Ok, It's time to bug out. Where do you go?

[e5wsf]

Originally Posted by SOTB

I don't mean to imply that this is a fantastic threat -- although from what I have read, if you are within 2hrs of driving distance from a major metropolitan area, then you can expect numerous visitors -- who knows if that is accurate or not. So if people cannot see your home from your neighbor's place, you may be 100% GTG. And my comment as to walking down the road to your place was specifically that -- I'm trying to imagine the mentality of someone tired, hungry, and looking for shit -- will that person expend energy hoofing it down the road when he/she cannot ascertain how far the next building is? Your place might be just a few hundred yards or a few miles or dozens of miles -- I'm of the opinion that secondary and tertiary road systems that lead to our sites are important -- if people are mainly traveling on the major roadways, I think our being off those roads heightens our time until major contact. And I would prefer to deal with people well after the initial wave has passed and had their problems.

Per the mindset, you have to figure that if you give your neighbor any reason to do so (and that reason could just be what you have in possessions), he/she will no doubt offer you up to get someone off his/her back. IE; "Why are you fucking with me? The guy several hundred yards down the road has a great place, and LOTS of resources." Some might say, yeah -- but I've got lots of guns, too. I agree, when you have enough people to stand watch and man the guns -- 1-2 people pointing guns at people will get old, quick.

I don't believe that my personal location will withstand any serious assault, except that; a) I'm hoping that most people simply won't bother to expend energy or resources getting to where our place is, b) those that do will hopefully be fairly worn out after having searched all the easy places first, c) we will have multiple families onsite and therefore multiple people with guns, d) the route(s) to get to us are slow and +/- easily covered -- the attrition that someone would (should) suffer getting to us will hopefully give us some peace and quiet. On the other hand, I do very much expect a specific subset of people to come armed into our area, those being hunters (who will seek to either profit or survive from area game). I think those people will have to be dealt with -- although I am not yet decided as to what that exactly means....

As far as disaster scenarios go, my priorities are focused on economic issues first. I've referenced Argentina's financial collapse more than once.
On foot, my driveway is as visible as anything. It's very easy to miss from a vehicle. The mailbox gets moved if things take a dive.
Beyond preparing for a certain level of self sufficiency, I obviously have to work on family defenses. Maybe mutual aid and a network of trusted people. It's the only way to keep going. I have tight friendships in various levels of local LEO (City and County) and medical professions (EMT, Nurses, Surgeons). It's good to know people in harsh times.

EMP and/or nuke and I'm as fucked as anyone right now. While the two scenarios have quite a bit of crossover prepping, long term recover from financial and military attack are quite different. Priorities

[piglet]

We are doing the same kind of planning e5wsf. Trying to get things in place that will help us in a super inflation economy. I worry about the cost of just living being out of my ability to pay for necessities.

Being LE I am maybe a little more secure in my job and the fact that I am high in the food chain at work. But if I can't buy gas to go to work I am screwed.

My dad is a scrounged and hoarded of building supplies and tools! So we started a garden and have plans for a greenhouse. Already got the stuff to set up small live stock and try to lower bills. We have a decent amount of land for our family size just have to put in the sweat to get it done.

Anything else that anyone can think of that could help in a financial disaster?

[e5wsf]

Piglet,
In no particular order my priorities right now are:
Saferoom-For guns and people

MRE type food stores. A little every month.

Firearm training for wife. Same pistol and caliber for me and the wife. It's a must. I can't afford a lot of guns and training. Keeping it simple with fewer operating systems. 2x AR 5.56. 2x 9MM, 2x 870 Remington, 1x 10/22, 1x 22 pistol. Spare mags and Ammo for all. I have some of this. The rest are inexpensive enough and a friend is an FFL dealer. I get stuff at cost. Same guns saves parts and training. Gunsmith tools for all guns.

Greenhouse-Start small. Learn the craft. Focus on nutrition, not caloric intake or flavor. It's just body fuel. If I could grow a dwarf avocado tree, it would please me greatly. Learn about composting

Small diesel. Looking at used Jeep Liberty. Add significant bumper

Network.

Propane/NG generator

Solar power.
Geothermal in NY is a no go. Expensive with little ROI.

Look to local farms for meat. I'm surrounded by good sized farms. How will crisis impact them?

Leaning on relationships for medical needs for now.

We will consolidate family in fewer dwellings as well. More efficiency in resources.

I'm probably leaving stuff out.

[Linda1961]

Originally Posted by SOW_0331

My wife has been canning since I convinced her to listen to me. She can gloat and make fun of me when I'm old and never needed any of the shit I wanted "just in case".

She also told me I should start freeze drying and stuff, so I assume you can do your own.

I searched and found where you can use a pressure cooker canner. Think I will invest in it. Also, Saratoga Farms & another company Mountain House have freeze dried everything. All the veggies & fruits are GF and some of the entrees. They have where you can list allergen info. Talked with the husband and we're going to order that to replace what we had. With these ingredients I can cook. I already have spices and herbs stored. Have plenty of water so that's okay too.

In looking for the GF food products I came across some info on solar powered generators. Looking into that since you don't need fuel for them. Are there any you all would recommend?

[GPC]

Diesel Jeep liberty is a good vehicle.
My buddy just rolled 300K on his.

[apic]

hey guys, I am wondering if current active duty soldiers or LEO's can chime in on this.. I live in Nj which has some of the worst firearms laws in the country - been prepping for a while now and I just (yes I live under a rock) read about the supposed "martial law" during Katrina and the illegal search and seizure of ordinary civilians firearms. I am concerned with two things 1) Did that really happen? 2) how could any soldier or LOE come to terms with carrying out such and order and 3) in a EOTW scenario how would a law abiding citizen respectfully decline to surrender their legally owned side arm for personal protection in such a circumstance? I am armed to defend against bad guys not LOE or soldiers.

[SOW_0331]

All my guns sunk in my recent boating accident.

Twas a damn shame, but I'll push through.

[apic]

LMAO - now I need to go buy a damn boat!

[GPC]

Originally Posted by apic

3) in a EOTW scenario how would a law abiding citizen respectfully decline to surrender their legally owned side arm for personal protection in such a circumstance? I am armed to defend against bad guys not LOE or soldiers.

In that scenario I wouldn't worry about LE or Military coming to your door IMHO.
Or have a few beaters that don't work to surrender to them.
If that scenario was to happen I believe it would be met with quite a bit of resistance.

[apic]

GPC in a nationwide emergency I more or less agree with you. Just really shocked the hell out of me about KAtrina - assuming it is accurate.

[Chaplain]

Originally Posted by apic

LMAO - now I need to go buy a damn boat!

No you don't! The boat sank!

[apic]

LMAO - Chaplain far be it from me to argue with one of God's soldiers - but wouldn't I need to own a boat before I sank it? I mean umm it sank?

[Linda1961]

I mentioned at the end of another post requests for advice regarding a solar powered generator. Hard for me to make heads nor tails of them.

What do you suggest?

[SOW_0331]

Originally Posted by apic

LMAO - Chaplain far be it from me to argue with one of God's soldiers - but wouldn't I need to own a boat before I sank it? I mean umm it sank?

Shit my town is practically a desert, and I don't even have a truck or trailer to take the boat anywhere.

Still bought one and sunk the shit out of it. Deep-sea gun cleaning is a risky business.

[SOW_0331]

Originally Posted by Linda1961

I mentioned at the end of another post requests for advice regarding a solar powered generator. Hard for me to make heads nor tails of them.

What do you suggest?

Looking at picking one of these up.

http://www.indoorgenerator.com/Survival%20Systems.html

Apparently you can keep it plugged in to store energy and use it as a backup, and can get a small solar panel to charge it.

My goal is to have a low output, low profile generator to cover some of the minimalist basics.

Being the only one with the lights on isn't going to extend your survivability.

[apic]

Originally Posted by Linda1961

I mentioned at the end of another post requests for advice regarding a solar powered generator. Hard for me to make heads nor tails of them.

What do you suggest?

Personally I have a gas powered generator for short term interruptions - I looked into solar powered and honestly its very expensive, from what I read low power output and frankly if used long term and it breaks down how will you get replacement parts? For heat I use a woodburning stove and for food I have a rocket stove - not very expensive, minimal upkeep and no parts to speak of if it breaks and the fuel is right out my back door - both units will burn just about anything mother nature has to offer. Just my opinion though.

[DB8541]

I see lots of info from people focusing on some sort of power source if the SHTF. My thought for the long term is why spend your money on that. In the short term I get it like for power outages from storms and such, but in a long term real SHTF scenario I do not see the need.

When it gets dark go to bed (after watches have been set) when the sun comes up get up and get to work on your day. People have lived longer without power then with power and I think we place to much emphasis on it. It will be a drastic change in our way of life.

I have a 10 cubic foot drop freezer full of meats and a fridge full of food. In the bottom of the freezer I have lined it with milk jugs that are SOLID blocks of ice. Solid blocks last longer then bags of ice. I can place the Ice on the top of the freezer and in the fridge on the top shelf and this will keep my foods from spoiling for days if not weeks after a power outage. During that time I plan to can all of the meats I have on a wood stove or you can use a gas stove/grill/camping stove to can your meats.

If we have to go months or years without power we should get into that mindset from the beginning and prepare for that inevitability.

With that said I do have a small generator for short term outages but it is not in my long term plan. Even solar has issues with battery life and they need replacement.

[RGR.Montcalm]

Originally Posted by Linda1961

Thanks. I've got rice & GF pasta but didn't think about the soda bottles. Problem is I don't drink sodas. Water but I think plastic is too thin.

I've also purchased some GF canned items like chicken, tuna etc. Also, have plenty of spices & herbs to make it taste good. I hadn't thought about checking with a nutritionist. I bet they'll say stick to what I eat now which I'm in the process of re-storing from where I had to get rid of the wheat stuff. I was looking for something I could buy in bulk already GF and that would store for a longer period of time.

Think maybe it's time I researched serious canning so I can do my own food. I've canned some veggies and jelly/jam/perserves but am nervous doing it for long term storage.

Can you prepare food and freeze dry it yourself?

Linda, you can use a vacuum sealer and seal rice and pasta in Mason/Bell jars. You can also seal them in bags- preferably in 'meal size' quantities, so there is less waste. You can put white rice and red kidney beans into a jar, along with dried spices, and hen the lights go out- add boiling water and viola'! red beans and rice...

Got to think outside the box...

[KidA]

Originally Posted by DB8541

When it gets dark go to bed (after watches have been set) when the sun comes up get up and get to work on your day. People have lived longer without power then with power and I think we place to much emphasis on it. It will be a drastic change in our way of life.

Yep, and learn how to properly smoke, salt, and store meats prior. If it's a real SHTF scenario the power isn't coming back for months or years, if ever.

I'd look to some kind of solar pack to power HAM radios or even a human powered generator to get up the juice for when you need to use one, but in any true preparation it's a disservice to you and yours if you aren't planning on there never being a power grid again in your lifetime, and generators will only last as long as fuel lasts and even if you horde it it will go bad eventually.

[MikeC2W]

I plan 100% on going wherever KidA is going, so when after the sun goes down and we're sitting there at 7pm in utter darkness starving and thirsty, without any hope....

...so that even then...when the zombie hordes are attacking, all our kinfolk have been slaughtered and our backs are against the wall.....

so that EVEN FUCKING THEN! I can tell him about the hypocrisy of the mass news media and how President Obama is a goddamn socialist and SOTB is fucking gay. (btw, to which he will answer, "I know, I am too.")

That's where I will be, when it is time to bug out.