want to be when you grow up? What were you passionate about as a child? That should be your first clue.
Many of us act like we are the victims of our lives and of the circumstances and situations that get heaped upon us - and that we have no choice. I'm here to tell you that that's not true. You always have a choice. I'm also here to say that I acknowledge that - whether consciously or unconsciously - I chose my life and all that that entails. I am not a victim, I am a survivor. "That which doesn't kill me, makes me stronger".

2. I LOVE THIS GEAR

Always have, always will. Pouches, pockets, packs, zippers, buckles, bungees, bags, boots, straps, belts, BDU's, ACU's, ALICE, MOLLE.....you name it, I fucking love it. I never was very interested in actually being in the military, as much as I just loved the clothing and equipment. I love the look, the feel, the design, the functionality...all of it. And now it's time I started doing something about it.

SURVIVOR-EDC

You may have noticed that I changed my display name. I've also changed my eBay user name to the same. It was about time. I wanted something that better reflects where I am now. But, why that?
"SURVIVOR" for all the reasons above, but more.
You may have noticed that the "Zombie Apocalypse" is a pretty hot topic right now. Who knew that "Zombie Apocalypse" would become a household term? I love it. I'm finally in my element. I've also noticed that there are a whole lot of companies jumping on the zombie bandwagon. I love that, too. Emergency Preparedness companies have been around for quite a while, but this is the first time we've ever been preparing for zombies. And I really love that. To find that something that I have admired for so long has finally made it to the mainstream is like a dream come true.
BUT - all these companies share one thing in common - they all treat the "emergency" as something that hasn't happened yet. What if we approached it from the other side?
"EDC" stands for "every-day-carry". That should need no explanation, but just in case, it's the stuff you keep with you to get you through your daily life. I've been an advocate of preparedness for a long time now, but I did reach a point where I was leaving the house with practically nothing: phone, wallet and keys only. I felt, and was, unprepared. I know better than that.

SO...

SURVIVOR-EDC is the name I've chosen to reflect my philosophy, my experience and my commitment to providing others with high quality, hard-use gear and information for their daily survival. I will be doing gear reviews and sharing things I've made and learned. And, as I am able, I will be listing more items in my eBay store.

I'm back, and I look forward to having a really good time...

Semper Paratus