Secret Stash?

Go to a good computer store. They do have PC cameras with sensors as well. I think, possibly saw some on sale for about $25 to $45, with the software.

Thanks WildernessReturn. Great name BTW. I wish I could return to the wilderness.

why not I am, it is not as hard as it sounds actually.

spent all day in the bush working on fixing up the camp, falling trees for paths, building and firewood. Did not miss any of the so called modern conveniences. Did not miss any electronics, although used the chainsaw we also used the Ax.

I say nothing to no one, except the ones living under my roof, the rest of my family thinks we are nuts any how, so its all good. but I'm sure they will be on my door step if the shit hits the fan. I actually told them if something happens were they can't stay were they are to come here with all there food and hand tools clothing, forget the rest. So its in there brain even if they are in denial.

Interesting point Beth. Just for arguments sake, might you be better off helping your friends or family IF they come knocking on your door? Could they become problematic for you if they are desperate AND rejected? What if they refused to leave and camped out on your doorstep? What if they broke a window and crawled in?

So much of this website is dedicated to negative aspects. Self-defense, the fall of our civilization, the mass dieoff of those who don't see things our way. What if the trick to getting by and making the transition from now to the future is done by demonstrating leadership, organizing people on a local level? A common theme here is that energy and automation are going bye-bye, so wouldn't extra hands be good for the tremendous work involved with planting every square inch of arable land and defending/policing it be helpful? I would welcome my family as a source of labour as long as they are willing to play by the collective's leadership rules. Despite my best efforts and preps, I now realize that I can't do it alone, and even my small local group don't have what we need.

I'm starting to work on a few additional topics I've neglected until now. If shtf, there is strength in numbers, and in organization. How many of us prep for a "village" constitution, elections, policing, charters, town hall structure, taxation and all the other things. Humanity organizes itself naturally due to the strength and stability they provide, SHTF may tear down the more bloated and inneficient organizational structures, and severly disrupt any others, but the more resilient will likely remain, and new ones will likely form to fill the vacuum.

I'm now thinking what could I do to rally my neighbourhood if SHTF. Think about it, if it comes, your neighbours are there and will need to be dealt with one way or the other. They can become assets, or liabilities, and a little bit of leadership during the peak of the crisis and panic could make all the difference. Police are gone, but we have deputized our own. We use internal labout to rapidly transform all our yards into victory gardens quickly. We share tools and knowledge. We give direction where needed. We organize patrols and communications to protect the neighbourhood. We form a response team to local crises. I'm not saying you gotta open everything and share everything, but I do see advantage to trying to get everyone working together as a team.

Mr. Momo, You Rock!!!

I found this quote that I think is fitting.
"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." Jane Howard.

I always like to start a communication with "Please forgive my humanness. I may make a mistake. I may not express my ideas well enough. If you are confused and what I say doesn't make sense just ask questions and I will do my best to clarify." The English language isn't always easy.

I realize that you can't speak for others but I think you have a good grasp of what makes people tick. Perhaps you can try to explain to me why you think people are so reluctant to do what what is necessary to make this all work, NOW. Do you think it's because they DON'T really believe that the shit's going to hit. Do you think people want to continue to live their private lives until the very last bit and then try to bring the right people on board then? Procrastination or denial, the result will be the same. It'll be too late. It doesn't matter how much food or ammo, or other preparations that have been made, no one can do it all alone or with a select few. You need a lot of people on the same team, and anyone who has played games, (baseball at school comes to mind), should know that the best are always chosen first.
The "US" and "THEM" mentality doesn't work. We have to think as "ONE" to survive.

Mr. Momo, I just spent half an hour typing a response to your last post and somehow it disappeared when I hit submit. Since I'm down to one hand right now, I'm not going to try and redo it.
I will say, great post, I agree 100%.

yes the shift, well if what I,m reading on other sites is the Earth will stop and start turning the other way or any type of thing like that were all pretty much screwed, unless your supper wealthy and have something in place to save your ass. Then your location would have to be a good one as well, or your up in a space craft.
Or not so extreme maybe just global warming with saver weather so we can,t grow food in many places of the world, there is many many different ideas of what if any thing will happen. So you do what you can, my personal motto is don,t get your shirt in a knot over it. You know the best laid plans and all.
If worse case occurrences and I,m steel standing I would different hook up with people for a community survival. And as far as family and friends showing up, they would be my bitches because they no nothing about growing food or saving seeds or putting by food except my sister-in law. I don't even think any of them have fired a gun in there life, but i,m sure they would step up to the plate and be ready for any thing.
Theses things I would drop out of my vocabulary if what we know now is gone and just play it by ear, the human nature can under extreme pressure come up with innovating ideas.
"constitution, elections, policing, charters, town hall structure, taxation "

Theses things I would drop out of my vocabulary if what we know now is gone and just play it by ear, the human nature can under extreme pressure come up with innovating ideas. "constitution, elections, policing, charters, town hall structure, taxation "

Fair enough, but I disagree. Constitution, elections, policing, taxation and structure were invented to address the very real problems any group will have. 10,000 years ago it was tyranny of a tribal chieftain. 2000 years ago it was kings of city states, today it is the bureaucracy and we are witnessing it turning into a fascist kleptocracy. Tomorrow who knows?

What are you going to do when you catch one from your own community stealing or worse? Who decides the punishment? What do you do if other disagree? Who will carry out the sentence? Who will stop working their fields, to police your community? What will you pay them with? How will you trade with other communities for things you can't do on your own? Civilization will always rebuild itself in some fashion.

The communities that will prosper in the short term will be the most resilient. In the long run it will be the most balanced, fair and organized and efficient. If you have discontent in your community, your best and brightest may be tempted to move to a better community. Will you stop them?

One of the things we didn't put a lot of discussion into for our group, was a "constitution" as such. One of the things we did discuss was that because, in the beginning, every aspect of our survival will be of concern to everybody else, then we all share every job. Everyone will help in the garden, building shelters, defence, food storage and preparation, etc. Eventually people will find a niche that will benefit the group. No one will be arbitrarily assigned to a job unless that person is the only one who do can it properely. As for rules and punishments, that would have to be decided by tribunal. As it is, for the most part common decency and a code of honour will dictate. We have agreed though, that any crime which could be considered a capitol offence will be dealt with harshly. We can't afford to have anyone in the group who can't be trusted or is to be feared. One thing is certain, none of us plans to bring along a law library. Anyone who proves to be a detriment to the community may be asked to leave and those who choose to leave for their own reasons won't be prevented. It's to be a community, not a prison camp. Yes, there will be growing pains but there always is.

Mr. Momo & tazweiss do you know how long has this site has been up & do you know how many people have met to go over any of this in person? My belief is that if we are participating in this blog it's not just for the information, that's easy enough to acquire on our own, but it's more a case that we don't have the support systems necessary in our personal lives. I stopped talking to people about prepping because they think it's a fatalistic approach to life. My daughter bought her kids, yes my grandchildren a bunch of useless junk for xmas. I mean really, you can't eat a lava lamp. My 10 yo granddaughter got a cell phone. My values are totally different and there is no way I can convince my daughter that she is not only wasting her money on crap but also jeopardizing the future of the kids.
I love quoting people who think. "Material goods to Americans is like alcohol to a drunk. In both cases losing the craving is a benefit." Mike Oehler, he wrote The $50 and Up Underground Housing.
My gawd I wish there was spell check on this site, or is there and I have missed it?

I feel like a bit of a knob. I just found the "Prepper Group" thread. It's all been said before. Sorry guys.

You're right Ruffinit. Many of us don't get enough support from others. I do know that for myself there are those who I don't dare talk to about prepping. All the same I know how important it is for them to have the information. There are members of my family who look at preppers as nut cases. Most of the people I consider friends have the same atitude. The first 2 people I approached a couple of years ago, I have known for over 30 years. I only dared approached them because they expressed an interest first, even then I was nervous. The members of my group don't talk about it to anyone because even though they believe, they know the opinion of the general public.
But we carry on.

Alone, not by choice.

I sympathize. Even today talking to my WIFE about our RRSPs, she said "I don't want to talk about that you're too doom and gloomy". She would rather a whole big lie, than aeven a small truth if unpleasant. I think most people are like this. Sometimes I get cynical and assume they want to hold onto the status quo as long as they can because once folks really realize how much trouble were in, prepping becomes more difficult. Personally I think as soon as people can have a mature conversation about real risks the sooner we can adress the challenges of the future. I'm worried when no one is talking about the future. Reminds me of the quote from the Matrix

"The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it."

So my goal is not to openly go door to door to my neighbours telling them to prep for the apocalypse. But I will start working into my plan what can I do, and how can I prep so that if my neighbours do become desperate and are forced to acknowledge that things aren't going to be what they expected, that we can build a community ourselves to deal with problems that our existing system can't. I can't catch them all if they fall, but I can try and grab a few on the way down. You never know, I may have more preppers in my neighbourhood than we hoped. We are getting pretty mainstream these days.