Neighbors can be great. If you have friendly, helpful ones they can make life easier and more pleasant.
As a prepper, if your neighbors share your interest in preparedness you can work together and achieve a lot more than either of you could on your own – splitting the cost of expensive equipment, for example, or each specializing in different aspects of prepping.
The people next door can be a huge asset to you in all sorts of ways.
Unfortunately, they can also be a complete nightmare – or even a danger. Antisocial neighbors are no fun but the worst case is neighbors that compromise the security or effectiveness of your preps, all the way up to being a direct threat in an emergency.
The good news is that problem neighbors often give you advanced warning, so you can be ready for issues before they appear. Here are some signs that your neighbor could be a menace.
Messy Yard
We don’t all have the time or money to have a well-kept and attractive yard in front of the house, but there’s a difference between a yard that could do with some weeding and a lick of paint on the fence and a yard that’s just a mess.
Related: If You Have This On Your Property, Hide It Immediately
If your neighbor’s front yard is full of trash, old furniture and piles of dog poop, that’s a sign they have a pretty disorganized lifestyle.
Disorganized lifestyles are bad news. Prepping is all about being able to cope with whatever crisis the world throws at us, so do you really want a neighbor that can’t even cope with everyday life?
If they can’t organize getting rid of the trash they’re not going to cope in an emergency, and they’re likely to come to your door for help.
Substance Abuse
If half your neighbor’s trash is beer cans or whiskey bottles that’s bad news. Like a messy yard, it’s a sign of someone who has a disorganized lifestyle and will struggle to cope in an emergency.
There’s the additional complication of addiction. How are they going to behave if they can’t get to the liquor store?
Are they going to start pounding on your door, asking if you have any alcohol in the house?
⇒ This “Quick Fix” Is More Effective In Keeping Out Looters Than A Solid Steel Door
Having an alcoholic neighbor is bad. Having a drug-addicted one is worse.
You have all the same problems of addiction, and the extra one that some drugs can make users act irrationally – even violently.
On top of that, drug addicts often associate with criminals – and in a crisis they’re going to be dangerous people to have around, because they’re not likely to have any qualms about using violence to take what they need, and that could include your supplies.
Be particularly careful if you suspect your neighbor might be a drug dealer. Look for blacked-out windows, highly visible security around the front door or a large number of visitors who don’t stay long – they could be customers.
Suspicious Curiosity
Is your neighbor very interested in your preps, but not so keen on investing in their own?
Are they full of questions about how much you have stockpiled, where you keep it and how it’s protected? Do they watch you when you’re building something in your yard?
Related: Prepper Projects That Might Be Illegal In Your State
There’s a risk they might have decided they don’t need to prepare for an emergency, because it might never happen – and if it does, Plan B is to take your stuff.
Unfortunately, technology makes it very easy for neighbors to keep an eye on what you’re doing.
Modern security cameras are a fantastic security tool for preppers who want to know what’s happening around their property – but they’re just as useful for someone who has less honorable intentions.
Your neighbor could have a small camera sitting on a windowsill watching your yard, recording every movement inside its field of vision. If you have a nosy neighbor who seems unusually interested in your preps, try to disguise what you’re doing.
The Neighborhood Activist
It seems like there’s one in every neighborhood.
The one that’s always proposing new rules at the Home Owners Association, writing to the local newspaper to complain about livestock in yards, or organizing a petition to make you tear down your new shed.
In a way, TEOTWAWKI would be a relief, because these people won’t have anywhere to complain anymore.
Unfortunately, while civilization survives they’ll be free to continue harassing everyone around them – and preppers are likely to be a frequent target.
How To Deal With Problem Neighbors
Apart from neighborhood activists, there’s a common theme to all these problem neighbors – they’re all likely to come after your supplies in an emergency.
They might turn up at your door demanding their “fair share”, they might try to mobilize other hungry neighbors against you or, worst case, they might grab a gun and try to just take what they need.
Whatever they try, though, the end result is the same; you losing supplies.
Of course, as a prepper, you’ll have a plan to protect your supplies – but it’s better if you don’t have to. Any time you need to get into a confrontation there’s a risk of you being injured or worse, so the goal should always be to avoid conflict.
The best way to avoid a conflict with your unprepared neighbors is to prevent them finding out that you have stockpiles. Don’t let neighbors know you’re a prepper unless you’re reasonably sure they’re one too.
Keep barrels of fuel and water out of sight, perhaps in a shed. This will also help protect them from damage and theft.
Follow basic operational security whenever you can. That way your neighbors will still be problematic, but they hopefully won’t become a problem for you.
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There are considerations (economic, for example) that may limit our choice of environment to a degree. However, our choice of environment still belongs to us as long as we have freedom of movement. The limitations of that freedom are of our own making, not imposed by an external force. Where we live becomes our base environment. This article correctly reveals the effects neighbors may have on our life before and after the Great Correction. Survival and quality-of-life absolutely depends on our place within our circle of neighbors. Mutual assistance, physically and spiritually, is the ticket forward. If we aren’t physically and spiritually in the right neighborhood, we need to move; no matter the considerations or limitations we perceive.
Blah, blah, blah, correction over hyped by the spiritual vegan trolls like you.
Recheck your preps and give it to our poor homeless seniors being thrown out of their homes. Big government don’t care about you, me or us in America today. Look at Maui for starters.
You offend me buddy!
And you offend us with that attitude why be here with that ?
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Well. With a response like yours, one can only assume that you are perhaps one of those left leaning, woke liberals. You really expect hard working Americans to just hand over half of what they worked hard to accumulate to some lazy welfare rat? Everyone here already knows that the government isn’t their friend. Everyone knows that it’ll soon be every man for himself even if you yourself can’t or won’t see it. Start preparing now so that you won’t have to die while trying to steal your neighbor’s property.
All I can say is,WHAT AN ASSHAT YOU ARE! If you don’t like this website go away!!!!
Where what country can we move too? America is full of the world crossing our borders.
When did politics become a religion than a tool for commonsense of laws? Sometimes we might do what they did in the Wild West days to solve issues of stupid neighbors. Do your own research, somethings can’t be said in public.
Did you know the Texas RINO’s have given the Demoncrats premium political seats in Texas? These Republican RINO’s are not helping the American voters in other States toward our 2024 Presidential Election. What new collusion is going on?
The 2024 presidential election is about to be stolen again by the Marxist. Covid lock downs on the horizon will effect the voting of conservatives once more. Sheeple will comply.
Real Americans will ignore the Sheeple herd mentality and start questioning Demoncrat Authority.
Weak American Liberals are walking around with fear mongering Covid masks and submissive Covid shots in the Covid Second time around 2.0 scare. Will you submit again?
Time to see our Manufacturing is in the USA not in China.
We make it entirely in The United States. Not “designed in America” or “assembled in America” or “made in North America” or some other sneaky qualifier. Make it 100% MADE IN THE USA or not at all.
The courts and the FBI are causing the Constitutional Crisis in America.
What kind of country do you want?
Justice is blind, the current government has weaponized our laws and government agencies like the IRS against it’s own legal American citizens. All others in this country such as illegals get a FREE PASS to everything of American benefits.
What do we get? More higher taxes, being priced out of our homes in being homeless. Retirees did what was expected to retire, than must be responsible for Biden’s illegals too. The border wall must be finished and drill for oil in the USA.
I think it’s important to let your problem neighbors know that you have weapons and that you know how to use them. That’s the only prep they should know about.
Don’t give away your big surprise! Only a female would screw that surprise up, maybe?
You don’t kiss and tell your preps to all the neighbors do you?
We of many cultures and countries will have easy pickings on you americans as our numbers increase. Thank God for Biden opening up the american southern border for us!
Umm those who do not speak decent English will be among the first targets.
Those flying foreign flags too.
Attire will also be a consideration.
Real Americans aren’t that dumb.
Well PONGA – “Dream On”. “Good luck with That” – That is what the British Thought many yrs ago. As they used to say in the Game Show – “COME ON DOWN”. As We say “GIT SOME”. Keep in mind there IS AT LEAST ROUGHLY – 1 gun in this country for every American, most EVERY House. ALL my neighbors are “Armed”. Roughly 300mil in the US, And we have a LOT of Combat Veterans. And a lot of ammo. I have over 5k rds Myself – Pistol & Rifle. And I teach “Combat Shooting”. I have 2 FULL “GO TO WAR CHESTS” here – like in “The Patriot”. Full Class IV Ceramic Military-Grade Body Armor, Helmet, Plus. 10+ Guns – Mostly AR’s, Sniper Veils, Camo, +, +. But – NOONE knows all this. Anyone comes here with Bad Intent – they Will “Get the Horn”. And bonus – Wife is former Mil Combat Nurse. And “I” have Shot “Combat Competition” every month for the last 10Yr. I also Teach local SWAT Snipers, +. If I step out of my house – It may “Get Loud”. YOU are going to think the U.S. 3rd Infantry Div has arrived. I have fortified sniper positions at all 4 corners of my house. There are 2 Trained – Shooters/Gunners here and a retired Combat Nurse – Vietnam. If you send Enough(Say 10+) you “Can” “Get Us”. But I plan for it to COST YOU – DEARLY. IF you survive it. ps And NO – NONE of my Neighbors know ANY of this. With neighbors, especially with kids, “Asking turns to Begging” “Begging turns to Taking”. I don’t want to have to kill “Them”. So They don’t know. ps “I” still shoot Combat Competition Every Month for 10+ yrs now – I don’t “Miss” much now. Rain, snow, sleet, heat – Bring it. The “Boarder” – Yeah – We don’t like it – So More Ammo. And Vote a Republican back in.
Wrong statement to make nosy neighbors get this from me. Once you cross your back property line you are trespassing I didn’t move out here to be bothered by neighbors. Afor what I have are many skillsets given to me by the Government that I pray daily that I will never have to use again. No leave and don’t come back! Technically speaking I own the entire Easement/Right of way since I am the last property owner on this private road. Stay on the your end of the right of way and leave me alone! End of subject goodbye. Don’t come back.
I wouldn’t let them know you have them. At least here in Colorado there are red flag laws. They will tell the authorities that you have guns and you are crazy! Then you’re in trouble.
You don’t want your neighbors to know that you have weapons because when the SHTF they may be there to steal them. When you inform your neighbors that you have weapons and know how to use them – the neighbors may construe that as a threat to them and act inappropriately against you. Keep resources on the down-low.
Nah, let it be a complete surprise!
HOA’s are just like the Covid Lockdowns are. A form of control over choice of what an individual homeowner wants to do. But submitted to stupid contract consent.
Will the Sheeple ever learn? Probably not with the Department of Education in Washed up DC. Time to defund and eliminate that an the nationwide teachers union. Their main concern is padding their retirements then teach our kids, truth, justice and the American way. Fine example were the Covid lockdowns our kids education was interrupted for months. What kid really learned from online zoom classes? The teachers union got paid and the kids lost valuable in class learning time in masks, some in plastic bubbles in class.
What a Biden mess!
Kids can learn the ‘3 r’s ‘ just fine with zoom.
In person class attendance is not needed to learn those.
Actually in class attendance can be quite bad for kids.
They can learn how to be better criminals, substance acquisition, and how to manipulate the system against the males.
MANY bad things about in person learning.
crazysquirrel – you obviously either don’t have kids or were not involved at all in their education if you do. NO, you cannot learn ‘the 3 rs’, or the many other things students need to learn, over zoom. Especially younger kids, and especially older kids who aren’t as innately ‘smart’ and need more assistance from teachers to grasp harder concepts and skills.
There is way more to learning than just facts and information. Especially for younger kids, there is also social and emotional learning – how to get along with other kids and people and authority figures, and people they don’t know as well. You CANNOT learn any of that over “zoom.”
I was a teacher for 15 years. I know of what I speak. Online learning for 18 months destroyed education for an entire generation. They will be behind, forever, for their entire lives, and the entire civilization will suffer for it.
Think of the neighborhood association, your teachers, and maybe someone at church. They are PARTY MEMBERS!
Meh if they are not Christian then avoid them
If they think Trumps is pro gun is a negative thing.
If they think voting works then laugh
They might turn up at your door demanding their “fair share”,
Hmm. What makes them think they are entitled to their fair share from you?
Of course rich folks DO have other’s fair share and should share.
They got their riches off the sweat from the backs of poor people.
Senorita’s we demand your cooperation to have our babies to increase our numbers in yos country of pigs. We learn english better than your kids today.
Drop doad you only need them for Your citizenship AH!
Don’t argue, get them their fair share-as they deserve.
Right, because ‘rich folks’ don’t work hard at all. Money just shows up.
The Great Correction (SHTF) comes from the increase of hatred. Hatred comes from fear, coupled with ego. If we stay in an environment of hatred, fear and ego, survival is unlikely. We can’t reduce the levels of hatred, fear and ego in others. We can only reduce them in ourselves. In an environment of others doing the same, the odds of survival improve.
We cannot reduce hatred, fear and ego in any partisan arena because partisans exploit the people through hatred, fear and ego. The people yearn for peace, free of hated, fear and ego. The partisans breed hatred and fear, for the benefit of ego (personal and collective).
There is no great correction, your living it right now. Not hatred no it is stupidity. Viet Nam speech of uncle Ho Joe was amazing you dog face pony soldiers. Not only being a true globalist, he gives India and other countries a new passage of trade. By American taxpayer’s money then Build Back Better of ‘Merica.
Illegals flooding across Southern Border, when is our next 911 to come?
According to you we shall all gather together by the campfire to sing “Kum ba yah.”
The 2 political party’s are now run as woke corporations.
New Mexico gun owners are now 2A criminals by some female bureaucrat. Even some politicians in Cali think that is wrong, even though they are politically wrong most of the time.
We think your a troll?
Yes, I agree about the Rinos in Texas. Cornyn is the worst. We need to oust him out on our next election. He is an undercover Rino just like MacConnel(senator) and the one from Alaska.
You are right, about Rino’s they are worst than an average Demoncrat in politics. Maybe the second or third worst are Demoncrat and left leaning Republican voters.
Time to clean our political houses in 2024!
Vote the bums out!
LOL when are you people going to figure out THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE between the 2 party’s. Both sides are out for themselves and don’t give a damn about you. They keep this crap going so you have someone to focus your hate on instead of focusing on the crap they are doing. 70 years ago the Dem’s were focusing on the same things that the rep are doing today. It”s all a shell game and you are all falling for it
Neighbors are a concern, for sure. There’s nothing better than a good one, nothing worse than a bad one, especially when times are difficult.
Ways to turn the situation to your benefit when your neighbor has messy yard/disorganized life, substance abuse problems, suspicious curiosity, and activism in their blood? IDK. Gray man/gray woman is the way to go. Don’t stand out from the crowd.
Just blend in and don’t make waves or create drama centered around you.
Don’t get involved in other people’s drama unless absolutely necessary.
Don’t reveal the depth of your plans and preps, IMHO, even if you have good neighbors. If they steer the conversation that way, play ignorant and maybe ask newbie questions. Don’t reveal the depth of your knowledge, either.
Don’t act like you are better than your neighbors – don’t display stuff that is consistently better and/or more expensive or flashy than their stuff. Choose when and how to load/unload stuff at your house so as to not attract unwanted attention. Don’t criticize or purposely irritate neighbors at all – it’s rarely forgotten.
Do monitor what is going on, but don’t LOOK like you’re monitoring what is going on. I know some neighbors who had a habit of listening to neighborhood phone calls using their scanner.
Rememeber we talked about learning to read and deciefer Intent
read the signs of the personality and be true to yourself , accept reality , 1st impressions are usually the right impressions
Snakes dont change skin
people dont change who the are in heart , unless there is a real conversion of the spirit , soul , and way of thinking
Character is something that is learned and not given So
If they beleive stealing is acceptable way of life , even for food , goods , clothing , then they will always be a thief in heart and will Steal from who ever and when ever
Values are instilled at upbringing , Train up a child when they are Young and when they are old they will not depart
That is why the crime familys have employed the perverts to prime out children in schools
it is call Grooming and is prevalant right now
The fact is : Sin cannot sit still , it must satisfy the lust of the Flesh and nothing more
I own a business and the character I look for in people is : Family values , Why
Because they have a sense of moral character to provide for thier own
usually and this happens over and over again , see it too often
when there is broken , screwed up past , and they have not delt with it , and healed from it
they tend to be screwed up employees ,
That being said : you can train any dog to do manual labor , and follow directions but the tendency is always back to way s of training
That is why military has intense Break down Before Trained up in the field you want them in .
and then old baggage always creeps in , past , you dont want to remember
So Learn to read between the lines of Truth and Deception , partial truth , and flat out lies
Call it what you want , but Truth never comes out upfront when you look into and try to get to know your neighbor , always is a past , and always is some thing you dont want to know
burried deep in the attic of the heart .
no such thing as a clean past , or someone with no baggage , just stuffy arrogant , airheads with a sense of self righteousness
So Learn to See past the obvious , and pay attention to what is said and Not said
also learn to ask the right questions to see and reveal the real them .
according to earlier stories on this site, and others, the house pictured in this article is the perfectly camo’ed and secured property!
it is uninviting and appears that it may have already been not only abandoned but looted as well.
your yard however, being tidy and well kept….
As Jeff Foxworthy said. The house with the uncut lawn and the car on jack stands out front ” Yeah you know a gun lives in that house “
All these sick comments across the board are unbelievably paranoid. Just stock up and shut up. Leave people alone. Do your own thing and stop hoping for the end. Live as good a life as possible and worry about yourselves. Geez, the prepper mentality gets a bad reputation from all this nonsense. I would hope that nothing ever happens but if it does, we have the opportunity to make it better for ourselves and our fellow man or we will just become animals that eat each other when the food runs out. Im sick of all these political inferences. Its not the government thats going to get you, its mother nature shaking off the parasites that are called humans. Fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes , incurable diseases, etc. If it came down to fighting the government powers that be, we lose. One drone or one Hbomb dropped and we’re all screwed. I don’t care how deep a hole you dig, it will be finished.Your AKs and pistols wont do crap. So just stop the nonsense!
Again, just do your prep work and sthu!
Im sick if hearing it.
Nicole, I think you may have somewhat realized it but a lot of the ‘critical’ comments for the most part aren’t really people. This is the same wherever you go online because its cost effective, regardless of if its a small forum, or bigger community like reddit, facebook its the same.
For the most part, these tactics whether they are being done intentionally, or just being parroted unknowingly, are intended to demoralize or promote Maoist type struggle sessions.
Its meant to subtly drive people crazy or break them. Robert Lifton wrote a book, the Psychology of Totalism, observing the actual effects of such sessions from Mao’s first revolution.
Critical Theory/Cultural Marxism and other malign intent (ideological subversion) being used, following a simple 4 stage playbook that most nations use today to cause regime change. Its divide and conquer: demoralize, destabilize, crisis, renormalization.
Mises wrote a series of essays that were collected into a book on socialism showing all the failures (to the point where its completely unthinkable to push for it). If you are interested in further reading up on the subject.
Be forewarned, Its very dark reading, but entirely necessary to know about since many of these things seem benign until you know about how this stuff actually works.
Robert Cialdini covers the common psychogical blindspots everyone has in his book Influence, and there is some fundamental material in communication/linguistics areas (how reflected appraisal works, and the whorfian hypothesis), that’s generally applicable as well.
Trusting anyone outside of immediate family is a cr*p shoot. Sometimes family is taking a chance.
Clowns to the left of me, clowns to the right of me. Here I am back in the middle with you. Who do you really trust in a bug out situation?
“Jokers to the right.” ” ..stuck in the middle…”
I have a messy yard full of trash, old furniture and dog poop. I let my dogs lick clean of flavor molecules the packaging that food usually comes in. Some of this licked-clean packaging does migrate past my front door. 🙁 And yes, I live in a landfill. The dog poop I do clean up, because if I don’t it will quickly accumulate to overwhelming quantities. Dogs are walking poop factories.