I've been thinking about this for awhile and just started acting on it. When the SHTF there will be alot of us who are somewhat isolated without any outside contact, be it by necessity or choice. I have started collecting simple games, decks of cards and literally stockpiling books from my favorite authors. It occurred to me the other day I only have a very limited supply of fly tying material, whether I use the bugs I tied or not is irrelevant. It's another sanity saver so I've started slowly buying hooks, hackle and other materials I use on a regular basis along with whatever specialized tying books I can find. Now I don't expect to spend 8 out of 10 hours a day playing solitaire and tying bugs but when the weather is crappy and nothing can be done outside or everything is done you gotta have some way to relax and unwind or you'll end up looking/acting like the guy they called Rockhound on Armageddon.

very true. Lucky for me my family and my wife we have always been game players. We have lots of boardgames, we know about 15 different card games to play and between my wife and I alone (we never get rid of books) we have about 300 books ranging from fantasy to biography to mystery to teen drama to DIY and survival books. One of my favorite hobbies has alway been sleeping too so that will help pass the time.

Good post by the way

In a SHTF scenario, you will be too busy doing WORK, you probably will not have a whole lot of leisure time. Too many people look at what's coming as a leisurely camping trip.

I collect games and books also...have prepped up spare school supplies when they were on sale...

Now that I have more space available for me and the kids,I will start collecting more...

Yes it will be a busy time when SHTF,but you still need down time

For me anyhow Sarge, there will be lots of time from Oct to May when there is 0 visibilty,4'+ of snow on the ground or other nasty adverse conditions and one can only do so much work inside the house. From May to Sept it would probably be 6 hrs sleep and the rest work getting wood, food, etc for the coming winter. We have what is commonly called cabin fever which is a very real affliction, when we get a nasty storm and I'm stuck inside for 5 days+ I'm climbing the walls. It's a different feeling than being stuck inside because your sick, your stuck inside because you cannot physically endure the conditions outside and you strap on the snowshoes, make it 100' or so and are mired up to your waste. You realize you just expended more energy going nowhere than splitting a cord of wood by hand.

I'll probably spend more time watching the antics of my chickens.

a77ssii wrote:For me anyhow Sarge, there will be lots of time from Oct to May when there is 0 visibilty,4'+ of snow on the ground or other nasty adverse conditions and one can only do so much work inside the house. From May to Sept it would probably be 6 hrs sleep and the rest work getting wood, food, etc for the coming winter. We have what is commonly called cabin fever which is a very real affliction, when we get a nasty storm and I'm stuck inside for 5 days+ I'm climbing the walls. It's a different feeling than being stuck inside because your sick, your stuck inside because you cannot physically endure the conditions outside and you strap on the snowshoes, make it 100' or so and are mired up to your waste. You realize you just expended more energy going nowhere than splitting a cord of wood by hand.

I was stuck inside for 2 1/2 months at a time 3 times about 30 yrs ago. Not everyone can handle it, it didn't bother me too much.