Stay home and watch " City Slickers ". The three go on a cattle drive.

Id stay home

I have met a lot of strangers that turned into friends

That being said, I am more of an extrovert

Going with your gut would mean meeting them and feeling that something was off. You are just scared. Fear like that keeps people from enjoying life. Like going on fishing trips. Or go by yourself if thats your thing. I wouldn't want to hang out with anyone either but just on the grounds that they were there and I don't want to hear them talk, not that something bad was going to happen.

I would not go

I have always believed that when your gut is speaking to you, follow what it is telling you. I have often felt it is God speaking in a way that too many ignore. Just me.

Mac

I would met them first to see if they are the type I can deal with. If they are go, if not don't. I would not be to keen on going with some strangers either. Paranoia is just total awareness.

The folks saying you are being a bit paranoid and perhaps missing an opportunity to make new friends are probably right, but that doesn't make you wrong. Have you asked your friend if these are folks he has known for a while, or marginal people he is trying to help? It's going to be hard to make friends when you are uncomfortable. If you were going fishing on a pier, or from the bank it would be different because you can leave at any time. On a boat you are there for the duration. If these are not marginal people but old friends of your friend, I would say push yourself out of your comfort zone and go. If marginal "projects" of your friend, maybe not. Another factor to consider is the safety of your friend. He might find himself needing back up. Is that a good enough reason to go?

To me the entire thing sounds like something a high school kid would dream up. Do you think they are plotting to kill you? Most all your posts are about being a GI Joe hero or Dick Tracy. Is it common for you to get in a shoot out when fishing? You need to do a reality check.

Don’t go. From the sound of it you will ruin the trip for the other three.

1. Tell him you're sick last minute and pay him your share of the charter fee so as not to leave him holding the bag.
2. Decide not to go because you don't know these guys. Ask your friend to explain to the new guys exactly why you decided not to go. If your friend lies to them and they find out, it will not work to his or their benefit.
3. Go and take it as a learning experience for you. I don't like being in crowds or around people but I can get along with anyone. With you as a vet, you have dealt with ALL kinds of people. Trust me, so have I. Trust your friend. If he is your friend, you chose to be friends with him because you trust his judgement in character. He has dealt with a lot more societal dregs than you have as former LE.
4. Go and be stand offish and sit on one side of the boat and ignore the new guys or give them the cold shoulder. Who will be the weirdo in that situation?

You have a lot of choices Sgt. Make the choice to help your friend, help those other people, and maybe, just maybe, make some new friends.

If they give you the hee bee jee bees, jump off the boat and swim to shore.

And according to the title of this thread, be honest.

What is your gut telling you?

I see my gut as my connection to GOD. People say "I just had a feeling I should (or should not) have done X".

We all get that feeling. Sometimes we REALLY want to do something and we get that weird "feeling" we should not do it. If you don't trust that "feeling" you almost always fail. And vice versa.

Follow your gut even though you very well may be fighting exactly what your gut is telling you. Be honest with yourself and follow that gut feeling even though it may be something you don't want to do.

Like you said, your gut has always served you well. That gut feeling is GOD talking to you. HE will never steer you wrong.

And besides, are you actually gonna turn down a chance to go fishing? Seriously?

Are you thinking a Chris Kyle situation??? Is this actually a gut feeling or just a what if scenario? The fact you posted, then I’d go ahead and inform him you won’t be going because you’ve already made it up in your head it’s a bad situation. Stay home for all their sake.

I met a guy online (old Southern Duck Hunters site) umpteen years ago about a Kansas turkey trip. He was just looking for someone to go with him. I’d never met the guy and he’d never met me. Trip was eye opening for me and fueled my addiction to travel for turkeys. Still friends to this day and hunted every different species of turkey with this guy over the years. Never had a gut instinct telling me not to go, I did have some worse case scenarios play out in my head prior to that first trip.

If it’s a true “gut” instinct then don’t go!

1st I would tell your friend he should of discussed them going on the trip with you before asking them.if he's a true friend.i would never think of inviting other people without discussing it.who initially wanted to go on the trip did you ask him or did he ask you.if you want to you could set up a meeting with everyone going to discuss the trip and get a feel for them that way before committing to going.

OP, I don't think you are following your gut, you are just remaining in your rut of distrust.
I am about the direct opposite of you when it comes to being around new people, however, I think I am fairly good at discerning bad characters;; especially when it comes to financial matters.
It's never too late to learn how to cultivate relationships. Start conversations by asking questions.
Go on the trip

Hi Sweetheart. I know things are slow in ND and the cattle run scared. Thanks for paying attention to my posts. No war hero (those service members didn't make it home). Just a veteran who has seen and been through alot.
So, if you would kindly look in the mirror and asked yourself. Why are you so hateful?


Also, sure would like to see your DD214. I bet you don't have one. So, what was your excuse? Lack of courage or let the other guy do it?
MJM, don't care to feud with you. Been through too much in life to go down that dark road. So, I will leave you this.
I wish you well. Try and help someone instead of being a total jerk.

Sarge

How long did it take for you to be friends with this one who invited others, a day, weeks or years, do you have other friends you shy away from because they make you feel uncomfortable ??

Is this you being a paranoid shizco, do you see where others may see this, how did you become a friend with this friend only because he is a retired policeman and not on any other level ?

Is this the only friend you do anything with ?
If all these questions are unanswered or yes, it's you and not the people, maybe learning about how to be with
others may be a good thing for you to do, if you are driving is it just by your self or doing it for all, if you don't like the trip,
would you just up and leave them hanging, or announce rules for the trip because you don't know them very well.

And how would one know to be friends with any one unless they did something with them besides talk ?

Go and have a new experience, you may just learn a new way to enjoy life ! We don't have life for very long !

I would suggest following your last sentence of advice in the above post.

It’s never too late to meet new and amazing people, some who like yourself may have cultivated a lot of mistrust throughout life and need a friend. Life is better with others surrounding you. God bless

Yep I guess this is where I am coming from. When I was 24 I hopped in my truck and drove from NY to IN to spend a week camping with a bunch of men I'd never met at a convention (I did know there would be at least one wife there). To this day I think nothing about hopping in the car or on a plane to meet people I've never met in person to pursue outdoor related activities. I hate to think about how much I would have missed out on had I not taken those chances.