The Modern Survival Retreat and MAGs

What follows is a short excerpt from a book I’m working on and will release within the next few weeks. It’s on developing the modern retreat. For those new to preparedness and the idea of preparing for the possibilities that await us in this uncertain world, a retreat is simply someplace you and yours would go to if something bad were to happen.

Some people(like us) live at our retreat. Others develop plans to relocate to friends, family, or even a remote camping spot if needed. One of the most beneficial aspects of preparedness and maintaining a retreat is being part of a small community of like-minded folks, often called a mutual assistance group.

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Excerpt from the upcoming “The Modern Survival Retreat: Getting Prepared in a World With Growing Uncertainty”:

Mutual Assistance Groups (MAGs)

Many modern preppers form Mutual Assistance Groups — MAGs. These are small networks (5–20 families) that coordinate plans, share resources, and train together.

Effective MAGs:

• Set expectations: Members must contribute skills, labor, or supplies. No freeloaders.

• Practice together: Fire drills, radio communication tests, or gardening projects.

• Divide skills: One family may focus on medicine, another on mechanics, another on livestock.

• Have shared values: Politics, religion, or worldview don’t have to match perfectly, but core ethics must align.

Poorly organized MAGs collapse into infighting. Well-organized MAGs become lifelines.

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MAGs is a large and fairly complex topic that I covered in some detail in this digital guide here:

Finding like-minded people that you can get along with in stressful situations AND not blab to everyone they know about the group isn’t easy. If this is something you’ve had success in, feel free to share a few tips in the comment section.

Have a good weekend all!

~ Jake