A Group of Your Own

Is it a natural occurrence for people to come together as times get harder? In some instances, I would say yes, and in others, no. For example, there are more and more violent attacks happening around our country. Some only involve one victim and others many victims, but the same event touches people in different ways. In some people it fosters a festering hatred for anyone associated with the perceived offending group. In other people it brings out an increase in empathy and altruism. These are two diametrically opposed opinions and perspectives about a single event.

For instance, take the murder of police officers across the country. For some reason, there are people that have decided, and some even loudly advocate, the murder of law enforcement personnel. Not because these particular officers have done anything to offend the killer personally, but just because they chose to protect and serve the community for a career and as a means to pay the bills and raise a family. That’s a good, logical reason to commit murder, wouldn’t you say? I know that is dripping with sarcasm, but really, some people seem to truly believe there is nothing wrong with this activity, they even preach it from their pulpits.

As offensive as this situation is, it has brought some people together. In some instances, I would even guess it has brought people together that never had anything to do with each other before. These murders have become their common bond and motivator. They have joined together to take care of each other in some form or fashion.

The murders that took place in Oregon a few days ago targeting Christians have resulted in comments by a number of people. One I read said that Christians need to have concealed carry permits so they can protect themselves. The campus that the shooting occurred on was a gun free zone. If someone there had been able to carry a concealed weapon, legally, you have to wonder if there would have been as many casualties and injuries. 

But there is another group these shootings have brought together. They are those that would take away guns from everyone. Except the criminals, of course, they would have them anyway. 

The people in these two groups will never see eye to eye. One group claims guns kill people, even though they are inanimate objects and can do nothing of their own volition. The other group claims that the right to keep and bear arms is part of the basic foundation of our Constitution and no other law can infringe upon that right. Along with the right to keep and bear arms comes the right to protect yourself against those that threaten your liberty or life. 

Group. Faction. Division. Clique. Sort. Classify. Club. League. Cabal. Caucus. Union. All adjectives that can describe a number of people that join together for a particular purpose. 

The time is drawing near that everyone will have to choose what group they will belong to or attempt to join. So why not choose ahead of time and develop relationships with folks in your area? Folks that have the same goals of survival and self-reliance that you do. For a long time Frank and I didn’t talk to anyone locally about what we were doing and how we were trying to prepare for the coming collapse of society. We tried to gently warn people to have some extra food, grow a garden and store some water. Most people just gave us that funny stare like a third eye had just popped out of our foreheads or something. Others saw no reason to do all that work when you can go to the store any time you want for anything at all. Then we started the blog and started sharing with you. At first we were very careful about what we shared and what we said. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t know everything we’re doing or thinking. We’re still careful. But the time has come that we have started sharing with some of the local folks, like the people from the radio class.

Frank told you in the last article that you too can start a survival radio communications net, and he’s right. That is one way you can join with other people to increase the chance of survival for everyone in the group. It is a way to begin a core group of people that are now beginning to look out for each others safety and well being. Now think of ways you can expand that thought. That is what we are doing.

We have friends who garden and preserve their harvest. This is another way to join together for the benefit of everyone. You don’t have to garden together, but let’s face it, there is a lot to be said for encouragement. If your friend down the road is fighting the same squash bugs you are and has found a better solution, that’s very good information to have. It could mean the difference between a productive garden with food on the shelf, or a failed crop with no food on the shelf. In a collapse scenario, that could mean the difference between life and death. Dramatic? I really don’t think so.

So how are you going to communicate with that friend down the road in a collapse situation? By radio, of course. See how everything ties together?

 
Medical skills will be a highly valued commodity in a collapsed society. Do you have any skills? If not do you have supplies that can be bartered for those services? Do you have medical supplies that can become part of the service needed? 

What I’m trying to do is give examples of ways we can develop a means to help and support each other when the time comes that what we have is all we have. That includes people and their skills, whether it is gardening,

radio communications, running a sawmill or tending livestock. Even though Frank and I are natural loners and would like nothing better than to be alone on our homestead, in a collapse situation, that just won’t work. We can’t do all the work necessary, guard our place and each other, and get enough sleep to survive. No matter how much we want it to be so, it just isn’t feasible. That means we need other people, and for us to fulfill that need, we need to reach out to others and develop the relationships necessary to not only receive, but provide support to others.

Is this a scary proposition for us? Yes. At times do we feel vulnerable to what may come of sharing some of what we are doing and how we are preparing. When, not if, the SHTF will there be

people showing up at the gate we have to turn away, even by force if necessary? We can only pray that it would not be so. I was talking to a long distance friend today and we discussed this very thing. What she told me really struck a chord. She said that we have been called to live this life in this manner. Not only that, we have been called to share with others to try to help them prepare as well, and if that leads us into danger then God will take care of it. 

Folks, it’s time to join together in neighborhoods or communities to support each other during the coming calamities. Trying to make connections and build relationships after the SHTF will be very trying and stressful. If you have built a foundation ahead of time, you will have something to fall back on, others to turn to if there is a need. Don’t wait until all hell has broken loose to show up at your neighbors gate and say we need to work together now. It will then be too late and you will be seen as a taker. Takers are apt to be turned away with whatever force is necessary. Don’t be a taker, be prepared to be a benefit and support, not a burden. Frank and I have been saying this more and more, and I’ll say it again. The time is now.

Until next time – Fern
  Visit Thoughts From Frank and Fern at http://thoughtsfromfrankandfern.blogspot.com/