Recognized as a like-minded survivalist

[Flagwaver]

Today, I asked for food-grade buckets at the bakery counter in Wal-Mart. They had three available, which they sold to me for $1.00 each (the lids came with them). I asked the clerk if people were asking for buckets. She paused, looked directly at me with a look that meant she knew WHY they wanted buckets, and said, "Yes. Every day."

With my cart full of buckets, batteries, 7-gallon water containers, and propane cannisters, I was getting some canned beans. I noticed a guy was watching me as I examined the expiration dates on the bottom of each can. (Hey, it's better for long-term storage to buy a can that expires in two years than a can that only has 2 months until expiration, right?) He looked me in the eye, looked at my cart, and briefly nodded his approval---never said anything---he had items in his cart that indicated that he, too, was shopping to be prepared.

I have to admit, it makes me feel really good that others out there are like minded. There is no secret handshake or code, but there is a recognition, an understanding.

Have any of you had a similar experience? Can you recognize people who are getting prepared?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I carry a little sparkie on my keychain along with the weave 550 cord with this in mind. It has started a few conversations but no one serious or skilled yet. Unfortunatley it has led more to the "hey make me one" and with my friends it's the same ole "see matt will always have what we need mindset". I don't know what to do or how to overcome this laziness and have given up on them. I now look at them as zombies too. I thought I was GTG when a church member was selling long term storage food out of their house but turns out they are just salespeople and not into it. This time of year here is a good time for opsec to buy this stuff you listed cause everyone just thinks "deercamp" but it's not so good for finding anyone else. There are lots of shooters and short term folks as a way of life but seems no serious stuff around here. It's difficult to find someone on your level. having mention the level some here on this site and others would consider me a zombie because of my current situation of not having land, livestock, free water, grid free etc. so it's more complex than I used to think.

[Klayton]

Your lucky flagwaver...

My local Wally World will not give me or sell me their left over bakery buckets. According to the bakery workers they are to be cleaned and saved for one of the managers. Who, according to the two I talked to, get them all for free. Now I thought how lucky. Then I thought the lazy prick has these people washing "his" buckets for him/her, and immediately placed them in a POS category. LOL

[birdseye.2]

@Matt in Oklahoma,

Hey... everyone has to start somewhere. It's been two years and my family just moved onto our first property. It's not ideal, not quite far enough away from town, not off-grid, but has a well, a creek on property, as well as a larger one just off, and 4 acres. When you don't have anything, something is always better than nothing. It's not your cir***stance that makes you a zombie, it's your state of mind, always remember that.

[Flagwaver]

All of your comments kind of point to what I was getting at: Although it isn't obvious by just looking at a person, there IS a mindset that certain people have that helps them to survive. Whether it is stocking up on basic provisions, trying to educate friends, being generous instead of selfish, treating people with respect, homesteading, or simply THINKING AHEAD and getting your mind right, those of us who are preparing are like minded.

I do not consider myself to be a zombie. I add to my shelter-in-place preparations weekly: more food storage, water containers, first aid supplies. I am older and will never be able to live far from civilization. My husband is 11 years older than I am and would not be of any use in any situation requiring heavy manual labor. Our family members live in other states. However, if power goes off we can be self-sufficient for at least 3 months. After that, if there is such a huge catastrophe that the world as we know it disappears, we will disappear with it. This is just reality for the elderly. Until then, preparations for survival go on in our house and we will not have to face empty grocery shelves or lack of water if there is a short-term problem.

[Lowdown3]

I carry a little sparkie on my keychain along with the weave 550 cord with this in mind. It has started a few conversations but no one serious or skilled yet. Unfortunatley it has led more to the "hey make me one" and with my friends it's the same ole "see matt will always have what we need mindset". I don't know what to do or how to overcome this laziness and have given up on them. I now look at them as zombies too. I thought I was GTG when a church member was selling long term storage food out of their house but turns out they are just salespeople and not into it. This time of year here is a good time for opsec to buy this stuff you listed cause everyone just thinks "deercamp" but it's not so good for finding anyone else. There are lots of shooters and short term folks as a way of life but seems no serious stuff around here. It's difficult to find someone on your level. having mention the level some here on this site and others would consider me a zombie because of my current situation of not having land, livestock, free water, grid free etc. so it's more complex than I used to think.

Your no zombie bro.

However what you said about short timers, etc. is spot on IMO.

Gonna be a lot of folks that never got past 1st base heading back to the dugout after the regime change in 2012. I know of lot of folks that are "counting" on people like that. That's very foolish.

[ssonb]

I had a gentleman (term loosely used here) whom I work around approached me the other day and said " Hey you are one of those survival type people, man if the big "Throw down" happens( his descriptive term not mine) I'm comming over to your house and get one of them thirty o sixes (BTW he does not know where I live). I replied in my best southrn drawl " Yep yaw shore will...Besides I will not mind you lying in my driveway.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

@ssonb bad stuff there bubba, thats why I think it's hard for us to find each other because opsec is so important

[ssonb]

Sorry I got a little off post there but thats what I get when I am trying to get started, in a hurry and staring thru my coffee...Now where were we????

[610Alpha]

That is why we have the forums to help us develop relationships with each other, combined with the meets, people should be able to get an idea of who is who and who is full of poo :) oh I couldn't resist that last bit. seriously though, with this forum and others (State preppers network) people should be able to find like minded individuals, it takes time and a whole lot of conversations.

[ssonb]

elittle, In the northern part of GA. it seem to be near impossible to get anyone together except to meet and greet!..Just last month I attended a M&G from another site, I went with the goal on trying to get started a more educational bend to the gatherings. I offered to get in touch with Lowdown3 and set a future date for him to come an give some pointers on what direction we as a group can take....Well since I have not been in contact with L3 (xsept here) we can see how far that went! I have a few friends that are at the moment getting our SSB CBs set up for comms. of that small group, three are on board with the radios,one thinks it is silly ,Two of us are gathering foods, and one other believes that his two pistols and 100 rnds each is all he needs. OH well...one can only try. But I aint bout to give up. PS..I am as full of poo as anyone can get!!!!

[610Alpha]

@ssonb - your eyes must be brown :) Have your friends read Patriots or 1 second after?

[ssonb]

READ!!!!????...and no,no,no.

[mrsmarine]

Since returning to the states I talked to everyone that I can about preparing. I've gotten nothing but a glazed look and a fake smile that says only that they are humoring me. It's very frustrating sometimes. The only person that I've found that agrees with me is my sister but she's alll the way in Alaska. Would be great if I could find some like minded people.