Second read thoughts.

Resisting temptation to deconstruct point by point and responding with a gestalt to what you wrote. Slightly medicated so more autistic than usual.

Anyone over 60 who is not worried about surviving the next 30 years is an idiot. You are right to worry.

A lot of really bad things are about to happen globally. Historically when things like this have happened the elderly get wiped out.

What happened with Covid makes it perfectly clear what's going to happen to those over 60 in the years to come. We are being thrown into the furnace.

Anyone who thinks that I am being harsh didn't pay attention during the pandemic. Those over 60 were sacrificed in the opening stages of the pandemic and we are being sacrificed now that it's "over".

Wallace-Wells had the latest forecasts on what endemic Covid is going to look like last week. Here's the deal:

Yearly flu deaths for those over 65 (US): 30K-50K

Yearly C-19 deaths for those over 65(US): 100K-150K.

For those under 45 who are vaccinated C-19 will be about as deadly as the flu. Killing roughly 1 in 10,000 who get infected each year.

Covid is over because people under 60 have decided they can live with the risk of infection and Long Covid. They can live with the risk of death for those of us over 65 going up 300-500% each year.

They are OK with those of us over 65 getting winnowed by Covid each year. Because it's just to inconvenient and expensive to keep us alive.

That is where we are at now, after only a few years of "moderate disruption". Do you think it's going to get any better in the years to come?

Particularly as the stress of Global Warming and the Climate Change it causes get worse. Those of us over 65 will become increasingly disposable and nursing homes will become deathtraps.

That being said, I would give you good odds for the next 20 years. You have picked your ground well. You are smart and will mitigate your fire and drought risk. California is rich and has a lot of resources. Things are going to get worse but you are in about as good a spot as you possibly can be.

You are right to worry Lani.

But don’t let worry take over your life.

The Collapse isn’t going to play out that fast.

Last Note: Because you live in Santa Cruz county you might really like the movie “Goodby World” from 2013. So-so movie, lots of Cali locations, interesting take on a quick collapse scenario.