Imagine, after years of preparing, you find yourself in the middle of an SHTF situation. You are resting easily because you and your family have food, water, and supplies to see yourselves to the other side of the catastrophe.
The problem is, what do you do about the people around you that have not bothered to prepare? Should you be a good neighbor and share your supplies? Or be a good prepper, exercise robust operational security (OPSEC), and keep your preps hidden?
This is a serious question we must all consider and have an answer for before we are faced with hungry and desperate families knocking at the door.
Related: How To Deal With Neighbors And Friends That Come Begging For Food At Your Door In A Crisis
As with most questions like these, there is no clear-cut answer, and how you prepare to deal with this scenario will be very personal.
Being A Good Prepper But A Bad Neighbor
When you spend a great deal of time, energy, and money preparing for emergencies, there is nothing wrong with keeping these supplies for your family and not sharing them with others.
If this is the route you decide to go, you must keep all your preparations a secret because once starving and desperate neighbors discover that you’ve been holding out on them, they will likely respond violently.
Being A Good Prepper And A Good Neighbor
I firmly believe that part of preparedness is to be ready to assist others in addition to ourselves. There are a few ways we can implement being a good neighbor into our preparedness.
Exercise Robust OPSEC
If your neighbors know the true extent of your preps, their incentive to prepare for emergencies is much lower.
It is ok to let your neighbors know that you are a prepper but instead of telling them that you are prepared for months or years, tell them that you are preparing for three days or a week.
⇒ This Hidden Survival Garden Will Keep You Well Fed When SHTF
This way, your neighbors will be less likely to try and entice you to part with your food and water. However, if they know you have many months of supplies, they will be more inclined to come asking for help.
Help Your Neighbors Before SHTF
The best way to be a good neighbor after SHTF is to be a good neighbor well before SHTF. This is as simple as getting to know the families around you and introducing them to simple measures they can take to prepare for emergencies.
For example, if you live in an earthquake zone, you can talk to your neighbors about getting together a 72-hour kit.
If you live in an area prone to wildfires or flooding, talking to them about bugout bags and evacuation plans will get them thinking about taking steps to prepare themselves.
The critical aspect is to keep it simple and help them to understand that they can start with small, easily attainable steps which will lead them on a path to preparedness.
Seek Out Like-Minded Neighbors
It is possible that you may have neighbors who are preppers or preparedness-minded.
In this case, it is still important to exercise good OPSEC, but since they are like-minded, you can pool resources with them and join forces.
Getting together with like-minded neighbors can also encourage the less prepared in your community to gather supplies and become better prepared.
Once you have a couple of families on board with the concept of being ready for emergencies, you will have some mutual support after SHTF, which will benefit the entire neighborhood.
Find Services Which You Can Provide After SHTF
There are ways that you can help your neighbors without violating your OPSEC and creating problems for yourselves. Think of the skills you have that would be invaluable after SHTF and make the necessary preparations to provide these skills for those around you.
For example, suppose you are a ham radio operator. In that case, you can provide communication services for your neighbors who will be desperate to communicate with loved ones and be starving for information about the situation outside the immediate area.
Related: How to Use a Ham Radio When SHTF (With Pictures)
If you have advanced medical training, you could prepare an adequate stockpile of medical supplies to render aid to those around you.
If you have a backup power source, you can provide the ability for people to charge phones, devices, or batteries.
Or, if you have a generator, you could allow your neighbors to use it for a few hours a day to keep their freezers and refrigerators cold. You could provide this service for free or ask for a donation of gas to run the generator.
If you have a trades background or have a lot of DIY skills, you can use them to help people repair damage or set up DIY off-grid survival projects to assist them in securing the necessities.
⇒ Click Here For 70+ Ingenious Projects For Off Grid Survival
If you work in childcare or education, you could provide classes or activities for the children in the neighborhood.
Set Aside Supplies To Distribute After SHTF
One thing we can all do is to keep some supplies on hand to distribute to people in need after SHTF. I like to keep several flats of bottled water on hand to hand out after SHTF.
Regarding food supplies, you should make a realistic assessment of how much you could give away without risking your family’s food security.
Other items such as batteries, medical supplies, blankets, fuel, flashlights or headlamps, firewood, etc. can be stockpiled in such a way that you have extra on hand to give to those around you in need.
Related: 7 Prepping Items To Look For At The Amish Store
Have A Set Criteria
Regardless of how generous you are, you can not help everyone. When your neighbors are in need, you will have to develop a set of criteria to determine who gets your supplies and who you will turn away.
If your plan is to help as many people as possible, maintaining a strict set of criteria that must be met before you hand out aid is essential.
With this, you will also need a plan for dealing with those who will not take no for an answer. You will need to carefully consider what actions you will take because the consequences will rest on your shoulders alone.
Whether or not you plan on helping those around you after SHTF is a personal decision and one that can not be taken lightly. Developing a plan for this is also a critical element of prepping; the real issue is that there is no one size fits all solution and no right or wrong answers.
Good. One about us.
Who is your neighbor.?
The Bible says to Love your Neighbor.
Is that the neighbor that will not help anyone around you OR is your neighbor someone that is always waving and saying hello and helping you, at any time, day or night and they don’t even live next door to you.
Which is good in this scenario. not knowing your neighbor or knowing your neighbor.
Me, I try to not know anyone around me, where I live. I “do not trust anyone” at first. I will know ASAP if you are a good person or not. But I still will not become friends with my neighbors.
Not that I won’t help them, if it was needed, I just will not build a relationship with them. I will help those that need it, but with, “Great caution”, you still do not know that person well enough to hope that they will not tell anyone about what you have told them thru the years of knowing them.
Remember, who is your neighbor. I say the one that will help you and never ask for nothing in return.
That to me, is your neighbor, not the person next door to you.
Yeah the bible sez to lve ur neighbor but we have some that make it very difficult ! U ever hear bout the neighbor from hell? Well they are here in e.Tn. Coalfield Tn to be exact!!!
You make a very good point. I have lived in the same community/neighborhood for 21 years. During this time, I have had fuel stolen from me; my farm tractor siphoned; numerous tools stolen; even my driveway gate broken. I hate to what it will be like when the SHTF for real.
Well my neighbor’s are former retired strippers who now spend most of there days investing building a patio set and indoor pool.
Red Ant you said it right. Knowing what neighbors that help in Normal Times is important.
But too many of us are afraid to meet our neighbors, live somewhere for years and might not even know the names and faces of their neighbors.
We’re the “Lone Wolves” or the “Sheep Dogs” blah, blah, blah.
Thus, the power we give away to “Community Organizers” which has become the byword for socialist democrats.
Being a good neighbor is what grants trust when things get weird, and your leadership is needed.
Are you a good neighbor or that wacko down the street that nobody cares if they get burned out for being a hoarder.
Michael
You might say, yes that most are afraid to meet their neighbors. I have met some people that I will say that they were my neighbor a sometime in my life, BUT they were Far and Fue between.
I see nothing wrong with the Lone Wolf. Been there most of my life, even when I am with people.
I just see the wrong in so many people, day after day, on TV at the store or just out on the road. Seems no one gives a crap anymore, we are at the End Time for sure, we still do not know when that time will start. We just have to be ready for anything at any time day or night.
Remember when all this takes place and the world starts to crumble, just remember TRUST only those that you can truly trust, because the deception that will be taking place at that time could cost you, your life. Even by those, you truly trusted.
lone wolf and or sheep dog are two different things all together, Lone wolf is just one that has lost the pack mentality, but can come back to the pack, only thru the pecking order. BUT a sheep dog is born a Guard dog that will give its life to defend what if fills it needs to at that time.
I do find myself being looked at as a leader to some when needed. but I also stay as grey as I can.
AND yes, I find myself to be a good neighbor when needed. but to stay as grey as needed.
yes, we need people around us; we are made that way. but there are times when you just are dealt a crappy hand and you learn to just live with it.
Be a good neighbor and or a good person, we need it more, than ever before.
SINCERELY hope nobody follows some of this totally BS advice – it’s a definite formula to your SHTF demise – can’t believe someone that considers him/herself a prepper would be breaking their OPSEC thinking it’s proper prepping ….
admit to everyone you’re a prepper – but only a FEMA 72 Hour variety with no real preps or knowledge >> HAS TO BE the most gullible idiotic advice that I’ve ever read on a prepper site …..
Mr. Major – should have kept this one to yourself !!!!!
Dude when do you plan to sleep? You need trusted neighbors.
This was one of Major’s better articles. But then again in often winter storm NE I have several trusted neighbors that work together most winters helping each other with generators and snowplows. Most of us help each other with gardens and babysitting our farm animals.
guy – that’s your excuse for such BS poor advice?
running around admitting to anyone that will listen that you’re a PREPPER? >>>> Do you have the SLIGHTEST idea of the stigmatism attached to that claim?
not to mention the very good possibility of self-targeting yourself for crime – even the dumbest thug associates preppers to guns, $$$$, gold/silver, tools, outdoor gear, and all the other cool toys ….
Why rely on word of mouth around town to kill yourself – use the internet to broadcast your personal stupidity – Facebook now requires real names for eazty pillaging ….
Also if you are thriving while others around you are struggling, that’s a dead giveaway. If you never leave your place, people will figure out you’re all set up. So to fit in, you go out and do things to appear like you are in need, just for show… I don’t know, offering goods or services in barter, or foraging, etc. The thing is, in public, if you have been eating, others will be able to tell. So cooperation (offering something in collaboration) may be a good strategy to keep your larger preps hidden. I consider it part of OPSEC.
Country neighbors are DIFFERENT than CITY NEIGHBORS. City neighbors have overwhelmingly been backstabbing, gossiping, HOA reporting types, who contribute nothing but judgey attitudes seeking to control others. Few have any legitimate skills to share…that has been MY EXPERIENCE…NWTE (not worth the effort) .
Small town/rural places have been more generous, sharing resources like tractors, backhoes, breakdown help, etc. not saying it was necessarily free, but there is a willingness to HELP, not just GET.
When/if you decide to tell a neighbor about your prepping, just remember loose lips sink ships. Your neighbor will tell all of his friends. A whole lot of people will be at your door, and the 72 hour kit will be gone in fifteen minutes.
Yepper ever a fish wouldn’t get caught if-n he kept his/her/its mouth shut!!!
If every fish kept it’s mouth closed, it would starve to death. I think there is a clearly different thinking between city preppers and country preppers. When the lights go out: City preppers look at the evils of society and prepare accordingly. Country preppers, look to take care of other animals while the lights go out including if they can, helping neighbors.
silent prepper that’s a good point. I am always thinking about people close to me. I have fairly reliable people in my family but there is one who has a big mouth. This is someone who offers things to people in order to get them to like them (low del esteem or whatever). So I have to be super careful what I say around this person. In a serious meltdown I know we will all have to leave our base sometime and deal with others; I want my family to act the part and tone it down, not advertise.
I worked with an older lady who was very open about her preps. She lived in a poor area of a major metro city, therefore also in a food desert anyway. But she had supplies just in case the power went out for more than a few days. She would tell co-workers how she bought a few extra cans or whatever when things were on sale, and kept them in rotation. If she couldn’t use something before its ex date, she would donate it to the food pantry before its date. The point is, she was not bragging, she was teaching to others (who also lived in the same area) how to do SOMETHING, anything, cheap and easy. Of course she also knew full well there are people who could take advantage of her but she was the fearless type. It was actually inspiring others to think ahead for emergencies. Risky? Yes, but everyday life for her was risky anyway. She was trying to get others to prep for themselves.
chuck would you like to be my neighbor ?
Charlie Foxtrot X-spurt, when are you going to be my neighbor? As in, when are you coming out here to the front lines along the southern border of Kalifornication? We can use the diversion that cannon fodder like you will provide.
Couldn’t pay me to live in your liberal bullshit
I set up a small veg stand on our long Cul deSac road.
Passd the word, take what youwant.
I’m really tired of canning and pickling already.
Time for the attack of killer tomatoes.
Well if u really want people to take what they wanted u would put up a sign that said drop a buck in the basket! Then they would take what they wanted including the basket!!! lol
BTW, I had an old but working washer, I put it out by the curb w/a sign free it sat there for a month, Then i put a sign on it for sale 25.bucks somebody took it that night,,,
“Love thy neighbor as thy self” is really hard to do here in the big city. That said, I have always made it a point to get to know my neighbors, and try to be helpful when ever I can. What I have found is that the neighbors who do not want to get to know you are not worth knowing in the first place! It’s always good to know what you have in case of an emergency.
its a misunderstood verse … It doesn’t mean be a door mat. It just means try and be a decent person who helps each other out.
City Chick
I have been the neighbor that came and helped others, BUT here is the problem, when some people find out that you can make it in life with what you have worked for, then they to think that you owe them something because you have worked hard for what you have. Those are the people that I can’t stand.
If I gave you a hundred dollar for three yrs. and asked for nothing back. I would be the best guy around, then if I stopped, I would become the sorriest person you ever knew. That is how people can become. Very quickly…
So, some people are not worth getting to know, but you don’t know that till you do get to know them. Then you wish you did not know them at all.
What about the one’s that do have what they need and then use that to make themselves seem like they are the be all know all. So be careful who you make friends with, they might not want to be friends with you.
It seems the folks who are always ready, willing and able to step up never need a hand themselves. I much rather do without, or wait until, than pester a neighbor to lend me a hand. That way I don’t owe them anything in return. There are some folks around here when faced with a problem start out with who they can get to do it for them!
Red Ant,
I have gotten to know my neighbors pretty well, except for the neighbors who might think that I am of the wrong skin color. They are an unknown to me as I have no idea how they will react to trouble. My guess is that they will help each other out within their own community but I really don’t know.
Sagebrush Lin
Yes, and thank you.
I don’t really want to meet my neighbors; I just don’t like people to much, after living as long as I have, I have grown not to like humanity all that much. Just like on here sometimes the children that post on here are very childlike and it brings down the quality of the site down.
Well, we can’t change it, so we have to deal with the lower class of humans, that’s why we are talking about that very thing on here. Crappy people.
Sorry, it took so long for me to respond, lost my phone. using work computer.
Sagebrush Lin, you don’t want to be friends to those that are haters to others just because of their skin color.
I’m sure that they will be judged, not by their skin color, but by what’s in their heart.
You keep being to person that you are. That’s how GOD made us. “GOOD”…
I’m a little red hen. You know the story… she planted the grain, did the work… and did not share the bounty. I bust my butt and sacrifice to be prepared… it won’t be to feed my neighbors. I don’t tell my neighbors I’m a prepper, and I won’t be handing out supplies… give a few people a case of water and they are going to be wondering how much you have that you can share it.
I actually live in a rural neighborhood, only 26 houses, most of the folks are old and are lifelong hunters, and actually know how to do things without needing to ask google how. We’ve got an array of former military, medical professionals, firemen, and retired cops. Most have generators. Damned near everyone is armed and folks look out for each other here. We’ve got one house full of criminals, and a few folks that think the government should take care of everything.
If I decide to share with anyone it will likely be anonymously.
one house full of criminals, and another full of Libtard parasites nearby…
at least you know who to “remove” right from the start.
???
What does a painter do when he gets cold?
He puts on another coat.
I can’t even get my sister to prep in even some small way. She won’t even buy an extra can of soup etc. “I don’t have the room. Besides if it happens I’ll just move in with you.” Is her solution. My son and his family are the only ones doing ANY prepping at all. My daughter has extra TP but that’s it. And only because of the “Great TP Scare ” of 2019–2020. Neighbors? Ha. That’s a joke. I bought my house from one of them and she still calls it “my house ” . She and her unmarried progeny keep popping out younguns like no tomorrow and WE are paying for it through welfare etc. Not her but definitely her kids as I’ve seen the checks. They willnbe on my doorstep about day 5 after a disaster maybe sooner wanting food etc. “For my babies “. I have my own family members who I will help first if needed before I help anyone else even though they have been refusing to help themselves. As for Neighbors once you give them ANYTHING they will assume you have even more and be back. My first words to them before they open their mouth will be ” thank God you are here. Do you have any food? I haven’t eaten in days”. I will also be armed at the time.
You have to be careful about letting people see what you have. If they see empty cans etc or smell cooking food they will know YOU have food and will demand some. Maybe not at first but eventually they will reappear towing their cute and obviously hungry kids behind them. Now what? Shoot them?? I think not but you have to convince them you will otherwise they WILL do it to you at some point when they are desperate enough. And after about a week they will be. Only you will be able to decide what you are going to do in these situations so make sure you think about it and have a plan. If you don’t all the work YOU did prepping will go out the window and you will lose to a bunch of fools who REFUED to be responsible enough to plan for themselves.
Bubba,
I discovered how to keep people away a few months ago. I had the CCP flu really bad, maybe bad enough to be hospitalized as I don’t remember much. Twice, I was by my front window when grinning door to door salesmen came up my walk. I cracked the door a bit and croaked out to the guys that I am “really sick”. Both times, the guys got bug-eyed and quickly pulled up something to cover their faces. They tore away from my house. It actually was pretty funny.
The limit of what I am willing to waste on an unprepared neighbor is a bullet. Then you have the problem of corpse disposal. I say, “Why waste the protein?” Get a chainsaw, a good quality gas-powered chipper/shredder, and some goats. Feed ground-neighbor to goats. Use the goat’s manure to fertilize crops… They say 2 complete bio-cycles breaks up prions… Just a thought..
Chainsaw, woodchipper and feed ground up people to an herbivore like goats?
LOL you’re a hoot.
But then again maybe you really don’t know anything about herbivores, or body disposal.
I hear your Cheetos calling get busy disposing them.
Goats are herbivores you dumbass townie. Pigs are what’s needed here.
Sounds like you’ll last around 15 minutes…
When the SHTF, the man who eats everyday, owns either the still for fuel, or the backhoe to bury the bodies!
The Bible says Love thy neighbor but I say Gas, grass or ass. I am a prepper and I trade cause nothing comes for free.
I don’t know if I agree with much of the advice here. Tell people that you are prepping in any capacity? Whether it’s for 72 hours or 72 months… all they will hear is “I am a prepper”.
And, fine… You may trust the person that you told… But what about all of the other people that they are likely to tell such as other friends, family members and coworkers? Do you trust them too?
Letting them use your generator is one thing… It’s pretty hard to hide a gas generator because of the noise… But suggesting that you let them use it for free… with gas getting close to eight dollars a gallon in some places?
People are strange… They are or can be extremely entitled. You will offer them an apple, and they will simply not be able to understand why you will not give them the entire bag.
Personally, I have another concern for myself. I have always been a capable person. Often times when people are having a get together or something… I am forgotten about. But as soon as something bad happens… An accident, an illness, any situation where a responsible, capable person is needed… I am call number one. I am worried that in a SHTF situation, I am still going to be call number one, whether they think I’m prepared or not.
I have no doubt that many of you are in a similar situation.
Exactly. I know one person who has prepped by buying PALLETS of canned foods that have to be moved with a fork lift. Its easily seen by neighbors so they know he is prepping. Who is going to get hit first? I do it by buying a couple of cans at a time along with my regular groceries so IF someone sees it they won’t think anything of it. Just the nice old man bringing in his groceries. Other than my immediate family and a few sites like this I tell NOBODY about being a prepper. I’m not taking the chance. As I originally said I know what my neighbors are like and I don’t trust them. I know them well enough that if I were to give them ANYTHING they will be back no matter what I tell them. thats why IF they come around I will ask them FIRST if they have any food because I am “starving”. I’m normally a kind hearted person and have served the public in law enforcement my entire adult life. But in a SHTF situation it will be ME or THEM. It also depends on what kind of situation it is. An obvious short term situation like a big storm with flooding etc I will handle differently than the zombie apocalypse or a nuclear war. My skills as a cop as well as being an EMT would come in handy in a more short term situation than a war. Supplies for the injured will be short and I have me and my family to consider FIRST. Why should that be viewed as WRONG? Why do people think that looking out for yourself and family FIRST is selfish? If I use all my supplies for others then me and my family will perish.Even when I talk to them and they roll their eyes at me they are still my family. Even when they refuse to help themselves they are still my family. And doing the things I suggest they do IS NOT THAT HARD TO DO. They simoply don’t believe anything is going to happen to them or us.
Skills of a cop?
Waiting outside a mass shooting or just stealing from people for petty traffic violations
When ships sink, people in the water do an irrational thing: they start trying to climb out of the water on top of others who are also in the water, and of course who are no more steady or buoyant than those who panic. So they bring down others with them.
I think my approach would be to say nothing, but perhaps to start a ‘stone soup’ pot with everyone contributing, even if it’s only a wrinkly carrot.. If you don’t remember the story of stone soup, look it up. One of those big pots used to deep fry a turkey would work perfectly – can use a fire pit to cook.
I think this approach might be more likely to give opportunities for community members to share not just their food but also their other knowledge/resources which would keep the whole community in a good place.
The prepper community often loses sight that one of the keys to survival is local community. We need to find ways to engage that community without putting ourselves and families at risk.
I would not want to get involved with the local community.
Most people can’t handle any power whatsoever, go’s Strate to their head. That is what a community leader dose. As long as you comply with them and let them be the head guy, then you are okay but don’t agree with one of them. they will kill you in due time. Just wait, it’s going to get so so much much worse.
The evil will come out in force when they need to. ask Trump.? Illegal Raid…
Be wise about who and what, remember they are your friend, while they Stabe you in the back to get what they want.
Better think first. They will not be your friend when they are in need…
Red Ant,
Anyone who has lived within a community ruled by an HOA can understand just how easily power entices even the most unlikely person. Most of my neighbors are decent enough and their church has had an edict in place for who knows how long, that they need to have extra supplies. I am concerned about my neighbors who are users. I don’t really know how to deal with them. Through the years, they have asked me for first aid supplies and such. They are a little “off” so it is hard to read them.
Sagebrush Lin
This is how you deal with those kinds of people, just be the person that you are and walk with your head held high, because you are a child of Christ. Those people see you and are fearful of you. They are scared of the light that shines around you. When you finally see how powerful you are, thru your faith. The demons will run, when they see you coming.
Stand strong and let your light shine. Just watch your back also. Stay alert to those that are around you at all times.
I will put you in my prayers list.
Thank you…
CK, you gave me an idea, maybe a way to send out “feelers” before SHTF to see how the people around the area react.
I grow edibles in my front and back yard, and my neighbors all see me out gardening almost daily, and I have a parabolic solar cooker, so before SHTF, I may set it up out front with a dutch oven of water heating up, then go around the area, including along walkways and driveways, foraging wild edibles while keeping an eye on my cooker, and see what the neighbors do, keeping my situational awareness on high maintaining a close watch so no one gets hurt by my cooker, or does anything else they shouldn’t like messing with it – liabilities ya know. By doing this I may find out who is interested in what I am doing beyond just a wave as they pass by. It might be a good way to set up a “guarded” conversation about being frugal and harvesting “nature’s bounty” and being environmentally friendly at the same time. If anyone in the area says this would be good for an emergency or disaster, that may be an opening to discuss planning ahead and learning useful skills like first aid and home repairs to have for emergencies, but not as an opening to disclose your Prepping supplies, or theirs. That may come later, but I would want to check things out first before diving in and regretting it later.
I actually like this idea a lot. Everyone gets to eat and only contribute a small amount. So k no o one really knows what you have.
There is a military saying that says, “The enemy is anyone who is going to get you killed.” Your neighbors saw the trouble brewing and didn’t take the time, energy nor money to prepare and stock up. Like the ant and the grasshopper.
A failure to prepare on their part does not consti,tute a crisis on my part. Provide for your families. They should have.
exactly, and don’t hesitate to stand your ground when required.
Gotta agree with you. My family will not suffer because someone else didn’t think it important.
The Jesus Chrust, Sin of the Living God whom I trust in and rely upon
is also The Greatest Miracle Worker:
multiplayer of 5 loaves and 2 fish.
The Holy ” I am” has always provided even when life’s circumstances reduce one to zero (even if more than once…)
And Almighty Gid – who created all things out of Nothing
will facilitate our continued ability to share..
When food is preoared with charity in heart –
and blessed before broken –
there is always enough…if not “some left over”
I am 70 years old now, and witness that the Blessed Lord
does “love a cheerful giver”..because He Himself is such:
yet not a reckless giver, not a prideful or
even a fearful giver.
If one truly fears / loathes to share: they should NOT
for nothing done in a spirit of fear bears good fruit…
However, a spirit of self-serving,…misses out
on the beautiful Miracles that are still happening every day+
Be of Peace in Soul & all Good will follow??
*Son of the Living God
(Notice how Ai picks such an important Word to harass!!)
rm p,
You are right about looking at those in need with the possibility of sharing with them but, we also need to be fully cognizant that sharing may open us and those close to us to danger. It is a lovely thought to feel love toward our fellow man but too many will look upon that kindness as a weakness and take advantage of that gentleness of the soul. I have found that out during various charity work in past years. The Bible has many instances where the word “wise” is mentioned. It is wonderful that you can feel Christ’s love within you and may that sense always be there but keep His wisdom with you too.
Sagebrush Lin
You are very right about, can put us in danger. Just always know that GOD is with you. Always and for ever…
rm p
Thank you… 🙂
I love your message, but slow down your 70 year old fingers. Your miskeying might lose too many of your acolytes.
I’m an old softy, I’ll be out there sharing with others to the bitter end, I couldn’t live with myself if I turned away a starving, sick, or injured person. What kind of Christian slams the door in a hungry child’s face? I don’t believe in God, I don’t have a religious bone in my body, but you believers need to read Mathew chapt. 25 and spend a few days meditating on it, contradictions and all.
There are things we do that can never be undone, I still don’t understand how not one of the 376 LEOs at Uvalde was willing to hazard his or her life to take down a mad dog. Those children were crying for a hero but bled to death because there was no hero to be found. How do you go on living knowing you let a child die to save your own arse?
not until Border Patrol showed up, took fast positive action, and killed the shooter. All others involved on scene that failed to take action need to be investigated and prosecuted.
Because cops are cowards and nothing but road pirates
Ah another cop hating sovereign citizen heard from. You will be the first to call the cops when you need them. Oh wait. You probably protest saying “I don’t need the cops I’ll handle it myself”. I can only imagine what society would be like without law enforcement. Don’t like paying a speeding ticket? DON’T SPEED!. Don’t like the cops attitude when he approaches you and you immediately start harassing him then maybe you should cooperate instead. I know you won’t because someone has told you all cops are bad OR you have been arrested or ticketed FOR SOMETHING YOU DID AND GOT CAUGHT. You think laws don’t apply to you and the cops are “out to get you “. Paranoid much?
ArsePoetica- you most certainly are a Christian. You quote scripture to justify your outlook, and we thank you for it.
Just a thought to keep people away from your door if things get bad buy some quarantine signs and biohazard tape and put them on your entry doors and put the bio hazard tape in front of entry ways if you go out in public dress shabby and cough a lot people will probably avoid you
Ray, I have a box of red 5-gallon Bio-Hazard bags in case we have to use the “bucket toilet”, so if I used some for really rancid and stinky garbage (spoiled food, used TP, dead vermin, feces, etc.), didn’t seal them very well, and set a few of them in the hot sun along the walkway in front of the house, I wonder if that might deter some of the unwanted “traffic”?
A few weeks ago, I double bagged a dead gopher, then tied both bags closed and tossed in my plastic garbage can with a lid, and also tossed in a roadkill snake (not bagged) I found in front of our driveway, and in about two days it was really stinky, in four days it was “hold your breath” while putting the can out along the curb for disposal.
dz,
Maybe professional descriptive writing is in your future because I can really smell the whole scene on your walkway now. Ick.
Our rural community is giving and helpful to a fault. That being said, there are a few that are “Above the rest of us”. These will be the FIRST ones coming to others for a hand out. HOW ABOUT NOOOO…. Others of us garden, raise chickens, cattle, have fish ponds, wells, and could, in the right scenario, be self sufficient. Others are more worried about the Escalade, what clothes they are wearing and that everyone knows where they go on vacation. Don’t get me wrong, we do these things too but don’t sit and watch Oprah when at home. We will help others but NOT to the detriment to my family. Period.
I live in a community of about 15 people, all of them long time residents – most of their families settled here in the first half of the 20th century. I am the newcomer, recently widowed, thanks to the WuFlu. My husband and I started prepping shortly before buying my current home and then moved here full-time a few years ago when we saw the writing on the wall. Since almost all my neighbors are ranchers and are well aware of the emergencies that can crop up around here, I have made an executive assumption (not to be confused with an executive decision but along the same lines) that they are all pretty well prepared for whatever Mother Nature can throw at them and, therefore equally prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse, too. I have shared the bounty from my garden and the eggs from my chickens with several of them, demonstrating through my deeds that I am a good neighbor and not looking for handouts. They have returned the gesture by inviting me to dinner and by helping me when I just need that second set of hands now that I am alone. They all know that I am a firearms instructor so I would assume they have made the assumption that I have a fairly full armory. The county sheriff knows I do because we have hosted his office’s semi-annual qualifications and training sessions. This is the perfect kind of place to live in these uncertain times and the perfect sorts of neighbors to have. My biggest concern when SHTF will be security since we are all sitting on acreage counted by hundreds, if not more, and most of us are over the age of 65 with adult children who moved out years ago and live 25 miles away, at a minimum.
Sabel, sounds like you’re in a good place to be. I’m shopping around a bit for possible areas to move to in Arizona (northern areas, maybe around Prescott), Texas (northeast), and Florida (panhandle), are you near any of those areas? I’m open to recommendations to do some online research if you have any suggestions.
dz,
I am in NW Texas, 25 miles to the nearest gas pump, 100 miles to the nearest city. We left Colorado because the politics in the state were turning far to the left. We took several factors into consideration when looking for a place to move to – we needed to be away from hurricane zones, earthquake zones, flood plains, tornado alley (ok, we had to compromise somewhere) and forest fires. We lóoked at growing seasons for a garden, terrain for our mental health (I don’t care for flat land or beaches), and possible escape routes. Texas has water access if you can get down to the Gulf coast as well as the southern border if you need to leave the confines of the US (that would need to be some mighty serious S hitting the fan) plus it borders a few other fairly “Red” states such as Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. One of my biggest regrets is not paying more attention to the native wildlife, particularly the rattlesnakes, tarantulas, scorpions and other insects and arachnids. The grasshoppers have been the bane of my existence for the past 3 years and this year, it is the Blister Beetles and the scorpions. The Blister Beetle larvae eat the grasshopper eggs before they hatch but once the beetles matured, they ate my potato plants just as voraciously as the grasshoppers did in previous years. I hate to use poisons but I am about to do so. I also keep thinking, “Wyoming…?” but I don’t want to start over again at my age and by myself. Plus the growing season in Wyoming is pretty short compared to here but that is part of what keeps the bugs in check. It is a matter of trade-offs.
All of Florida is prone to hurricanes and has way too many bugs (horrible fleas) as well as additional venomous snakes to keep the rattlers company. My late husband was a native Floridian and I spent 7 years there. Have no desire to move back. Montana is beautiful but gets serious snow and has a short growing season. Same with Idaho, one of the few states I have never been to. Utah is a possibility but has lots of water shortage problems unless you go to the mountains and then you are back in the short growing season and forest fire situations. Red can tell you more about Arizona than I can. Northeast region of Texas is nice but humid and Dallas is in the middle of Tornado Alley, not a good place to be. Plus, too populated. If the SHTF, the hoards are going to come out of Dallas looking for food in the rural areas. I lived along the south side of Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth back in the late 1980s and early ’90s. It was nice back then but I wouldn’t go back there now, knowing what I do now and seeing how it has changed over the years. We are having drought issues this year but that also helps to keep the population numbers lower around here. Most of my neighbors raise cattle so, if things get really bad, at least I can be pretty sure that I can find a protein source to supplement my garden and egg supply. Plus, we have a bunch of hunting ranches around here including a few high fence ranches with exotics on them. All in all, it is a pretty good place to hunker down. Conservative neighbors who were raised here, by and large, and everyone is related to somebody somehow and to some degree so they all look out for each other. And being so far from the nearest stores, everyone stays stocked up just to avoid driving to town more than once a week because of the time it wastes. It’s not prepping so much as being practical.
Hi Sabel! I understand your concern as recent widower myself. My partner learned to participate in planning with me slowly, till she was excited to work together. As I now live alone and reserved, (in an undisclosed bunker, deep in the bowels of a non descript building), My sons have admitted to me their own participation in our lifestyle. We keep things close to the vest, and their lifestyles watch our backs from different views. My “neighbors” are just learning to trust me, as I am learning about them without them knowing. But we are learning about each other in real time.
it’s like feeding a stray dog, do it once and they will never leave and bite you when you don’t.
My neighbor sent over his child to ask for a BANDAID because the child had banged his thumb up pretty bad. I cleaned, medicaided it and placed a bandaid on it. Sent him home with an extra bandaid too. Never got a thank you or a waving of his hand when he was leaving for work the next day. Yeah. His family will starve.
@Sabel – I retired in 2021, and. leading up to the big day, had to decide where I was going to go. Just knew I wasn’t staying in Denver, CO! I had been very interested in Texas (and the other states you mentioned), but it’s So Hot there and has gotten expensive, plus I think a lot of folks from blue cities have been moving there. So instead I settled on (and in) Wyoming. It’s not so much the short growing season, which is sometime in May to, I assume, sometime in September — it is The Wind and especially the sustained “gusts.” Watching seedlings almost breaking their necks led me quickly to create a makeshift “cloche” and when plants got taller, a “greenhouse” out of 2 mil. clear plastic and recently, burlap under the plastic for some shading. I have very little experience growing anything, and have never had land, so I am learning how to grow in containers in the Great State of Wyoming, and finding out that I need to pay closer attention to which cultivars I select, going forward. For example, I am suspecting that my crops which have “Amish” in the name are probably wanting a more humid environment. Also, getting a start indoors by late March or April 1st will be key, as I realize that I made up my mind to start a garden too late, and so I started out behind the 8-ball. Like someone here mentioned, my neighbors see me out there working, tending, and fussing with the “greenhouse” every day. I haven’t noticed many gardens at all, and most of the produce at the Farmer’s Market is driven up from Utah! Anyway, long story was to reply regarding the Wyoming growing season issue. Maybe you will become my neighbor, and I will pass on Wyoming gardening tips to you. 😉
Make a part of your SHTF Prep Plan, a bartaring-trade Plan (for you, relatives, neighbors and friends that won’t Prep and will want things from you).
Consider what everybody will need or want in a “store-closed” grid-down: Container jars, bags/zip-locks, tapes, canning supplies, firewood, fasteners (nails, screws), grinding stones, little used saws, pruning shears, old-fashioned razor blades, new scizzors: Cordage (all of it: string, twine, rope). Semi truckers learn how to poop in plastic grocery bags when they have to pull off the road, and pee in wide-mouth 1/2 gal. juice containers. Do you really have enough? Does your neighbor have enough (meaning can you use these as part of a trade-bartar with your neighbor, once you explain its grid-down value? Also, old steel (that rusts–think Hi Carbon Steel, the basis for “flint and steel fire-starting”, and that can be cleaned and sharpened for hand-tools. Newer hand saws, lots of files (all shapes and sizes), sandpaper. Plenty of people buy seeds but don’t use them all. Gloves, long socks (hold plastic bags holding water) or can hold a rock that you twirl as a deterrent. Does your neighbor have a dog they cannot feed, but you don’t have a dog? Lots of people abandon their pets in SHTF. What work do you need done in SHTF? –Chopping firewood, collecting twig kindling (can you ever have enough?)
— Ultimately giving things away has a down-side for relatives and neighbors because they feel obligated, and even when necessity brings them back.
— If they have to keep coming back, put them to work TRADING because it is the most dangerous work (think robbery, and especially if you are old).
WATER IS HEAVY–8.33 pounds per gallon. Even a teen can carry a gallon of river or pond water (FOR YOUR GARDEN) in a plastic bag in a cardboard box. Put them to work in exchange for what you trade. They will earn what you provide and feel good about it; and they will start doing the same thing you are doing–and they need to do that in a SHTF.
Consider also trading for items everyone needs and in this way you upgrade your stock of NEED-ABLES.
.
OPSEC! You must only tell those whom have a need to know, as soon as other people hear about what you have, they will come a running!! keep silent.
Time;Situation;Available resources;amount of people with you. All of the possible scenarios can pop up or change at a moment’s notice.” You All Realize that most people think were Crazy Right !!!” but when the POOP Flys
then whom do you run to? yup yer local Mr.be ready prepper\nut!. Look around see what’s happening to our country anyone with eyes can see were going down the Toilet Fast!!
Self Sufficiency and self-sustained is the way to be
Yes. Preppers will go from being “nutjobs” to a resource to be mined without remorse in a very short time!
I used to go camping with a group of friends who always teased me about the fact that I brought everything AND the kitchen sink….but when they needed something, guess where they headed. Yup, yours truly because chances were that I had what they were looking for or a good alternative solution. I grew up with a mother who loved antiques. Guess what….some of those antiques are now off-grid solutions. I have two spinning wheels, the large walking wheels. I have a bunch of oil lamps. And I keep stocked up on lamp oil because we lose power quite often out here in the sticks. And my husband and I used to pick up old how-to books at thrift shops, everything from making cheese to making shoes. He even bought a foot-powered leather sewing machine. Some day, hopefully after I have passed from this plane of existence, those things will come in handy. If it happens sooner than that, I am as ready for that as I can be, but I am hopeful….
maryann –
We moved here from about 15 miles SW of Denver, down 285. The wind here is pretty atrocious, too. And it has been extremely dry this year. I have lots of land and 4 working water wells, one being solar powered. I have been working on the garden for the past 4 years, I guess, if you count the attempt at a “keyhole garden” the first year. Unfortunately, that was also the first of 3 years of grasshopper infestations. It is a process, each year brings more improvements. And I am an avid reader and watcher of online gardening advice, constantly learning and getting ideas to try. We planted assorted fruit and nut trees, some are growing successfully, some are having problems withstanding the drought, the insects, the deer and the neighbors’ cattle that occasionally escape and find their way to my orchards. All part of the learning experience.
As I mentioned earlier, I don’t think I have the energy to start over again and especially not by myself. So I guess I will make the best of it down here in the Republic of Texas. Not a bad place to be.
just remember,, when the shit hits the fan,,,all people turn into animals,, no ifs, buts, or what ever
just animals,, me,me,me,me…
All my neighbors have more resources than I do. Do they have even 72-hour kits? I couldn’t tell you. I suspect not. The cop might be an exception. But then, maybe he just has firearms.
As for me I trust some, some of my immediate family. Anyone else is just someone I know. This has always served me well.
My neighbors are unAmerican democrats,. WTHF they will be the first to be shot in the face.
Trust no one and keep your mouth shut.
any person who hasnt prepared will be dead in a short time post SHTF without food or more especially safe drinking water.
When the SHTF, no one will be your friend. Those friendle neighbors will turn on you in a minute. I like the lone wolf mentality. Trust no one and let them prove themselves. Respect and trust are to be earned. AND, yes most city folks are clueless and far different from true country folks. We call them citiots. They are already socialists by virtue of their social living standards. Of course these are generalities, but do you have time to sort it out?
Made this mistake early on in prepping,
All i could do at that point is quit talking avout iit andhope its (forgoten) far chance of that. Alao had to have a repair man in house was/is imposskible to hide all of this kind of preps, dammit he even made a comment on them. Sort of screwed mysellf on this. But where or what do you do with a large stockpile only so much hiding you can do