Getting to know your neighbors

[4suchatimeasthis]

We moved out here just over a year ago, and since then have been pretty busy, remodeling, building, rebuilding, fences, sheds, landscaping, kids, blah, blah, blah. We have gotten to know a few of our neighbors a little. 3 of them we really like, and think we would like to get to know a lot better. 2 of them are pretty scary, and 1 of the 2 we are 99% positive they are running drugs out of there. Hubby (former LEO) has contacted the appropriate channels, and hopefully it is dealt with.

Anywho, I was wondering, how do you approach the topic of preparedness with your neighbors? We have no intention of telling them the extent to which we prep, but still, it would be really nice to be able to be on the "same team" if shtf, and even better if we weren't soles responsible for feeding everyone, lol. All 3 of the couples we get along with are 50's and older, and seem to be very salt of the earth, kind, decent people. We don't want to be the "crazies" in the neighborhood....just looking for ideas on how to be subtle, yet make people think.....

Ideas? What comes to mind so far is approaching it from the prepping-for-natural-disasters, storms, etc, encouraging 3 days supply of food, water, heat, etc. and see how it goes from there.

Any other thoughts?

[Sniper-T]

an offhand comment about the zombie apocolypse works for me. Their response will answer tomes about their thoughts!

[Willie51]

We moved out here just over a year ago, and since then have been pretty busy, remodeling, building, rebuilding, fences, sheds, landscaping, kids, blah, blah, blah. We have gotten to know a few of our neighbors a little. 3 of them we really like, and think we would like to get to know a lot better. 2 of them are pretty scary, and 1 of the 2 we are 99% positive they are running drugs out of there. Hubby (former LEO) has contacted the appropriate channels, and hopefully it is dealt with.

Anywho, I was wondering, how do you approach the topic of preparedness with your neighbors? We have no intention of telling them the extent to which we prep, but still, it would be really nice to be able to be on the "same team" if shtf, and even better if we weren't soles responsible for feeding everyone, lol. All 3 of the couples we get along with are 50's and older, and seem to be very salt of the earth, kind, decent people. We don't want to be the "crazies" in the neighborhood....just looking for ideas on how to be subtle, yet make people think.....

Ideas? What comes to mind so far is approaching it from the prepping-for-natural-disasters, storms, etc, encouraging 3 days supply of food, water, heat, etc. and see how it goes from there.

Any other thoughts?

You nailed it right here. Start off talking about natural disasters and terrorist attacks and a 3 day to 7 day supply of food and water. Challenge them to go to the FEMA, CDC, or Homeland Security websites and see what they recommend for prepardness. That adds credibility right off. Just be careful not to tell too much too quick and it does take time. And we never talk about defense, etc. until we really really get to know them. JMHO.

[ladyhk13]

Find out if they are a Republican or Democrat - that will tell you tons about their mindset...find out if she cans food and maybe ask for recipes, or if she makes bread or cookies and see if she'll share those recipes Does she sew -make quilts, clothes?. Ask if the husbands hunt or raise their own food (gardens, animals). These are some indications that they are either preppers or open to the idea.

[prepguide]

Agree with what was said above. Take you time, way too important to rush this. Have a few generic questions about past weather and seasonal incidents. In regards to canning mention that you are getting more into it and see what response you get. If they are of like mind the conversations that follow those questions will be good ones.

[Kodiak]

Very good question and good answers. I agree to go slow, start off with talking about the weather and what they do when the power goes out ect...It takes some time to build a solid relationship with people but if they are decent folks who care about their families they should come around.

[4suchatimeasthis]

Well, hubby and I talked about it, he has interacted with them more than I have, and we are going to try to start a regular game night with the "nice" neighbors. Ya know, put on a pot of coffee, pull out the cards or whatever, and shoot the breeze once or twice a month. Hubby said that when he talked to them last, the neighbors wife wanted to get together with us. So, I figure, invite them over, talk about the weather, the garden, the kids (or grandkids), local politics, etc. I figure, if they garden, if she cans and he hunts, those would be pretty good signs. If nothing else, we can't lose by developing a solid friendship with them.

[Sniper-T]

My neighbour (whom I hunt with) is as far from a prepper as could be, and the rest of his family is worse. His wife's idea of stocking up is buying 2 frozen meals instead of one per day.

She will not eat any wild meat, and does not eat much of anything from the garden. I've been in his kitchen when every cupboard door is open (they were painting), and the total amount of food they had could easily fit into one plastic grocery bag, including the condiments. I made a comment that when the zombies come he would be ill equipt to batten down the hatches. He tells me that she (his wife) refuses to stay in the house if there is no pwer, and if something happened, she would go to her mothers in the city.

I was at a loss for words! (and that doesn't happen often)

My other neighbours have the underground house, enough solar to go off grid, and they can enough to survive for years on end. Yet he cannot hunt, so I share different kills with him, and he lets me 'try' some of his wife's canning. Post SHTF, they'll be keepers, and my neighbour, just not his family

[izzyscout21]

I can't stand my neighbors..........the 12 pitbulls in the fornt yard crosses a line for me somewhere.......

I keep waiting for a tornado to stop by and move them and their trailer somewhere on the other side of Oz..............

[Taz Baby]

We only have 2 neighbors that talk about SHTF but do nothing to prepare for it. 1 collects ammo and guns and that is it. They laughed at us when we got our chickens and said "Good Luck on keeping them. With all the wild animals we were lucky to keep them long enough for eggs. When the power goes out, they come to our place for air conditioning. (We are off grid) and complain that they can't watch the game on T.V. 1 did use a genny for a few days, but had to borrow that from his family.
But we can count on them to help defend our mountains. Are we prepping for them? Hell no!! If they want to eat they have enough land to grow a garden and do know how to hunt. They have the know how to live off the land but choose not to do it until forced to.

- - - Updated - - -

I can't stand my neighbors..........the 12 pitbulls in the fornt yard crosses a line for me somewhere.......

I keep waiting for a tornado to stop by and move them and their trailer somewhere on the other side of Oz..............

12 pit bulls sounds like a lot of dogs for pets. Hope they don't hurt anyone. That is a way to get rid of them or just the dogs. I would be calling the animal control and get rid of them.