Need a decent BOL? Do we need someone like you here with us?

[Ian]

I think Jabba has it backwards.

I would decide who joins with me not the other way around. Having to ask "pretty, pretty, please take me". Never.

Those few that I have known for perhaps twenty plus years and trust implicitly would be my companions. True friends in the old fashioned way. Not just someone who I have ticked a box on a computer type friend.

[Jabba]

Lots of good questions, but I think the answer to a lot of them is 'it depends'.

Chef: There are many possible scenarios for people to bug out, some more urgent and dangerous than others.

Personally, I suspect there would be a slower decline into social disorder in most of the situations that feel realistic based on my limited knowledge. I'm guessing most preppers would be ahead of the first waves of any population migratiion. I would not restrict on area as long as people are in the UK. It's really up to you and your judgement; if you thnk you would be quick to act and able to get here then great. I'm much more concerned with the quality of the group and personally optimistic that most would make it from quite far afield.

Yes, someone with welding skills and equipment would be great too. An engineer would be a great resource, but probably not as urgent as the other skills in most scenarios.

I will be getting a hive this year - helps get max yields from the forest garden too.

Bulldog, if I put my realistic hat on then I'd have to say 'it depends', but I can certainly imagine situations where our lifeboat was full and the best we could offer was assistance instead of sanctuary. Turning people away should always be a last resort and group decision imo.

AWR - best answer I could give is the system would have to be organised in the best way we could come up with as a group and we would have to be willing to change and develop our systems as situations change. I personally dislike the idea of anyone needing to order anyone to do anything; I've never needed to order my mates to do anything and we get things done with a smile on our faces .

[Jabba]

I think Jabba has it backwards.

I would decide who joins with me not the other way around. Having to ask "pretty, pretty, please take me". Never.

Those few that I have known for perhaps twenty plus years and trust implicitly would be my companions. True friends in the old fashioned way. Not just someone who I have ticked a box on a computer type friend.

I think you misunderstand me Ian. I'm not about to go giving out my home address to these people. I would, however, like to meet up with a group of interested people to size them up. I get on very well with most people, but there is a certain kind of character (calm, rational, intelligent and humble) which is easiest to get along with and I would like to see how many of those types of people I can meet who share the prepper/self-sufficiency mindset.

I'm not doing it because I want to make friends and have people who I barely know come and stay with me. I'm doing it because I genuinely belive it would be my best shot for survival IF TSHTF. None of this really matters until the situation has become life and death, and by that point I may seriously regret having been snobbish and kept myself to myself. I have very few skills outside of food production and preperation, so I really do NEED people with these skills IF the worst happens

[Jabba]

My mate got the golden lab puppy today by the way. So cute and funny! I'm really glad he did it now - even though I was apprehensive about the responsibility.

[triffid]

I appreciate your point "I have very few skills outside of food production and preperation, so I really do NEED people with these skills IF the worst happens" but could I suggest an alternative course of action: learn those skills?
Take plumbing/electrical/building. I have completely renovated/extended a property my self. (incl. bathroom/kitchen etc). I have 'built' a car. I have never hunted or fished but I have learned how to prepare meat/fish. So although not 'qualified' on paper in any of those areas (and many others) I hope I'm qualified by experience? I am, I accept a 'jack of all trades but master of none' but after a major event....... it will be generalists not specialists who are most in demand. IMHO


Skills like plumbing are reasonably simple to understand (the basics). The 'skill' of the professional plumber is not so much doing the job- but doing it efficiently (in terms of time/money). But after an 'event' economic efficiency isn't the prime goal.
There is an expression relating to engineering: "Anyone can build a bridge that will stand up..... but the skill is in building a bridge that will only just stand up".



I think one of the best 'prepping' notions is being 'the grey man'. The fewer people outside your immediate circle the better

[nickdutch]

but after a major event....... it will be generalists not specialists who are most in demand. IMHO

That's what i recon too. But also communication and leadership skills are essential in all otherwise you wont be able to explain things to people who are lacking in understanding. That's one reason why i am doing a course to increase my communication, presentation and leadership skills.

[TeeDee]

That's one reason why i am doing a course to increase my communication, presentation and leadership skills.

What course is that Nick? Distance learning OU or Night class or something different.

[Jabba]

I agree and I'm also more of a generalist than specialist. Survival and food covers a pretty masive range of skills that I still need to practice and develop.

The problem is I still have lots to learn in my given area, I work at night to earn cash and I have a dog, 2 cats and chickens. I don't really feel like I have the time to pick up most of those skills effectively and although I can't argue with the fact that knowing more skills yourself is always a good idea; I also feel quite certain that with the space I have I need more man power to defend it too, not to mention the fact that having a small degree of specialisation in the group would be 'better' and would make us more effective at dealing with certain challenges where a novice might end up shrugging their shoulders.

Basically, I think I could accomplish a lot more if I just had to focus on my (very wide) area and then pick up a bit of one of the other skills, and have several other people doing the same.

[Jabba]

but after a major event....... it will be generalists not specialists who are most in demand. IMHO

That's what i recon too. But also communication and leadership skills are essential in all otherwise you wont be able to explain things to people who are lacking in understanding. That's one reason why i am doing a course to increase my communication, presentation and leadership skills.

Communication yes... I'm not so sure about leadership if you start with the right kind of people.

I managed a large community (online and in the flesh) for the last 5 years and the most effective tool I found for mediation and negotiation was always empathy and an open-mind, not a stick or loud-speaker. Leadership skills are only necessary if you want to lead or need to galvanise a group. Not all groups of people require one member to bring the rest together, organise them or motivate them. If you find the right people then you can unite behind a common goal, accept the need to submit to group decisions, and self-motivate and organise.

Just one hippy's point of view of course

[scoobie]

It's certainly a very interesting project you have there, and I hope it works out the way you envisage.

If you've been lurking around any of the prepping forums for a while, you will notice there are some incredibly large egos in the wider community; who appear very helpful at first, but are actually very two faced and deceitful. Unfortunately we have them here as well as on their own forums, so just be careful who you get involved with.

All the best,

Scoobie.