Surviving alone or form a group?

Discussion in 'Back to Basics' started by larryinalabama, Dec 16, 2011.


  1. larryinalabama

    larryinalabama Monkey++

    Post SHITF is it better to be part of a group or just keep to myself and 2 children? I have only a few close friends with whom I could trust with mine and my kids life. I live in a rural area with a lot of retired people who are nice but honestly would be imposible to take care of in a post shitf. I realize this doest sound Christian but I fell like my duty would be to my children.
     
    Dogfood and tulianr like this.
  2. DKR

    DKR Raconteur of the first stripe

    Start looking now

    If I may ask -

    How many single wagons crossed the plains? Ya, wagon trains started for a reason.

    Find a local group you can live with (church, civic, whatever) and start building those ties now, beforethere is a need.

    You should look at skills building with your children as well.

    Finally, don't write off "old folks" we resent it. You might just be surprised the amount of good, old school knowledge they poses - like living without electricity...

    Good luck.
     
    goinpostal, dystopia, Cephus and 2 others like this.
  3. larryinalabama

    larryinalabama Monkey++

    Most here think life will go on as usual indefenately.

    I havent written off old folks, its just how can I help a 95 year old person that likley cant survive anyway. Ill help anyway I can but if it compromises the welfare of my children I wont.
     
    oth47 likes this.
  4. beast

    beast backwoodsman

    time to get away from the herd of sheeple then
    find some new friends that have a clue
     
  5. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    Forming a group is inbreed in Louisiana people...
    We get to practice every 4/5 yrs...
    Side note: No comments about inbreeding down here please...ccc...
     
  6. Falcon15

    Falcon15 Falco Peregrinus

    Since I am not allowed to comment on inbreeding in Louisiana, I will refrain from telling folks a virgin in Louisiana is a girl who can run faster than all her male kin. ;)

    As for the OPs question, group. Period. You cannot watch 24/7. Even you and your wife combined, splitting watches, you will become exhausted very quickly and then your security and safety is gone. This is just watches, this is not including the other chores like hunting, chopping and hauling wood, drawing water, gardening, etc.
     
  7. hedger

    hedger Monkey+

    There is a huge dilemma:

    A small committed core can easily share values but may lack enough persons to share necessary chores to sustain survival of the group.

    However, a larger, perhaps skill-rich group may have a number of imprudent individualists who can consistently blow huge holes in the groups operational security. Such individuals may form multiple cliques which work to the detriment of the survival of the group. Not to mention other behaviors which may be directly threatening to survival.

    Where then, is the perfect balancing point?

    How many is just enough? Which skill sets and which personality types will blend in and sustain a successful group striving to survive after an SHTF event?

    These are easy questions to ask but very challenging tasks to resolve in a meaningful way.

    What are your thoughts on this?

    Does anyone have a template that appears to work most of the time?
     
    tulianr likes this.
  8. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    Man man man...The dilemma does not exist..Unless you allow it...
    Release your troublemakers...Maintain the committed...


     
    sgt peppersass likes this.
  9. Redneck Rebel

    Redneck Rebel Monkey++

    ^This coupled with a someone who can fill the strong leadership role without being a jerkoff. I don't care how tight nit your group, when the pressure builds there has to be a strong fair person to maintain order.
     
  10. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    Someone has to lay down the law in a survival group...
    And a few may not like it....Tough... Listen to what they have to say....Agree or disagree...
    Then send them on their way...or not...
     
  11. Alpha Dog

    Alpha Dog survival of the breed

    If you plan on being with a group try and get it together before the last thing you need is a power struggle a SHTF thats when people get hurt or killed and the last thing you want is a devided group. With that being said the ones I have chosen are people who are like family and we have a kind of rank structure. Make sure you guy's meet every so often and talk about the what if's most problems can be worked out before hand or you can leave the group to find another. Important to remember 1st even with these guy's being like family I always keep in mind if it came down to me and mine or them and their's I know what I would and I think I know them well enough to know what they would. 2nd being part of a group tactics have to be changed and re-worked. 3rd the reason I say now if you get to know them before you could leave if SHTF it could be dangerous to attempt to leave because like my group we all stock mostly the same stuff but each person has a different function and stocks more of one or two things. So attempting to leave could cause a real problem for the goup at which time you become a victim of a bad situation and your supplies are taken by the group you was part of. One last thing if you are part of a group be very careful when it comes to taking in others that even meens wemon and children. Everyone will be a threat and new ones will also be a burden on supplies.
     
    Cephus, hank2222, Sapper John and 4 others like this.
  12. Falcon15

    Falcon15 Falco Peregrinus

    OK my [2c]. My group is established. We have a republic system already agreed upon. For day to day activities we have our specialist tasks, split chores, etc. We have "experts" in each area of expertise, tactical, medical, farming/livestock, etc. and we defer to the experts when it is their realm of expertise. For example, in an alarm situation, the Tactical expert is in the lead, but he'll turn a compost pile when the farming expert says it needs to be turned. We have a leader. He is the leader unless he dies, and there is a 2nd in command to take the leadership role if needed.

    We are blessed that the persons in the group have an excellent dynamic (we all get along well and respect one another), and most are former military, so we are used to chain of command etc.

    The republic aspect comes when there are decisions to be made that affect the group as a whole. Each family, whether it is a married couple with no kids, or a family of 7, gets one vote. The votes are paper, anonymous ballots, counted by the leader who abstains unless there is a tie. 2/3 Majority rules. This only applies again, when the whole group has to decide on something that affects them all, like allowing a new person in. YMMV, this works for us.
     
  13. Redneck Rebel

    Redneck Rebel Monkey++

    ^^ This is similar to the system that worked for a long long time aboard pirate vessels of all places and I suspect if it worked for the type of personalities aboard those vessels its gotta be a damn good management system.
     
    sgt peppersass likes this.
  14. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    As it now stands...I'm a one legged man in a sack race! ( yeah i know the other one, but after all...I'm feeling happy right now just to be back online!)
    I have seen larger (12-18) and smaller (6-7) groups come and go....
    For some reason which is beyond me, they just cant seem to get the idea of "cohesion" at all.
     
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  15. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    Simple.... life right now is just too EASY. The smallest bit of personal abrasion is allowed to grow and fester. Eaveryone wants the goody without having to really work together for it.
    In a true SHTF situation, life depends on working together for the common good. All small villages on the frontier had their 'pillory post' for those who showed their arse on occasion. For more serious infractions, banishmnet or Boot Hill.....
    Life was HARD in those days.
     
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  16. GrandpaDave

    GrandpaDave Monkey++

    No one has all the skills necessary to survive... Trust me I grew up on a ranch... to much work for one man alone... even as a hunter... field dressing an elk by yourself is no fun... it's hard back breaking messy work... then you have the problem of being alone in the wilds and hurt....

    no sire your much better off in a group... of like minded folks who preplanned and ready to divide the work for the good of the whole
     
  17. larryinalabama

    larryinalabama Monkey++


    Around here its really difficult to find survivalist. Sure guns and amo are popular, but mention the world collapsing they all think your crazy. I have read countless stories of men surviving in the cold wilderness with literally nothing.
     
    dragonfly likes this.
  18. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    We have a couple of ''Pirates'' on board here...^^^...
    However i suspect we all have a bit of pirate in us....ccc...
     
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  19. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Pirates are but one version of group dynamics. If you are moved to do a bit more, do a search on "tribe" on this site. My research indicates that Falc's setup is a close match.
     
    Gator 45/70 likes this.
  20. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    Tribes are ok...However i prefer ''Pirates''...Nomads on water...!!!
     
    tulianr likes this.
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