What would you do if you were the last person on Earth?
Lately I've been entertaining the fantasy of what I would do if I were the last person alive on Earth. Ridiculous premise, I know, but something about that specific scenario has had me doing all kinds of funky research and imagining just how I would cope. I even bought a survivalist book on Amazon just to indulge myself even further.
But until the book arrives, it's been fun to imagine the step by step processes I'd take ensure my survival in such a predicament. I've been enjoying the thought of myself raising chickens and rabbits for food, having a fertile garden, building defenses against predators, or traps for pests.
Though aside from the practical elements of food, water, and safety, it's kinda cool to realize that everything around me could be my kingdom. I could do whatever I wanted, so long as it was available. The power grid wouldn't go down for at least a week, so I'd have some time to really set myself up for success. The idea of raiding every store I wanted is pretty damn tempting. I imagine myself stealing some U-Haul trucks and loading up with as much as I could fit. I'd probably convert several of the apartment units around me into just storage. I could even steal a refrigerated truck or two and have ice cream whenever I wanted, since they're completely off the grid.
Gasoline would last for about 6 months as is and diesel only a year, but assuming I add a proper amount of stabilizers, I could theoretically have electricity for a couple of years after the dust settles with a generator or two. That should be plenty of time to figure out how to get solar power going for me and have electricity even longer. The thought of being able to play video games all throughout the apocalypse is such a radically funny concept to me that I get giddy just thinking about it. But there are some libraries pretty close by that I would definitely ransack, as well as some art stores, so I would learn to have other energy-saving pastimes.
It's awfully convenient that there is both a Walmart Supercenter and an Amazon warehouse relatively close to where I live, so I could in theory have just about everything I would ever need. It's kinda fascinating. There's really no existential threat besides some freak disease that I would have to worry about in my end-of-the-world scenario. There are multiple pot shops nearby that could help kill any boredom when I invariably pillage those.
But coming to terms with being the sole human left on Earth is kind of an immense responsibility when you think about all the animals left in shelters, in people's houses, on farms, or in zoos. I could never even hope to save a fraction of those that are left behind, and presumably most of those would starve to death. That's far more grim of a realization than the fact I'd be completely alone.
I'd definitely spend my first few days on reconnaissance missions around the neighborhood trying to free as many cats and dogs as I can. I even like the idea of having a unit or two of my apartment complex reserved just for cats and the rest of the units saved for dogs. I don't know what would happen if you just stick dozens of unfamiliar cats or dogs together when there's nowhere else for any of us to go, but I'm hoping it will work out. Maybe they'd just be grateful for some food, water, shelter, and company. Optimistically, it would all work out, because I'd hate to meet my end to an infected scratch or bite wound from some unhappy campers.
All in all, it's a relatively peaceful fantasy for me. I'd get to do things I already like doing or want to do. I live near a lake that rents out canoes and kayaks, so what more could I possibly want? It's an introvert's paradise. Even without electricity, there are plenty of battery powered laptops and handheld devices and video players where I could still play games and watch movies years into the end of days. Like who even needs people?
Apparently, everyone else. In part of doing my research for this completely useless what-if scenario, I visited online Q&A sites hoping to take notes on what others would do if they found themselves in such an unlikely predicament. An alarming amount of responses to those questions showed that people would have immense grief and would lose the will to live, many even explicitly saying that they would end their own suffering within a short while. Others that were a bit more hopeful stated that they would try to establish radio communications or learn to fly or operate a boat so that they would find other people in the hopes that there were other survivors. Many of those were adamant on making that their final mission in life, which if nothing else, you definitely have to admire their grit.
I was completely shocked by the responses. The vast majority of respondents didn't want to live in a world without other people. And I'm not imposing a judgement on it. People tend to be pretty sure of themselves. More than anything, it's an indictment on me and where I am with my life. I guess in a lot of ways I already feel like the only person left on Earth. Obviously, I understand that there are people all around me, but I must be so disconnected from my surroundings that I might as well be all alone.
And it's not a hyperbolic statement. I have nobody I can call to hang out, I don't get invited to anything, I haven't celebrated a birthday in over 2 decades, I spend all my holidays alone with a phone that might as well be off. I'm neither needed nor wanted by anybody, and that's something I don't think most people can say about themselves. Everyone else has connections. Friends. Family. My neighbors know my dog's name, but not mine. I'm well beyond the point of assigning blame or responsibility. It's just how my life is, and it's the only life I know. Most people annoy me anyway.
Still, it's kind of wild how comfortable I would be with an apocalypse. My life hasn't changed one bit since the pandemic started, which must not be so bad considering how many other people have lost their doggone minds. I've already lost just about everything a person could lose, so there's nothing left to worry about. What's death to somebody that's already committed to killing themselves? I didn't expect to be the only one okay with a doomsday, but that's apparently where I'm at. Can't wait until this book shows up and I learn a few more things.
What would you do if you were the last one left?
But until the book arrives, it's been fun to imagine the step by step processes I'd take ensure my survival in such a predicament. I've been enjoying the thought of myself raising chickens and rabbits for food, having a fertile garden, building defenses against predators, or traps for pests.
Though aside from the practical elements of food, water, and safety, it's kinda cool to realize that everything around me could be my kingdom. I could do whatever I wanted, so long as it was available. The power grid wouldn't go down for at least a week, so I'd have some time to really set myself up for success. The idea of raiding every store I wanted is pretty damn tempting. I imagine myself stealing some U-Haul trucks and loading up with as much as I could fit. I'd probably convert several of the apartment units around me into just storage. I could even steal a refrigerated truck or two and have ice cream whenever I wanted, since they're completely off the grid.
Gasoline would last for about 6 months as is and diesel only a year, but assuming I add a proper amount of stabilizers, I could theoretically have electricity for a couple of years after the dust settles with a generator or two. That should be plenty of time to figure out how to get solar power going for me and have electricity even longer. The thought of being able to play video games all throughout the apocalypse is such a radically funny concept to me that I get giddy just thinking about it. But there are some libraries pretty close by that I would definitely ransack, as well as some art stores, so I would learn to have other energy-saving pastimes.
It's awfully convenient that there is both a Walmart Supercenter and an Amazon warehouse relatively close to where I live, so I could in theory have just about everything I would ever need. It's kinda fascinating. There's really no existential threat besides some freak disease that I would have to worry about in my end-of-the-world scenario. There are multiple pot shops nearby that could help kill any boredom when I invariably pillage those.
But coming to terms with being the sole human left on Earth is kind of an immense responsibility when you think about all the animals left in shelters, in people's houses, on farms, or in zoos. I could never even hope to save a fraction of those that are left behind, and presumably most of those would starve to death. That's far more grim of a realization than the fact I'd be completely alone.
I'd definitely spend my first few days on reconnaissance missions around the neighborhood trying to free as many cats and dogs as I can. I even like the idea of having a unit or two of my apartment complex reserved just for cats and the rest of the units saved for dogs. I don't know what would happen if you just stick dozens of unfamiliar cats or dogs together when there's nowhere else for any of us to go, but I'm hoping it will work out. Maybe they'd just be grateful for some food, water, shelter, and company. Optimistically, it would all work out, because I'd hate to meet my end to an infected scratch or bite wound from some unhappy campers.
All in all, it's a relatively peaceful fantasy for me. I'd get to do things I already like doing or want to do. I live near a lake that rents out canoes and kayaks, so what more could I possibly want? It's an introvert's paradise. Even without electricity, there are plenty of battery powered laptops and handheld devices and video players where I could still play games and watch movies years into the end of days. Like who even needs people?
Apparently, everyone else. In part of doing my research for this completely useless what-if scenario, I visited online Q&A sites hoping to take notes on what others would do if they found themselves in such an unlikely predicament. An alarming amount of responses to those questions showed that people would have immense grief and would lose the will to live, many even explicitly saying that they would end their own suffering within a short while. Others that were a bit more hopeful stated that they would try to establish radio communications or learn to fly or operate a boat so that they would find other people in the hopes that there were other survivors. Many of those were adamant on making that their final mission in life, which if nothing else, you definitely have to admire their grit.
I was completely shocked by the responses. The vast majority of respondents didn't want to live in a world without other people. And I'm not imposing a judgement on it. People tend to be pretty sure of themselves. More than anything, it's an indictment on me and where I am with my life. I guess in a lot of ways I already feel like the only person left on Earth. Obviously, I understand that there are people all around me, but I must be so disconnected from my surroundings that I might as well be all alone.
And it's not a hyperbolic statement. I have nobody I can call to hang out, I don't get invited to anything, I haven't celebrated a birthday in over 2 decades, I spend all my holidays alone with a phone that might as well be off. I'm neither needed nor wanted by anybody, and that's something I don't think most people can say about themselves. Everyone else has connections. Friends. Family. My neighbors know my dog's name, but not mine. I'm well beyond the point of assigning blame or responsibility. It's just how my life is, and it's the only life I know. Most people annoy me anyway.
Still, it's kind of wild how comfortable I would be with an apocalypse. My life hasn't changed one bit since the pandemic started, which must not be so bad considering how many other people have lost their doggone minds. I've already lost just about everything a person could lose, so there's nothing left to worry about. What's death to somebody that's already committed to killing themselves? I didn't expect to be the only one okay with a doomsday, but that's apparently where I'm at. Can't wait until this book shows up and I learn a few more things.
What would you do if you were the last one left?
31-35, M
