What is your post-apocalyptic occupation?

[forinborin]

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.

What about you?

@Still1nLove

I like to imagine I would be like Carole from The Walking Dead

Same!

Sewing, knitting and making explosives.

Well when you put it like that @RainbowCrossing.... : )

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

My DH just burned lunch after being left alone with it for five minutes. Nonetheless, I am still fond of him and he will cause no trouble if we build him a spreadsheet out of sticks. Would it be OK if I bring him?

I think my husband and your husband would play very nicely together.

i can knock up a meal out of any old shite.

I’m imagining my post apocalyptic life to be one long episode of Ready, Steady, Cook.

@Sideorderofchips

Sewing, knitting and making explosives.

I want you on my team!

I have loads of medical knowledge, can definitely do a skin graft, can do most minor surgeries etc.

Can do plaster of paris and other splinting for broken bones etc; can tape sprains, can relocate dislocated joints.

Have loads of herbal remedy knowledge, and can find the right medications for things in a pharmacy - and I have hard copy of the BNF (from 1992). Also a Grays anatomy and loads of other such books.

I'm not a qualified doctor, but in an apocalypse, beggars can't be choosers.

I'm very good with animals, can shoot a gun pretty accurately, can crochet, knit and sew fairly well. I'm also really good at making half decent meals out of whatever old shite is left in the cupboards at the end of the week so I suppose that might be handy!

I can catch and kill rats and have my own collapsible rat traps. They're also big enough to catch rabbits if you fancy a change from rat.

A life as a field ecologist has left me resourceful and impervious to most weather conditions. I can also knit socks, though I see that has been pretty comprehensively covered by PPs

I am good at fixing things so that they work again but don't look beautiful, which I think people will care about the aesthetic less. I'm also good at making tools for things, like when I'm cooking if I don't have the right tool I'll make one. I'm brilliant at untangling messes, like when you have 10 different phone cords all muddled together. I'm generally good at those kind of jobs, which other people find boring but which I'm really happy to take a while, take things apart really slowly, and put them right. It brings my joy.

I am a good first aider and also know quite a lot about health conditions and Medications, I don't work in healthcare but I know I could do some basics like administering medications and finding alternatives, stitching up wounds, lancing abscesses, pulling teeth, and diagnosing and treating skin infections and parasites. I would probably be some kind of healer as I also am good with food and herbs and things like that. I have a really good memory for stuff like that. I wouldn't always get it right, but nobody would be walking around with vitamin deficiencies at least.

I am pretty good at cooking and can make food out of weird ingredients that tastes great. I know how to make lots of quick breads and can have learnt to cook outside and make a fire too. Also other skills like that like building a shelter, finding water, foraging etc. I wouldn't have a problem killing fish or meat. I'm fortunate not to have to but I know I could do it in a moment if I needed to. So everyone would be well fed.

I'm also good in a crisis and can think on my feet and am good at strategising, especially if I have other people to bounce ideas off. I do worry that nobody would listen to me though, as it's only when people bother listen to me they realise I know my shit. They always seem surprised I am capable anyway so I must give off vibes like I'm really stupid until they listen properly.

I am good at hiding and am also a crack shot. So I would like to volunteer for sniper duty, hunting, spying and knitting. I can also forage a bit and bake.

I can pluck a pheasant & on a good day could have shot it. Am brave enough to go out on a gin and cigarette run for bartering ( 10% commission in kind )

Otherwise a jack of all trades ( can I join ? )

Thanks to my (frankly) bonkers Bohemian Steiner school education I know how to milk a goat, properly build a bonfire and construct a temporary shelter - all quite useful? My ability to write in Sanskrit and perform Eurythmy, not so much...?

DH is a crack shot (clay pigeon shooting etc) which would come in handy.

I'd be screwed :( I work in tech/IT and I assume no need for SW developers then!

I could be a bard or Keeper of Tales as I'm a storyteller already, and I have good carpentry/fire making/den building/foraging skills from years in Scouting and guiding.
I know where all the good local fruit trees are, and how to rustle up a decent meal from whatever is available.
I have a lot of tools and can mend things that are broken, and have great sewing skills.
I think post-apocalypse could be my time to shine.

I’m a Steinerite too @peaceanddove and was never shown how to milk a goat. I feel cheated!

When a teenager I had always planned to send any future kids to a Steiner school. Feel bad now I let my actual children miss out on useful skills for the zombie apocalypse!😂

Nothing that involves running or fighting. We'd die.
I'd be the cook. I'm good at making edible meals from random shite ingredients.

I'm a nurse, have been for over 30 years so I'll still be doing that. I'll stitch up all the nasty cuts from all jobs people aren't used to doing. I'm brutal, I'll give you some bath tub gin then go for it.

Comms. I was once an old-style telephone engineer in the days before everyone dumped their landlines. I could set up a rudimentary comms network.

@AnneLovesGilbert

I’m a Steinerite too *@peaceanddove* and was never shown how to milk a goat. I feel cheated!

[waves to Annie Gilbert]

We also had 3 Shetland ponies and chickens!

@KrispyKale

When a teenager I had always planned to send any future kids to a Steiner school. Feel bad now I let my actual children miss out on useful skills for the zombie apocalypse!😂

Don't feel too bad. The amount of utterly useless guff I learned (I happen to know at least 3 Austrian hunting songs, for example) far outweighed anything potentially pertinent to the zombie apocalypse.

I'd make sure all post-apocalypse communications were grammatically correct, easily understood and elegant where possible.

Form a queue!

@MrsTerryPratchett

I'm a crack shot. So that.

I can pluck and gut. Someone else is going to have to cook though.

I’m good with horses and have worked in the racehorse breeding sector for years so I’ll breed and supply all the horses needed for farm work/general transport as you just know there will be a diesel shortage.

Many years ago didn’t we have a MN Zombie Apocalypse plan of hijacking a couple of cruise liners and floating off to a warmer climate? I distinctly remember a conversation about how easy they are to drive. Of course everyone also had their “Oh Fuck Rucksack” ready to go.