SHTF Groups

[Omicron]

Seriously though, apart from being viewed as a cult, I have been thinking of a way to organize such a neighborhood for a few years now. The conclusion that I've come to is that you would either need hundreds of people on board to include every house in the neighborhood (which would be nearly impossible to control if things got bad unless you really were a cult), or you would have to be out in the sticks somewhere. It seems that there may be some people with this idea along highway 94 on the way to Kansas, but they are pretty far out there... A bit further out there than I could convince my wife to live.

I could however see this working especially well with a little mountain community of say, 5-10 houses and everyone would be very self-sufficient: Wind or solar power, wells, septic, well-fortified houses. They could be off the grid as much or as little as they want. Personally I would love to have a backup source of power and a well. If only I had the money to buy some property in the mountains right now...

Exactly the kind of thing I envision.

[sellersm]

It must be a cohesive group with clearly communicated, commonly shared, deep values. Think back to the old communities of the West in our country's early days!

[HoneyBadger]

It must be a cohesive group with clearly communicated, commonly shared, deep values. Think back to the old communities of the West in our country's early days!

Also, I think everyone in the group should have equal investment to the cause, whether it is monetary investment, time investment, supplies, whatever. In addition to what Sellersm said, everyone in the group needs to embody the same level of mental and physical commitment, or it might not hold up.

Now, who wants to buy some acreage, split it into parcels, and build some homes for likeminded individuals? I bet if somebody did this right, they could screen the buyers and "build" a group that could work, right?

[jonny450r]

I consider my close friends my family so I guess I'm a hybrid of sorts lol. Besides it'll help have a couple more people with security and different peoples knowledge to last longer if need be.

[FastMan]

Now, who wants to buy some acreage, split it into parcels, and build some homes for likeminded individuals? I bet if somebody did this right, they could screen the buyers and "build" a group that could work, right?

Just started reading this thread, and this post was on page one, but want to respond to it before I move on. This is what I've been thinking about recently. There's strength in numbers.

Probably, as I read on, others will have run with this idea.

[Great-Kazoo]

Just started reading this thread, and this post was on page one, but want to respond to it before I move on. This is what I've been thinking about recently. There's strength in numbers.

Probably, as I read on, others will have run with this idea.

Yes there is. My idea of land is much different then yours, negating a group land buy.

[FastMan]

Yes there is. My idea of land is much different then yours, negating a group land buy.

Jim, care to expand on that?

[Wiggity]

When I saw the title, i immediately thought of groups of S after a chunk had HTF

[HoneyBadger]

When I saw the title, i immediately thought of groups of S after a chunk had HTF

[Goodburbon]

I'm in a "group", and while I won't get into specifics I can say that it just developed naturally through conversation with close friends.

Here are some issues we've encountered.
1. Family members "cool, we're coming to your house when SHTF. We won't contribute anything because we don't believe S will ever HTF, but if it does we'll be knocking on your door.
2. 2 members seem to be financing the entire operation. It's quickly become a "from each according to his ability" operation.
3. Settling on standards. When we formed, the springfield XD was the chosen pistol, but as time wore on everyone somehow acquired HK USPs. Now 3 people are in a situation where they have the "group standard" but the majority of the group has moved on to bigger and better things (as the group expanded and took in family members). Ammunition? 55gr, 62gr....etc.
4. Distractions/finite resources. Most acutely seen with energy choices. Should we go with Solar? 20k+ longer term viability.. Propane generator run intermittently?$3k (we have the generator, this would be an extra 1000 gallon tank and fill) Mid-term (up to 1 year) Coal heating? Wood? Propane? etc. These debates have cost a lot of time and energy.