A large part of my prepper mentality is to be able to offer a calming hand to the stressed people in my neighborhood.
I keep extra headlamps, flashlights and cheap lanterns for giveaways to the little old ladies who are not ready for blackouts, every few years I buy alkaline batteries for giveaways (I use rechargeables only). Some of the food I store is stuff that I can give away unless it looks like the end of the world, same with winter bedding, and of course I am willing to make armed visits for them or take them in if they are hysterical.
If it is the big one, then a prepper can put up a hard front and insist that everyone go to shelters, those who aren’t prepared need to quickly accept that and seek government help at government centers, but if it is temporary, then preppers can be a real help to the scared old ladies and shaky single moms.
If someone isn’t suited for helping because of risks, personality, or situation and has their hands full dealing with their own stressful situation then so be it, but for those of us who are comfortable with adversity and well-prepared and calm, then we can spread some of that calm and situational patience to others.
You got us a new topic, helping others!
How do you balance helping your neighbors with not letting others know what you have, or thinking they know.
You sound like a gem, ansel. What a wonderful, peaceful, helpful attitude.
Full disclosure - I am not, myself, a genuine prepper, although I would have been at a younger age. I am, however, a prepper, once removed.
We moved a couple of years ago to my daughter and sil’s farm, having sold the house with real estate so ridiculously high. Bought a mobile home (1200 sq ft) for one-tenth of what we got for the house so were able to help the kids with the goal of being debt-free.
At the farm, we then joined to get prepared for what may be heading our way. Lots of chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, cows raised on the pasture for freezing, a few pigs ready for the butcher soon, and the farm raises a couple of thousand sheep a year. We have a huge garden, honey bees, laying hens, and an outbuilding with a walk-in fridge at one end for all of the storage. Large generator, large gas containers, tractors, wood stoves, a lots of trees to cut. My son also has a property with many trees. The kids all hunt, so we’ve also got lots of Canadian geese in the freezer which is going to be made into sausage, deer, wild ducks, etc. So much canning on the shelves, and 8 freezers almost full.
I know the kids will also be in the position to help where needed if the SHTF, and I’m glad they will take care of us, as well as others. I just hope they don’t need to.