"On Your Own"

I was on a chat where the problem of how to get by if you woke up as the only likely person still on the planet. Well they may be others, but survivors are widely separated. Say out of the current 7 Billions of folks you wake up on an earth with 6 thousand. This scattered all over the globe.

Well first things first. Where do they keep the antibiotics in drug stores? Also how do I get fresh water for the rest of my life. This is the sort of stuff a person would be working on. This assuming that Zombies or crazed bikers gangs don't also survive close by, and show up to ruin your day.

Water would be easy at first as the water system will run for some time. At least till the pumps, and power lasts. If you're in a region with hydroelectric you're good for a few years. Most other places only a few weeks to a month.

One must learn to think long term,...very long term. Your life depends on it. This is why so-called primitive folks tend to do this. End of the quarter thinking in this environment will be very fatal. So very long term planning if one wants to go on. However,...

Profound mourning, grievous loss would be a big part of your empty world. At least at first. If one learns to live with this lonely reality the practicalities will assert itself. A safe place to live. Did the wildlife come through the event. If so you'll need to learn to hunt some. Eventually protection from them. Canned or dried food is only good for at most five years. You'll have to be a farmer/hunter. If you're an urbanite you'll have to learn these skills. This can be done with experience, and reading. Life in the city will be too dangerous in a year or less. Find a cabin. Good drainage a field of fire...just in case. Tools seeds a root cellar all the preindustrial basics will have to be done. If you've had a basic education, and paid attention you'll know what books you need for this.

I think a very young person of the 21st century may not make it past two or three years. They wouldn't even know what questions to ask. They'll die of infection or food poisoning. Perhaps even a predator attack. I'd say the best survivor would be in their mid 20's to their early 50's. Before or after that it gets seriously dicey. So food water shelter. Btw the commercial seeds will start to go bad certainly within six to ten years. This is why a medium plot farm will be your savior. You'll need to harvest not just the crops, but their seeds, and have a surplus of a year perhaps two of dried veggies or fruit.

Prepare for storms or other natural disasters that could wipe your homestead out. again take care where you decide to settle. You'll learn that a flood plain is called that for a reason. Be near a stream not a  river. These flood. Fish will be a major calorie source. Do art. paint draw write sing dance this will keep you both sane, and physically healthy. Me I would do one man portrayals of the classics, as well as commercials...this especially from the 1950's. This would amuse, and center one's sanity. Remember you are alone in this world. Except for your cats, and hunting dogs.

Our survivor might go exploring from time to time. Maybe going to towns for new tools or perhaps items to amuse. He may have a classic Land Rover he keeps up for this. This is what I'd have. A good four wheel drive all terrain ride. This could last for some years. After the gasoline no longer clicks. A Rover can use other mixtures...so I've read.

Although one would have to know where you were, and how to get back to your homestead if you broke down. Remember there is 'no one else'. Only 'you' can save you. How long one lives will be the same as with our ancestors...dumb luck, and your hard work. If the survivor was say 26 at the time of the Event. We'll again with "luck' he or she could live into their 50's certainly...that is if they wanted to. 

A possible reason to go on would be company.

12 years into this farming hunting gathering performing artistic life perhaps a change. A hunter gatherer group might pass through the area. This unlike in the films, and books would be a pleasant encounter. You'll trade laugh fuck, and they'll move on. Though now they know you're there, and they come back a few times a year as their journeys take them through the region.

In time others might show up. Same thing laugh perform some plays for them trade fuck, and they move on. One day some of these bands come back with your sons or daughters. I can see an annual solstice meeting of clans developing as your children, and grandchildren return to your homestead for the festival. I can see myself taking my extended distant families around the farm in my aged Land Rover. The little ones amazed having never seen a car actually running.
So humanity at least in the first post Event generations live in peace. In the future villages towns city states.

Though this time we might get it right.