If we suddenly found ourselves without a viable income, could we adapt in time to survive? A premise like this would have, in recent history, seemed a little far fetched. Unfortunately though many Americans today are finding out it may be a bit more of a valid question than we would have thought even a few years ago. We all remember a time when employment was much easier to find. Giving us a since of security even if we weren't “in the market” and were happy with our current situations, at least we knew there were options if we wanted to choose them. Now things have changed. Not only are there few gainful positions available, many of us labor under the burden of the knowledge we may be “downsized” or loose our jobs all together for the sake of the bottom line.
Even before the current economic woes we currently face in this country, studies suggested the average family could only make it for three weeks to a few months on their savings. What options do we have? It's pretty evident, the ones we create for ourselves, or the ones the government will provide. It is time to at least consider what we are willing to do to keep out of the soup kitchen lines for every meal, as lively as the conversation may be. What will you do?
Some unfortunate souls will travel far and wide in the true tradition of the “tramp” leaving loved ones behind in search of a means of support. Others will hire themselves out to professions they would have never reduced themselves to in the past, for less than they feel they are worth. An intrepid few will seek to retrain themselves in occupations that will have more of a lasting hope for longevity. This latter group will find times are a little tight for a while, then, with a little luck, they will have some degree of success. In the end though, even after this life lesson, what will have changed? What living skills will have been acquired?
While adapting to the economic conditions with further education is the most conventional way to go, and the most likely to offer some sort of immediate success, it would be wise to diversify as much as possible in the process. You don't need much of a “green thumb” to start a tomato plant. Even if you don't grow all your own food, it would still be good to know how, and you have to start somewhere. There is a terrible myth out there that some people can do it and others can't. Some people do get lucky on their first try. But as any experienced poker player can tell you, its not luck to do it consistently. Most kill a few plants before they find out what to do. There are hundreds of books, websites, and most successful gardeners are more than willing to share their “secrets”, if you just ask.
There is a world of knowledge out there providing answers to all the requirements of life, a little off the beaten path in some cases, but worth knowing none the less. The more you know the more options you have. Even if you never need the more “primitive” life skills yourself, it is valuable information to pass down to the next generation who may find use for those skills in their lifetimes. We use-to use the phrase “to teach a man to fish is better then to give him a fish” the meaning being obvious, that someone that can fish themselves can feed themselves for a lifetime instead of just one meal. Now maybe we should say “To teach a man to write a good resume, and get a job, is better than giving him the money to buy the fish from the guy who knows how to catch them, as long as he doesn't get “downsized”, and the economy of his country keeps growing without ever suffering a market correction”
