What will your unprepared neighbor have to barter?

I have a Retired school teacher/Archery Pro instructor , Retired Sheriffs deputy,a liberal woman, and a metal smith for neighbors.

 

3 outa 4 ain't too bad. The question is, do you need or likely to need their talents enough to feed or house them?

 

Nope I'm good,all though I would help the retired teacher.

 

I think the mindset with most of the folks here is not what is expected or hoped for from the neighbors or nearby residents, but what they can do to prevent depending on the neighbor for anything. To me, the more interesting question comes up when doing an inventory, what is it you don't have, that you can't provide for, and how can you cover that lack? For example, what have you got that you can trade to get a tooth filled? All I expect from an unprepared neighbor is a hassle or begging, or an offer to trade me something I already have. What I MAY lack is the ability to say no to obviously needy door knockers. My defense against that has to be a hard heart, and to look as needy as they are. (A very good muffler on the gennie, long grass, and no lights on at night should help there.)

 

I think this leads to the more important question of where do you live? Location is IMHO perhaps the most important facet of a successful SHTF plan.

Someone who lives in the city or even in a suburb is very unlikely to have neighbors who have much to offer in goods or knowledge. Of course if you were lucky you might end up with a neighborhood watch scenario like in Half Fast's "Lights Out". But that is unlikely.

Those who live in the country have a much better chance of having nieghbors with something to contribute.

My nieghbors, 4 families within walking distance, have livestock, horses, farming equipment and supplies, water wells, stocked ponds, work shops with welding and metal working equipment, and the skills to use them. And guns.

So I would have a lot to barter with and for in a SHTF situation. Also there is only one road in with a narrow bridge over a deep creek that could easily be blocked to control access.

In any type of societal upheaval the people around you will have a great impact on your personal survival. So placing yourself in a location where you have nieghbors with something positive to contribute should be a major priority. Any rural seting is more likely to have self suffecient nieghbors than an urban one.

I know that not everyone can up and move to a rural setting but you should at least have a location set aside. Vacation property, friend or relatives place, or at least a park, lake, or camping area that you could bug out to if things in your urban setting get too chaotic.