101 Questions for Survival?

[Randini]

Yes, Riot, kind of eye opening! What you say about stealing water to survive is poignant. I guess we don't like to consider ourselves as one of the zombies!

BTW: Thanks for your service, my youngest is doing Airborne and some type of special forces right now. He doesn't tell me much.

And like minded, huh? I suppose philosophically yes, ethically yes. But I also want different types of complimentary thought. I enjoy the challenge of having to either defend my point of view or see the others.

I do not think any two people are 100% like minded, just like my wife I dont know why she does'nt know I'am right all the time but if you can agree with the big issues and are not a type "A" all the way with others then like minded issues are what to look for. As far as others showing up, having an inner and outer compound type setup could be the way to go, the inner being of close members the outer being of those that are know to someone or have promise as far as skills or just being a hard worker. just like the old land lord set up of England, the big house for the land lord and the smaller shacks around the outside for the workers.

 

[Silver Fox]

Will glad to have you back, did all go well on your trip?

I am not going to debate the whole stay put or bug out or the eat ugly kid but by all means save the hot cousin, or how much like minded each other are. In all reality the number 80/20 keeps popping in my head as to what is needed in reality. Is there ever a 100% ideal anything in this life? So far in my 39 years I have discovered nothing is 100% but what I enjoy and am grateful for the most is about an 80% of what I want, so my needs are met (call that 50%) and then I have an additional 30% on top of that to really enjoy it. I hope that makes sense, I just finished a Kettlebell workout and I am smoked.

As far as questions for a potential interview questioner for a survival group/community I would recommend the following:

1. What is the most stressful situation you have ever been in and how did you deal with it?
2. How do you see yourself fitting into a group like this?
3. What situation have you been in personally where you placed the needs of others before yours even though there wasn't any reward or recognition for your effort?
4. What things annoy you? (people chewing with their mouth open, babies crying, the sight of animal organs freshly spilt of the ground)
5. How open minded are you about learning new things and give an example or two.
6. How long can you be alone before you 'need' to socialize with others?
7. What makes you sad?
8. Ever seen a human killed? Did you have to transport a dead body before?
9. If so, how did you deal with it?
10. Can you defend yourself or others if it means the taking of another human's life?
11. How far can you hike and with how much weight?
12. How many hours can you work outside doing chores?
13. What experiences have you had in the out doors, working on a farm and living isolated from society?
14. If you were in the military what did you do?
15. How do you deal with the 'civilian' mentality coming out of the military?
16. How squeamish does your stomach get when you see blood or other human discharges?
17. (the obvious) What skills do you have and how do they fit into the group?
18. Are you able to teach what you know?
19. Ever been in a position of leadership and if so what aspect of it made you the most successful?
20. How do you work with someone who annoys you personally but everybody else likes?
21. Can you cook, clean, cut wood, help build a house, dig a ditch, change a diaper, watch kids? How multi-functional are you?
22. What do you do to keep physically fit (I am not going to lug your big boot-ie around if you can't, screw that!)
23. What hobbies do you have that could benefit the group?

That is all I can think of now. I would like to see a final copy of the questionnaire when you finish it.

EDIT: Just thought of a few more:
24. What are your physical limitations?
25. What are your bad habbits? (smoking, if so could you go cold turkey if you had to? How often do you need to drink?)
26. What do you spend your money on?


SF-

 

[willseeker]

Will glad to have you back, did all go well on your trip?

I am not going to debate the whole stay put or bug out or the eat ugly kid but by all means save the hot cousin, or how much like minded each other are. In all reality the number 80/20 keeps popping in my head as to what is needed in reality. Is there ever a 100% ideal anything in this life? So far in my 39 years I have discovered nothing is 100% but what I enjoy and am grateful for the most is about an 80% of what I want, so my needs are met (call that 50%) and then I have an additional 30% on top of that to really enjoy it. I hope that makes sense, I just finished a Kettlebell workout and I am smoked.




SF-

Hi S.F! Yes, it's good to be back, although we left San Diego in a balmy 75 degrees four days ago! Didn't want to come back to this.

Briefly for all... my wife was diagnosed with non-hodgekins lymphoma three months ago and we just got back from an alternative clinic in Tijuana. We stayed in San Ysidro and took a shuttle into Mexico and back. Wonderfull experience, healing, positive, professional and all in one day! Thanks to all for your prayers!

80/20 huh? Of course! it's the universal inverse proportion. (did I say that?)
Generally speaking, it refers to the idea that 80% of output is generated or controlled by 20% of input. IE: In a salesforce of 10 reps, two of them will generate 80% of sales.

I won't even start to discuss your questions, they are most excellent! I'll get started on publishing them in the 101 Qs'.


Alrighty then, what is a Kettlebell workout and why were you smoking it?

Will

 

[Silver Fox]

Kettlebell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kettlebell)

Here are a few links. It can go on and on. Probably the best work out I have found in the last 5 years.

I am glad your wife had a great experience and I am sure she will have many more to come!

Yea I forgot who said the 80/20 theory but it stands true in everything in life.

One point is if the group is already formed they 'should' have a set of standards, the question should be once the 'recruit' has had a chance to over look them is, "Do you have any issues, concerns or questions about the group standards?"

I will check in tomorrow.

SF-

 

[willseeker]

Willseeker--I admire what you're trying to do. Finding the "right" people is always the tough part. I think it will be pretty tough to find a groups of families that could work/survive together under the incredible stress events that would come with any true SHTF situation; absent a pretty strong relationship in place. One way to go might to be to form a group of folks who get together once a month to learn some survival/practical skill and then figure out from amongst those who show up who would be a good fit for a longer-term plan. It will be tough on the questionairre front.

I think the key thing in these discussions is to figure out what we're talking about. Is it a total breakdown of society or just a temporary breakdown? Is it a complete breakdown (i.e. Mad Max) or a partial one (rising crime, interrupted supply deliveries, etc)? Figuring these out then helps you know what you are preparing for.

Hey Unionguy! I agree, getting folks together once a month or so to meet and discuss skills would give you what a questionaire cannot. You could tell right away what their physical condition is, their personality and most importantly their body language. You really can't tell if someone is nervous, suspicious or trustworthy on paper.

Nobody can predict when a breakdown will occur, it's severity or it's duration.
The premise here is to develop a group ready to embark on a lifestyle change now, regardless of the outside condition of society. The benefit to this is that you would already be prepared. As some have already posted, if you start buggin' out when it gets buggy, you're too late. Might as well stay where you are and put up plywood.

Will

 

[EZLivin]

>You can't do it by yourself...

What are your skills?
What are your hobbies?
What tools, equipment, and supplies can you bring?

>What questions would you ask them to insure that you weren't getting lameos, >wackos, lunies, crazies...

What medications are you on?
Have you ever been incarcerated?
Can I see your driver's license (and chl or passport)?

EZL

 

[isher]

Isher, you're post is refreshing. "Community is what you make it", huh?

OK, so let me see if I got some of your points:

What are your views on childrearing?
Have you ever lived in east L.A. or similar?
Are you tolerant of other religions?
Do you sing with your firearm?
Are you able to discuss extreme free speech to mind rot? (like that one)
Do you shop for transmissions at Midnight Auto?

Did I get it?

You are a free mind Isher, you are!

Will

Will -

A truly free mind is an incredibly disciplined mind, and I

Don't mind admitting I still have a long way to go on that one.

Child rearing. Starting at about age 5-6, I was granted permission

By my parents to cruise the hills with my singleshot .22

As long as I had a full canteen, my dog (for rattlesnake detection)

And told them a rough route map of where I intended to go.

By the time I was 14, I was doing 2-3 week solo backpacking trips on

The ridges of the Colorado Rockies (we were living there, then).

The rule there was to show up at the pickup point on time. The folks would

Give it 24 hours for random events, then call out the Mounties.

Minimize dependence. Maximize independence. The value point

Here is being completely responsible for your own actions as young

As possible.

East LA. Well, kinda. Lived in a 16' trailer in the barrio at the bottom of the

Hills in Tustin (Orange County) for three years. Completely Hispanic. One

Of my good friends was a "high yaller" fellow went by the name of

"Biker John" who had grown up in, and lived at the edge of Compton.

Spent a lot of time over there, too. This was the very tail end of the 60's.

Religious tolerance. Plenty, as long as Church and State are held

Entirely separate. "Don't need a weatherman, to tell which way the

Wind blows", on that one, these days. Not limited to USA. International.

Singing with firearm. Huh. Never tried it.

Extreme free speech to mind rot. Yup. My entire life, and no way

Am I backing off now.

Midnight Auto. Nope, always went against my grain. Bargain the best you

Can, cash and carry.


Now, a very small survival reading list of four volumes, in this order, which

You might find useful in your quest:


"Kabloona", by Gontran de Poncins. Way out of print. Published by

Reynal & Hitchcock, New York, 1941. A Frenchman travels to the high

Arctic just prior to WWII and lives with the Inuit, as an Inuit. His

Descriptions of social, political, physical, and psychological

Survival shock are pretty amazing.


"Animal Farm", by the inimitable Mr. Orwell. I realize that it was

Written as a comment on the socialist/communist manifesto, but it has

An amazing resonance with a lot of the survivalbabble going on presently.


"Deep Survival", by Laurence Gonzales. Norton and Company, 2003.

As the cover says "Who lives, who dies, and why."


Finally, the venerable "Tao te Ching', by Lao Tsu. My favorite edition is

The Translation by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English. Vintage Books, 1972.


Enjoy


isher

 

[Silver Fox]

Isher- if you say you have a long ways to go, then I am behind you at least four major terrain features.

Will- I am on the iPhone couldn't wait to see what is next.

SF-

 

[Riot]

I'am not sure about your point where are you moving to, or is it just keep moving like a nomadic reference, if so it sounds bleak.

Watch the movie Defiance...that should answer some questions

 

[willseeker]

Watch the movie Defiance...that should answer some questions

That was a great movie! It was a nomadic survival life and bleak, but the human spirit to survive was strong!

From what I remember, they had to move without notice, right?



Be prepared!

 

[willseeker]

Isher!

To read your post... as chief Dan George said, "makes my heart soar like a hawk!"

Inimitable, venerable...indeed! You site some literature that I now must locate (although I read Animal Farm in H.S.).

Thank you for your brain droppings! I really enjoyed phrases such as:

"A truly free mind is an incredibly disciplined mind"

and

"Minimize dependance, maximize independance".

You have my attention, sir!

Thanks again,
Will

 

[Riot]

That was a great movie! It was a nomadic survival life and bleak, but the human spirit to survive was strong!

From what I remember, they had to move without notice, right?



Be prepared!

They had to move more than once...the local police swept the woodline then the Nazis came sweeping for them thinking they were the Russian base. It goes to show you that you have one of two choices in occupied territory-

Either stay small and use guerilla tactics to fight the enemy or decide to start a community and open yourself to possible diseases and attacks.

That's pretty cut and dry if you ask me...stay small= live, go big= death

 

[willseeker]

Since we are currently battling cancer, I have become more aware of the medicinal uses of herbs in healing.

Interestingly, the word "drug" is derived from the Dutch term "droog" which means "to dry", since people have historically dried plants to make medicines.

I have found that some of the chemo drugs are actually plant/herb derivatives.

So, how about:
What do you know about folk healing?
Can you take apart and put together a 1911?
Can you play a musical instrument?
How do you treat someone in shock?

Will

 

[Gunner3456]

Sticking together with other people will get you killed.

Worked pretty well for the various tribes of Indians against Custer.

You have a better chance of survival if you stick to a smaller group and keep moving.

Didn't work out so well for Custer. His pals who stayed at the fort fared much better.

Didn't work out so well for the Indians over the long haul either. They were nomadic and vulnerable.

I think I'd be much more vulnerable to everything from the weather to enemies if I kept moving. I'm staying at the fort unless someone burns it down or blows it up. If we have to head for the hills (really nearby) I have a couple of other places picked out where I plan to hunker down.

No plan is foolproof though...

 

[Silver Fox]

Nomadic folks didn't have to worry about property boundries. the wildlife and vegatation were more abundant than today. You go about your nomadic ways and that cow you spy down the road belongs to someone and is probably being watched by a 'shepard' who has his crosshairs on you. The apple orchard you want to walk to is across a very wide open field, good chance it's a kill zone for a preset ambush. I will stick to the Ft. unless I see a real threat coming my way.

Remember, that a person escaping a disaster without a place to go is a refugee and person with a firearm and no place to go is an armed refugee.

SF-

 

[Randini]

I would ask
If society was devastated by a SHTF event what would you like the rebuilding of society to be like.

as far as moving around I agree with SF on issues and if its a "they" are trying to find or look for us, radar today from my understanding is very good on "finding" check out that new "GOTCHA" radar.

 

[shibbershabber]

I would say that in order to be completely sure of your crew, you should draw from people you already know. People whose character and skillset you already know.

Something to consider if you are adding to your group post-shtf. The person seeking entry could be an infiltrator from another group seeking to take your gear.

Assuming that you want to bug out with your group, where could you even go? Within 100 miles of PDX there is not too much public land. It is unlikely that members of your group will own adjoining properties... you will likely be facing armed property owners who will not appreciate your presence.

How will you feed your group? There is not much area for farming around here, that is land that is not already occupied. You could head to the hills, but game will become scarce, there is not much farming to be done in the mountains.

How will you defend yourselves? If the case is total breakdown of social and governmental order, certainly there will be elements that are better armed than you. Consider the proliferation of military hardware in such a scenario.

If there is some governmental/military establishment, you will want to be farther out than 100miles from the city as your armed group will certainly be considered a threat.

How will you travel? How will you transport your goods?


Having a small group of friends & family whom you know and trust with your life is the only group that you could really trust. Of these people, choose who has the best property for bugging in (can accommodate everyone, can be fortified). Make sure that everyone, independently has a few months supply of provisions. Coordinate a plan ahead of time, everyone meet at said location with all their gear and ride it out as long as possible.

As far as skills go, get together and find out who knows what. Discover what skills/equipment are missing and assign members of your party to start learning/acquiring the skills/gear that are lacking. Go camping together, go shooting together, start eating healthy, exercise, work out more, etc.

forget the madmax/red dawn scenarios, that will just fill your head with nonsense. Read some history, hone your skills, get in shape, stash food/water/fuel.

 

[Gunner3456]

Nomadic folks didn't have to worry about property boundries. the wildlife and vegatation were more abundant than today. You go about your nomadic ways and that cow you spy down the road belongs to someone and is probably being watched by a 'shepard' who has his crosshairs on you. The apple orchard you want to walk to is across a very wide open field, good chance it's a kill zone for a preset ambush. I will stick to the Ft. unless I see a real threat coming my way.

Remember, that a person escaping a disaster without a place to go is a refugee and person with a firearm and no place to go is an armed refugee.

SF-

+1 I don't hope to be any kind of a refugee. I hope to be able to stay right here with other local family members who can bring skills and help stick it out.

 

[badazzelanore]

then she has absolutly nothing to bring accept hate and discontent to the group!

 

[willseeker]

then she has absolutly nothing to bring accept hate and discontent to the group!

Yes badazzelanore! I agree.

However, as my Avatar would say..."of course for the sake of survival and re-populating the species, the females would have to be chosen on their ability to attract the males..." oh forget it, I'm monogamous anyway!

Yeah sure, throw her out! (too bad though)

Seriously, we are dealing with the survival of a species (human) that has more neurosis than Woody Allen! Interjecting an outsider would and should be considered a breach of the communities rules and therefore their safety.