How We Got Here

Why are we here? To survive.

After Y2K did not impact our world the way we thought it might we were ready for an adventure, so we spent a number of years in remote, bush Alaska. It was a great time of learning, professional advancement and a lot of fun.

Frank realized in late 2007 and early 2008 that the economy was not going to be able to maintain it's course. Living in a remote region that depends on air travel and annual barges for food and heating fuel is not the place to be when the economy falters. So, we began to make plans to return to the lower 48.

We had bought land in southeastern Oklahoma several years earlier and made a few professional contacts, in case we ever decided to move to this area. As the housing market continued it's downward spiral, we looked for jobs in the area to no avail. Finally, in April 2008 we decided we were going to move from Alaska with or without jobs. It ended up being without.

Our careers in Alaska had advanced  nicely and we were on an upwardly mobile track. We were asked to stay and many people didn't understand why we were leaving. There had been down times in the economy before and we had recovered. This would be no different. But Frank knew better. So we sold out in Alaska and made our final drive down to Oklahoma pulling two U-Haul trailers.

We arrived and moved into a house we had bought adjoining our land, but still no jobs. We contacted the schools in the surrounding small towns and prayed. And waited. And prayed. And waited. We had no doubt that God had brought us here for a reason. We had listened to the promptings we received about the need to move to a place where we could survive. Employment was a necessity, but nothing seemed to be forthcoming. After some anxious days, we were blessed to both get jobs in the same small town. Any doubts that had been growing about where we were supposed to be vanished. We were home.

Since that time we have worked diligently to prepare and build up our homestead. We have established a herd of producing milk goats, chickens, a garden and planted fruit trees and berries. There are many projects for which we have accumulated materials, in case the time comes when we can no longer acquire what we need. The never ending list of projects doesn't seem to shrink, no matter how many we complete and mark off the list. There is always much to do. We are grateful we have been blessed with this time - time to prepare - physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally.

We are fortunate that we have been given this opportunity to try and fail at many different things. Our learning curve right now is unbelievable. But there may come a day in the very near future that the practice time will be over. Then if failure occurs, we may get very hungry. It's not a question of whether it is going to come, it is happening right before our eyes. Right now.

Why are we writing this blog? Because we know that very hard times are coming. God has lead us here so that we can prepare. We are grateful that we have been led to a place off the beaten path. This is a place that we think we might be able to survive if something catastrophic happens - natural disasters, war, terrorist attacks, economic collapse, etc. Or at least we pray we can.

A man that has been warned is tasked with warning his neighbor. We add our warning and share our experiences with the hope that this will help others see the time is near. The wolf is at the door. Pull your family close and prepare all that you can - mentally first, then spiritually, emotionally and physically - to be ready for the world to change into a place that none of us will want to recognize.

Be ready. Listen. Learn. Practice. Work hard. Be vigilant. Share.

Blessings to you all,

Frank & Fern