Back to the woods: prepping for volatility

With a client a couple of days ago we discussed his new hobby, prepping. He isn't a prepper per se but, he is improving his skills just in case. He has seen that the world is more unstable but, I think there is more to it than that. Lots of men I know are turning their hands back to nature and skills that once upon a time, they held. Gardening, beekeeping, hunting, cooking, fishing, building, hiking, woodwork and all kinds of earthy type areas that had once gone out of fashion.

I suspect that it is in counterbalance to the modernity of the world where most live lives of product consumption, ready foods, packaged goods. I think that many are realizing that this continual gorging on material items is not satisfying their personal needs, that buying comfort has not brought them the real comfort they desired, self-sufficiency.

Many talk about being self-sufficient but, when that is only financially independent, it doesn't provide the feedback that being able to do something oneself does. Buying something may bring a good feeling although, it is short lived. Creating something however brings a personal contentment that can last a lifetime.

For the last few decades, those with the capabilities have been building man caves that they fill with all of the toys, home theatres and gaming systems. Yet, it didn't seem to fill the hole they felt in the long term, buying it just doesn't cut it for many, it isn't enough to consume the talents of others, humans need to create.

I think there are many returning into the waters of skill development and picking up old tools or trying their hand at wielding new. This isn't about preparing for the apocalypse, it is avoiding the skill vacuum that they may unconsciously feel coming. I think that this is going to be a driver of Steem also as it is a community that rewards development.

I think this is also going to be a driver for all cryptocurrencies for as people start to become aware of their want for self-sufficiency, that will inevitably shine the spotlight on the financial situation, the lack of personal control and the fragility and manipulation of the fiat markets.

As people realise this, they will want to secure their hard earned currency and, investments that don't rely on the banks to back them or which can be diluted by those same banks will come into sharp focus. What could potentially happen is that what seems volatile now will gain stability as more and more users flood in and, what many see as stable now will increase in volatility as investors leak out. Cryptocurrencies could become stable while the fiat markets bounce wildly.

This is likely some time off but, I do think that it is going to happen and the near trillion that was in the market at the end of December will look like a drop in the ocean. For example, BlackRock are the world's largest asset manager and control 6.3 Trillion in various funds. That is just the largest, there are many many more. What happens when they decide to diversify into crypto? A 5% position is 300+ Billion. That is almost the size of today's market cap. One company.

It is going to be a rocky and wild road forward though isn't it? When that sort of money starts leaving fiat, the governments prick up their ears and will really start ramping up their activities. This will of course create more pressures and uncertainty and further display the fragility of the fiat markets. All of those people who have been preparing will be glad but, more and more will open their eyes.

There are going to potentially be many, many implications to the shift away from centralized currencies and, they are not all going to lead to Lambos. In fact, there is likely to be a lot of heavy conflict and potential wars as governments struggle to maintain their power. Take away their ability to pay and they struggle in very short, bloody order.

It is going to get interesting at some point when a government will have to get consensus from their people to not only have a war, but fund it and individuals will have to make the decision on how much they are willing to pay. How much would you pay to bomb Syria? They are not going to give up their ability to act as they wish easily. Would you?

There are going to be some interesting times coming up, times that the world may never have seen before and if it isn't managed well, it is going to create a great deal of inequality, violence and separation. Does it have to be this way, do revolutions require it? I can't say but i would like to believe that large changes can be made in peace but, history doesn't support my position.

At least for now, I do like the idea of people beginning to rediscover they have creative minds and hands to build with. I think those that take the time to invest into themselves and develop personal skills will find a lot more meaning from life than those who only purchase and consume.

Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]