Life with People

A couple of months ago, I had the pleasure of reconnecting for lunch with a couple from my days at the ambulance company. I hired both and to say that I immediately liked them is an understatement. Their drive, intelligence and simple decency appealed to me, and I have had the privilege of watching them complete college, get different jobs, then get married and now they’re young parents. I suddenly feel old!   

As we spoke about our lives; where we’ve been, are now and the future, it struck me that they’re part of my community. We often tend to think of community in terms of proximity, our parents live an hour away; you carpool with a coworker who lives on the next block or your grandmother lives in an apartment in the basement. Certainly, all of this fits the definition of community. My friends are roughly an hour away, depending upon traffic, but the connection is much deeper. I care about them, and I assume the feeling is mutual. So, my sense of community with them is based upon the quality of our relationship, not proximity.  

I live in a mixed-use building on the north side of the city and there’s a retail space and a house of worship on the first floor. My neighbors share similar cultural and religious beliefs while I’m the outlier. They’re among the kindest, nicest people I’ve ever met and more importantly, we treat each other with respect. Again, there’s a community here of which I’m a part. I have relied upon them to hold onto packages delieverd when I've been out of town and a jump start when my car's battery died. Similarly, they've benefited from my kindness and respect over the years.

Most of us encounter people as we go about our daily lives. Of course, you can place ads online in preparedness forums or actively recruit from your church or professional circles. Emotional support during a crisis, small favors and basic thoughtfulness go a long way to forming relationships with others and, it simply feels good to help others. A word of caution, though. Whatever you do should come from the heart, with a genuine interest in helping others. If you’re looking to keep score or ensure that others are beholden to you, you’ll alienate others and likely earn plenty of ill-will in the process. Neither scenario serves a useful purpose in times of crisis when trust and help from others is critical.   

My biological family lives in Florida. I didn’t consciously decide to form a community here in Chicago. It was simply a function of living my life and keeping an open mind. Some of my local friends are prepared to various degrees while others haven’t made the decision yet and it works. It would take me at least a day to get myself organized and on a flight if necessary. Longer for them to come to Chicago to help me. Increasingly, it’s clear to me that we need other people. It’s comforting to know that even though my family isn't close by, help isn’t far away should I need it. For some people, a relationship with their biological family isn’t an option. Friends can fill the void and provide support, companionship and create a sense of belonging.  

This piece wasn’t a typical prepping how-to, but I was feeling philosophical and saw value in sharing my thoughts. Below are some action points for moving forward.

o   Effective plans reflect where you are in life; physically, financially, cognitively. Assess your situation and start there. As your situation changes, re-evaluate your plans to ensure that your most important needs are met.

o   Remember, you’re planning for what’s likely where you live: extreme weather; power outages; supply chain disruptions; personal crises.

o   Assist others when possible and it’s practical to do so.

o   Being prepared is more than just buying generators and stockpiling food. Learn CPR/First Aid or a skill like gardening. Even better, do it with members of your community.

o   You build a community where you are, and it starts by talking to people.

o   Be sure to check out the following links for additional assistance, How I Got Ready, Community Building, Checklists.