"Prepper Burn-out" anyone?

I do it one day a month now because of the burnout it cause me with friends and missing out on things that was family time .so yes do take some time off and rest and recharge and make it a one day a month thing in till you are ready to hit it head on again.

 

everybody body likes to talk about it but nobody wants to act out on the conversations about the need to band together and plan some sort of control in the event. Who's got what who's capable of what and go from there.

 

Dragonfly, I’m a newby here and probably haven’t earned the right to comment on your posting, but I hope you’ll forgive me because that’s exactly what I’d like to do.

If things go south, I’d think the demanders / complainers will be the first to fall to Darwinian selection. This will make it much easier to find quiet folks who don’t need to be a member of a community, but want to be. These are the people who are neither takers nor givers, but Exchangers. It’ll take a while for the Exchangers to make themselves visible so the first problem is for all of us to get through the early transition period. For this, I’d think the LDS folks could offer guidance: one year’s basic food. None of the other things on our List will be needed if we have no food. A source of potable water, independent of municipal services, will be required. Unless you live on the floodplain, downhill from the water plant, city water has to be pumped to you and there may be no electricity to power the pumps. Military grade weapons are necessary, because we don’t know when the 7th Dismounted Hell’s Angels will choose to visit. A year’s food. Potable water. Weapons and their accessories. We could somehow probably get through the initial unsettled period with these few items. This is a minimum and life won’t be comfortable . . . but it might be possible.

We’ll know that the transition period has ended when the demanders / complainers are gone and the thugs have found softer targets.

At that point, Dragonfly, I’d think the Exchangers would find you. You won’t really have to do too much. They will be as eager to find out which of their (extended) neighbors is still alive as you are. The first contacts might be cautious, as you would expect, but once the initial bonds are established the new community will begin to form. First a couple of families over there, then two or three families on the other side of town, then the two groups meet and things start to grow.

If we can get through the bad time, Finding Others will be much easier. If the other family is alive, they’re probably candidates for citizenship in the community. Their worth has been tested. So your admirable goal isn’t wrong, you’re just early.

 

You will need a bit more than food water and weapons.
Otherwise, you will freeze to death, die of infection, or walk right out of your shoes.

 

A few words;
I've been prepping since the "Black Helicopter days" of the 1980's. I've tried to either put together a group or join a group several times since.

First "group" did nothing but find excuses to not do anything so I left them to their misery.

Second group formed off a regional firearms forum and after almost a year had swelled to 57 members (not including families) and while they had elected a board of directors they could not come to a solid decision on almost everything. Then they started talking about bringing in extended family, friends and neighbors until I tallied up all potential "members" and made them realize they were talking about housing and feeding the population of a small town.

Another group formed off of this but in a clandestine manner, by contributing negative commentary and appearing to drop out. This group continued on for several years. We developed a plan to buy land, started a trust, and began team building and training. After some time it became apparent the focus of the group was shifting. "Mission creep" for lack of a better term. The focus shifted from one of mutual aid to a "defend the leader" and there was talk of raiding parties.

I wanted no part of that and then the group disbanded in much the same manner as the previous group.
Now I have a potential raiding group in my area I might need to deal with.

Several years later I was approached by a person who had actually developed a business plan for an independent community. It was well thought out and very possible. On paper all the numbers for purchase, generation of income and continued operation worked. During the recruitment stage however it was faced with ridicule, scorn and outright hostility. In part I believe because the plan required roughly two dozen investors or over 100 participants willing to take up residence and actually work on site to build the minimal infrastructure required for day to day operation. Few could see the big picture of what this community could become after a year or two.

To sum things up it appears as if the average prepper is looking for a "Fairy Godmother" to take care of them without any effort on their part.

It's been quite some time since I've heard from this person and I have not seen this plan being marketed anywhere so I believe it's another failed attempt.

I've got one neighbor I've had a good conversation with and that's a good start.

I wouldn't say I'm "burnt out" I've just learned to sit back and evaluate potential allies over time.

 

Or they'll be the first to flock to the first charismatic leader who promises them candy and shiny beads, thereby swelling his ranks with entitlement minded minions.

 

Some people stockpile arms, some stockpile cannon fodder.