Gee, I wilt over puppies, and kittens, and babies. Oh, and how about a baby panda?

"I believe the children are our future". Darn song keeps running through my head! Pretty soon I'll be singing!

Communication is always a problem in any society. I have experience from writing/editing/publishing graphic novels, magazines, and newsletters. Script writing as a back-up skill. Also music arranging, composing, and organizing. Too bad I'm too old to do it all, but I can teach others. I also was a photographer and taught photography, but my skills in that area are pre-digital, so forget about it.

The distilled spirits may be more effective.

I'm your communications guy and a farmer. My day job is in tech, but I've been growing vegetables by hand all my life - everything from the staples like beans, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, to all kinds of berries, fruit trees, and grapes - including pest control, weeding, pruning, etc.

I'm also a top-licensed (Amateur Extra) amateur radio operator (with gear that runs off deep-cycle batteries that can run off a trickle-charge from a solar cell). Oh, and I'm also on the local FEMA communications team known as ARES, so I can double as a spy on government if you like. ;)

Would you prefer the rockies or the sierras?

Good point, Jan, and I will learn hypnosis to supplement your beer as pain relief

Gold mining geologist here. So, dino, I'll need security against heists. Heists in the Gulch? Gold fever is a powerful thing.

But gold does not occur everywhere. If we want real currency, the geology has gotta be there.

I grew up helping my dad in a welding shop and am handy with all sorts of shop tools. I worked as a electro-mechanical designer/drafter so I know how to make engineering drawings. I was a pro-pilot and flight instructor for 25 years, and even though I no longer hold an airman's medical certificate and thus may not legally exercise the privileges of my Airline Transport Pilot certificate, I still can fly an airplane.
I have been a rock musician since my teens and still play (the bass guitar) and sing.
I was licensed as a massage therapist in Utah in 2008. I'm into alternative therapies and use colloidal silver regularly. I buy the best (MesoSilver), I don't try to make it.
I saw the writing on the wall when I got laid off from a job as an IT nerd and having my vehicle repossessed in '08 due to the "downturn" in the economy. As a result of suddenly having lots of time on my hands and no personal vehicle other than a bicycle, I spent a lot of time on the internet. It was during that time that I learned of the impending demise of the dollar, the 9-11 hoax and more. I have always been interested in growing my own food, so I looked for self-sufficient groups to join; "intentional communities" as I learned they were called. After a year or so in homeless shelters in Arizona I discovered WWOOFing. (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) through which I volunteered my labor in exchange for learning best practices, a place to sleep and wholesome, organic food.
I'm currently working in retirement on my passion: an experimental VTOL aircraft concept of my own design and am learning CAD-CAM skills. I make my own grain-free granola and bake a pretty good chicken with cornbread dressing.

Another challenge to plan for.

The Gulch should be near a navigable waterway with access to ocean. Access for transport via water and sail solves some challenges, and offers a source of food and water.

Well, I would think that the gulch would be started before a total collapse, and it would be populated by people who could best able to get it going, which means people with no babies at the start. After it gets going, of course babies and children would be part of the population. In the beginning you really want emotionally and physically strong people who wont need a lot of medical care (except for accidents) also.

yeah, but in a post apocalyptic gulch a baby would be a distinct disadvantage at least for a year or so

Well, that is MUCH better, of course!

Jan
(Old USAF family...as you might have guessed.)

That is how I made my two forges, only I propped them on a stand of concrete blocks and used a blow dryer for the air source. It also helps if you "T" the pipe that goes to the blower and let the lower arm of the T descend vertically to a cap. That way, any clinkers fall through the grate, they will be caught by the cap - and it is easy to remove the cap and clean them when the forge is cold.

Jan

Yes but there's not a lot else to do on those long cold dark winter nights. :)

Note that people living at a subsistence level often have higher birthrates than more sophisticated societies.

Nope. The purpose was to stimulate thinking outside the box. One thing I find interesting is people are talking about bringing all their supplies/tools with them. How are you going to transport them potentially a very long distance? Do you have the skills to drive a horse and wagon when fuel for vehicles runs out? Can you drive a dog to pull a cart or sledge? Will you pull something yourself to transport gear and food? What about transporting little children?

It's also not just about the skills you possess that will get you invited, it's also about your philosophy. Skills alone aren't the ticket.

Expand the walls on your boxes people.

My job was to kill tanks and their tank commanders. :)

I used an old truck brake drum for a hearth and a blower motor from a blow up bed( odd I know). I have recent found a website that sells a very cool hearth and manual blower relatively cheap.(HOMESTEADSTORE.COM). I intend to buy a setup, hopefully before Atlas does shrug. I used a big chunk of and elm tree for an anvil stand and a piece of an old railroad rail for the anvil.. Works pretty good. I should mention that I got the ideas for this out of the "Back to Basics" book put out by the Readers Digest. I would suggest to anyone who thinks we are headed back to the 1800's to get a copy now.

I also forgot to mention that I am a licensed HAM radio operator. I sure hope the Gulch is not too far from my current location, because I will have to have a big truck to transport all my "stuff".

Thank you for your reply.

I want to also say that I took the Oath a long time ago.

Thanks, term2. I will check it out.

Maybe your handle could have been G'Karl... sorry B5 pun.
Nice skill set!

Sometimes physically and emotionally strong people actually have babies.

So....what are you suggesting we do with the babies and small kids then?

kind of made me think twice about that

thats what I thought. The tv series on netflix JERICHO