Destiny Survival

Now and then stories pop up online or in the mainstream news about bartering.  Bartering web sites are growing in popularity here in the U.S. and overseas in places like England.  It’s been going on for months now and it’s a certain indicator of the shape of our economy.

            Thanks to arrangements made online at sites such as Meetup.com, swap meets are taking place in bars, schools, churches and garages throughout the country.  Goods are exchanged, so money doesn’t change hands.  Often what’s being exchanged isn’t your run of the mill garage sale junk.  People are trading everything from high priced clothing at formal affairs, to things you’d expect, like books, DVD’s, baby clothes, plants and garden seeds.

            People from all walks of life and income levels are participating in swaps.  It’s a substitute for shopping.  Swap meets become more like social occasions.  Isn’t that the way neighborhood garage sales are anyway?

There’s plenty being exchanged between individuals over the Internet as well at sites like Swaptree.com and usedlikenew.blogspot.com .  Some are bartering because they’re becoming more frugal out of necessity, while others are getting rid of things they no longer need.

I know things are tough for a lot of people, and I admire their resourcefulness.  No doubt some of the current bartering is driven by a kind of fad or craze, but the motivation probably doesn’t matter.

The fact is things are changing.  Not only are many people making new friends, but they’re developing useful scavenging and negotiating skills.  More and more people are showing their contempt for the way things have been done the past few decades.  Perhaps the era of wanton consumerism has passed.

I’m glad people are getting into the bartering mindset.  Just think.  When everything truly goes down, people can say, "Hey, let’s barter survival supplies just like we used to barter other things on the Internet."

There’s a new book called The Scavengers’ Manifesto, by Anneli Rufus and Kristan Lawson.  It contains philosophy about environmentally friendly living and offers practical tips on scavenging, including some do’s and don’ts.  It’s all about not paying full price for anything.

            To get your copy of The Scavengers’ Manifesto, click on the picture of the book below, and you’ll be taken to the Amazon.com page featuring the book.  Whether yu’re interested in scavenging and bartering because it’s trendy or because you seriously need to do it, this book can help show you the way.