Is a survival compound your best bet?
If all the chatter on survival forums and in survival blogs is true, a compound of like-minded survivalists and/or preppers is the best way to prepare for the future. This opinion was voiced by a friend of ours last night, and I've been thinking about it.
The truth is, there are several drawbacks to the classic survival compound.
1. I can't think of a more effective way of placing a big bullseye on an individual or family than to be a part of an easily identifiable compound. Just as everyone in Waco, Texas knew who the Branch Davidians were, it won't take long before the folks in town know about you and your fellow survivalists.
2. The feds have infiltrated militia groups, and there's no reason to think they won't infiltrate survival and prepper groups. After all, we seem to be on their "enemies list".
3. Ever heard of the saying, "Familiarity breeds contempt"? When people live too close to each other and are too dependent on each other, conflict is inevitable. After all, a lot of people have a love/hate relationship with their own family members and everyone in the compound will be well-armed!
4. Survival-types tend to be very strong and independent minded and such people often find it hard to make all the compromises necessary when it comes to co-existing with others in a tight community.
5. No matter how many commonalities you may have with other group members, schisms between individuals and groups will appear. Even if everyone in your compound was of the same race, religion, and political party, there will still be differences of opinion that may become quite heated over time.
6. George Orwell said it best, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." Going in, it may seem as if everyone in the compound is on equal footing, but how long will that last? How will goods, services, and skills be shared and distributed? Some families will have more financial resources than others. Will they be expected to share?
Is there a better solution? Survivalist writer Bruce Clayton recommends moving to a village where a support system is already in place, rather than creating one from scratch. Meet-up groups are one way of getting in touch with others who are like-minded, because even in the largest of cities, there are many, many survival-minded people out there.
I've been talking about assessing the survivability of your own home and neighborhood on my Radio Hour. You can listen to this on Shows #16 and #17 here.
As always, hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Lisa Bedford, The Survival Mom
7554 W. Thunderbird Rd.
Suite 1, Box 188
Peoria, Arizona, 85381 USA
