Here we go AGAIN " Have you got any spare...........

[BillMasen]

Fairweather preppers who crop up on the phone and in my IN box every time there is an issue from SARS to AlQuaeda to Ebola to Corona "" Hi mate sorry I have not been in touch for a while" usually followed by a few social pleasantries INEVITABLY followed by " Have you got any info or articles on prepping for XXXXX" usually followed by " Oh have you got any spare ............. you can let me have for a while."

Previously it was Anti Virals, Water Filter Candles, Face Masks, Treated Fuel, Mountain House Food, Air Rifles etc they want to "" Borrow"" Even on one occasion " Could you put me and the wife for a week or two if TSHTF" .

I learned long ago to not pander to these fairweather friends and now I dont even reply to their messages,

 

[lonewolf]

I found out many years ago not to "lend" anything, that's the last i'll see of it.

 

[jimLE]

i do things for folks.but i WON'T loan out anything. I've lost to many item's that way.

 

[lonewolf]

I gave up doing things for other people a long time ago, just get taken for someone who can be used.

 

[Brent S]

I found out many years ago not to "lend" anything, that's the last i'll see of it.

If you lend something consider it as a gift to them....

 

[KateMTx]

I always tell people no I don't have spares. I'm not nice about it either. They laugh and think it's all a joke until something happens.

 

[Helen Back]

I went to Costco yesterday in Portland and there was a large crowd by the toilet paper pallets. It was seriously flying off the pallets. I was doing a head count and a tp count and it wasn't looking good from my position in the back, so I started coughing loudly without covering my face. It was like Moses parting the Red Sea. Sure I got some nasty looks, but I also got the tp I needed for my regular supply. I even grabbed a second bundle just because they were so pitiful. I have been getting tired of always being the go to guy for a few years. Seems nobody ever gives back. Strange how people are oyur friend as long as you say yes, then when you say no they act like you are an a hole. With this COVID 19 issue I started thinking and wanted to ask you guys..

Say it starts getting bad here in the states and major cities are quarantined, supplies stop coming, food is scarce... What do you do when people you know, who know you have supplies, start showing up asking for refuge? Serious question, consider it before posting. I feel like I cannot trust anyone under those circumstances in my home, especially with a hot wife to protect. So, seems someone has to go, now, so they don't snipe me in my yard later and try to just move in.

 

[Proud Prepper]

I keep a clip board hanging up in my garage. When someone borrows something, I write in down with name and date. If they dont return it, I know who to hunt down!

 

[Proud Prepper]

I went to Costco yesterday in Portland and there was a large crowd by the toilet paper pallets. It was seriously flying off the pallets. I was doing a head count and a tp count and it wasn't looking good from my position in the back, so I started coughing loudly without covering my face. It was like Moses parting the Red Sea. Sure I got some nasty looks, but I also got the tp I needed for my regular supply. I even grabbed a second bundle just because they were so pitiful. I have been getting tired of always being the go to guy for a few years. Seems nobody ever gives back. Strange how people are oyur friend as long as you say yes, then when you say no they act like you are an a hole. With this COVID 19 issue I started thinking and wanted to ask you guys..

Say it starts getting bad here in the states and major cities are quarantined, supplies stop coming, food is scarce... What do you do when people you know, who know you have supplies, start showing up asking for refuge? Serious question, consider it before posting. I feel like I cannot trust anyone under those circumstances in my home, especially with a hot wife to protect. So, seems someone has to go, now, so they don't snipe me in my yard later and try to just move in.

I do some basic prepping for everyone I care about that doesn't prep on there own, then I put them to work or they can go. Anyone else that shows up will be turned away or .........!

 

[Helen Back]

Apparently I am not done. Some people that know me think I am a little weird because I am always looking at news, local, national, and world. I knew about COVID 19 within hours of China reporting the first case of animal to human transmission of a coronavirus; in early January. A week later, when it was starting to spread to a few hundred and they quarantined Wuhan, I told my family and friends to pay attention and to go get masks. They acted like I was "preparanoid". Now, they are asking me for the masks I went and bought because nobody has them anywhere. I am telling them no, partly because my wife and I might need them, but mostly because I told them and they just figured I would give them mine if they ever needed them. Seems the idea for most. Let you do the work, then when something happens you're just supposed to share. A couple of people are actually kind of mad, and I suspect when this blows over our relationship will be changed forever.

Seems prepping means you have to accept the ridicule and then give to those same people, or go it alone. This is such a strange one because it's not like an EMP happened, or a the 9.0 subduction quake wiped out the left coast for a couple of years. It should get better, but who knows, really? Do you share with the people who won't prepare themselves, or do you draw a line and dig in, even if it means losing friends? When I say friends, these are not 20 year besties, these are acquantances, but the few people I know and interact with, since I lost my 20+ year friends to various things in the last few years.

 

[KateMTx]

I went to Costco yesterday in Portland and there was a large crowd by the toilet paper pallets. It was seriously flying off the pallets. I was doing a head count and a tp count and it wasn't looking good from my position in the back, so I started coughing loudly without covering my face. It was like Moses parting the Red Sea. Sure I got some nasty looks, but I also got the tp I needed for my regular supply. I even grabbed a second bundle just because they were so pitiful. I have been getting tired of always being the go to guy for a few years. Seems nobody ever gives back. Strange how people are oyur friend as long as you say yes, then when you say no they act like you are an a hole. With this COVID 19 issue I started thinking and wanted to ask you guys..

Say it starts getting bad here in the states and major cities are quarantined, supplies stop coming, food is scarce... What do you do when people you know, who know you have supplies, start showing up asking for refuge? Serious question, consider it before posting. I feel like I cannot trust anyone under those circumstances in my home, especially with a hot wife to protect. So, seems someone has to go, now, so they don't snipe me in my yard later and try to just move in.

Damn, yeah, that's a good question.
I guess some things to consider would be why are they coming to you asking for your help? You say they "know you have supplies." Exactly how much do they know, can you trick them into believing you don't have as much as you do, or that you store it some place else? I don't think you're somehow morally beholden to strangers or acquaintances just because you have and they don't, if they didn't take adequate steps to prepare, and/or you're family will suffer as a result of your sharing. I don't know that immediate lethal action could be justified based on a potential future threat, but certainly dissuasion by any means necessary.
Honestly I will probably take all I can pack with me and go to my parents' farm before it gets to that point here. .. If/when I see it coming in the major cities I will know to go. I'm going to be keeping my gas tank full because they live a ways away and I don't want to be having to stop in such a situation, even if there were still gas available along the way.
BTW I just figured out your name.

 

[Helen Back]

Thanks Kate. It IS a weird place. I AM the farm with the big house, garden, shop, shooting range... so, if people come all the way out here, it's not like they will want to go back if I tell them to "hit the road". I almost deleted my post, but I guess I do want to hear from others who get it.

 

[Maverick]

I don't loan a thing if it's not family that's living on the property and even they know it better be put back and be clean.

 

[GaRp58]

I have also loaned too much out (materials and my time/work) only to never be thanked or helped in return. Like others said: loan only what you can do without. If it is family or friend, consider it "given away forever" until it does come back. You CANNOT lose a friend after 2 yrs., 20 yrs....You can lose a good accquaintance or work buddy after 20 years, but not a true friend. Understand the difference...I have prepped since 1974. I have enough for the family, but not enough for others. My friends have all prepped a bit after 911, and we will be helping each other after TEOTWAWKI: others?? Can't say yet. GP

 

[lonewolf]

Do you share with the people who won't prepare themselves, or do you draw a line and dig in, even if it means losing friends? .

I don't share with people who cant be bothered to do it for themselves.
I have friends I have known for 40 years but they aren't preppers and live in a city and don't think of leaving.

 

[BillMasen]

I went to Costco yesterday in Portland and there was a large crowd by the toilet paper pallets. It was seriously flying off the pallets. I was doing a head count and a tp count and it wasn't looking good from my position in the back, so I started coughing loudly without covering my face. It was like Moses parting the Red Sea. Sure I got some nasty looks, but I also got the tp I needed for my regular supply. I even grabbed a second bundle just because they were so pitiful. I have been getting tired of always being the go to guy for a few years. Seems nobody ever gives back. Strange how people are oyur friend as long as you say yes, then when you say no they act like you are an a hole. With this COVID 19 issue I started thinking and wanted to ask you guys..

Say it starts getting bad here in the states and major cities are quarantined, supplies stop coming, food is scarce... What do you do when people you know, who know you have supplies, start showing up asking for refuge? Serious question, consider it before posting. I feel like I cannot trust anyone under those circumstances in my home, especially with a hot wife to protect. So, seems someone has to go, now, so they don't snipe me in my yard later and try to just move in.

(A) Choose between YOUR family and these Fairweather Friends its sadly that simple, and being in the US if these FWFs know you have supplies cached then you NEED to be armed and plenty of ammo and plenty of range practice.

(B) So you and your wife prep like mad, invest your time and money and effort in prepping, you then prudently decide to hunker down whilst both are healthy. Then your fair weather friends arrive and you take them in, that evening one of them starts coughing..................................... Have you just killed your family because of your kind act?

(C) Real FRIENDS would never put you in that position

 

[BillMasen]

Will someone please tell me what Kates name means then??

 

[lonewolf]

Will someone please tell me what Kates name means then??

i'm not sure what the M means but obviously TX means she's in Texas as is proved by the info below her avatar.

 

[DrHenley]

Will someone please tell me what Kates name means then??

First name Kate, last name starts with M, lives in Tx?

 

[BillMasen]

First name Kate, last name starts with M, lives in Tx?

I like the Helen Back one better as in to "hell and back"

 

[Brent S]

Ok Kate, you don’t have to reveal yourself to the world, but I would like to know what the picture in your avatar came from....

 

[Maverick]

I went to Costco yesterday in Portland and there was a large crowd by the toilet paper pallets. It was seriously flying off the pallets. I was doing a head count and a tp count and it wasn't looking good from my position in the back, so I started coughing loudly without covering my face. It was like Moses parting the Red Sea. Sure I got some nasty looks, but I also got the tp I needed for my regular supply. I even grabbed a second bundle just because they were so pitiful. I have been getting tired of always being the go to guy for a few years. Seems nobody ever gives back. Strange how people are oyur friend as long as you say yes, then when you say no they act like you are an a hole. With this COVID 19 issue I started thinking and wanted to ask you guys..

Say it starts getting bad here in the states and major cities are quarantined, supplies stop coming, food is scarce... What do you do when people you know, who know you have supplies, start showing up asking for refuge? Serious question, consider it before posting. I feel like I cannot trust anyone under those circumstances in my home, especially with a hot wife to protect. So, seems someone has to go, now, so they don't snipe me in my yard later and try to just move in.

Same thing was happening in Vancouver Wa at the two costco's they have.

 

[Dani]

I have plenty of family to help support and a few close friends, even now without a crisis. . . . . Now if I had some acquaintances from work show up, I would send them away without any problem. Strangers around here would be turned out too.

 

[KateMTx]

Thanks Kate. It IS a weird place. I AM the farm with the big house, garden, shop, shooting range... so, if people come all the way out here, it's not like they will want to go back if I tell them to "hit the road". I almost deleted my post, but I guess I do want to hear from others who get it.

If you're at the point where they are refusing to leave, and not people you would trust to contribute (rather than be a drain on resources) you have to do what's best for your family. If the others can't be persuaded to leave you alone, then other measures may be necessary. I hope it doesn't come down to that. But if someone's bug-out plan is go to a random acquaintances (or stranger's) farm and hope to mooch off of them (or their stuff after killing them). . . it means they had no plan at all, and most probably no plans to contribute in any meaningful way. Even if they don't have family living in a good area that they can go live with, there are plenty of plans better than that.

Will someone please tell me what Kates name means then??

Is my name not self-explanatory? I go by Kate, and my last name starts with an M. I'm from Texas. I only commented on @Helen Back name because I first thought it was someone named Helen, until I looked at it again.

 

[Helen Back]

Are you sure it's not Kate Montana ex? LOL

 

[Helen Back]

Same thing was happening in Vancouver Wa at the two costco's they have.

The Couve has TWO Costcos?!?!? I'm so tight, I will drive to the airport way location. Well, partially that...

 

[Maverick]

The Couve has TWO Costcos?!?!? I'm so tight, I will drive to the airport way location. Well, partially that...

Yep, kids avoid the taxes by going over their most of the time.

 

[KateMTx]

Are you sure it's not Kate Montana ex? LOL

I guess you'll never know

 

[Brent S]

I guess you'll never know

But what is the picture from? It seems familiar

 

[KateMTx]

But what is the picture from? It seems familiar

I really hope it's not familiar.