Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Deuce SECOM/FCO on July 20, 2012 at 6:05am

Yes many of us are in the same position with our spouses & children...

Just carry on and ease them into it, dont push. Show them the Executive Orders that O'zero is signing that infringe on our liberties, explain how the dollar has been so devalued over the past decade... Research NDAA, CISPA, HR347 (restrictions of free speech & assembly), HR3166 (Enemy Expatriation Act), and the current UN ATT treaty that will attempt to take our 2nd Amendment Rights away.

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated." – Thomas Paine

Permalink Reply by Brian Corbit on July 20, 2012 at 6:09am

My parents were the same way I just put all the information in front of them that I could. Told them to look at world history, what is going on in this country is not new. h.r. 645, the gun grab, socialized healthcare, un arms trade treaty, the federal reserve, tax code/breaks. All give an erie resemblace to what has happend in other countries when the few want to control the many. After you break through preconcived notions and media bias it doesn't take long for anyone with a brain to connect the dots. And when the realization comes that people are cheering for more than half of these polocies, then will come the outrage and need to prepare and take a stand.

Permalink Reply by AZRanger on July 20, 2012 at 7:51am

Dennis, I think many times these attitudes stem from the idea that:
"Since one person is too small and insignificant to effect anyhting, and so, since nothing that person can do will change anything, why bother to rock the boat, I 'll just live my life and hope for the best!"
I believe that many people are in that same boat, as was/is my spouse. I have shown her all the info, that she can stomach, and at least gotten her to understand that there is a poroblem. When she sees some of the big things happen, I believe that she will be nmore open about it.
She has been tolerant of food storage, weapons and ammo procurement, and the fact that I am a member of a local militia, and that we either train or do operations every weekend at least one day, because I have tried to give back to her when I am not doing those things. So, my method has been to explain when asked, and to horse-trade for the things I need her acceptance of.
Our bug-out property is also a summer getaway retreat, etc.
AZRanger

Permalink Reply by Travis Bishop on July 20, 2012 at 9:41am

If someone can't look at the reality...the very facts...about what is going down these days and draw a conclusion about the inherent dangers we face as a nation...there is no hope that they will 'wake up' before the SHTF and it's in their face. All that's left then is a whim and a hope that they might actually survive it, not only physically, but emotionally as well.

Permalink Reply by Joseph Chapman (L.S.M.) on July 20, 2012 at 12:08pm

I was in the same situation myself. However, I pushed too hard and too passionately. I let my fear for my spouse get the better of me. Because of that I drove a wedge between us that I never removed. I am now divorced because of this fact. I'll just reiterate what others have said: Ease them into it. I don't want to see another situation that happened to me. Of course, if you do push too hard at first, you'd have a better chance of mending any damage it may cause. Just be careful.

Permalink Reply by Stacy on July 20, 2012 at 4:37pm

Dennis-

I can tell you from experience with my other half that he listens but lives in a bubble. If I mention something he just says "OK"

I personally have just taken it on myself. I went and continue to stock up on food, water, gas, propane for grill, candles, matches, and anything else that I can grab as I walk by it.

He doesn't say anything anymore. He use to think I was crazy but the more I tell him and show him articles to read--he is coming around even though he says very little.

I do it for the kids. I might be over paranoid but I would sooner be prepared then a sheep who sleeps and thinks everything is ok.

Permalink Reply by THUNDER on July 27, 2012 at 11:10am

Dennis: I was in the same boat as you are . Mine was only having a drink ( sometimes many ) Continualy smoking them damn cig. -- talking on ph. --talking on Face Book --(most all goosip) --playing comp. games/ watching TV -- Golf / CNN ( Communist News Net.) and talking to her Sisters in Christ our Lord about how she was saved . Finnaly she had enough of me trying to talk to her about what was going on and got PO packed up and left -- Went back to AZ . Sure am gonna miss her dog . LOL----- PS: Tryed to give a personnal copy of the Constitution / Bill of rights --- Just threw it in my face -- Oh Well --- Thunder-- Locked / Loaded --I Don't do POW's

Permalink Reply by Sherry G. on July 30, 2012 at 10:21pm

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Spring on July 31, 2012 at 9:06am

Thanks for all the input. I am slowly getting her to turn in her ways. It helps that people she works with are doing the same

Permalink Reply by KDA (PA Patriots) on October 10, 2012 at 9:52pm

I guess I was lucky. I eased my fiancee into the idea of prepping. I told her I was concerned about potential natural disasters, pointed out that in recent years, Hurricane Katrina, the Indonesian tsunami, etc... made it clear that planning 'just in case' of a natural disaster was worthwhile. She thought I was a little nutty, until that 5.8 earthquake hit the mid-atlantic region. Then she started coming 'onboard' with the idea of prepping.

Now, I wasn't lying when I told her that I wanted to prepare for a natural disaster, but I was/am much more worried about the current economic/political climate than the effects of nature.

I slowly started showing her some of the legislation and presidential memos that have transpired both under republican Bush and democrat Obama, all of which directly erode Constitutionally affirmed individual liberties. Taking the time to go over each piece of (in my mind) frightening legislation and exactly which part of the Constitution it violates allowed her to connect the dots herself. I didn't try to do this all at once, but each week, would point out a different attempted grab of power by the federal government. She's plenty smart enough so I just had to show her a dot once every week or two for a few months, and she is now concerned that the economic and political situation is a potential powder keg.

At the same time, I got her involved in shooting. She didn't want me to keep any firearms in the house at all so I was keeping all of my guns at my father's house. We compromised on me buying a small gunsafe and keeping one handgun in the house, locked up at all times. Instead of bringing over a large caliber handgun, I went and bought a used 22lr handgun because I wanted her to become used to firearms with a small, managable caliber. My plan worked, because she decided on her own that if a gun was in the house that she should learn to use it 'just in case'.

That was earlier this year. She has since learned the skills to safely and effectively employ both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols in slightly more potent calibers, along with semi-auto rifles.

She now has her own bugout bag ready to go at a moment's notice, and just two days ago was reminding me that I needed to make some extra copies of local topographical maps. I even overheard her telling a family friend that since he is single and his kids are grown, that he should put a small BOB together and plan to join with us if things do get bad.

Oh, and she recently swapped her sports sedan for a 4x4 SUV so we now have a small caravan of BOV's.

Luckily, I chose a partner with a strong independent streak who cares about my kids as much as I do, and I attribute 99% of my success in getting her 'aboard' with prepping to that, and not any great skill of persuasion on my part.

Permalink Reply by Rich Haege on October 11, 2012 at 3:11am

I agree with the whole "walk her in to it" approach.
I recently started "rebuilding my camping supplies". My wife loves camping......bonus I get to buy prep gear and call it camping gear :)