Energy and Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet, 2021a

20 Adaptation Strategies 346
Try modes of living that are less cushy than normal, even if temporarily.
A week-long backpacking trip is a great way to feel like a part of nature,
<strong>and</strong> come to underst<strong>and</strong> that some level of discomfort or hardship is
tolerable—or even confidence-building. 66 The first few days may be
a difficult adjustment, but it is surprising how well <strong>and</strong> how quickly
adaptation can happen—given time, decent weather, <strong>and</strong> a constructive
attitude. After doing this a few times, minor inconveniences or discomforts
that arise might be met with far greater grace. The person who
remains stable in the face of adversity will be more resilient than many
of their peers, <strong>and</strong> can help others hold things together in crisis.
66: Ideally, start small on a one- or twonight
trip, <strong>and</strong> accompany someone experienced
at backpacking to learn how to avoid
rookie mistakes that could turn you off of
the activity forever.
Keep in mind that humans evolved outdoors, dealt with seasons, <strong>and</strong>
often went many days without food. When did we become so fragile that
we need to live within a narrow temperature range to be comfortable,
<strong>and</strong> lose our heads if we don’t get three square meals a day? What
would our ancestors think of us? By learning to toughen up, the future—
whatever way it goes—will have less power over us. We can strive to
be less vulnerable <strong>and</strong> at the mercy of events beyond our control. We
will have some agency to cope <strong>and</strong> help others cope with any variety of
outcomes. Just by having some confidence in our ability to deal with a
bit of adversity or discomfort will allow us to keep cooler heads <strong>and</strong> be
able to recognize important opportunities if <strong>and</strong> when they come along,
rather then being paralyzed by distress.
Hopefully, such preparedness will never be truly needed. And how bad
would it be if we “built some character” along the way for no reason.
20.6 Upshot on Strategies
No one can know what fate awaits us, or control the timing of whatever
unfolds. But individuals can take matters into their own h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> adopt
practices that are more likely to be compatible with a future defined
by reduced resource availability. We can learn to communicate future
concerns constructively, without being required to paint an artificial
picture of hope. 67 Our actions <strong>and</strong> choices, even if not showcased, can
serve as inspiration for others—or at least can be personally rewarding as
an impactful adventure. Quantitative assessment of energy <strong>and</strong> resource
dem<strong>and</strong>s empowers individuals to make personal choices carrying large
impacts. Reductions of factors of 2 <strong>and</strong> 3 <strong>and</strong> 4 are not out of reach.
Maybe the world does not need 18 TW to be happy. Maybe we don’t have
to work so hard to maintain a peaceful <strong>and</strong> rewarding lifestyle once
growth is not the driver. Maybe we can re-learn how to adapt to the
seasons <strong>and</strong> be fulfilled by a more intimate connection with nature. The
value of psychological preparedness should not underestimated. By
staring unblinking into the abyss, we are ready to cope with disruption,
should it come. And if it never does in our lifetimes, what loss do we
67: The hope lies in how we react to the
challenges, not necessarily in eliminating,
conquering, or denying them.
© 2021 T. W. Murphy, Jr.; Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Lic.;
Freely available at: https://escholarship.org/uc/energy_ambitions.