Sir:
I’ve been a follower of SurvivalBlog for some time. We’ve seen this mentioned before: building communities of moral, responsible, and like-minded citizens (in the Robert Heinlein sense of the word) has strategic advantages. I would go a step further and say this process is, in fact, crucial.
I number among the many souls who wish to relocate and become self-sustaining but all to often find ourselves in a serious minority among our immediate circle of relationships, as well as beset by other challenges to overcome. Our particular circumstance may vary: Maybe we’re small business owners in a depressed area, or single (at whatever age), or students, or in-debt, maybe serving as soldiers, or first responders, or missionaries, or employed overseas, perhaps single-parents juggling work and child-rearing, or youngsters not quite of legal age (but old enough to know something is terribly wrong), perhaps orphaned children who are now adults and have no immediate circle of support, or recently naturalized persons who must also overcome the language, prejudice, and cultural barriers, etc… the list goes on. Regardless of our particular circumstance I believe we struggle with very similar feelings of self-doubt, fear, and isolation. Nothing is quite so disheartening as experiencing, not just our colleagues and peers but, also, those nearest and dearest disbelieve our heartfelt concern to the point of scorn.
Friends, I write to tell you: there is hope!
I’ve been to the American Redoubt. It was a few years back, before JWR formally proposed the idea. I had the opportunity to meet fellow SurvivalBlog readers at a community event somewhere in The Redoubt. Getting there turned into a near sleepless 48-hour, 500-mile hitchhiking epic miracle (and I do mean miracle in the full sense of the word). The experience was incredible and well worth the blood, sweat, tears, frustration and long-suffering it took to get from point A to point B and back again.
I met some amazing folks! It was surreal to be at a gathering of some 50+ folks from, not only several of the local towns and from across the state, but from several other states west of the Continental Divide as well. At this gathering, it was normal to hear complete strangers reference SurvivalBlog, Patriots, or to be asked: “Are you familiar with a gentleman by the name of Rawles?” Open-carry was prevalent at the event and none of the women, children, or elderly seemed the least taken aback by the presence of firearms on so many other men and women! Also, although, everyone was clearly exercising great care and discretion in conversation, no one was acting über secret-squirrel and no one seemed surprised or offended if answers about work, home, occupation, education, training, etc. were generalized or a little vague. The county we were in also claimed the interesting distinction of having no additional statutory law (after state law) except for the United States Constitution and the town itself also had no building codes of its own. The community was a mixed bunch of all ages, both natives and recent voters (of the “voted with their feet” variety).
In those few hours, shared with strangers I had never seen before that day, I have never felt more at home. In their company, I could actually breathe easy and feel my heart at rest. The folks were generous, sincere, and frank. With all the sidearms attached to trained citizens, I am sure no one would mistake their kindness for weakness very long!
Since that time, I’ve continued forward one slow step at a time. As a single, landless, deployed soldier, I’ve decided to remain debt-free and mobile, to travel light, to maintain a diverse portfolio of useful, compact tangibles, and maintain contact with the handful of families I’ve been blessed to meet around the country whom I’d be willing to team up with if necessary. While mobile I also intend to invest in some useful training and combine those events with creating opportunities to revisit The Redoubt and forge new relationships as time permits. Incidentally, I find there is really no meaningful substitute for meeting folks face-to-face. Leaving what is familiar and comfortable is probably among the biggest challenges of most preppers who have yet to relocate or find others of like-mind. I know it is one of mine. I’m familiar with my city and state, have adapted and survived a turbulent couple of years in this area, and know some people, however, this is not where I want to build a home, establish a family or raise children.
One couple at The Redoubt gathering had this to say, after I shared some of my doubts and concerns with them about being little more than a young novice from an urban upbringing, and I pass it on to the rest of you by way of inspiration and hope:
“If you’re honest and willing to work hard, you’ll do just fine out here.” – Swiftner