This graph displays a cycle of Feast and Famine. The blue line represents material success and the amount of free time and energy people have. The green and red dots have the same amount of free time and energy.

However, the people at the green dot are coming out of a famine and spend their free time and energy improving their efficiency, which increases their success. While the people at the red dot are coming out of a feast and spend their free time and energy frivolously, wasting time and energy pursing fantasies and vanities, and accelerating their decline. (It is important to note that most survivalists are not improving their efficiency, they are just acting out fantasies.)