My family has discussed this possibility at length. We do not believe we can turn hungry people away, so we had to come up with a plan. We decided that we will help those that are willing to help us. In other words, what can you do? Everyone will have an assignment to complete each day. There are many things thatwill have to be done, like, bringing in wood for the fire, bringing in water, cooking, looking after the children, washing clothes, keeping the fire going during the night and possibly standing guard. It won't be a free ride but they won't be hungry. We have already accepted 2 people into the group but they were told up front they would have to work.

-- country girl (in@country.com), November 26, 1999

Answers

I am curious. Why would you accept two people into your family NOW? Especially when they have time to make some preps? Are they NOW contributing to the expense of their future food, etc? If they are GI enuff to want into your family, seems to me they are GI enuff to do their own preparing. Whew! Been nice if somebody told me ahead of time that they would take all the responsibility of our lives and safety if we work a little. Think of the money, time and worry that Chubby Hubby and I could have saved. We could have been vacationing in the islands up until the last minute!

Taz...who is writing with a LITTLE tongue in cheek!

-- Taz (Tassie123@aol.com), November 26, 1999.

Taz, I was thinking the same. I would be insulted by DGI's who say that they'd come over and work alittle in exchange for food if things get bad. OTOH, I would be sympathetic if some poor GI could not prepare due to lack of funds.

-- Sandwich (anon@anon.anon), November 26, 1999.

Country girl,

We were considering the same thing until it was brought to our attention that if one person said something outside of our retreat that we could be in a world of hurt. All is it takes is one hungry person with a gun to have devastating results. Just a heads up incase you have not considered it.

BrianNJ

-- BrianNJ (Not@here.com), November 26, 1999.

Taz, Any one that had been to the islands or taken a vacation of any kind this year would not be considered for our group. The 2 people I mentioned are deserving. I should have been more specific, at least one family member has to be able to vouch for you in order to be admitted. We can not. for safety reasons except people off the streets. Can you not think of one person you would be willing to help if they were willing to help you and your family survive?

My point was that there are ways to help people in exchange for work or food to add to the pot. I have planned for these 2 people from the start and have the preps for them already.

-- country girl (in@country.com), November 26, 1999.

County Girl,

Good for you, you're one of the rebuilders. Anyone can hole up and say screw everyone else, but....

I'm in the same boat kinda, I'm in a town of 200 with few if any other GI's, but if the SHTF I got enough to feed (until summer) all of the ones who will help get the water and lights working again. I got everything in place, just need the man hours to finish.

I know it will not be easy to manage. I expect trouble makers, but I decided a year ago that it will be done my way or not at all. (Ask me what a dead man switch is) We all live; or we all starve, die of thirst or worse. That will be made clear to all at the beginning.

No, I'm not power hungry. This was only way I could see to stop a bullet from hitting me in the back from a neighbor and get out of this alive.

-- SilentRunnig (CanYouHearMe@Calling.You), November 26, 1999.

I'll bite... what is a "dead man switch"?

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 26, 1999.

---it is unfortunate for them, but at this time, considering the possibility of a big crash, and the universal access to computers for news in the US (I have been using library computers almost exclusively all spring/summer/fall now, for instance), that anyone who decides to GET IT AFTER a big crash is just "sol". I have discussed this with my girlfriend, we are prepared to accept some children/refugees if they come our way, to the best of our abilities and beyond. I'm afraid dgi's-adults-will most likely be at the best useless, as they will continue to make bad decisions, and they can also be dangerous, as they will be quite willing to lie, to make excuses for themselves, consider you to be "hoarders", etc. People change REALLY QUICK once they are desparate, and once they cross that line into a predator there's no turning back. Children, some, yes, adults, unfortunately, no. If we are forced to bugout further, we will go as deep into the wilderness as possible, so as to not be a burden on anyone. I am a survival consultant and expert, not a programmer. I recognize that you are only allowed one mistake in a survival/emergency situation, then that's it, you lose. You CANNOT trust those people later on, it's a BAD CALL if you do.

I can DO what needs to be done, most efficiently. In other words, ask no quarter, give no quarter. There are people out there by the quadzillion who make much more money than me, MUCH MORE, they have access to information same as me, and they choose to not look and to not act. These same people are not paying any of my bills now, they aren't helping to drag this country back from the police state it's headed to, they aren't doing SQUAT except rubbing their hands in glee over their shimmering chimera of "stock" money they think they are making, and poking fun at folks who sacrafice in terms of economics, time, and training in order to "prepare".

tough call, but no thanks this time

zoggus

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), November 26, 1999.

I live by myself on my remote ranch. I'm not sure if anyone will be coming out here during the coming tuff times. My grown kids are all DGI, and most of the people around here also are.

Talked to my brother in Kansas City tonight and asked him if he was stocking up. He kind of laughed and said "No one around here is worried about it. Besides, we'll all be in the same boat anyway." Read: sitting in the same shelter staring at each other.

Now I'm not sure I would want this relative to come knocking on my door looking for a handout. He's been operating all his adult life on 3 of six cylinders, working minimum wage jobs and at over age 60, is now bagging groceries.

Point: there are some folks, including relatives, who would have to bring a lot more than hunger pains to my doorstep to expect to be admitted.

remote

-- remote (remote@outback.com), November 26, 1999.

I intend to put them to work...building terraces, planting, fishing, harvesting, and gathering coconuts. If nothing else, they can help feed the chickens...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), November 26, 1999.

Putting all these "DGI" to work requires food, water and shelter and sanitation.

I dont think ANY OF US are ready to take on people and provide them with this.

Moreover, do you think people who didnt bother prepare at all are suddenly going to become hard workers for you?. Stop lying to yourself, if Y2k is worse than a BITR and you try to take on "DGI" as workers you are kidding yourself.

Send them to the shelters, at least they know what to do with them over there.

-- hamster (hamster@mycage.com), November 26, 1999.

We believe, after much consideration, that it would be dangerous for us to open the door and invite someone into our house if they are not family or a well trusted friend. If they look around, they will talk. They will remember. They could become a danger to us. We might offer a baggie of lentils if they are someone we know well and trust; and we'll ask them not to return, directing them to look for a shelter or food bank. If they return, we will not answer the door. We are armed to protect ourselves if need be.

We did our warnings early this year. We were rebuffed by neighbors. Most of our family GI'd and prepared. Several friends GI'd. Most did some preparation.

As difficult as it is, once TSHTF, we will think about protecting ourselves first,family next, perhaps a well known friend who did prepare and could not afford much.

Once life has settled down a bit, perhaps six months to a year post rollover, we'll begin to participate in community rebuilding. Not until then, if then.

-- Leslie (***@***.net), November 26, 1999.

We do what we are moved to do. I just found that out when I offered to pay what I consider to be a chunk of money for someone to come over here from the Ukraine. Just because I feel it is right. I don't know why, really. Who can explain these things? (I'm a friend of her husband who has prepped a little here.)

On the other hand, I doubt that we will open the door to neighbors. Then it won't be a matter of money, but of our actual preps. I do have two extra water filters for use with dirty water with bacteria. I might offer someone desperate one. They could go get river water, which is my own backup plan. As for food, that's a bit tougher. We have enough for three for five or six months... I really don't know.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 27, 1999.

"Silent Running" says he has a "deadman's switch".

Linda asks "what's that?"

Linda, a dead mans switch is just that. It works when you are dead. In a post "Zig or Zag", a guy who was staying in the city states "If I am going to be overrun and killed anyway, I will dump the water barrels, s**t in the food, turn on the butane and blow the place to Kingdom Come."

A deadmans switch need not be complicated. A simple timer circuit that has to be reset every so often. If the person is dead or gone and does not reset the switch the house/barn/supplies may blow up or burn down.

Another alternative is to poison some of the supplies. If only I know that water barrel #5 has cyinide in it or suger sack #6 is half arsenic, your victory over me would be short lived.

Anyone can survive, but putting civilization back together again is a very tough job.

Read "Malevil" by Robert Merle, "The Postman" by David Brin--don't bother with the movie, "Some will not die" by Algis Budrys.

-- woody (woody11420@aol.com), November 27, 1999.