And my thoughts are not isolated to the posts on this board. When I mention the term freeloader, I may have seen it in a post here, but I know that also be reacting to opinions I see in other forums as well. I agree that most of the people here are similar minded and I doubt any of them are freeloaders either.

And I don't mean to imply that I truly know how people here feel about these issues. We react to a few words without really knowing each other or our true mindsets. And to be honest, the comments about freeloaders are very valid. If SHTF, I already know that all of my in-laws are going to be on my doorstep begging. And tmost of them bring nothing to the group except another mouth to feed. I am slowly preparing my wife for the fact that even if we have food and nobody esle does, to feed everyone who asks is suicide.

I saw one comment for example, and I am not sure if it was even on this thread. The poster said something like "just tell us where you are going to bug out to so my well trained and prepared little group can come and take all your stuff." This poster may have been joking, or very well may not have been. I don't know.

But I know there are more than a few people out there who actually think this way. And frankly, I think these types of people are in for a very short and rude existence when SHTF. If you go looking for a fight, you will find it. And it won't take long for to find some better who is prepared to stop you. Besides, if you truly are well prepared, you will have a full time job on your hands to protect and defend your own stuff and no time to go out trying to take stuff from others.

Anyway, I just find some of the preceptions I read very interesting. Many of them are probably taken out of true context and not as bad as they sound in a forum.

Personally, I am convincing a few of my hillbilly cousins who moved out here from Kentucky to come join our group. Many of them grew up in the Appalachians and didn't even have electricity or running water until they were adults. They grew up hunting, cooking and eating anything that could breathe. My dad grew up the same way. He learned more in his childhood than the army ever taught him. And most of what I know about camping and surviving I learned from him.