Would You Consider Joining A Prepper Inspired Community?

[Raven]

Anybody please correct me if I am wrong! Lone I don’t mean to offend but I think you are thinking too literally of a survivalist village. Unless Arwen that is exactly what you are wanting to pull together?

I don’t think this group would be as cut throat as that. We would all have supplies and be learning useful skills doing what we could...unless there were very exceptional and extreme extenuating circumstances I can’t see how we would allow our own people to be treated like that.

Besides as bad as the economy will get and crime goes up so the security will be useful ... we have come to far for everyone to completely degenerate. As preppers our preps secure not just our survival but should also our sanity. Which is why some rules are sooo important, so we know when a line has been crossed. As anyone can tell I DON’T come from a military background. But I think that’s important too. I could be wrong.

I spent several years caring for my Gran. Yes it meant we couldn’t go anywhere etc, etc HOWEVER she still did things for the community some of which may not seem important in terms of life or death but undoubtedly the community benefited from. Putting aside all the growing preserving and cooking she helped to instruct us on...She couldn’t do the Labour but if I was out with the clippers she’d ask to watch and come with and sneak the phone in her wheelchair (which I found when taking her back in) in case I hurt myself? She would organise and we would host monthly meetings with other vulnerable OAPs they all used to get together for shared health appointments, and in the village of 450+ her house would be the talk of the village because we seemed to be one of the few homes that took festivals seriously and the kids would love to come see “Granny” for some goodies!

To others she may have seemed a drain, however she pulled the community together in ways others wouldn’t or didn’t seem that important. Yes we had to run about making tea and sandwiches but...they all got so much enjoyment out of it, and no one was left out...we didn’t mind one bit.

I know in a alone up a mountain scenario we wouldn’t have survived, but what she took from the local community I felt she put back in in other ways, even if you forgot ALL her married life exactly what she had done for the village. I really struggle with the politics of the village I wish people would come out and just tell me what the problem was and what they needed. The sneaky-ness really gets to me. But she had so much exposure to it, she was able to read between the lines, do some digging get to the bottom and help.

You may not value those sort of things, but I guess I do...we need people like that as much as the one who can plant 1000 veg in a day or know how to heal, or secure the village. I guess you may not all agree, but one day we will all get old or have an accident that means we are ill for awhile, or some will have a life long illness that they need to work around. Doesn’t mean we can’t be useful in other ways. Doesn’t mean we should give up or undervalue their knowledge and experience.

Sorry I will stop now as all this talk of her and I am missing her again.

[Arwen Thebard]

Surely "pecking orders" within groups are just the natural way of things in life? Sometimes I feel i'm very definitely in the lower pecker position, when it comes to electronics and computers for example, and that spurs me on to learn more if I dont want to stay there. Other times I can be somewhere higher up the pecker ladder due to my experience or skills, but you should never feel unsafe or under valued in any group.

"what do you have to offer to gain a place in the community ?"

In today's' environment having an understanding of societies current problems might be good starting point.
Age (younger) might have advantages over (elder) experience and visa versa.
Certain skill set(s) as you say are going to be good, but so is a willingness to learn.
Money / funds might be an alternative for those without skills sets.

How many people reading this genuinely considered the finer points of the community they were moving into? What research did you do? I would really like to know what questions you asked or investigations you did?

I doubt that many people do much in depth checking of a community before buying or renting a property, other than locations and credit-ability of local schools, doctors and hospitals. How would you? Knock on your prospective neighbours doors and ask if they are normal? Its difficult that's for sure.

[Lone]

Raven

No offence taken. Any group, in my own opinion, whether it be Survivalist, Community, etc., has what I think a formula not only of working together...but of falling apart too.

You can see why I am alone... :

[Raven]

Raven

No offence taken. Any group, in my own opinion, whether it be Survivalist, Community, etc., has what I think a formula not only of working together...but of falling apart too.

You can see why I am alone... :

Thank you Lone, I appreciate that. I know we don’t always agree but I still enjoy our interactions.

I agree and I don’t think it would be right for for that not to be and ESC or Undo formula. The key is for everybody in that small community not to want it to fall apart and to be willing to compromise and work together.

But when you think about it...you also have a falling apart formula. As a Lone person on a mountain, your only friend is being overlooked and not popping up on anyone’s radar, in my opinion you are much more vulnerable alone than if you are in a small community.

(I know you live in a small community with houses nearby but talking about if SHTF and you went completely solo).

[Lone]

If we look at what’s happening right now, albeit the much bigger picture of community living, how well everybody came together and united with the clapping for the NHS, helping supporting each other...shopping, checking on each other, etc.

Now look, we are fighting each other in the streets, people are abusing outdoor spaces like parks, but also streets, beaches, other people’s homes/gardens...why...because something has changed...lockdown has eased...police being assaulted...a cough or spitting is being used as a weapon

Have you ever seen such massive fights on beaches, where children are also present ?

This whole situation is getting out of hand...god help us if a brutal second wave hits at the moment everybody is on edge...being on lockdown again after being allowed out.

I reckon Neighbourhood Watches (do they still exist) will be on full alert !

It’s a tinderbox in my opinion...

[Arwen Thebard]

Nice post above Raven, you seem to have a better understanding of what we are trying to arrange than we do.

I understand Lone's post and everyone else's. They go to show how many different ideas and views there are on here, an internet forum, just as there would be in any arranged community and as there are in all the communities we currently live in.

We just want to know that our neighbours (That we are going to have anyway) are going to be of a similar inclination to ourselves. We are not desperately seeking some deep meaningful connections. No blood rituals confirming life long allegiances. No pacts written in stone.

It would be nice to have the opportunity of living near other people that we at least had somethings in common with, rather than leaving it all to chance.

And time is indeed running out IMO

[Raven]

Yeah it’s not good.

But are you telling me if we were neighbours you would turn on me? When you know we could team up and be better off for it? (Presuming we realised each person was a prepper).

I understand if you would, we are all in the same predicament. But it’s not the path I would personally take. I am trying to become self sufficient so I can look after me and mine without needing to face those dangerous situations to get food or supplies.

Lone....Who would look after you if you got hurt? If you were really ill and needed someone to help you?

[Lone]

Raven

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to many questions on this subject.

However, without being evasive, I’d rather take my chances, as to be hurt, especially badly, and of no use to others in a group, would make me a liability affecting the status quo.

Not saying that I would crawl off and die for the better of the group, but my input would have ended

I guess we would have to live it to know it...and for someone like me...it might then be too late to find out...or might actually have been the best idea ever.

That said, being alone, may mean you could be accepted into a group in such a situation, but in the reverse, if you were in a group and left or were made to leave..you’d have nothing to go to...maybe even not the skills to make it without others...

I’ve been trying to think of good examples to demonstrate what I mean, but they aren’t necessarily apt for the scenario we are facing now in reality.

It’s an hour by hour, day by day, week by week, learning process...seeing how outside influences beyond your control, means you and your community may face unexpected challenges that you didn’t/couldn’t prepare for...

I could use a defence of - I am alone...until I am not !

[Lone]

I fear I may be venturing into MAD MAX film territory...

...I couldn’t be a ROAD WARRIOR though...

...I don’t have a car !!!

[Raven]

Ironically I get what you mean without you having to give examples.

I think that ware so much more than just our knowledge or stuff though...without wanting to sound like a bleeding heart.

I know I wouldn’t survive in a real tough survivalism scenario certainly not without the people I care about, but tbh I wouldn’t want too. That’s just me.