Groups for the BOL

[monkeybird]

How many of you actually have a selected group of family and friends who you will bug out with?

In "How to Survive the End of the World as we Know it", Mr. Rawls has a specific group of people who all meet at a specified location with the primary goal of survival.

How many of you actually have such a group? If so, how did you select the members. How long did you know them before they became a member of your group?

[610Alpha]

This has been discussed a little bit in other posts. Would definitely like to hear from some of the moderators on this.

[610Alpha]

This has been discussed a little bit in other posts. Would definitely like to hear from some of the moderators on this.

[Bull]

I'm selecting one now. Or rather, I'm trying to form a group. Unfortunately it is pretty small now. Family members of like minds are first. Friends with like minds are next, and family I love, who aren't onboard, but I would want to survive, and who could still contribute with skills if they do come. Of course those are the hard ones because they don't prep and don't think anything is going to happen, so trying to get them to form or agree to a plan of meeting is kind of like trying to get them to prep. I can't really count on it so it is not a real plan. But my friends of like minds do prep, and we also agree that you will need a group. I'm actually looking at buying a piece of land right next to one of them for this purpose, which will mean that I will probably move somewhere I had never thought about before, and away from everyone else. But I think it is real important, and if I can have this setup with him established, then I can arrange for my like minded family and other like minded friends to meet there. For me it is basically people I know I can count on. People I can trust. But they have to be on the same page about prepping and understand the importance of having this bug out plan, and contribute to it. They have to recognize the benefit and have an equal interest in making sure it is executed.

[1Admin]

Bull said- "They have to recognize the benefit and have an equal interest in making sure it is executed."

That is one of the problems in this sort of situation- MANY DON'T.

So few people have really really really fathomed the extent of the possible situations we may face. They kid themselves and think that with them and their wife as shooters they can make it amongst a couple million starving pilgrims. It ain't gonna happen.

People have to be serious enough to ACT on their BELIEFS.

It's just like Christianity- if you TRULY believe it will show in your actions, attitudes and affections. They will change from the "old self." Maybe not everything and yes certain things will give you problems for years.

The point is still the same however, if you TRULY believe we are in for some crap in this country, you will ACT based on your belief aka "conviction." For most this never goes further than putting up a little bit of food and occasionally going shooting however.

Bull's statement was succinct - people have to understand the BENEFIT of it enough to be willing to work at it. The BENEFIT of course is actually living, surviving and thriving, versus dieing from the zombie hoardes in suburbia.

Most people today are looking more for an "insurance policy" arrangement more than a real commitment. Therein lies the problem.

[Hawkeye]

Bull said- "They have to recognize the benefit and have an equal interest in making sure it is executed."

That is one of the problems in this sort of situation- MANY DON'T.

So few people have really really really fathomed the extent of the possible situations we may face. They kid themselves and think that with them and their wife as shooters they can make it amongst a couple million starving pilgrims. It ain't gonna happen.

People have to be serious enough to ACT on their BELIEFS.
...........snip............

Headbanging ditto's times 1000. It is SO aggravating sometimes.....

[Benn Gleck]

Forming, joining or finding a group to me is the toughest part of prepping. Finding someone with the real belief that things are going to be very bad is impossible for me. It might be my personality or my ability to trust people but whatever it is it has kept me to just family.

I do have some people that I'd like to approach about forming a group though....... anybody know how to get a hold of the girls in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition??:p

[Klayton]

LMAO Benn!!

[IronShepherd]

I agree 150% that a group is going to be neccesary when times get tough. Where do you draw the line though? I mean do you let everybody that is willing to do just a little prepping join your group? Still being in college has put some speed bumps in my plans but I still feel like I'm doing as much as I can for right now. I have attempted to have friends join me in being prepared for the worst but many see my ideas as a joke. I've been thinking I should try for a group of 5 to 8. What are all of you thinking you should have in your group number wise? Also, what are the proposed plans for getting all of the preps to a centralized location? I'm between have 3 to 6 months worth of different things and I already think I would need a U-Haul to get it all moved.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Also, what are the proposed plans for getting all of the preps to a centralized location? I'm between have 3 to 6 months worth of different things and I already think I would need a U-Haul to get it all moved.

I have a large slide in camper on trailor that would go along with my pickup. I am well versed in the load out on this as it is my hunting/camping war wagon. I also have a 13ft trailor that would be loaded down and hooked to the boys truck with the extra food stuff. If possible the girl and my wife would drive their cars too. If nothing else the cars would be used as defense speed bumps at the BOL to keep out zombies, that is once I made some adjustments to keep them from being used as cover:)

I really do not have a group as of yet. There are possibilities but I am of a distrustful nature due to life experiences and it is difficult. Plus I can be "difficult" as well I am told. I am a survivalist and I prepare however resources are limited even though I make a decent living and that has been an issue in the past as some expect an extravegant amount of money to be spent. I have ideas that life must go on even while I prepare and the kids needs have always come first. That has been an issue with some who believe every dime should go into the latest whizbang.
I have also had bad issues with politcal anti-everything haters who seems be on the fringe of plain crazy. I am not of this thought and just wish to survive whatever comes. I still believe in America though I don't agree with everthing and the directions we are currently going. That seems to be an issue with alot of Survivalist. Well over half of the ones I have met wish for war with someone. I have seen war and more atrocities commited by man than I care to. I fight and I fight hard, just ask anyone who has known me, but I don't look for it.
Anyway thats where I'm at and havent found the right group yet.

[LizardKing]

So far my group is small but efficient. It consists mostly of family where everyone has a skill to contribute, from construction to animal husbandry, and one close friend that can locate, kill and process a pig in 30 minutes.

[Bull]

I think the number of people in the group can change a lot depending on some things. Primarily I think location and the skill set of the group. If you are in a pretty remote place, where many of the surrounding folks already garden and live rather self-sufficient lives, I think you can get by with less on the security end of it. You would probably form alliances and be safer in general if the majority of your neighbors were similar people to begin with. Your whole area would be sort of problematic for the zombies and reduce their chances of success against you. However, if those same skilled neighbors were pushed to their limits they would probably be a bigger threat than the common brain dead, no skill, zombie. I think they would be more likely to want to work out an arrangement to feed themselves than to just try to take what you have. Also, you would potentially have more folks to barter and trade with. Food, seeds, etc. Location, I think, plays a big part of how big a group you need, because those in your community could potentially begin to form the group of survivors, and become a community or village of survivors. If you live in worse area I would think you would need a lot bigger group, simply for security and defense purposes. Reduce that need with a great location and I think a smaller, skilled group could function well tackling the other aspects of survival.

[monkeybird]

I don't have a group and have no idea how to start one. The only like minded person I know is my Sister. Lets face it, TEOTWAWKI is not something you bring up over lunch with the girls. I believe that people everywhere are really worried. It's like there is a collective fear of the events currently unfolding across the globe. However, if you mention storing food for instance, you get "we are always prepared for hurricanes" type thinking. No one I know is seriously worried about the U.S. collapse type event. They simply can't believe it. And, to tell the truth, it's hard for me to believe it too. The worry about security is foremost. If I discuss 'prepping' with others, how do I know that when the SHTF they won't show up at my door.

I guess I could start recruiting, with skills being the most important issue. However, some of the 'survival' meet and greets certainly aren't close to me, and then you have the issue of people you chat with online, not being the real deal. Forming a group takes time. On the other hand, joining just any group because you're asked has issues also. Imagine being in a group with a despot leader.

How large should the group be? What are the most IMPORTANT skills? How do you know who to trust? I've been disappointed by people I trusted before.

I agree survival depends on a 'group'. I just hope that there is a major die off of the 'bad guys' initially so the rest of us can get on with living.

[1Admin]

"Lets face it, TEOTWAWKI is not something you bring up over lunch with the girls."

THAT is a sig line if I've ever seen one!!! Awesome!

[IronShepherd]

I too have been disappointed by many of those that I have trusted in the past. However, I believe when it comes down to it, you have to trust somebody, or come up with the ability to forgive and forget alot. No matter where you are I believe you will need some sort of group. More densely populated area will most likely required a larger group just for safety reasons. In more rural areas you should be able to get by with much smaller groups but then you get back to who you have in your group and what skills and talents they each have.