Guns & Outdoors Forum

I just watched The Shelter episode of The Twilight Zone (1961) again.
It's about a Doctor celebrating his birthday with his family and close friends, he even talks about his bomb shelter and then a civil defense announcement is broadcast over the radio that unknown objects are flying over the country and it could be a nuclear attack.

Opening Narration:
What you are about to watch is a nightmare. It is not meant to be prophetic, it need not happen, it's the fervent and urgent prayer of all men of good will that it never shall happen. But in this place, in this moment, it does happen. This is the Twilight Zone.

The doctor rushes his family down into the bomb shelter and the "friends" quickly devolve into fanatics that also want into the doctor's bomb shelter. They quickly spiral out of control and formulate a plan to break down the door to the shelter. The "friends" successfully destroy the door when an announcement over the radio tells everyone it's just a satellite. The "friends" all start apologizing for their behavior.

Closing Narration:
No moral, no message, no prophetic tract, just a simple statement of fact: for civilization to survive, the human race has to remain civilized. Tonight's very small exercise in logic from the Twilight Zone.

This got me thinking about numerous natural disasters that have occurred.

We like to joke about the zombie apocalypse but that's just a metaphor for other events that could happen. Natural disaster, civil emergencies, insert your calamity here. So the question stands, How well do you know and trust your neighbors?

I suspect most of us would like to think the best of our friends and neighbors but...


When it comes to arms, supplies and keeping your own family safe, I think Gandalf had it right, "Keep it Secret, Keep it Safe."

Translation, Keep your mouth shut if you don't completely trust those around you in an emergency.

So folks, how well do you trust your neighbors?

3 important things to do to live through a disaster:

Store food and water
Have good shelter
Dont come within 600 yards of my house

Check out another twilight zone show. "To Serve Man"

Survival would be easier with my friends and neighbors

Lived here 15 plus years, and there’s neighbors I’ve never talked to in that time. I’ve talked to some but they have moved. And currently there’s none I speak to or even know.

As far as trusting people, that list is VERY small, and my neighbors haven’t been nor ever will be on it.

We know two neighbors. neither of them well.
If the zombies come we are taking everything that fits in two vehicles and heading to friends ranch. Together with pooled resources we would stand a chance, maybe. For a while

Our next door neighbor moved in shortly before Hurricane Michael! We helped each other quite a bit after the storm. We teamed up and helped others in need. Since I have a Generac (best money I ever spent) we had power so people could come in and enjoy the AC and get a meal. All were welcome! Did I mention I had cold beer, too!! We helped older people when they ran out of meds and located meds for them! We still look out for each other. Since the area I live is has older, long time residents and we are know who belongs here!

I know some neighbors decently, others not so. When
Hurricane Ian came through, one let me run our fridge off his generator, and we hooked into his well. We kept him in propane and helped out.

The majority on my street could knock on my door and I wouldn't even know they're my neighbors. On the one hand, this makes for a short list of who to trust, but on the other, the lack of familiarity will be helpful should cannibalism become necessary.

No bones about it - a meltdown in an urban setting will be ugly. If they aren't family or close enough to consider as such, treat all as unidentified snakes, and expect the same treatment in return.

My next door neighbor and I hate one another. He tore down my fence without asking me so he could put up a privacy fence then broke into my gate by breaking my hasp, trespassed on my property to paint it. We had it out at that point. Then he threatened my dogs. He was told that his house could catch fire. He's also a grasshole. Keeps his yard pristine and can't allow anyone's grass to look more mowed than his so I wait until he cuts his and I go out and scalp mine shorter. Pisses him off.

The black family on the one side of us are fantastic - best neighbors we've ever had. The "rather odd" people on the other side I've spoken to about 3 times in the almost 7 years we've been here. It is said that its some kind of JW halfway house, people rotate through, there's usually 4 or 5 cars in the driveway that gradually change out. They really keep to themselves, but they're quiet and keep their yard up, so I can't complain. I put a Hamsa in my window for protection just in case.

Widow across the street is somewhat friendly, her greying adult son who lives with her is said to be a "frybaby", although he's pretty intelligent when I talk to him. Looks like Osama Bin Laden, spends hours in the "Isis poop" position outside the house. The widow and her husband (before he died, obviously) came to a couple of my dance performances.

Woodworker dude across and down is really friendly, and will talk your ear off. Everybody else nearby is just a nodding acquaintance - the 200 watt CB guy 3 doors down and I have yakked on occasion.

That's about it.

It's a lot different where I live, the closest neighbor is a half mile away. I know my some of my neighbors but I suspect I will be on my own if something happened. I have water and food as long as I can run the generator but when the fuel runs out things will get more interesting. My biggest concerns will be keeping what I have and finding out if all these drugs that Doc says I need are as important as he thinks. CPJ am I on that list?

That was the point of episode. All of the people at the doctor's party were his close friends until the "bombs" were spotted, then he took his wife and his young boy down into the shelter and said good luck to his "friends."

I guess it could take a serious calamity to determine who your real friends are. Just like some of you, I have a very short list. It's one thing to help out in a short term disaster, I've done it myself and felt good about it, but if giving or providing a resource to someone -- takes that resource away from your immediate family and won't be quickly replaceable, if ever... well then, that person should count as a real friend.

I work and cordially associate with a lot of people but real friends are a short list.

Castle your last sentence really nails it!
“ I work and cordially associate with a lot of people but real friends are a short list.”

I have a very short list of life long real friends
and a much longer list of social folk that seem to appear only when they want something or are throwing an event and need to fill the cheap seats.

Kansashunter wrote: ↑Mon Jul 03, 2023 7:01 pm It's a lot different where I live, the closest neighbor is a half mile away. I know my some of my neighbors but I suspect I will be on my own if something happened. I have water and food as long as I can run the generator but when the fuel runs out things will get more interesting. My biggest concerns will be keeping what I have and finding out if all these drugs that Doc says I need are as important as he thinks. CPJ am I on that list?

I guess you’re on that list but you’re far enough away that it doesn’t really matter

It’s interesting to read this thread, I know most all my “neighbors” for probably a 10 mile radius. None of them live what I would consider “close”. I guess it’s the different between urban and rural farm living. Also a lot of a certain group of people here not preppers but very prepared.

Neighbor Dave on the hill came down while we were moving in. He was watching the house for the previous owner so he had a Ruger Blackhawk on the seat of his golf cart.

Guy down the road has three Rzr's he likes to fly up and down the road with. I would complain but I've taken many a three wheeler up and down the road and annoyed the neighbors back in the day.

Never talked to the lady next door but may try soon. She owns a right of way right where there is a PERFECT place for me to put a shed.... if she would sell it.

Little further out is Amish families. Buy flowers and strawberries off of them but don't really 'talk'.

Guy with the pig farm stopped and gave me his card so I could call if any of his cattle get out. I did call once when someone drove through his electric fence. Nothing got out or even tried to....

The problem with lists like this is that person "X" makes the list, while person "Y" does not... but person "X" wants person "Y" to be on the list.

My list is short enough that sometimes I'm not even on it!

Varmintmist wrote: ↑Mon Jul 10, 2023 10:34 pm

I see you've already made dinner plans... who is it this time?

coolgunguy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 06, 2023 6:31 pm The problem with lists like this is that person "X" makes the list, while person "Y" does not... but person "X" wants person "Y" to be on the list.

My list is short enough that sometimes I'm not even on it!

If person X throws a hissy fit and storms off because person Y didn't make the list... Well, I guess it just means there's 1 less mouth to feed in an emergency.

"We're talking Catastrophe here, not business as usual!"
-- The Day After

Castle wrote: ↑Thu Jul 13, 2023 10:53 pm

Varmintmist wrote: ↑Mon Jul 10, 2023 10:34 pm

I see you've already made dinner plans... who is it this time?

The ones who only stocked up on ammo

Varmintmist wrote: ↑Fri Jul 14, 2023 12:07 am

Castle wrote: ↑Thu Jul 13, 2023 10:53 pm

Varmintmist wrote: ↑Mon Jul 10, 2023 10:34 pm

I see you've already made dinner plans... who is it this time?

The ones who only stocked up on ammo

Good plan