“It’s the Apocalypse all right.  I always thought I’d have a hand in it.†– Futurama
I make apocalypse jokes like there’s no tomorrow.
Wednesday’s are normally a day to talk about wealth, and when you’re prepping, what is wealth? Is it gold coins? Is it ammunition? Is it beer? Is it a paid off house? Is it a decade’s worth of PEZ®?
In many cases when I go to other websites that discuss either economic or social dislocation I see people arguing in the comments section about the way to prepare. In some cases, these arguments have even occurred here at this humble bastion of Internet civility and decorum. All of the people arguing are right.
No, that doesn’t mean that John Wilder is out there awarding participation trophies for comments, far from it. The problem is one of definition. As Tolstoy said in Anna Kareninananana, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.â€Â Each of the stunningly attractive and freshly washed (and waxed!) geniuses that comments here has an IQ that would put Joe Biden to shame. Yet they disagree because they’re talking about different things – each apocalypse is unique in its own way.
Protip: if you’re a mortician, tie all of the corpses shoes together – that way if we do have a zombie apocalypse, it’ll be funny.
Therefore, I’ve decided it’s important to talk about the W.I.L.D.E.R. Scale. It’s like the Richter Scale for earthquakes or the Fujita Scale for tornados or the Joe Biden Scale for Lying Dog Faced Pony Soldiers. But this one is better, because I came up with it.
Most importantly, what does W.I.L.D.E.R. stand for? It’s the:
Wilder Index of Life Disruption and Economic Ruination.
See? W.I.L.D.E.R. No, wait . . . W.I.L.D.E.R.™ There. That looks better.
The scale is broken up into a ten point scale, as described below. Why ten? Besides being my mental age, it also describes the number of fingers that I had before using a table saw. It’s also metric. So, all of you people who live in countries that haven’t nuked Japan (excluding the Japanese) can have this one in metric. But you have to keep the soccer.
NOTE: This is not a comprehensive financial guide or preparedness guide. Depending on the W.I.L.D.E.R.™ level you’re preparing for, this is only the barest bones of a start.Â
W.I.L.D.E.R.â„¢ Level 0:Â All Quiet
Everything’s fine. Life is good. Life is projected to be good – you have a job, it’s fairly secure and has good benefits and it pays the bills, mostly. Save money in your 401k, grill some burgers and watch the game. Go back to sleep.
W.I.L.D.E.R.â„¢ Level 1:Â Local Slowdown
What is it?
A W.I.L.D.E.R.™ Level 1 is the lowest level of economic disruption – local job loss, minor and non-chronic civil . It’s not great if you’re caught up in it, but it’s pretty mild. There may be widespread local job loss – a factory was closed. It’s not pleasant for those caught up in it, but the underlying economy outside of that local area is sound – you may have a longer commute, but you can get a job.
What to do?
Have savings. Have minimal debt. In many cases, you’ll be able to keep doing what you’ve been doing, but you might have a farther commute or reduced wages. The nice thing about a Level 1 is that if you’re willing to move to a new city, chances are you’ll find something.
W.I.L.D.E.R.â„¢ Level 2: Â Regional Slowdown
What is it?
One thing that was more common in the past in the United States was a regional level of economic slowdown. Entire areas would remain stagnant for periods at a time, sometimes years. In the case of New Mexico, no one really knew it was a state anyway, so we’re not even sure if New Mexico has an economy. As we have been in the “Boom Everywhere, All the Time†mode for the last 20 years (with the exception of that pesky Great Recession), the economy of the United States seems to be far less regional, but more centered in larger cities.
But regional economic slowdowns do occur – an example would be in the Oil Patch when the price of oil first goes up, and then collapses like my resistance to a steak on Friday night. The good news is that when the oil price collapses, you can buy a small child in Oklahoma for the price of a cheeseburger. Not a plain cheeseburger, but the fancy one with lettuce and tomato and onion. Oklahomans have standards.
What to do?
Have savings. Have minimal debt. Have a realistic budget and know the difference between what’s really required and what’s nice-to-have. Have a house that you can either sell or walk away from. Be prepared to change careers – have an additional skill that people will pay you for if you have to change careers. Be prepared to sell a kidney – grow an extra one or two if you can for a rainy day.
Philosoraptor.
W.I.L.D.E.R.â„¢ Level 3:Â National Recession
What is it?
Since World War II, most recessions have lasted, on average, a little less than a year. Recessions mean that, broadly, the economy is shrinking. Since the entire economic (and banking) system is based on continued expansion and growth, a recession typically kicks people out of work. During a national recession it’s easier to drive drunk and text Shakespeare from memory while smoking weed than to get a raise.
Even though the economy “recovers†after a year or so, the failures and economic transitions that come from the recession linger in many lives for up to a decade – careers at failed businesses may not be viable anywhere. If the entire factory is shipped to China, chances are slim that the Chinese will want to import people – it’s not like there are enough bats for everyone.
What to do?
If you are graduating from college, think twice. People who graduate during a recession and take a job during the recession typically earn less for their entire careers. Several of my friends went to graduate school instead of into the job market during a recession. It worked out well for one guy – he became a dictator of a country in the Middle East. He’s generous, too. I heard that he last week at the bar he ordered shots for lots of his friends.
If you have a job – do what you can to keep it. Pay down remaining debt, but understand what bankruptcy might mean if you don’t have six months (or more) of cash to cover expenses. Stock weeks of spare food, if you can. If you can’t, start making friends with neighborhood cats.
W.I.L.D.E.R.â„¢ Level 4:Â The Great Depression
What is it?
The Great Depression, and, to a lesser extent, the Great Recession of 2008-2009 and the Stagflation of the 1970’s fit here. These are much greater economic hits than a recession. They are nationwide, and may threaten the economic collapse. Expect extreme measures to get the economy working again, many of which will actually be counterproductive, but it’s government, so you expect that. Banks will fail. Weird things will happen to the money supply.
What to do?
If you have spare cash, this is the time to pick up great bargains. As the Great Recession hit, the price of gold dropped significantly. People who had debt but too many toys had to sell them – it was a great time to buy boats and cars and motorcycles and mistresses and admission for your kid at Harvard®. Several stocks were selling at ridiculously low prices.
Why was this? Money had dried up, so there were bargains everywhere. Of course, I didn’t have enough money then to buy anything. Except a house. Before the prices collapsed. (Spoiler – I got out of that house okay.)
Again, having no debt and cash to cover expenses is key. Having a spouse who doesn’t work (but could) is also key – in a pinch, they can work, too, or you can sell their kidneys for buckets of wheat.
Diversify your banks. Diversify how you keep your money – is one currency enough? Desperate people will be desperate. Be able to protect yourself and your family.
Hey, don’t laugh – I can almost buy two packs of gum in 2024 with the money in that picture.
W.I.L.D.E.R.â„¢ Level 5:Â National Collapse
What is it?
Governing structures cease to function in a meaningful way. This is also known as “Tuesday†in most African nations. Weimar Germany, and the late Soviet Union are examples. They didn’t collapse in the same way – Weimar Germany collapsed in an explosion of hyperinflation. The Soviet Union collapse was the collapse of an entire economic system, and now nobody knew who got to take the cow to the dance on Saturday.
What to do?
When nations collapse, their currency collapses. This always happens. In surviving any of those collapses, a pocketful of gold was more helpful than a pocketful of paper. If the nation collapses, it can be difficult to predict the system that will replace it, but they generally are totalitarian strongmen who take over in the chaos after collapse. The Soviet Union was a happy departure – as rough as it was on the former Soviet citizens, it could have been far worse. Chef Boyardee was originally chosen as Gorbachev’s replacement, but they didn’t like that he called his secret police the Gazpacho.
Six months of food isn’t extravagant in a situation like this. Some means of protection are mandatory. Realize that changes could happen in a second, so plan. Have friends.
W.I.L.D.E.R.â„¢ Level 6:Â Civil War
What is it?
The American Civil War, the French Revolution, and the Balkans War are examples of civil wars. Civil wars are probably more vicious than any other type of conflict. When the Germans started fighting the French and English in World War I, they weren’t really into it – they even stopped the war for Christmas in 1914. But when the French finally snapped before the French Revolution? They were ready to throw down like a rabid epileptic cat in a strobe light store.
What to do?
Moveable assets like gold or foreign bank accounts, a second passport, and lots of lead are preferred. Be in a place (if you can) surrounded by like-minded people. It helps if you’ve been there for years before trouble breaks out – being an outsider during a civil war isn’t preferred. Have food – a year? Have weapons. Have a supply of necessary pharmaceuticals if you can. Be aware that your side might lose the war. What would that mean? Oh, and don’t forget to floss.
W.I.L.D.E.R.â„¢ Level 7:Â International Collapse
What is it?
World War I and World War II are modern examples of this, but earlier examples include the fall of the Roman Empire and the late Bronze Age Collapse (~1200 B.C.) (LINK). These are collapses that take down multiple nations and re-write borders and history. They are cataclysmic, and are often followed by the mass movements of people, either as invading conquerors, or fleeing refugees, or in the 2010’s, fleeing conquerors and invading refugees.
Some things never change. Image: Lommes [CC BY-SA 4.0)]
What to do?
Be away from where the war is happening. That may be more difficult than it says on the label. All of the suggestions for Level 6 responses still fit, especially flossing, but finding a place not torn by conflict is exceedingly difficult. Events have the ability to move very, very, fast. If you’re in continental Europe, learning German is probably a good idea. A year of food will likely not be enough. Lead is recommended. Gold may or may not help at all. If you think it won’t, I’ll watch it for you.
W.I.L.D.E.R.â„¢ Level 8:Â Regional Extinction
What is it?
Regional extinction last occurred when the population collapsed after the Europeans brought disease to the New World. Smallpox, measles, and high cholesterol (eventually) killed an estimated 90% of the pre-Columbus population through either disease or carryover effects. That amounted to, perhaps, 10% of the world population at the time.
What to do?
Don’t eat bats. Don’t welcome Spaniards.
I fell in love with a calendar. Together we had a lot of dates.
W.I.L.D.E.R.â„¢ Level 9:Â Continental or Multi-Continental Extinction
What is it?
This hasn’t happened in recorded history. There are some scientists that theorize that the supervolcano Tomba that erupted 75,000 years ago nearly eliminated humanity. How close? Genetic evidence indicates that it might have been as low as 1,000 breeding pairs of humans. However, some people think those scientists are bunch of cotton headed ninny mugginses, and say that people were just fine – the restriction in genetic variation shows up because some people were MUCH better at propagating their genes, if you know what I mean. Also? Asteroids aren’t your friend.
What to do?Â
Be lucky. Wear clean underwear. You cannot save enough food for this contingency – it may last years and the task will be nothing less than rebuilding civilization. Read Lucifer’s Hammer for a lighthearted look at life after a Level 9.
W.I.L.D.E.R.â„¢ Level 10:Â Planetary Extinction
What is it?
Game over, man.
What to do?
Save money in your 401k, grill some burgers and watch the game. Go back to sleep.
And there’s the W.I.L.D.E.R.™ scale. Drop me an email or leave a comment if I missed something.
