Damn, did I ever kick the skunk on this one. 😈

Damn, did I ever kick the skunk on this one. 😈

NO>>>

I think you brought up a touchy though very important issue. Perhaps you have helped raise awareness on a subject that others are worried of brining up. I would imagine a lot are in a similar boat, since this is a throw away society, not a fix it society anymore. Most Preppers/Self Reliant/Survivalists I have found to be in the smaller category of the fix it and help it mentality. When we are married to the enemy, sleep in the same house (most times, not even in the same bed) issues are compounded, complicated, touchy, sensitive and emotional.

In the military we are taught it is ok to withdraw to fight another day, in certain circumstances. (lots of other scenarios as well)
Pick your battles, pick the battlefield, pick your allies, grow and learn.

I guess I chose a combination of #1 and #2 for my own reasons as well. My wife is definitely on board with prepping as far as bugging in is concerned. We share views on food and water storage, alternative energy for extended power outages and who we will go out of our way to help. Her 2 sons however, ages 12 and 15, don't really give a hoot. The 15 year old is capable and sometimes willing to help out around the house and I believe would do his part post SHTF. The younger one would probably just bitch and moan about having no TV or video games or internet. Does that mean we leave him behind? No! He is still at an age where he cannot really help out with heavy work, but would probably help with what he could do, even if he bitched and moaned all the way. On the other hand, a 35 year old still living at home, probably has no gumption to help himself and is likely expecting to be taken care of...a definite hinderance in a SHTF situation. It may be wise to leave him behind for the safety and security of you and the others you are on board with. If he resists going with you in the first place, don't argue. Give him a few days worth of food and let him wait for the government prison....er refugee camp to be set up. As for the wife in high spirits, or dowsed in spirits, I think her reaction would be caused more by the stress of the situation rather than her views on prepping. Sure, she won't be much help packing up, but when whatever is happening wipes out your home, she will be glad you brought her.

Sometimes we have to prep for those loved ones who just can't handle the stress of the situation. For those who refuses to take part even when the sky is falling on their heads, well...

A coherent grandparent could be a wealth of information, if TSHTF. Not as much as, GP of 50 years ago, but still valued. Information of past ways, tend to pass away, with the occupants of the time.

Damn, did I ever kick the skunk on this one. 😈

I think that it was a great question. I too have to ask myself the same thing about my step kids. I love my step daughter to bits but I would prefer to never see her twin brother again. So if I have a "safe" location do I tell my step daughter knowing full well she would bring her brother.

If you want to know, I read a story once about a rich guy who had a UG shelter, an alcoholic wife, a lazy ass of a son and a servant. Well the time came, and they had to go down into the shelter. The son tried to throw his weight around, the father pulled out a gun and said to him,
"Son, you have three choices, 1) Do as I say, when I say it. 2) You can leave. 3) I will pull the trigger and toss you worthless carcass out.”
The alternative, in any situation, that I can perceive would be to have the rule, “ You don’t work, You don’t eat!” and if need be, back it up with a gun. Am I cold, most likely, do I have a narrow minded way of how things should go, probably, would I be able to do the things I’ve said, I hope to never have the chance to find out.

Not cold ranger2012, realistic!

This is a interesting question and I do understand some of the other points of view, (thank you for taking the time to share them guys), it is a very hard subject, and I come in personally somewhere between #1 and #2 myself, as my DH believes in a slow decline and has a very hard time with the idea that it could all go south (other then with disease or solarflare), and I think or almost expect that he would have a few min to a few hours of just "freeze" as he tried to come to terms with it, I would not leave him behind, even if I had to hit him over the head, hog tie him and load up, I would get him with me, until he had the time required to deal and get with it, I trust that he would do the same for me..

Having said that, there are two families that I would very much like to help if push come shove, and one family are themselves preppers, and I am sure they would come along, but if I needed to push/pull or drag, I would.. but the other family, I want to help and would in terms of someways, but they would be a much harder choice, I think if they chose to sit and not come, I would leave some things and let them sit in place, I think I would grieve over the choice but there has to be a line somewhere in your mind on just how far you would go for each person or family on that list of family and friends.

As for my step-sister/brother/families, the answer is a flat out no, I would not be helping them, now my own brothers, plus familes, its a flat out yes! Parents are hard because they would not make it past 7 to 30 days without the proper meds..

Farmgal of the points that you have mentioned is very poignant. First I would have to say to like you I believe that family comes first but there has to be limitations. Does that mean that you are storing food, water and supplies for all those that you want to help? If so you already have a good plan. I hope the worst never comes but if it does or even anything approaching it will mean some very tough choices for all of us.

Now you mention your parents and dependency on medication. That seems to be a recurring theme through many posts on this site. It is very difficult if not impossible to create a store medication for difficult times. Many medications are so controlled that the pharmacy will hardly ever supply you with more than one month's supply except in rare cases. Also some medications do not store well. It is a dilemma to which there is no simple answer. A long term approach might be to move towards getting off some of the medications. It can be done and I know people who have been successful at this. However is very unlikely that any doctor would ever suggest this route. Doctors prescribe pills for a number of reasons but rarely to "cure" the underlying problem that has caused the condition. As time goes on medication lists tend to lengthen. Personally I do not feel that this is a good thing. I am not into herbal medicines and know little to nothing about them but if push came to shove I am sure that there is a herbal remedy that would suffice to augment someone's medication list.

Wow, I just think I added herbal medicines to my list! Anyway all that being said I am somewhat old school. My parents have been gone for a long time but if they were alive I would be taking them no matter what shape they were in.

I split some posts out of a topic that did not apply to the subject and merged into the extended family topic, where it seems to belong better...then moved from the Alberta forum into the global forum. Sorry for the confusion, but trying to get some organization here. There will be many more changes to come.

Farmgal of the points that you have mentioned is very poignant. First I would have to say to like you I believe that family comes first but there has to be limitations. Does that mean that you are storing food, water and supplies for all those that you want to help? If so you already have a good plan. I hope the worst never comes but if it does or even anything approaching it will mean some very tough choices for all of us.

Hi, Yes, it does mean that I am growing, storing and planning for at least three families at this time, but I don't think it likely that any of them would be my two brothers, I live in ontario, they live in alberta, given that big brother has a full done hunting camp (idea bugout location) plus is as well set up in many way as I am, the odds are not good that we will see each other, baby brother is in real trouble, unless he can get to one of Big Brothers places, or Dad's farm.

I am in one of those strange spots of having a number of extra things done on the farm, if we got burned out, etc, it would be much more difficult of course and I would need to make sure every inch of my place was producing, and use a number of wild food forest spots that I am working on seeding etc but I am comfortable at the idea of my land/supplies being good for 3 families plus 2 extra adults.

Well farmgal I would say you have a plan! Not only are you preparing for yourself but others too. At the same time you are realistic. Your plan includes a group and you are well on the way to sustainability. I assume that you have at this for some time. Many will be envious of your current position but given time and with your guidance everyone can reach the same goal. Keep up the good work!

Has anyone thought about all the people who live in senior lodges when they retire (even at age 55), they count on the lodge to supply all of their food/beverages, water...etc...I can not even imagine the crisis that will happen if SHTF ...so many people are totally supported by the people who run their residence...scary

Has anyone thought about all the people who live in senior lodges when they retire (even at age 55), they count on the lodge to supply all of their food/beverages, water...etc...I can not even imagine the crisis that will happen if SHTF ...so many people are totally supported by the people who run their residence...scary

I never considered that 🙁

I have thought of that, and my thoughts do not bawd well for them. Think in the terms of H. Katrina, a good half of the emergency services disappeared. Many hospital were abandoned with patient still in them, how many retirement home abandoned also, and then looted by drugies. A SHTF scenario is a prime time when even the most timid resorts to looting, food, clothes, drug stores and gun shops. Except for the guns, a retirement home is prime pickings, UNLESS, someone in there has their shit together, and barricades the main core areas, Pharmacy, kitchen and generator. You would be surprised what a fool like my self could devise for defense. But, typically the first casualties are the infirm and the infants.