I'm in the same age range as you, and most of my friends are similar (late 20's thru early 30's or so). I find the same sickening responses, and I am just as careful in discussing it. For me, being single and with two young children, I find most others like me want to rely on Uncle Sam. It seems a lot near me (I'm not far from Detroit, with all those problems) are already ON food stamps, welfare, etc.

I don't have a husband to rely on, nor a boyfriend or anyone else. Even if I did, I wouldn't be relying on them to magically take care of me. Though I'd love to have a partner for when the SHTF. I really have no idea what to do to get people to open their eyes. I keep hoping they'll see the light, and I don't want to bother them or talk about it so much that I get pegged as nuts. I am very careful with OPSEC. As far as most people know, I am just another bumbling moron who cares only about shoes and purses. I try to appear to fit in with everyone else. LOL Like one other person said on this forum, the best place to hide is in plain sight. Even when some co-workers heard I was going camping and fishing for vacation, they thought I was crazy. "Ewwwww!!!! Why would you want to go fishing?! Isn't that like, a MAN'S thing or something?! *giggle giggle*" Oh my. I really dislike some of my co-workers. Even some of my friends who DO like to camp, they are NOT preppers. I know very few people who are, that live near me.

 

my mother and sister both have panic attacks a lot and take medicine for them. i don't know if they can even comprehend a real SHTF situation. they are too busy panicking about small stuff to calm down and educate themselves. so i guess if SHTF they will look to me to survive. it just sucks knowing it will never get better because they dont know how to relax or think beyond whatever it is that they think about

 

Just just have to drum this it to their heads "Don't sweat the small stuff, Its all small stuff." Some folk run around acting like chickens with their heads cut off." Help where you can remember they are kin

 

Older

I'm a bit older and seen a lot of CRAP!

My Mom & Dad lived through the end of WW-II and the Korean War. Then later we all went through the Viet Nam war. My Dad was Military and later I joined, post Viet Nam.

So prepping has always been something I did. I haven't just started.

I don't trust the Government! I used to but not anymore especially after my stint in the Military.

Camping - most people's idea of camping is pulling the car up to the camp-site and living out of the car. My best vacation would be most peoples worst Nightmare!

I've been on multi-day backpacking trips without the car. I even once planned a six month hike on the Appalachian Trail but... Now I would not want to be out in the boonies on the AT WTSHTF.

WTSHTF you will have to be able to do stuff. A lot of people will fold up mentally.

Killing for food - been there, done that or been involved in it in some way. I even worked around a meat packing plant once; that was GORY! Been on a farm and caught fresh chicken dinner. I went through a military survival class, eaten bugs (in many countries bugs are eaten everyday), & killed game with a stick.

Most people have no idea that hamburger or whatever was once walking around until someone killed it. Sure they know it is COW but have no idea what goes on from the time it was walking around until it ends up on the dinner table.

Many will never wake up until it's too late. Many will die WTSHTF!

:upsidedown:

 

One of my friends here lives totally on a debit card -- never has any cash. I've tried to talk to her about having some cash on hand, what if one day the card won't work? Finally convinced her of that. As far as the rest of the prepping/getting your head out of the sand -- no go. She says she doesn't even want to think about it.

The people I work with are so totally clueless I don't even bother talking to them. I'm weird because I have a garden -- why don't you just buy at the store isn't it cheaper? If they only knew what all I have stashed away in my house and all the totally "weird" things I do LOL

I too am single, no kids, but I have getting-elderly parents that I stay here for. At least my parents "get it" to a degree. I guess the only people we can talk with about all of these things are the people here. Thanks guys for this forum and all the great folks here that are as "weird" as I am.

 

I get a lot of "I don't have time" or "I don't have space"...I've pretty much given up. One friend said that even if the roads weren't passable, her husband would be able to get their 4 wheeler out and make it to the little store near them...I asked what if the store wasn't open or stocked and she thought about it and said "that will never happen!". I don't bother any more.

 

I don't even try. I also don't tell anyone what I do. My hubby and I just keep plugging along.
Those types of folks will be some of the first to die because they'll still be living in their fairy la-la land and the monsters will be coming out of the projects to slaughter them. Theres nothing you can do but take care of your own.
Give it up and concentrtae on covering your own behind(s).

 

Some of my ex friends thoughts on preps was making sure there were enough ciggies and drink in for the day. My pen pal Im sure is a prepper even though we've never discussed it. I dont advertise what I do, but prefer to keep everyone including family members in the dark.

 

My female friends in FL, I bring it up by asking them about "hurricane preparedness". It is a way of life here in FL. Outside of FL, I don't bring it up.

 

Honestly, I only have one female friend that I can even talk to about this. Her boyfriend is like my little brother and got back from his second tour in Iraq earlier this year. We actually had a long conversation on what we'd do when the SHTF. She is in that age range and, of course, expects her boyfriend to take care of her and undoubtedly he can and will.

Most of my other female friends could not be approached about the subject. All too many of them have this odd note ingrained in their head that they can't do something because 'they're only a woman'. Even though I've proven to them time and time again by example that women can do anything that men can do. And often need to do it 10 times better in order to be considered equal. And for some odd reason, I still can't get through

 

Jen, The mentality of your friends to think their husbands would magically know what to do if the SHTF or the state will provide for them is nuts, I bet the millions of Pakistani people applied the same mentality and look at the state of that country and it's people are in know.

If it ever got that serious and I was a police officer, I am going to go into work to potential help others and leave my family basicxally defenceless, the hell I would my family would come first and most people would do the same,

Herbalpagan, I really liked your entry, as that typifies the mentality the majority of people have. Can you imagine how anyone would feel to look into the eyes of loved ones, when they tell you dad, we havn't eaten or drunk anything for two days, please get us something to eat and drink, how useless anyone would feel if and when that was said.

Deep down my immediate family thinks I am nuts but by prepping at least we will have provisions for about 6 months, I know that,s not perfect but like everyone else, I am doing the best I can with what I have.

 

Their husbands would know what to do?

What are they, CHILDREN???

 

I forgot to add that the one friend (with the debit card) that I tried to educate. Well, she read some of the websites, etc. and then told me that stuff's too depressing, I don't want to think about it or worry over stuff like that.

 

Better be careful who you tell about your prepping and supplies.

WTSHTF those "friends" of yours will tell their worthless boyfriends all about your stash and you'll be the one looted and robbed.

OPSEC people!

 

OP....

You have the wrong kind of friends.

In my experience, women seem to be much more matter-of-fact about prepping and recognize the value of it.

It is only when I start talking at length about guns and weapons that the ladies seem to glass over and lose interest.

I think a lot of men mistake a lady's lack of interest in guns as a lack of interest in prepping. The two do tend to go hand in hand but they are not the same thing.

 

My parents grew up in families that grew gardens and preserved their own food.

My mom had 8 children, so, we grew a garden and preserved our own food.

I had 4 children. I lhad gardens on and off and preserved food every year.

I am preparing for a depression now. My kids think I am craxy. My femaile, coworkers think I'm wacy. So, I don't worry about them.

I told the kids come up here if the shtf. But my co-workers can work it out themselves.

I live in an area that is pretty self-sufficient. The women are tougher then the men. Ha! Ha!

 

I know I have a group of 3 really good friends. We all talk about everything that is going on with each other. Back in 2008 when I woke up to prepping I started telling them. One was totally on board but her husband to this day isn't. One agrees with me, but still does nothing to prep. The other ( my bestest friend) has done a total 360 on this. Back in 2008 she was all about not worrying about it and God will provide, guns are awful, I have no room for food storage..blah, blah,blah. So I didn't bring it up again. Well just these past 6 months she is totally on board and is kicking it into high gear..she was so antigun that you couldn't even say the word around her..now she just finished applying for a CHL..I still can't believe it!! Anyway these gals and their families are my family here..so naturally I have been prepping with them in mind as well, but I'm really glad that for the most part we are all on the same page!

Amber

 

Sorry, don't mean to be an a**, but doing a "360" would bring you right back where you started; I believe what you meant was a "180", which will take you in the opposite direction.

 

I think that a lot of people are and would be dependant on the government if any sort of natural disaster, depression or any shtf situation were to happen.
I resent it when someone thinks I'm merely a hoarder that buys up on foods on special.
I do get about 70% of my food from dumpstering, and I am totally aware that that depends on a large society that has enough money to waste good food because of nearing expiration dates, package damaging or just because they have a surplus, but I do have a constantly growing supply of non-perishables and I am aware that something as little as having food to eat can be forgotten.
How many people go to the store every single day to get stuff for dinner? How many people don't even cook dinner?! It's rediculous. I try to be as resourceful and least dependant as possible, while upholding my lifestyle. I'm not a greedy person monitarily or with possessions, but I am a student at the moment and do 'need' some creature comforts to maintain that.
I live in a share house now, but want to buy rural land and live as self-sufficiently as possible. Sometimes your ideals and the way you have to live to do what you want to do clash, but it's important to be aware of how much you rely on modern lifestyles and the government and how you can go about not relying on them if need/choice be.
In my experience, females are generally better at prepping, simply because we are bred to think about what we will do if worst comes to worst. I certainly don't want to leave it as "my partner/the government/charity will take care of it." That's simply not a good enough answer for me.

 

I have really toned down on letting people know that I'm a prepper. There are several close friends that know what I do and what I believe, some have started to store more food, some totally agree with what I'm saying, but think they have more time. These are the ones I told early on when I began prepping myself, and I was gun-ho about it. Now I don't tell anyone anymore because I see the danger of people, even good friends, becoming violent when they're desperate, or blabbing to someone else of what we have stored or what we believe.

Each person has to come to their own convictions or travel a hard road for a while before they finally get their "a-ha" revelation/moment. For example, this forum existed since 2007, but I didn't catch on or have a deep conviction to get into survival prepping until I went through some hard times and felt threatened by North Korea's missile testing on July 4, 2009 - just several hundred miles from Hawai`i. I got my "a-ha" moment then, and I've been prepping since and trying to learn new things everyday to bring about the longevity of family's survival.

 

Many times I've wanted to talk to my female friends about the need to prep and prepare.

Why? More specifically why talk to anyone about it at all? Isn't that on par with "have you found Jesus?"

Thomas Jefferson was of the opinion that if he knew he was right and you wrong, your wrongess was none of his business and it was not his place to remove that wrongness. He believed we are both free, we are both at the liberty to inform ourselves and to think. And if you think wrong, that is your problem, not his. Freedom included the right to be wrong and not corrected.

John Adams wrote that during all those longer years of war and constitutional conventions he never heard Jefferson say more than three sentences in pubic. He was, however, considered a wonderful and brilliant conversationalist in private, and it was at dinner where he had the greatest influence.

 

I would NEVER bring up to a neighbor that I'm prepping. My husband and I have only recently kind of come to an agreement on actually doing this. He was in the military years ago and now that we have kids we want to protect them is something happens. Every day you watch the news and it becomes more likely that things WILL happen that are out of our control. The collapse of the economy seems all too real to me and I'll be honest, I'm very afraid and have been for years. Prepping is something we've always talked about - how much water do we need, how much food? But I'm starting to stockpile what we need and have plans on buying very large water storage tanks and a portable fuel tank to keep in my garage. I'm making my plans and honestly I don't really have a lot of "friends" and definitely not anyone I would talk about this with.

It's just really scary to me how much weight people put in the government. I'm very democratic. I really do believe in a normal society there are people who need a hand here and there. It used to be that you could live on that money and not work and have kids and it's not like that now. I know people on welfare and they starve. They work and get welfare and still cant pay their bills. I'm very good at learning to live with what I've got, so we're going to use the electricity and all of the good things we can until we can't anymore- but then DEFINITELY be ready to handle anything thrown at us.

 

I have had the same problem with girlfriends and female family members and basically I got the same type of responses that you got plus the eye rolling and your "crazy" or "paranoid" comments. My solution I just don't bother anymore. I have found and please no bashing me that most ( I said most) women just don't understand or want to understand the need to be able to take care of themselves. They are always expecting some man or some agency to come to their rescue. Now as much as I like playing the damsal in distress just as much as any other girl I also understand the importance in being able to procure my own food and defend myself. In today's society I think those types of values have been lost amongst the cell phones and credit cards.
I also agree with ladysurvivalist after hearing some people say "well I know where I'm going if the shtf" (meaning our house) I have come to realize that trying to educate and save the masses might not be such a good idea afterall. I've had to learn and accept that if the s ever does htf that many good sheep I know are going to die because they didn't prepare. You know the old saying "you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink"? You can tell people about the need to be prepared but you cannot change how a person thinks. Good luck to you.

 

i just want everyone who has panic attacks to know that you have to face your fears for them to get better. the more time that you spend facing your fears and being brave, the more comfortable you will feel when things are going good. like people who are afraid of the dark who go wondering around at night just to face their fear and get a grip on it. chances are they wont be as afraid or afraid at all the next time a little anxiety comes along.

 

Lol. Obviously you have never had a panic attack. For most people it's not any one fear you have to face. Any situation that causes STRESS (not fear) will bring on a panic attack. They are called a panic attack because that is what they make you FEEL not what causes them.

As an example, I was driving home one night after getting my alternator replaced in my truck. However, 1/2 way home it started loosing charge on the battery (we later found out it was a blown fuse, truck was fine after fixing it). I had no option to turn around and go back, shop was closed, could only continue home.. I had no fear of staying in the truck overnight, had my BoB as usual, and it wasn't overly cold. The STRESS of the situation however, brought on a panic attack.

I started hyperventilating, and crying and definitetly had a flight response. Lasted all of 3 minutes than it was fine. I am not an extreme case, have had maybe 4 -5 attacks in the last 2 years. I held it together and got home fine, even continued driving through the attack.

Saying that you have to face your fear to get over a panic attack is like saying that someone with depression just has to get over it. Shows lack of knowledge for the condition.

 

I don't tell anyone else what to do, either. I think that's an individual choice for each person. There are some that "get it".....and are aware of what I think will continue to be a long slow slide into economic disaster.....and from that point everything else will topple like dominoes. (And, yes....I am aware that a big mega-event could happen, as well. Or, maybe more than one biggie.)

But, I don't obsess about that. I am the original worker bee. I just keep trying to improve my own situation, day by day.

I don't personally know anyone, who is prepping. Although....from reading posts on this forum....I'm now thinking it is likely some might be preppers but are just maintaining that "clueless" attitude as protective cover.

 

I am very fortunate that my best friend of 30+ years and her husband are both on board with my husband and I, if in fact the shtf.

Initially, when my husband first started talking to me about the craziness our world is, and that we needed to prepare, it was VERY hard for me to comprehend. It was hard for me, as an emotional woman, to wrap my head around. It was also difficult for me to keep it to myself, as we agreed not to tell people we were starting to prepare.

Eventually we decided to bring up the subject w/my friend and her husband, and they were totally on board with us. Since then, it's been so much easier to deal with, for me, to have her to talk with about it. It also helps to think about it as not only shtf preparing, but becoming more self reliant. Either way, knowing that we have each other, as well as our husbands, is so much more comforting to me.

 

Well, I don't have a lot of female friends. The reasons vary, but I do have a couple of friends that have managed to stick around for years. I'm unsure why, being as they're guilty of some of the behavior that I find annoying in females, I can only attribute that to them being supportive.

I don't talk to them about prepping, though. Ever. These are not people that you talk common sense to. Their ideas of SHTF scenarios are when they accidentally drop their cell phone in the toilet, when they aren't first in line for the new Android phone, or when a store doesn't take credit. One of them is so dependent on credit cards and checking accounts that she hasn't even had cash on her person in TEN YEARS. I'm quite certain that if any transactions needed to occur in cash only, she would not be able to function for quite some time. As it is now, she won't frequent any business that doesn't take credit.

All of these women voted for, and still believe in, Barrack Obama. All of these women vote straight liberal and believe in government assistance programs. All of these women think that the government response to Hurricane Katrina was "adequate". They're not open minded enough to embrace an idea like storing food and water, learning survival skills and homemaker skills, or not eating at the finest restaurants in the cities they live in.

The people who know I prep are all family members. And all of those people are of like mind. There are women in that group, too. But, family is different from friends, IMO.