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Original poster

What is your post-apocalyptic occupation?

368 replies

forinborin · 14/10/2021 23:12

AIBU to ask you what your post-apocalyptic occupation would be?

With all the recent news about the shortage of skilled workers - HGV drivers, farm labourers, and today there are news about an emergency visa scheme considered for abattoir workers, I started wondering what would I do if the modern society suddenly fell back into - well, not Dark Ages exactly - but, say, mid-late 19th century ways of living.

And realised that I actually have very little in terms of real-life tradeable skills. In a world without computers, my other skills are worth zero to the community, and I would probably immediately fall to the bottom of the newly established social order. Grin

What about you?

OP posts:
sashh · 15/10/2021 04:40

@2bazookas

Nearly everyone died in the apocalypse, right? So I'm going to repopulate the country by farming high quality babies. Organic and freerange of course. I shall be recruiting suitable persons with a womb from MN, so form an orderly queue over there. 
   Also recruited from MN  will be sensible  post menopausal  women with lots of expertise on men,  your job will be selecting suitable stud males. The studs  will live free-range  on  some small Scottish island, except during the mating season.  

  Lots of details to be ironed out.</div></div>

There seems to be quite a lot of detail already, you have been thinking about this for a while.

I've just remembered, my carer can make soap (for some reason the zombie apocalypse has made me able bodied, otherwise I'm one of the first to be bitten.)

DriftingBlue · 15/10/2021 04:35

Ignoring that without modern medicine I will be dead within a matter of weeks..

I can spin yarn, weave, sew, knit, crochet , make candles. make paper, and bind books.

BasiliskStare · 15/10/2021 04:24

I'll join the sewing bee - although it sounds like we may have so many we have to chat and have a few gins from the secret stash whilst we wait for people to bring in their tattered clothing. Can also grow stuff & look after dogs & tell stories.

Other than that off the top of my head I am quite good at finding things & just generally keeping things going so maybe put me into the logistics corps

Crikey I really don't have any proper skills do I ? - I can paint & actually I once made a window box so maybe I could be a carpenter's apprentice.

sashh · 15/10/2021 04:02

I have a few 'old' skills, I m make pickles and chutneys, I can sew, knit, crochet, macramé and lace make.

I think the pickling and canning might be useful, I don't can meat but I know how.

I was once teaching 'Equality and Diversity' to a not very diverse group so we did E and D for the zombie apocalypse as a poster, so I'd possibly head over to that college and try to find the old students.

Between them they had alcohol making skills, shooting, tractor driving, knife throwing and a few other skills.

I can also build electronic circuits so assuming there are some left over windmill / solar panels I might be able to get a radio going or a telegraph tot he next village.

1forAll74 · 15/10/2021 03:50

Woodworking and carpentry. and restoring old things.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/10/2021 03:48

@Mypathtriedtokillme

I can make salami, capicola and Italian pasta sauce so that can go with the mozzarella.
You're with me.
Mypathtriedtokillme · 15/10/2021 03:44

I can make salami, capicola and Italian pasta sauce so that can go with the mozzarella.

Mypathtriedtokillme · 15/10/2021 03:40

I’m in Aus so figured the zombie apocalypse would be over pretty quickly but the resulting fly plague would be the grossest part. (Why is there no flies or maggots in walking dead??)

Growing things, sewing cooking and really shitty knitting. Oh and I’m really good at lighting fires and cutting kindling.

Are we talking the “End of men” style men dying off?

whymewhyme · 15/10/2021 03:39

I'd look after the horses lol

Duckypoohs · 15/10/2021 03:35

@Gilmoregale

Combination wise woman/herbalist and herb and veg grower/teacher/ointment maker and Keeper of the Records/teller of tales. But especially the giver of knowledge about what you can safely forage and eat and what will kill you...
Can I be an apprentice? Willing to learn haha
OperationDessertStorm · 15/10/2021 03:32

I’m quite good at remembering storylines from films and song lyrics so maybe I could write these down.

More likely though I think I will be making the tea with a trolley like Mrs Doyle.

DBI78 · 15/10/2021 03:24

Knowing my luck I'd be in charge of the kids 😂 when really I want to be recording it all in a book.

Neves7 · 15/10/2021 03:19

Oh I didn’t answer the question…. Horse trainer and/or fisher woman maybe?

Neves7 · 15/10/2021 03:16

Hmm well, I’m pretty good with horses. I’m kind of mediocre with a bow and rifle but might be good enough. I fenced in college and I know how to sail and fish. And umm - I can catch chicken? So I have some minor skills I guess.

Gilmoregale · 15/10/2021 03:15

Combination wise woman/herbalist and herb and veg grower/teacher/ointment maker and Keeper of the Records/teller of tales. But especially the giver of knowledge about what you can safely forage and eat and what will kill you...

Duckypoohs · 15/10/2021 03:14

I have previously worked in a hospital, so possibly mopping brows and cleaning up shit. I have no useful skills whatsoever and right hand doesn't work very well, so other than that maybe harvesting food/toiling in the fields.

I'm not much to look at but maybe prostitute if I was destitute? Desperate times call for desperate measures, for all Grin

RonaKnob · 15/10/2021 03:12

Local witch/medicine woman. I'm a health care scientist with an interest in history. I reackon I could find more wholesome cures and treatment when the drugs ran out.

BritWifeInUSA · 15/10/2021 02:52

I’m really good at archery.

TinctureThis · 15/10/2021 02:50

I would interview for the Apothecary gig. I can grow and make medicine from plants.

TinctureThis · 15/10/2021 02:47

I can make wine from nettles.

ThreeGoingCrazy · 15/10/2021 00:25

Kitchen or whore house. I'm fat so niche market so maybe both

simitra · 15/10/2021 00:25

I have been in teaching and lecturing so I would be the respected school teacher. I am also a pretty decent needle worker so there is another skill I have. Plus I am into planning, making lists and organizing so I imagine I will be quite useful in the new order.

goingbacktothecaves · 15/10/2021 00:19

@Fernhilde

I can make twine from nettles.
i can make beer from nettles
KrispyKale · 15/10/2021 00:18

I'd be very poor eating.

I'd try for wise oracle. Otherwise..potato peeler?

chilling19 · 15/10/2021 00:18

Head of defence planning 👍