Survival to solitude

PSFK notes that a recent uptick in freezer sales indicates growing consumer frugality. The original Consumer Reports story points to rising food prices as a factor. Fuel costs are another obvious piece.

But I’m reminded of a NYT piece of some months ago on the new survivalism - describing a fringe activity shifting toward the mainstream. (Interestingly this ran in the Fashion & Style section.) From the article:

“I think of survivalists as being an extreme case of preparedness,” said Ms. Vontourne, 44, “people who stockpile guns and weapons, anticipating extreme aggression. Whereas what I’m doing, I think of as something responsible people do.

“I now think of storing extra food, water, medicine and gasoline in the same way I think of buying health insurance and putting money in my 401k,” she said. “It just makes sense.”

Freezer-buyers may not be thinking in survival terms exactly, but neither is frugality an end in itself (usually). There are lots of reasons to save money. At the moment I imagine freezers represent not only savings but security. The more you can store the safer you are.

(Or grow for that matter - sustainability is also partly about security.)

And the less you have to go out. Just last month Wired advocated for eliminating physical offices in favor of all telecommuting all the time. (PSFK noted this as well just to give credit.)

So maybe sometime in the near future - depending on how this economic crisis goes - we can look forward to spending much more time hunkered down in our private Fortresses of Solitude. Feeling safe but never lonely thanks to the magic of the Internets.

Okay, it’s a common dystopian vision. But speaking of solitude, is it a choice or trend? After all we’ve got the mysterious rise of autism to think about. And in Japan they’ve got hikikomori. What’s going on with human beings anyway?

Well that went a bit far.

I do wonder how home security system sales are doing?