(Meaning what I'm suggesting goes against what society has trained you to do / believe).

I'm stepping off my soap box.

Next....

You missed the part where they are paying farm hands to run the place while they live a hundred miles away. There will be nobody to feed and water them let alone shoot me. They use money to pay someone to work themselves to the bone to raise there cows for them while they continue to make money off of all the other investments they have.

Would I steal from a small farmer feeding his family? No. But will I take a cow that will otherwise starve or fall victim to predators H*ll F@ck yeah I will. I will not feel bad about it.

You missed the bulk of my post and focused on a perceived negative aspect. I do it as well sometimes, I would have you reread my post and see that I am self sufficient and have more than enough food stuffs to last.

When they come and procure your crops then it most definitely matters. You will not be able to just live in your cocoon and be left alone.

I have enough components to make more rounds than anyone would ever need in a self reliance situation but if the poo doesn't hit the fan I have plenty to enjoy recreational shooting. The same can be said about my food supply I have a garden that produces enough food for my family and then some again just in case. I guess if push comes to shove I could become a vegan but I have a large network of people who produce meat and cheese products that I shouldn't have to. I grew up and live in the real country I know how to survive on little to nothing h*ll we didn't even have running water until I was in my teens. You are raising valid points but are limiting yourself to much by trying to totally remove yourself from the "grid" use it while it is here and prepare for when it isn't. Trust me as someone who has come from off of it there is no reason not to use every thing available while it is here. (yes I know GMO=bad and growth hormones ECT..... but there are easy ways around these issues right now use them.)

The most common characteristic among people identifying themselves as preppers is pessimism . I say this from experience. I spent the early 1980s Iiving in a survivalist home.

A prepper stockpiles in preparation for a calamity to befall him or even all of mankind. It seems like preppers almost WISH something would happen to justify their views. I think this is a nearly imperceptible impulse, but present nonetheless.

Like your comment about them taking our crops and us living in a cacoon...

First, at least we experienced true freedom leading up to "it".
Second, we would have learned enough by then to just start over . Try that if "they" take your pile of can goods.

Third, and this is the important distinction ... note the optimistism in my second point above. Optimism is the big difference between "preppers" and "free homesteaders". Homesteaders just see difficulty and adversity as a daily chore to be conquered. I'm suggesting that sitting around and waiting for something to happen is not a good plan. Adopt a can-do attitude and start living like it already did.

I really admire people who has mastered the art of cheese making. It's the blend of science and artistry. I'll be an acomplished cheese maker some day.

Greaser,
I'm not arguing, belittling or intentionally disrespecting stockpile preppers. I was one for decades.

I see good people here that I care about and who love their families. I'm just trying to passionately offer the "bigger picture" or the "red pill" (Matrix reference - can't remember which color exposed truth).

We grew past were I perceive many here are, and found how amazing it is. It's a hard life, but unbelievably rewarding and fulfilling. I broke the mold and want others to see the other side thru my eyes.

To your point about using what's available on the grid...

I differ in that I see using the grid as dependence on it.

Here is an example of why...

Our home's AC died last July. We allowed ourselves to suffer thru the hot and humid months of August and September. It averaged 86F at 10 pm in our bedroom. We just had the AC repaired this week. Why? Because we couldn't function last summer. We had food spoiling, etc.

Why is this relevant?

1) I didn't have central heat or air until I was 10 years old. Before I had it I didn't know that you could sleep without waking up in a pool of sweat.

2) We learned new methods of cooling the house, keeping food safe, and different sanitation needs from our experience.

3) My wife is LIVID about wanting to use the Air now. She is just plain mad that she is controlled by this "creature comfort".

The moral of the story is...
Grid Use = Grid Dependency

You said you had a primitive youth without running water. Turn off the water to your house for seven days and write back.

I have 3% power left so I'm signing off for the night. The sun will be up in about 5 hours so it's back to the farm.

Good night Greaser.
Pleasure having this discourse with you .