Where are My People?

Despite having written on this topic dozens of times, the number one question I still get is, “yeah, but where can I find like minded people?”. While I’m going to answer the question (yet again), we need a little tough love first. Ready? Here goes…let’s start with some Tactical Wisdom:

You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

1 Thessalonians 4:11b-12

What this means is that asking anyone else where you should find a tribe means that you are NOT self-reliant. Let’s remember our goal, which is to be self-sufficient. You can’t be self-sufficient if you can’t even put in the work yourself to find a tribe. I’m sorry, but you need to understand that this “someone show me where” attitude will bleed over into every aspect of your preparedness.

This is for our development: Just get out and do it and don’t hope that someone else will present you with a ready-made preparedness group you can join. That isn’t how this works. Like everything in life of any value, you must put in the work and get out there.

The only way to find like minded people in your area is to get out there, meet people, and ask the hard questions. Ask people you know or meet about:

1. How do you feel about the current polarisation of our society? Where is it leading?
2. Have you ever thought about what you would do after a tornado?
3. How did you guys do during the last power outage? What did you do to prepare?
4. Have you ever taken a first aid/CPR/Stop The Bleed class? You want to?
5. Do you think it’d be easier to survive a disaster alone or with a group?

The answers to these questions will get you on track to finding out if someone is interested in preparedness. Avoid straight political questions, because there are fanatics and crazy people on both sides. Those things will come, but begin by building a relationship. You can only do that by doing things face to face with people.

My friend Brent over at Project 223 Preparedness points out that he gets a ton of inquiries from people wanting to join a group, but when he suggests meeting and having lunch or dinner, they say “No, we just want to join online, just in case”. It doesn’t work that way. You cannot build enough trust to entrust your life with someone over the internet.

In another case, our group of folks had a guy say that he wanted to bring 25-30 people to our planned retreat if things went bad, but flat out refused to come and meet with us. We offer classes and I suggested that they come and train with us first and build a relationship. “Nope, we do our own training, we just don’t have a place to go”. My brother in Christ, do not plan on trying to show up at something we built with an armed group that refused to even meet with us, that will not go the way you think it will. If you do, leave all your gear in a clearly marked cache so that we can retrieve it later, please. You cannot expect folks to take you in if you aren’t willing to invest face-to-face time. I’m not mad at the guy at all, he’s trying to do what’s best for his people, but again, by asking us to let him take over our facility (that was the real question), he’s RELYING ON SOMEONE ELSE. That’s not self-sufficiency.

Go to events like the Self-Reliance Festival in Tennessee, Mountain Readiness in NC, or any of the hundreds of local preparedness events and fairs held all over the country every weekend. They are out there, you just have to look for them. Facebook, Twitter, and other social media are full of event notices. Go to one and meet people; build relationships.

“But, JOOOOOOEE, that’s where the Feds are.” I promise you, they really aren’t. Let’s face facts, we aren’t that important or interesting. Also, if you don’t agree to any crazy schemes to kidnap governors or storm federal buildings, you’ll be fine. Don’t talk about crazy things with folks you just met. The “FEDS” fear is just a cope to avoid having to put in work meeting new people. Yes, I said it. Stop worrying about it.

Church is another good place to find allies. Start conversation with same questions above.

The one I can’t stress enough is coming to training events. As the crew that just trained with me in Oklahoma will attest, the biggest value is in building relationships with your fellow students during breaks, meals, and after hours hangouts around the campfire.

Stop hoping that someone will present you with a ready-made group. Go and find them, and start planning and training together.

Last point: If you haven’t already done this and are only just now asking this question, you are WAY behind world events. Get on it.

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