This is a guest post by Mr. Mac”  and entry in our non-fiction writing contest.

In the fall of 2001, I completed the process of securing a permit to carry a Concealed Weapon, called a CCW. I had debated for over a year as to whether to do the work necessary to apply for it. For a number of years I had been an occasional shooter, but it wasn’t until the hoopla of Y2K that I began to get more serious about shooting, took some classes, and become relatively proficient. I soon found that I loved to shoot. And since an indoor range was within easy driving distance, I often found myself visiting it, along with several other outdoor ranges.

That, plus the advent of a new pro-CCW County Sheriff, caused me to think that I might have a chance at getting the CCW permit. It was, however, with both some trepidation, and frankly, a lot of excitement that I finally decided to take the coursework necessary, complete the required paperwork, do the interview, got fingerprinted for the DOJ, all necessary activity to be considered for the permit. It was only after I had been approved that I started thinking about why this seemed so important to me; what was it that stirred me so?

Over the last few months I have given it quite a bit of thought. Am I really that concerned about crime…we live in a pretty low-incident area. Was I on some ego trip? Was I trying to prove my masculinity? All of these may have had some minor influence, but, as I probed, I found that there were other, more significant motivations that sprung more from who I am as a man, and reflected certain core values that comprise my person. I’d like to put those down on paper.

1) I am both disturbed and frustrated by much of what I see in this country’s politics these days, and am often left wondering how to properly respond. It occurs to me that, as just one man, I have very little impact on this nation, just one voice out of 280,000 million. Yet, this country means a great deal to me. I lost my father to the Korean Conflict, all my uncles served in WWII, and I have studied and understand what unique and precious rights are afforded the citizens of this country I am privileged to live in.

Additionally, I hold as a strong value the opinion that every man and woman has the God-given right to be responsible for his or her own personal safety, that no one is obligated to be a victim, and that this right is not a privilege bestowed on me by some governmental entity. I also believe that, if a person of good character is willing to do the work necessary and takes the responsibility, then that person has the basic right to carry a defensive weapon. However, it seems that there are those in this country who disagree with me, who fear that I, and others like me, are a danger to society; that this freedom which is so basic to natural law and so thoroughly entrenched in the Constitution, must be taken from us.

These usurpers are even now furiously working to legislate that right out of existence. Mistakenly believing that this issue is “guns”, they feel quite comfortable trampling on my freedom. And so, it is to the anti-gun fascist, those who would deny me my rights as a free man and an American citizen that I am responding. It is in the spirit of those American’s before me who cried out “give me liberty, or give me death,” “damn the torpedoes,” and “let’s roll” that I acted. As a political statement, as an act of patriotism, as my way of hoisting the flag, and my finger, in enraged defiance of those despots who say I can’t, I got my permit to carry a gun; it was my patriotic duty.

2) Concurrent with this is the fact that much of what I hear today about gun control from the anti-gun crowd in just plain infuriating. It’s not just that it is bad science, emotional, illogical, and just plain ignorant; it’s the assumption that they make and propagate about me as a gun-owning person that I take personal offense. It’s my character they are impugning. I take exception to the notion that Society somehow needs to be protected from me because I might carry a gun.

Actually, I am a responsible, mature man, an adult, and I resent like hell being treated as if I am somehow untrustworthy and suspect. It judges me, and millions like me, as weak and without moral and intellectual vigor. It tells me that my affinity for guns and my desire to carry one is a suspicious problem that requires legislation, registration, and control. And it is demeaning.

So, to the elitist crowd who would look down their noses at my personhood, who fear my masculinity, who believe that I am somehow part of the problem, and that my character is defective, I say this to you: I will not let you treat me like a child, I will not let you “nanny” me, suspect me, or disrespect me with your paranoid attitudes and your laws. Acquiring my CCW is my firm response to being patted on the head and told to get in line and behave myself. I will not go quietly into the night.

3) The third reason I got my CCW is one that I understood less when I applied for it than I do now; carrying a handgun alters my sense of awareness by creating a heightened sense of vigilance. Caring a gun has caused me to develop a “6th sense” to my surroundings. I remember reading somewhere that carrying a weapon is like taking a child to the mall…it really expands your awareness of your environment and makes you cautious. Using Jeff Cooper’s color alert system (white/yellow/orange/red) had become a natural consequence when I carry; I am always in code yellow; I am more observant, I look for someone displaying the signs of a predator, I am a better driver, I am more courteous, and I do not daydream my way through the day.

From the extensive reading I have done, it seems that many, if not most victims became a statistic because they allowed the predator his advantage due to their lack of observation. I believe that the best way for me to never have to use my gun, and to never become a victim, is to not allow myself to get into situations that leave me no option other than the final one.

Someone once said that an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure…Carrying a “pound of cure” inside my waistband compels me to a live with an acute awareness of my surroundings so that I am not caught “flat-footed”, and have to resort to a more violent solution. Having my CCW and carrying a gun prohibits me from lapsing into the luxury of inattention.

4) Basic to my understanding of human nature is the belief that there is in this world a distinction between right and wrong, good and evil, and that men have the personal option to choose between these two. Therefore, society is comprised of both Mother Theresa’s and Adolph Hitler’s, and all levels in between. It doesn’t take much social awareness to know that there are sufficient numbers of those who chose evil as a way of life, and who, by nature, prey on the weak & vulnerable. They are Predators, who will viciously hurt, rape, and kill to accomplish their self-centered aims.

They have no sense of conscious, no remorse, no pity or mercy, and indeed should be labeled “evil.” They may use alcohol or drugs to give them courage, or numb their conscience; they may not have a conscience. These opportunistic stalkers don’t wear signs that advertise who they are or what is their intent. They can be in your neighborhood, at the mall, in the car driving behind you. The only thing they respect is strength, and usually only move when they think they have the unfair advantage. So, my options are only two. I can go through life hoping I am one of the fortunate Majority who will never have to confront evil, but live in fear or denial that I might. Or, I can be one of the few who do not trust to luck, and am prepared to be “unlucky”.

I personally have chosen to hope for the best, but to be prepared for the worst. I am not paranoid, nor am I a Pollyanna; I do take to heart the Boy Scout motto: “Be Prepared.” For me, that means having the resource and training sufficient to come out on top. Part of that training is learning how to avoid those situations in the first place. But if I am ever so unlucky as to have to defend myself or my family, I am prepared to do so. And so, because there is evil, and because I don’t believe in lucky charms, I acquired my CCW.

5) How can I read about the “Good Samaritan” or follow the teachings of Jesus, and not be aware that I have a responsibility to look out for others, to be my brother’s keeper. The murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964 is a perfect example of what how far removed we as a society are from concepts like nobility and chivalry. Kitty was a 28 year old woman returning home from work at 3:00AM when she was brutally attacked and eventually murdered with a knife over a 35 minute period, all of which was witnessed by no less than 38 people, none of whom called the police or in any way acted to help Kitty.

The man who later confessed to the murder also confessed to murdering two other women, all attributed to his uncontrollable rage. He told police that he chose women because they were easier and don’t fight back. The courts declared him “insane.” The “bystander effect”, which is given responsibility for the inaction of these 38 witnesses, can affect all of us. However, my Christian upbringing has taught me that I am not to be blind to the plight of others, and that this world would be a better place if we all looked out for each other.

Having a CCW allows me to fulfill the moral imperative that I be mentally and physically prepared to defend those who are at risk. I believe in the calling of the “Warrior’s Creed” which says, “Wherever I go, everyone is a little safer; wherever I am, anyone in need has a friend.” Having a CCW and the accompanying training causes me to be alert and prepared, to chose to be a “line of defense” should it become necessary, to have consciously determined that, on my shift, the crazies, the social terrorist, and the Evil do not get their way. Jesus didn’t rebuke Peter for caring a sword, just for not understanding when it was appropriate to be used. In today’s world, Peter might have had a CCW. Therefore, Christian charity compels me to acquire my CCW permit. It’s the moral thing to do.

6) Closely following the last reason is one more personal, and reflects more my perspective on life. Being armed reminds me every day that we are in a battle; that we are at war. By that I mean, there really is a struggle going on between right and wrong, good and evil, truth & falsehood. My lifestyle is such that it is far too easy for me to pull the shades down and sequester myself in my own little cocoon, leaving the rest of the world to go to hell in a handcart. Given these natural tendencies, I must do something to pull myself out of my comfort zone and become actively engaged.

When I wear a gun, I am consciously deciding to do something, to make a difference, to proactively engage my world. I wear a gun, therefore I vote, I go to church, I honor my marriage and my family, I give money to worthy causes, I am a good neighbor, I deal honestly in my business; I even write my congressman and voice my opinion or displeasure.

When I wear my gun, it reinforces a lifestyle, a philosophy that acknowledges the axiom that says, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Good men arm themselves with a mindset that acknowledges that all is not right, that there is a battle to fight, and that I can, indeed I will, make a difference. Because I choose to be proactive, because I choose to be among “the good,” I got my CCW.

7) There is an old saying; “God created all men, but Sam Colt made them equal.” There will always be someone younger, stronger, better armed, and more attuned to violence than am I, who are looking for victims of a lesser challenge. My chances of survival are not good against such hard-core criminal-types if I have to depend on my personal strength, quickness, and fighting technique. The gun that I carry, and the subsequent training I employ, helps to insure that I don’t come up short on the “balance of power” equation.

I am of little good to my family should we become the target of a predator if I am unable to defend them or myself. And my family looks to me to be that barrier between them and violent men. So, I choose to alter the odds, I choose to wear a gun. In fact, my “trump card” may very well prove to be all that is necessary to convince the criminal element that he has made a poor choice, and to go ply his trade elsewhere. With access to a gun, I have a much better chance to stop an attack before it begins, and I am much more likely to survive the attack should I not be able to avoid it. So, in the interest of stacking the deck, I got my CCW.

So, I got my CCW and carry a gun because: 1) It’s my Patriotic duty, 2) It was the un-politically-correct thing to do; 3) to keep me alert and attentive; 4) I don’t trust to luck; 5) As an act of Christian charity; 6) As a reflection of my proactive lifestyle; 7) To stack the deck in my favor.

This is an entry in our nonfiction writing contest – This contest will end on June 29 2013  – prizes include:

• First Place winner will receive - A $250 dollar gift certificate courtesy of LPC Survival that is good for $250 off anything on their site, A WonderMill Electric Grain Mill courtesy of Kitchen Kneads, and a $150 gift card for Winchester Ammo from LuckyGunner.
• Second Place winner will receive – Two Emergency Seed Banks (stored in military ammo cans) with over 33 varieties of non-hybrid garden seed courtesy of The Survivalist Blog.net from M.D. Creekmore’s personal seed stash. A $260 value.
• Third Place winner will receive -  a one year subscription to Personal VPN service courtesy of unspyable and a copy of my book 31 Days to Survival: A Complete Plan for Emergency Preparedness.

Originally at: TheSurvivalistBlog.net

Why I got my CCW Permit and Why You Should Too Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

The Modern Survival Retreat was obviously written in the wake of federal government atrocities at Ruby Ridge, Idaho and Waco Texas. Benson considers the greatest threat to the prepper / survivalist to be government use of force against American citizens thus his focus is preparing against attack by some alphabet agency.

As Benson states; “Today people must contend with a host of regulators, bureaucrats, and other officials who want to micromanage how we work, play, interact, and simply live. But make no mistake about it – if you attempt to defy these authorities in the open, you will be taken down, often at the point of a gun. You will lose your freedom, and you could lose your life.”

While the above statement holds truth, The Modern Survival Retreat offers little to combat the situation. I expected detailed advice on retreat location, construction, concealment, stockpiling, weapon choice and defensive techniques – unfortunately the book offers little usable advice in those areas.

I liked that the book wasn’t written from a tin-foil hat perspective. As Benson points out that you’re more likely to have a run in with the EPA, school board or local zoning commission than U.N. troops or black helicopters. These are the organization that can and will come against you taking away your freedom to do as you see fit.

There is elementary advice given for those wanting to drop from government view, but this is covered much better in other books dedicated to the subject.

The idea of anonymously owning a retreat with water well, 1,000-gallon propane storage, tractors, stacks of firewood, garden, domestic animals etc., that is off government radar is a pipe dream at best. I’m not saying it is impossible – but unlikely with limited resources.

As for defensive strategies when the government comes hardcore against you, I like the fact Benson is honest in his assessment that you’re screwed, with the only viable option being to run or surrender.

No matter how well-trained or equiped we are, if a government agency is hell-bent on taking your retreat, there is nothing you can do about.

Sure, you can put up a fight, possibly taking a few jack-boots down in the process but they’ll be replaced. Takeout a tank or APC and they’ll bring in two more. The best you can hope for is to escape to a new location before they ram your door.

As Benson points out no one will come to your rescue when you are surrounded and cut off by government forces – you will be on your own. Not only will you be on your own, you will be demonized.

Their public relations experts will put their own spin on things making you into the most dangerous, racist, skinhead, KKK, child molesting, drug dealing, survivalist (or prepper) who ever set foot in a bunker or compound.

What’s that you say. You’ve never been in a bunker or compound. Don’t worry as soon a their public relations experts release the story to the media your retreat – even if it is nothing more than a thin-walled travel trailer or plywood shack will be labeled as such.

While there are a few bits of information within the pages of The Modern Survival Retreat, I don’t think the average survivalist will find much of it of use in our present situation. I think Benson’s other book on retreats was much better and of more practical use to the survivor.

Originally at: TheSurvivalistBlog.net

Book Review: The Modern Survival Retreat Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

Question from Reggie

I have been reading your blog for quite awhile, and I am a minority prepper and I am worried that when SHTF will Caucasian preppers accept minority preppers into their groups or kill them off and take their supplies. I worry when reading some of the survival blogs that this is a Whites only club. Can you pose this question to the wolfpack?

M.D. Creekmore replies: It probably depends on where you are and how you approach things, the important thing is to have a worthwhile skill that would benefit the group. To be honest I hear race brought up far more often by minorities themselves than by white folks. If we can all get to the point of seeing ourselves as just Americans, with no white, black or whatever attached to it we will have this race thing beat.

Please help Reggie out by posting your advice and thoughts in the comments below…

Originally at: TheSurvivalistBlog.net

Monday: Questions and Answers With The Wolf Pack Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

1. How to keep your data safe from spying : “From email and social media to credit cards and phone calls, here are some basic tips to keep your private info private.”

2. 7 Dead, 41 Wounded in Wave of Chicago Weekend Violence : “Seven people were killed and at least 41 others were shot in violence that plagued Chicago over Father’s Day weekend.” Chicago’s gun laws keep getting tougher, but more people are getting shot. Not a single gun shop can be found in Chicago because they are outlawed. How’s that working out for you Chicagoland.

3. Rotting, Decaying And Bankrupt –If You Want To See The Future Of America Just Look At Detroit : “Detroit is a perfect example of what the future of America is going to look like. We live in a nation that is rotting, decaying, drowning in debt and racing toward insolvency. Already there are dozens of other cities across the nation that are poverty-ridden, crime-infested hellholes just like Detroit is, and hundreds of other communities are rapidly heading in that direction. So don’t look down on Detroit. They just got there before the rest of us.”

4. Cop cleared of wrongdoing after shooting kittens in front of screaming kids : “An Ohio policeman shot to death a litter of kittens on Wednesday, telling a group of screaming children that the animals would be going to “kitty heaven”. But instead of firing the officer, the local police department cleared him of any wrongdoing.” Of course they did, I would not expect anything more.

5. No charges against HPD officer who killed double amputee in a wheelchair : “HPD officer Matthew Marin shot and killed Brian C. Claunch on Sept. 22, after the mentally ill man threatened his partner with a ball point pen, police have said.”

6. Making the Best of Basics available from directive 21 for $24.99 with free shipping. Lots of food-storage ideas and recipes in that book.

7. NSA spying flap extends to contents of U.S. phone calls : “National Security Agency discloses in secret Capitol Hill briefing that thousands of analysts can listen to domestic phone calls. That authorization appears to extend to e-mail and text messages too.”

Originally at: TheSurvivalistBlog.net

Monday miscellany Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

Note: The Format of this segment my change in the future, while we test to see what is more useful and effective for readers…

Question from Walt

I need a suggestion from someone who has thought such things through.  My wife have I have been talking about alternate means of cooking in the event there is no electricity and we are unable to get LP gas refills.  I have both a grill and a smoker to use as long as the gas lasts. They are both run off a 100lb tank, while our heat is run off a 500 gal tank. We currently cook with electricity.

We live in a rural area, but I am too old and out of shape to cut wood. When TSHTF and gas runs out, what do we do to be able to cook?

Our current consideration is to get two addition 100 lb tanks and a cheap gas cook stove and keep it in our garage for emergencies.  The two tanks would probably last quite a while–6 months or more. I am also considering building an outdoor oven to cook bread in. I have a stack of surplus oak flooring that I could burn in the oven, or even a campfire, but it would not last more than a few weeks, depending, of course, on how much we bake. Your opinion on these things?

Please help Walt out by posting your advice in the comments below…

M.D. Creekmore suggests the “EcoZoom Rocket Stove” you can read my full review here.

Originally at: TheSurvivalistBlog.net

Sunday: Questions and Answers With The Wolf Pack Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

Before we start today, I would like to thank Joe D, Curtis H, Sherry S, Brenda C, and Cheryl D for their support via PayPal this week. Thank you all very much – you are appreciated. If you would like to show your support for the blog by making a donation you can do that here.

Let’s see what else before we get started…

Ah yah, I want everyone to checkout Michael Snyder’s new book “The Beginning Of The End” it’s $16.95 for a hard copy and only $3.99 for kindle. Recommended!

Now let me see what did I do to prep this week?

Built this fence.

Received my new electric WonderMill Grain Mill. Note that I still have my Wonder Junior Hand Grain Mill for backup.

Been working with my new Garden Tower that the good folks at GardenTowerProject.com sent me for review.

And some folks wanted to know how many prep / survival books that I have. Well I’m not sure, I started counting but lost count at 422. Sorry that I could not get them all in the shot.

Well that is it for me this week – now it’s your turn… What did YOU do to prep this week? (Note: Please don’t use your real name – I’ve had a lot of folks doing that recently.)

Originally at: TheSurvivalistBlog.net

What did you do to prep this week? Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

Sorry, folks… I almost forgot to post this segment today.

Bonus question… if you could have only one prepping / survival related book which one would you choose. For me it would be The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery, after the Bible of course.

Originally at: TheSurvivalistBlog.net

Friday Poll: How many survival / prepping / homesteading books do you have? Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

This is a guest post by TG and entry in our non-fiction writing contest.

Many of us look into herbal remedies for one reason or another. There is some great info on what herbs to use for what issues, but little or no information on how to use those herbs. Part of the problem is there is a fine line between telling a person how to use herbs and prescribing them.

Now that you have found your herb lets talk about the different ways to use that herb. In part 2, I will go over topical applications. Right now I am going to focus on the most common (but not all inclusive) ways of ingesting those herbs. Of course the easiest way is to eat it, but you rarely get theraputic amounts that way.

Teas/decoctions- most people know how to make a cup of tea, but rarely do they make it strong enough.

For teas (leaves, flowers and light material) add 1-2 tsp of plant material to your cup and cover with 8 oz of boiling water. You then want to cover your cup with a small plate or lid. This helps keep the volatile oils in the cup where you want them, rather then letting them evaporate off. Let is steep for 5 minutes to get a light tea. For a stronger medicinal effect, allow to steep up to 30 minutes.

You can make larger amounts and store it in the fridge for up to about 24 hours, either drinking cold or reheating as needed.

For a decoctions (roots, barks, seeds, and heavy material) add 1-3 tablespoons of cut plant material to about 24 ounces of water in a pan. Bring slowly to a boil (so in other words sit and watch it, lol), and then allow to simmer for 15-30 minutes. The longer it simmers the stronger the infusion.

This will last for about 72 hours in the fridge.

Generally for teas, as a preventative measure, drink 3 to 4 cups daily. For chronic issues, drink about 1/2 cup every half hour.
Teas are great for many ailments, and admittedly, there is something soothing about sipping a hot cup of tea when you feel cruddy.

Tinctures- a great way to pack a strong amount of the active components of the herbs into a small dose, as there are some herbs that are tough to swallow.

Fresh herb tinctures- wash your plant material thoroughly, making sure to remove any critters and debris. Pack jar with herbs and cover with solvent. This will give you about a 1:1 ratio of herbs to solvent

For dried herb tinctures- fill your jar about half full of dried herbs then fill it 3/4 full of solvent. You want to allow room for the dried herbs to expand and absorb some of the solvent. Keep an eye on it the first week topping off when needed. This will make around a 1:2 ratio tincture.

Keep tinctures in a cool dark place, shaking every day for a couple of weeks. Generally, after about 2 weeks they are ready to be strained. You can leave the herbs in longer, but after a while the solvent cant adsorb any more of the plants constituents. Strain your tincture into a clean glass jar or tincture bottle. Make sure you label what it is, when it was made and your ratio. Store in a cool dark place.

Solvents that can be used for making tinctures include alcohol, vegetable glycerine, and vinegar. Alcohol is the most common solvent, as it adsorbs more of the plants constituents, and has a longer shelf life. There is some debate over how long an alcohol based tincture will last, some saying not to use it past 5 years, others thinking it will last as long as the alcohol is good.

Brandy and vodka are the 2 most common types of alcohol used for making tinctures. The only note on that is your barks, roots, and nuts generally need a higher alcohol content.

Using tinctures is a little tricky. It is really going to depend on what herbs you are using and what you are using them for.

Syrups- a great way to get kids to take their medice. Also great to add to teas and coating a sore throat.

To make a herbal syrup simmer about 2 ounces of herbs in a quart of water, reducing it down to about a pint. Strain the herbs returning the infusion to the pan, add about a cup of sweetener (sugar, honey, or maple syrup). Bring it back to a slow simmer, stirring constantly, until the sweetener is fully dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool before putting into a jar or bottle. Store in the fridge. Syrups will last a couple of weeks to about a month depending on herbs and the amount of sugar added.

You can add other things to your syrup such as concentrated fruit juices, extracts, and brandy.

Infused honey- the health benefits of honey have been talked about for centuries. An all around amazing substance. But there is a way to make it a bit better. Infusing it with herbs. And unbelievably easy to do.

Fill a glass jar about halfway with fresh or dried herbs, fill the jar the rest of the way with honey and store in a warm sunny location out of direct sunlight. Every day flip the jar upside down. After about 2 weeks you can strain the herbs. Store your infused honey in a glass jar in a cool dark place.
Make sure when you are using fresh herbs that they are clean and slightly wilted. The easiest way to do this is by putting them in the sun for a couple of hours.

So there you have it. A couple of easy ways to use those herbs. Again this is not an all inclusive list. I will be going over topical applications in part 2.

This is an entry in our nonfiction writing contest – This contest will end on June 29 2013  – prizes include:

• First Place winner will receive - A $250 dollar gift certificate courtesy of LPC Survival that is good for $250 off anything on their site, A WonderMill Electric Grain Mill courtesy of Kitchen Kneads, and a $150 gift card for Winchester Ammo from LuckyGunner.
• Second Place winner will receive – Two Emergency Seed Banks (stored in military ammo cans) with over 33 varieties of non-hybrid garden seed courtesy of The Survivalist Blog.net from M.D. Creekmore’s personal seed stash. A $260 value.
• Third Place winner will receive -  a one year subscription to Personal VPN service courtesy of unspyable and a copy of my book 31 Days to Survival: A Complete Plan for Emergency Preparedness.

Originally at: TheSurvivalistBlog.net

Making your own herbal remedies part 1 Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

No matter how prepared we are, supplies and space are finite. Providing for the needs of everyone showing up at our doorstep after the shtf is impossible, but the question remains who should be turned away and what will you do if they refuse to leave?

How many people could you provide for and for how long? Most of us have only enough for ourselves and our immediate family. A family of four with a years supply, taking in just one extra person reduces their stockpile by 25%. Two extras and your down to six months at best. Three extra – you get the idea.

My family knows not to come to me looking for a handout. They are welcome to set up camp at my place if needed, but they know to bring their own food and supplies and to be ready to do their share of the work.

It’s true that there is safety in numbers, but only when everyone works together for the common good of the group. More hands make lighter work but there will be no room for slackers.

The thing with family is they often bring extended family and sometimes even their friends, who may not share your beliefs or work ethic. Should you take them in or turn them away? What will you do if they refuse to leave?

Most people think they are entitled and will feel no remorse or debt sponging off you, and if you don’t give them what they want, don’t be surprised if they try to take it by force. They may leave, but they will come back, possibly with armed reinforcements.

It’s best to keep your mouth shut and to look as poor and helpless as everyone else. Most people think I don’t have a pot to piss in or window to throw it out of. Hopefully they will pass me by thinking it’s not worth the effort.

In a sense survival is looking after number one, putting yourself first may seem selfish, but sometimes we need to make difficult decisions in order to stay alive. If it comes down to me or them – it’s them.

What will you do when unwanted visitors come to your door looking for a handout post collapse? Will you turn them away? Or will you pull the trigger if they refuse to leave? Could you live with yourself in the aftermath?

That reminds me; I need to finish digging that hole out back – never know when it could come in handy…

What have you done to prepare for new arrivals post-TEOTWAWKI?

Originally at: TheSurvivalistBlog.net

Planning For New Arrivals Post-TEOTWAWKI Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

I just wanted to let you know that starting this Sunday, we’ll be starting a new segment here on TheSurvivalistBlog.net call “Questions and Answers With The Wolf Pack”.

Readers will email me their most urgent questions related to prepping, survival and self-reliance and I will choose one question per week, post it on Sunday and The Wolf Pack will give their best answerer in the comments section of the post.

When you send in your questions please be as detailed as possible. Being detailed will allow for a better understanding of what you need, and for more appropriate and helpful answers. Please no four word questions like “what gun is best?” thanks.

Originally at: TheSurvivalistBlog.net

Questions and Answers With The Wolf Pack Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved