"The Ticket"

[Zombie Axe]

You know how it happens,you are talking to someone you have been trying to get started into prepping, and they say, "Well if TSHTF I'll just come to your place!" Well I got news for them... DON'T come over empty handed!!!!

"The Ticket" Concept is an idea (not mine) that has been floating around the web for several years. Basically it means if you are gonna show up on my doorstep, or I at yours, bring your ticket with you.

Basically a ticket is a standard that you and your prep buddy come up with, so when you show up on each other's doorstep you will not overtax your buddies supply and vice versa.

A good place to start is with a 90 days of supplies or even more if you feel that meets your comfort level. You also may consider prepositioning your supplies or maybe getting a trailer to haul it where you need it.

Some points to ponder:

A lifeboat built for 10 will sink with 20.

Noah built an Ark, he told others of the coming storm, they chose to do business as usual and not prepare. When the rains began, the unprepared suddenly thought that being onboard that Ark was a good idea! However the hand of God had already "shut the door". Help build the Ark, Don't show up after the door is shut!

[das]

If more is better and three are two...in the preparedness jargon....I can see the motivation for inviting people to participate such as this. But when you share all this information and they DON'T maintain their end of the bargain what then?

You know they are still going to show up and say, "Hey I gave all I could. Even though I didn't stay in shape, I didn't rotate my supplies, I brought four neighbors and I forgot my weapons you should still let me in and share all your preparations!"

The ticket, as you say, is a commitment akin to children or your faith. Having a kit, or X amount of rolled oats isn't enough. At this point in my preps I don't consider myself worthy of a place in a survival team. I know my family isn't.

I work on this every day and am not ready for most scenario's I can imagine. Establishing agreeable minimums, though harsh, would be necessary. Then again by doing what I can and relying upon only my own energy/skills/intelligence and supplies I may be able to pull my family through.

To be frank I have probably invested $10k+ into my preparations not counting training. But the STUFF can't save your life. Someone who walked up to me and spent $10k to duplicate my cache wouldn't be my equal.

Working together from the first day is the way to build an emergency team. Just the duplication and wasted effort of people not working together is criminal. I will not badger the point but to say preparedness is not a solitary sport.

[Zombie Axe]

Good points das,

A 90 day Ticket is not much, but it generally seperates the talkers from the walkers. It is probably just as an effective tool to motivate folks or find out if they got any new excuses as to why they are not meeting the minimum standards after 6 months.

Most preppers get into it from the firearms and ammunition angle. Then realize that they like to eat and start (hopefully) to store foods.

Survivalism is not a solo sport, but you can't risk showing your hand to wrong people cause that isn't a good plan either.

There are no easy answers to forming alliances with like minded folks, but always appear to not be a one stop shopping for the bad guys. Sometimes things should only be revealed when needed...

[das]

I agree OpSec is essential. I even struggle with discussing issues here but then I pull in my paranoia and consider that #1 Xcolony is not going to be populated by the kind of people who are totally unprepared and #2 Knowledge is power, if my sharing can help someone else or better yet allow someone to point out my errors then we all win.

[Visinedrops]

If push comes to shove, and there's really no way to gather up everything agreed upon, I'd rather have a little of nothing than none of everything.

I've given it a lot of thought, and have come to realize that no matter how much or how little my friend is able to contribute, we are in the same boat. I'm not going to horde my stash of nudie mags while he's looking in the sears catalog, same goes for the food stuffs and ammunition.

I'd rather not be in the situation to require the assistance of someone else, because I failed to prepare...the door swings both ways.