It has been 25 years since the collapse of the United States following a stolen election and subsequent economic collapse. For the first 10 years after the collapse, the U.S. plunged into chaos, with the federal government falling apart and local militias forming to fend off any potential invasions, particularly from BRICS nations. However, the U.S. Navy remained strong, and despite global destabilization, BRICS countries did not invade due to their own internal strife. As the U.S. began to rebuild over the last 15 years, it transformed into a series of localized communities governed by militias and regional leaders, each focused on self-sufficiency and defense. Now, with world war looming as BRICS nations continue to destabilize, the threat of global conflict remains high. Life in this new world is difficult, but a semblance of normalcy has started to return for the people who grew up in the aftermath of the collapse.
A Day in the Life: 25 Years After the Collapse
For someone who is 18 in this post-collapse world, life is vastly different from what it was before the collapse of the United States. Born during the early years of societal breakdown, they’ve grown up in a world where survival and resourcefulness are central to everyday existence. Their entire life has been spent in a world where local militias provide safety, where the necessities of life—food, water, power—are scarce and must be carefully managed. Life for them is not one of leisure or security but of constant vigilance and hard work.
Morning Routine: Survival First
Each day begins with the essentials. The first priority for most people is securing water and food. With public utilities no longer reliably functioning, clean water is a valuable resource. Many communities have re-established local wells or rely on rainwater collection systems that must be regularly maintained. For someone living in a small, localized community, part of the morning might involve drawing water from community reservoirs or heading to a river with filtration equipment. Learning how to properly filter and conserve water is a skill ingrained in them from childhood.
Food is equally scarce. The 18-year-old likely participates in small-scale farming or bartering within their community. Gardens and local crops are staples of everyday life, and people are expected to contribute to community food production, whether by working in fields, tending to livestock, or foraging for edible plants. Breakfast might consist of simple, homegrown meals like dried meats, root vegetables, or fruits gathered from local trees—luxuries like processed foods have long disappeared.
Midday: Working in a Decentralized Society
Work is physically demanding and essential to survival. With the breakdown of large-scale industries, everything is more localized. For a teenager, this might mean apprenticing in essential trades like carpentry, blacksmithing, or mechanics. Many communities have managed to salvage old technology and create a hybrid system where rudimentary machines and tools are still used, but everything is far more labor-intensive than before. For example, someone might be tasked with repairing farming equipment or working on solar panels scavenged from the pre-collapse world to generate what little electricity the community can muster.
Education, while not a priority during the early years of the collapse, has been re-established in many areas, but it is informal and heavily focused on survival skills. Teens learn trades, practical skills like first aid and self-defense, and some basic sciences. Military readiness is also a significant part of their lives. Local militias require constant drills, weapons maintenance, and tactical training for young people, as the looming threat of invasion or conflict remains ever-present.
Afternoon: Defending the Community
In a world where centralized law enforcement and military protection no longer exist, the defense of a community falls to the people. The 18-year-old would be expected to participate in local militia duties. This might involve patrolling the perimeter of their town or helping maintain defenses—walls built from scrap material, rudimentary surveillance systems, or even natural barriers like rivers or forests.
Weapons are a mix of pre-collapse firearms and makeshift weapons. Ammunition is scarce, so firearm training includes a focus on marksmanship and conservation of bullets. Most people also become proficient with bows, crossbows, and other ranged weapons that can be reused. Hand-to-hand combat training is common, and young adults are taught tactics that allow small militias to repel larger forces.
Evening: Bartering and Community Life
With no formal economy, bartering is the main form of commerce. The community functions on a system of trade, where goods like food, water, tools, and clothing are exchanged. The 18-year-old may spend the evening bartering any surplus their family has, whether it’s dried meat, tools they’ve repaired, or handmade goods like clothing.
Evenings are often spent around communal fires, where elders and militia leaders discuss the state of the world and local issues. Information about the outside world is scarce, but scouts and travelers sometimes bring news of conflicts, resources, or developments from neighboring communities. People are generally wary of outsiders, but some communities have formed alliances for trade, defense, or mutual support.
Current State of Essentials: Food, Water, Medicine
Food: Small-scale farming is the lifeblood of most communities. Crops that are easy to grow and store—such as potatoes, corn, beans, and squash—are the staples of the diet. Livestock like chickens and goats are common for producing eggs, milk, and meat. Most meals are simple and repetitive, with little in the way of luxuries or variety. There is little to no processed food, and scavenging for canned goods from the pre-collapse era is now nearly impossible.
Water: Clean water is a daily concern. While most communities have established basic filtration systems, these can break down, and access to clean water may be intermittent. People often rely on rainwater collection, natural springs, or wells, but maintaining these systems is crucial. Waterborne illnesses are a constant threat, so proper filtration and boiling of water are ingrained habits.
Medicine: The healthcare system has devolved into a patchwork of local healers, herbal remedies, and scavenged medical supplies. Basic medicines like antibiotics and pain relievers are scarce, and their use is rationed. Most communities have a small stockpile of pre-collapse medications, but once they run out, they can’t be replaced. People rely heavily on herbal remedies, and basic medical knowledge is widespread. Infections and diseases that were easily treatable before the collapse can now be life-threatening.
A World on the Brink of War
As the 18-year-old grows up, they are constantly reminded of the fragility of their world. Although the U.S. has started to rebuild, it’s a patchwork of autonomous communities with little centralized governance. BRICS nations, once thought to be a looming threat, have also collapsed, but tensions continue to rise as global conflict seems inevitable. Militias prepare not only for local defense but for the possibility of a broader war breaking out, one that could involve whatever remains of the once-great powers.
The future remains uncertain, and for someone who has only known this world of scarcity and vigilance, survival skills and adaptability are more important than ever. Life is hard, but there is hope in the resilience of the people who have endured and rebuilt after the fall.
