by Ray Jason
For
nearly a decade I have been using the internet in an attempt to
persuade people that an ocean-going sailboat is the best defense
against an increasingly fragile and volatile world. My contention
has been that small groups of like-minded cruisers could band
together to create Sea Gypsy Tribes.
These
sailors would prepare their vessels to respond to any type of
cataclysmic event. Regardless of whether it might be an economic
collapse or a grid-down emergency or any other crisis, a
well-equipped, any-ocean sailboat is the best escape pod.
Unfortunately,
my Sea Gypsy Tribe idea did not catch on as I hoped it would. But
because the sea gypsy life is such a sane approach to authentic and
balanced living in this often lunatic and artificial world, I believe
that people should consider it as a life path. Because of the
down-sizing and true self-reliance that it requires, it allows one to
not just survive - but to actually FLOURISH!
With
the spread of the Wuhan Virus around the globe, the defensive
capabilities of the ocean sailing lifestyle again become prominent.
(Note that I do not refer to the disease as COVID-19. There are two
reasons for that. First, is my contrarian inclination to never
accept, without careful scrutiny, any narrative that our leaders
rulers foist upon us. And second, because of the quaint old nautical
tradition of naming previously undiscovered reefs after the ships
that pile up onto them. So why not give Wuhan that distinction,
rather than saddling the plague with a name that only Hal, the
computer from 2001 Space Odyssey, might invent.)
*******
The
main intention of this essay is to demonstrate how ideal a
well-equipped and properly-prepared sailing boat is when faced with a
dangerous epidemic. But before discussing that, I’d like to
examine the WV phenomenon more carefully.
What
do we truly know about it? Indeed, what do we truly know about
ANYTHING these days? And more profoundly, CAN we uncover the truth
about ANY topics in this sea of deception and lies that is the modern
world?
Surely,
the internet has snapped us out of the trance that our controllers
have kept us in. But even as independent voices emancipate us from
deceit, they also reveal how difficult it is to navigate through the
labyrinth of distortion that constantly confronts us.
Here are some
examples of the “through-the-looking-glass” uncertainties that
this virus conjures up.
Did
it originate in a wet market where people caught it from eating
bizarre creatures? Or did it come from the nearby bio-hazard lab?
And if that was the source, was it accidental or deliberate? Can we
trust that the numbers concerning infection rate and fatalities are
not under-reported or perhaps inflated? After all, these are
provided to us from governments, who notoriously would rather lie
than eat – even when there is spicy bat soup on the menu.
I
could add many more paragraphs of such vital questions, but instead,
I’ll shift my focus to how this emergency benefits the powers that
should not be. We surely know that their operating systems command
them to “never let a good crisis go to waste.”
And
the hammer that they often use to pound the nail of crisis is FEAR!!!
But as they lock down cities of over 10 million people and cancel
major events and close down manufacturing hubs, why should we trust
them? Did they not fear monger us with SARS and MERS and SWINE FLU
and EBOLA and ZIKA? And isn’t it true that all of those threats
proved to be far less dangerous and deadly than we were told they
would be?
Plus,
our Malignant Overlords, as I like to call them, have so much to gain
by hyping up the danger of this outbreak. (Impoverished Blogger
Disclaimer: I am not concluding that the Wuhan Virus is not a serious
threat to global health and well-being. I hope that it is not, but I
don’t know and WE don’t know.) Here are some of the things that
they can gain.
Any
global epidemic increases the power of WHO – the World Health
Organization. This division of the United Nations is one of its most
powerful. Because governments all around the globe have
surreptitiously implemented Medical Martial Law policies, this
bureaucracy will gain even more un-elected influence.
For
example, they have just called for the elimination of paper currency
… since it can “spread disease.” The Cashless (but not
monitored-less) Society is an orgasmic dream for those who would rule
us all.
To
me, the most startling consequence of this disease is the swiftness
with which people have been manipulated into panic mode. When a
large part of a modern nation is quarantined, this spreads fear
rapidly even though the medical statistics don’t justify that
degree of alarm. My suspicion is that they are beta-testing how
little effort it takes to generate a fearful frenzy.
The
virus is also an excellent cover for the social engineers to increase
their surveillance panopticon. And piggy-backed on this advanced
intrusion will be decreased internet freedom, so that dissenting
opinions will be decreased or eliminated.
*******
Now,
let’s assume that the risks from the Wuhan Virus are both genuine
and severe. If this is so, there is the likelihood of an extreme
economic collapse, which could also lead to societal pandemonium and
chaos. This is how my long-standing preparations will shelter me
from the bedlam.
If
there was suddenly an outbreak of verified cases in my area, I would
sail to any of about 50 isolated anchorages that I know, which are
located here in the Archipelago of Bliss. I would be alone with my
only neighbors being the creatures who live in the Sea and the Sky.
I
would monitor the situation on my radios, and if things degenerated
further, I would sail about 50 miles offshore and basically hold that
position while waiting for favorable news.
There
are always 6 months of non-perishable foods on-board. This includes
staples like rice and pasta - plus freeze-dried and dehydrated full
meals. These are large #10 cans that hold about 25 meals each. One
example is shrimp teriyaki with rice to which I need only add boiling
water. Plus, there is fishing and gathering. What I mean by the
latter, is flying fish that have landed on the decks during the
night. With some scrambled eggs, they make a delicious breakfast.
My
water tanks are always full, and I have a tried and true catchment
system that is used frequently. There is also a hand-powered
water-maker to convert salt to fresh water.
The
diesel tanks are always topped up, and she is a sailing boat with
tremendous range. My electrical needs (lights, fridge, radios) are
easily met through a combination of a wind generator and solar
panels. Although I have some electronic navigation, I still know
“the old ways” using coastal piloting and celestial navigation.
On-board
there is a very nice DVD library of excellent films, plus regular
books and a Kindle loaded with a hundred classic novels. And to
protect all of this, I have a variety of choices. Some are quite
loud and others are Ninja silent … but all of them are immensely
persuasive.
*******
In conclusion, my hope is that the virus proves to be a lot less vicious and virulent than many people are predicting at this point. My second hope is that by sharing with you my strategy, this might assist you with your own preparations.
And
finally, I leave you with the ironic and almost sadistic sentiment
that was repeated throughout the Hunger Games. But in this case, it
is heartfelt and sincere:
“May the odds be ever in your favor!”