"Walk softly but Carry a Big Stick."
--Teddy Roosevelt

This seems apt.
Be friendly, confident in the things you are doing, and handle your weapons with skill where they can be seen but are not a threat.

I've been doing the same with my wife, except my chosen home defense is the FN PS90. The 5.7 ballistic tips are not going to go through many sheets of sheetrock before stopping, there is hardly no kick, and she or I can put 50 rounds on target in an extremely short amount of time. The 'room clearing' ability of a shotgun is a myth. Shotgun for defense is best employed as a medium range firearm, such as wife covering you as you say hi to people at cabin for first time.

I admit, in our house "bump in the night" = "swords and nightsticks" which are kept right near the bed.

I prefer to show very little equipment or capability/knowledge until I have looked people over and ascertained their intentions, all being accomplished while being covered/protected from anybody that attempts to get stupid.
Proper Planning Prevents [censored]-Poor Performance

99% of the time your initial perceptions of a person are correct in normal times during an emergency all of your senses are working overtime. if you get a good feeling about others and you seem to be working toward the same thing be friendly, if not well then how much force you use is up to you.

That's what the scope on your rifle is for right? I'm kidding.

This is one of those critical areas that I've thought about before, but really don't know what the right answer is because there are going to be those people with zero morals who will have no problems in taking you out just for your supplies. In a longterm TEOTWAWKI scenario we are going to have to always be on our guard & playing defense.

I am in the hills or Oregon on my own and with very few people.

Now on 5-16 I will attending a "Valley Militia" meeting where I will find out what they have done or will do for what is to come.

Sorry to say that most of the people here are either on drugs or are always drinking..... I din't learn about this till after I bought a house here......my VA Dr. and my attorney will be moving in with me WTSHTF and they all can shoot.

I have food for four years and all that I might need for 20 more,
water is from a creek and for free but I do have a 3,500 and a 550 gallons water tanks.....mainly for in case of fire and it goes with my 2,800 GPM water pump and my 1.5" water hose.