Gas shortage

I've never been so aware of our dependence on gas as I've been since Yellowknife ran out the day before yesterday. We live about 30 km out of town and we have enough gas for five trips in our car -- a few more in our truck. We are well-provisioned with all the necessities (wood, propane, diesel for our generator) so we are fine. In fact, we could go for a month or more by reducing our trips into town to once a week for groceries.

What we're experiencing now is really more of an adventure than a disaster. Even if the ferry doesn't go back in the water this winter, supplies will be flown across the river until the ice road is functional. Our only problem, at the moment, is inconvenience.

I can't help but think, however, how tenuous our existence here in the North really is. Yellowknife is completely dependent on our supply line from the South. If there were a major disaster, such as a war, that cut that supply line we would be in dire straits very quickly.

I imagine myself having to ski or cycle into town. While that works well when I'm thinking about it, it might not work so well when I'm actually trying to do it. I imagine snaring rabbits or fishing for food -- never mind that I don't know how and that game & fish might quickly get scarce because everybody else will be harvesting it too.

It all makes me want to become a survivalist and start stocking up on barrels of non-perishable like beans and rice and dried food. Of course, then I'll have to invest in guns to protect my supply when the hungry hordes come after me. Then, I would have to learn how to use them, without shooting myself in the foot. . .

It is all so complicated. Maybe the best thing is to relax, accept that life is essentially insecure, and deal with whatever happens when it happens.