If you woke up to the end of civilized life as we know it what is the first thing you would do??

Answer 1

First thing I would do would be to assess the damage. What have I lost and what remains?

Do I still have a roof over my head? Ok, how about heat and electricity? Civilization can end pretty quickly without heat and electricity, but in order for me to *wake up* to the end of the world, my shelter would have to remain intact as I live seven stories up.

If my building were to collapse with me in it, in other words, I'd be dead most likely, and not wake up. Same with fires and other catastrophic loss of shelter. I'd be dead, there wouldn't be a problem, relative to *me* anyway.

So, assuming that I still have a physically intact structure to live in...what's left? My clothes? Perhaps some "junk" that could be put to other uses in the long-term absence of electricity?

I have knives...I have plenty of cables and cords that without electricity, would be useless (no TV, Computer, etc.).

So....here is what I'd do. Don't try this at home, your mileage may vary.

--I have to assume that most ordinary sources of water pressure would be exhausted by the late morning when I normally awaken, that other people in my building, in desperation, would have used the water in the normal pipes first, so.....

I'd immediately (as soon as there was daylight in my apartment) go for the sprinkler system. Just one sprinkler as I don't need to flood my whole abode....but the idea is to get the water out of *that* system while there is yet pressure in it. That should get me a few days' worth of drinkable water, with maybe enough gray water (post cooking and washing up) left to flush a toilet once a day.

--I'd cut up the cables and cords in my apartment, and start tying nooses and laying traps....I do have some dry oatmeal and usually have other dry foodstuff around, but without the means to cook it, it's useless to me.

But the animals outside *don't know this*. :) Bait is bait. And there are enough squirrels, rabbits, stray cats and yes, even the occasional rat in my neighborhood, that I could likely kill some meat easily in the first few days. Getting it cooked would be a ***** at first (mainly getting the fire started), but once I get some pelts hung and dried, I have something to *trade*.

Fur. I know, disgusting, but it's worked before, and it is about as low-tech as it gets.

--Once I get some pelts going....then I can barter up to more water, a better firestarter than rubbing sticks together, perhaps some batteries that still have a charge in them (flashlights are a useful thing, yes?).

--Of course, if we really *are* talking about THE end of civilization, happening *right now* in the coldest part of winter....I'd be so screwed. Even my best plans would only keep me alive for a month at best.

Maybe the being dead thing is the best strategy after all. Call me a softie, call me a city-boy if you must, but I am just not ready for a Mad Max/Road Warrior movie scenario, ok?

Answer 2

Start toward the path of civilization again. The human race are survivors. If we lost all computers, all cities, all knowledge like we did in the dark ages.. we would come back. we would become stronger than before. So the first thing is take care of basic necessities food, water, shelter... and then start to rebuild with governing bodies and a barter economy. We would have a great life soon enough

Answer 3

I would like to imagine i would be a modern day robin hood. But I feel everybody would be stealing and robbing from each other. so i would either run very far way where my family and i wouldn't be affected by the violence that would be going on. or ultimately end my life as there would be no quality of it, I don't have any skills to help rebuild a civilisation, so I'd be of no use.

Answer 4

Take my travel trailer to the Mojave Desert by a creek where the coyotes and desert animals live and live in peace.

Answer 5

I would cross that bridge when It happens.
I may want to do something, but who knows what I will do.
It would probably be the exact opposite of what I thought I would do.

Answer 6

Attain the basics. Food, clothing, and shelter.

Answer 7

Make sure my children were OK, then secure shelter for us. After that, find water and food, in that order.
Scary to contemplate.

Answer 8

Check my torso to see if I'm wearing a straight jacket.

Answer 9

I would take a shower and eat some breakfast

Answer 10

Go back to bed.