Survivalists
So I'm reading another post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel. Earth is ravenged by plagues (not an unlikely scenario, even if they aren't of alien origin). Main characters survive by holing it up in the woods and waiting out the worst of it. Later they come out and return to what's left of society. No Mad Max vigilante episode in this story. Point is, I wonder when faced with such a situation, if there really is much to gain by hitting the hills, or if 'tis nobler to stick it out and help some civil structure remain through the disaster. Makes a better adventure, running for the caves, with your jerky and guns. But it's probably an unproductive response. And there's so little wilderness left to support a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, even if the population is decimated. How many of your neighbors are also running for the National Forest? These are the kinds of ideas good sci fi serves to tickle in the mind.