....We are pack animals... became tribes, then villages, to regions then countries. We never lost the tribal mentality. If you belong you are one of us, to be cared for, accepted so long as you follow the rules. In rare cases an outsider may be adopted/accepted. Anyone else was chased away or killed....
JAB
Oh so true JAB, just like this forum in a way 😀
As my Grandma always used to say... "Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe" ... Very wise words
Here's an example of telling a few people of your bug out location and then 30 people showing up.
http://internationalpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1065
The subject of social ties is probably the hardest one to deal with in survivalism. I don't think it's as easy as saying, you weren't prepared and you made fun of me, so now you aren't welcome. People will just take. In fact, probably the only way you can say no to someone is if there are a bunch of other people standing behind you willing to provide security.
The subject of social ties is probably the hardest one to deal with in survivalism. I don't think it's as easy as saying, you weren't prepared and you made fun of me, so now you aren't welcome. People will just take. In fact, probably the only way you can say no to someone is if there are a bunch of other people standing behind you willing to provide security.
I disagree. HOLY COW !!!! The way to say no is to have the moral fortitude to stand up yourself.. say no and be willing to enforce it. "They" will only take if you let them. You as an individual will have had to make the hard decisions well before ANYONE comes to your door. In your mind and in your heart you will aready have drawn that line in the sand. If you haven't you are lost before you begin. You may as well just open the door and let them have your stuff, your family and your life.
JAB
One our friends has a cottage up north, I plan to be there 6hrs after the red tide crosses the sky. Will he accept me, I've got a generator and he doesn't, and there is a possibility that he may never get the chance to show up, his brother place is just down the road. My wife, not a prepper, and if the shtf she plans to make love to the bar and what ever pills are handy. Her son, that has lived with us more times than not, Well I have reservations on what he would do. He might be help or a hindrance, on the latter note, depending on what he does, might find himself without. Survival can be brutal, deadly or both. 😐
"We 'Prep.' to live after a downfall, Not just to survive."
Here's an example of telling a few people of your bug out location and then 30 people showing up.
http://internationalpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1065
GFS,
We all want to help our fellow human beings, but there are limits. Even God set limits, to help those who help themselves. This is triage at a level above your family unit. If, and that is a very big if, you have the resources to supply a neighbourhood, village, community or town, then all the power to you - Share. Rawles suggests to "give until it hurts." Even by his standards, he does not suggest providing charity to the point of self-destruction.
Times will be tough, skills and knowledge will be needed to rebuild your community. It does not make sense to sacrifice yourself and your skills and knowledge for the short term survival of those who cannot provide long term survival to those who make it. When the time comes to rebuild the world will need skilled people. People who had the foresight to prepare, probably have the skills needed to rebuild their world. People who could not take the time, energy, or financial suffering to prepare now, really; what use will they be after???
Your friend is your friend, not mine, so I can be very black and white on this. Pitch in and prepare for his future or he is S.O.L. My friends would be welcome at my place as I am welcome at their place, because we to one level or another have prepared. And have been doing so as much as possible since we left high school. If your friend cannot get with the program, even with much education from you, then you may have to cut the cord of this friendship. Or move without tell anyone who is not prepared??
This is a very good topic to discuss now and plan for tomorrow.
Best of luck.
Cheers,
Mountainman.
I hear you mountainman, thank you 🙂 This is as much about mental prepping as the physical, and something we would need to have set in our minds well beforehand.
Evenin' Grace,
Another source you may want to review is "Tappan on Survival" written by the late Mel Tappan. I am about a 1/3 of the way through this work and it has many great ideas and concepts to consider. Including bugout locations and considerations. He calls them a retreat, but different name for the same thing.
You are very correct, mental prep is going to be a very big obstacle for many, in a post-SHTF world. For others, it will be an opportunity to shine and excel.
Cheers,
Mountainman.
I to had a situation like this my wife brought home a friend who wanted to learn about prepping and pretty much said if something did happen she would bring her and her husband and there 3 kids what do you say to that other than like Clint Eastwood said in grand tarino get off my lawn to the Asian gangster with a rifle lol
Preparedness is like a condom , I've rather have it and not need it, rather than need it and not have it
I to had a situation like this my wife brought home a friend who wanted to learn about prepping and pretty much said if something did happen she would bring her and her husband and there 3 kids what do you say to that other than like Clint Eastwood said in grand tarino get off my lawn to the Asian gangster with a rifle lol
Prepper... I mean proper response is.. "You are more than welcome to join us... I've figured out the cost of supplies for one person at $XXX.XX per month. Lets multiply that by the 5 of you. Now how many months do you want to plan for? Great. You can write me a cheque right now and I'll get started on it tomorrow." No pay no play...
JAB
Hey jab what if they show up and want stuff but never helped and they say let me in or ill be back with more people who will take it that's my biggest worry a lot to I have 2 daughters lol and want to keep them safe
Preparedness is like a condom , I've rather have it and not need it, rather than need it and not have it
In any situation you have to decide for yourself what you will do. That response will depend on your regional circumstances...meaning.. is there rule of law or not? If the person has threatened to return with numbers then you have to decide then and there what you are going to do. What are YOUR numbers? Are you prepared to take a life to protect your family? When? What is the line in the sand that you will not allow them to cross? Is it when they are at your door? Your driveway? Your property line? Your street? Have you put up a warning? "Cross this line and I WILL respond with deadly force"? There is NO cut and dried answer to your question. Only you will be able to answer it based on the situation. The problem many will have as I see it will be takiing themselves out of a civilized mentality and expectations to one where you have to make the hard choices...you have to act and perhaps suffer the consequences of your actions. The time to explore and play with that idea is NOW...not after whatever event brings those choices to reality.
JAB
I guess it depends what they have to offer. I would not want my sister's Joe schmo unskilled idiot boyfriend, although he has the strength of youth. I would want my father's friend, who is a very skilled hunter and has a decent selection of weaponry and ammo, although he is aged and has trouble getting around. I would help my neighbour's if I could (Don't have too many, but most are either farmers or hunters, or have big scary dogs 😀 ). Its all about whether or not I could justify keeping them. A hunter can provide and teach, all the idiot can do is lift the carcass, or better yet, scare it off before you even see it.
Although I know I'd get stuck with the idiot anyways. He's an anchor in everyday life, but my sister is, at times, pretty useful, especially now that she's in the Navy and all. I know I probably couldn't take one without the other.
I tried responding to this when it was just posted but I did something wrong and it didn't show up.
This is a huge huge huge question.
I think the answer lies on the other side, in that there is no way of knowing the circumstances in which you must decide whether to turn somebody away or not....
Have they been a lifelong friend, and loyal and trusting and all the good stuff, but have not prepped? You have to let them in because they have proved their loyalty, but maybe not their prepping skills.
The truth is, there is strength in numbers, and if you are the type to be a leader, maybe you will not mix with a bunch of people who have already decided how to approach the SHTF issue before they even talked to you or met you. Maybe you need a bunch of hard working disciples. People who have proved their worth as good hard working people to you but are willing to take leadership from you because you have the land, supplies, animals, etc. etc.
I think we all have the sense to determine what people in our lives are solid and what people are flakes. I think a person's character should determine whether they are accepted into your group rather than their supplies...
Another reason I say this is that supplies run out, tools break, stashes get looted... eventually you may be on the run with these people with only what you can carry on your back. It will be hard work and ingenuity that will save you. If you surround yourself with quick learners no matter what their preparedness level is, you might have the best chance.
I to had a situation like this my wife brought home a friend who wanted to learn about prepping and pretty much said if something did happen she would bring her and her husband and there 3 kids what do you say to that other than like Clint Eastwood said in grand tarino get off my lawn to the Asian gangster with a rifle lol
Prepper... I mean proper response is.. "You are more than welcome to join us... I've figured out the cost of supplies for one person at $XXX.XX per month. Lets multiply that by the 5 of you. Now how many months do you want to plan for? Great. You can write me a cheque right now and I'll get started on it tomorrow." No pay no play...
JAB
Love this answer...I think I will use it the next time "that person" in my life says the same thing about bringing her family over.
I still believe in hidden stashes just in case