Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

I’ve always thought that the most unproductive time of year is the week between Christmas and New Years. Most folks are still in the holiday mode from Christmas and getting further into it in anticipation of New Years, lots of folks just take the whole week off, and expecting to make major sales or deals during that week is just not gonna happen. So, to me, this is a ‘lost week’. Nonetheless, I’m at the shop doing what needs doing because even if I expect things to be painstakingly slow this week, that means that I can get much done undisturbed.
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Nuke, by the way, made out just fine with a load of dog toys for Festivus. At heart, he’s an animal that loves the snow but so far we haven’t had very much. When we finally do get a foot or two of the stuff I plan on taking him out for a day in it since it tires him out quite nicely.
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I don’t expect 2012 to be any better than the last several years. It’ll be more interesting, for certain, but not much better. Since it’s an election year I expect there to be ’sudden’ and ‘unexpected’ shifts in policy to try and curry favor with the voting population. I suppose you could say that 2012 will have to be better since, by virtue of it being an election year, there’s a chance to get rid of the current administration. Well, yes, there’s the chance to send them packing….but will it make a difference? I don’t think so; not in the short term…perhaps in the long (way long) term it’ll make a difference. I’m not sure there’s anything that either party is willing to do that will change the rather tragic course we seem to be set on.

But, being a sort of optimistic survivalist, I’m hoping that something will happen that will make things better. What that is, I have no idea. Maybe a collapse of the Euro will send nations flocking to the US dollar and create a huge market for US debt while simultaneously strengthening the dollar.

Regardless, 2012 promises to be more of the same – reduce debt, think long term, avoid liabilities, reduce vulnerabilities, plan and prepare for contingencies and somewhere in the midst of all that try to live a somewhat normal life. (Although, for me, my normal operating condition is ‘cautious with an eye towards potential problems’)
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Buddy of mine is buying a generator today. I’m happy for him (I’m always happy when my friends do things that I think are good for them) and a bit jealous (bad, I know). On the bright side, I’ll learn the ins and outs of the Honda EU2000 without actually having to buy one.