When SHTF, I'm coming to your house

[RTH1800]

I think trying to get along while being prepared to survive and HELP others is a good plan.
I do agree that political outlook can change in an instant. A friend told me this story.
When he was young he liked to go to bars, do a bit of improv boxing if the situation demanded it.
His liberal, pacifist wife was with him one night. He was jumped by 3 guys outside on the way to the car. While dealing with one the others knocked him nearly out. His wife picked up some object, I cannot recall what it was. Anyway, she liked to beat the 3 guys to death. Literally. He came to, had to pull her off. She was breaking bones, smashing skulls.
Afterwards she refused to acknowledge it ever happened and resumed her pacifist BS.

 

[jamescj]

That isn't just worth quoting and repeating, that's worth BRONZING!!!!

HAHAHA I burst out laughing at work. All my coworkers were like WTF?!

 

[deersniper]

I hear it a lot, but I won't be home. I'll be taking teh fam and whatever I can haul that will get me to the place called 'point B'. With guns and money, fuel will either be paid for, or taken at gun point should the person not want to barter or sell outright. Getting to 'point B' is tantamount to long term survival, and it will be reached at all costs.

So more armed robbery because you didn't prepare properly? The SHTF is going to be very short for a lot of people.

 

[D̷e̷v̷i̷l̷D̷o̷c̷A̷Z̷]

The one I love is when they say "I am headed to the mountains when the SHTF"
You and 10 million others, good luck with that.

You hit that nail on the head. You would really enjoy the book One Second After it's about just that.

https://www.amazon.com/Second-After-John-Matherson-Novel-ebook/dp/B002LATV16

 

[shootist2004]

I gotta say, if the SHTF I am going on the offensive, there is a lot of cleaning up that needs doing. Think about t gents, never let an opportunity go to waste. I know where I would go and what I would do. Lots of national criminals to be held responsible and accountable for a lot of crimes, lots of justice to be served.

Dont wait for those criminals to drone your ass, you gotta move and bring the criminals to account.

yup...the Purge........

 

[RTH1800]

The reason the mountains are not densly populated now is that they are a tough place to survive. With transport shut down, store shelves empty no way they will support more folks long term. People will flee the mountains to get food and supplies.

 

[shootist2004]

remember the Twilight Zone episode where the guy built a bomb shelter in his backyard and the neighbors laughed at him..........
then one day the sirens went off............

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Don't dismiss them so easily. People tend to change their politics when things get real and it's no longer all theoretical. If they're foundering and scared then they're easy to recruit and easily led. More foot soldiers for the regiment of irregulars. We're going to need latrine diggers too.

When the rule of law becomes moot, politics is only a few moments' worth of reflection away from the same destination.
When people arrive there, another essential resource is leadership skill, exercised by someone who knows how to make decisions for others, solidly based on having already done so in circumstances where lives are at stake. Maybe you like that, maybe you don't, but your liking is not an essential here; any dreams of democracy will have become nightmares by then.

The rule of law is the offshoot of the Constitution, and when one goes, they both go. Do not expect anyone to take the Constitution seriously then. Of all the things we lose, that is the most costly loss. We will probably be trying to reestablish it then, but first, it would pay to reflect that the Constitution also underlies all of the conditions and behaviors that got us to where we'd be at that moment.

I don't say we can do better.

I say we must do better.

So be cautious whenever making conjecture about the SHTF situation.

I live in the High Desert, about 1/2 a tank's distance from any major population center, and about 45 minute's drive from any smaller municipalities. I literally look left and up from the end of my driveway at Cochise's Stronghold, and the first lesson I take from its presence is the fact that the land just barely supported his small band of experts in the field of survival.

All of us need to recognize that when you get to the 'more desirable' locations, if you didn't bring it, you won't be having any of it. The water in the taps arrives by means of electrical pumps, not a reliable infrastructure when vast numbers of vagrants roam the vicinity and looting is their first priority. The first thing worth killing folks over will be that water.

Then, starve yourself for a week and see what that does to your ethical mindset; especially if your kids are starving alongside you.

I have already learned that the hunger goes away and the real price is in the physical wasting. It was a lesson subsequent to Cancer treatment (twice), when nothing would stay down, and hunger was only one of several 'inconveniences'. If I had died, it would have been in no small way due to malnutrition.

We can quip witty and conjecture wisely, but Ma Nature has the last laugh on all of us.

At my age, it does not make any sense whatsoever to have expectations of survival, I am already twice the life expectancy of 18th century civilized humans. ...At least...

Regardless, I can still leave a legacy to mine and theirs.

That's where I am making my contribution, and honestly folks, that's not something I'm going to lay out on any forum.

Greg

PS Forstchen

...Not being armed is a failure to understand the nature of people when forced to survive. Being able to defend what you have is an essential article of preparedness. One that seems to escape many.

I have a good friend who is both entering Dementia, and has long been leaning Liberal. He forgets he's told stories, and that they are not only dumb, but have been countered logically many times. I don't think he's going to remain outside an institution for much longer; but being a friend, we all tolerate and cherish him. There but for God...

I will gently impress him with the last quote here, and keep it handy for repetition when he forgets it all yet again.

 

[flyer]

I live in a fairly urban environment so bugging in would be a risky strategy in an extended SHTF scenario (more than 4 days or so).

Going to "the mountains" isn't a good strategy unless you have secured a source of clean water at least and you don't want to go to the same "mountains" as all the other unprepared people.

My mountains are not terribly remote but not many people actually go there so remote enough that it won't be a popular destination, it has water, sceptic, lots of toilet paper, a roof, chickens, goats and a generator (to be used sparingly). It also has a tight knit community of people who help each other out. I've built up some good will in the community by helping a little myself.

Any additional good will needed will be secured by sharing some ammo.

I think I'm pretty well set up, maybe I should improve my food stores but I think I'm ahead of the curve enough that it's not a priority.

People might come to my place and they might even find some nice stuff to loot but by that point it will all be written off in my mind and I'll be somewhere else.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Be advised, termites enjoy toilet paper...

 

[W54/XM-388]

fuel will either be paid for, or taken at gun point should the person not want to barter or sell outright. Getting to 'point B' is tantamount to long term survival, and it will be reached at all costs.

That is kind of what a lot of people seem to think these days and why I'm rather just as worried about "good" guys as bad guys.
It's also why I think an important part of a survival plan is to be able to keep your head down for a bit till everyone kills each other off at the start.

Basically what you are stating is that if something bad goes down, you are willing to kill other people for fuel if needed.
I'm guessing if you run out of food or anything else you need, killing others for what you need is also good with you.

I'm not going to say it's right or wrong.. but just be aware that a lot of other people will be thinking of doing the same thing and those that have fuel might also be a bit interested in guarding it very well and having help protecting it.

In my case, I plan to have enough fuel on hand in vehicles & containers that can be put in vehicles, that if needed I can get pretty much anywhere in the country if I can drive it. I plan if at all possible to not have to engage others in hostile or barter situations till things calm way down to avoid... well people with the same ideas as you. I also plan to be able to strongly defend our group's supplies with lots of help from any threats.

 

[2ndamendfan]

As an aside, not all Mormons are unarmed...quite the opposite actually. Just depends on the individual Mormons.

Yea. I must have missed where some said Mormons are unarmed (= easy target). Born and rasied in Mormon Central. Over the years SLC has become a little liberal so the Mormon epicenter has shifted south a few miles to Provo.
You have to understand the history. There was a bounty put on Mormons at one time (so much for freedom of religion). They suffered a lot to settle here. They were driven from their homes. They do not let that history die!! Every Mormon I know is well armed. Also they generally have big big familys. It is not unusal to see families of 60+ (great grand parents have 7-9 kids who have 6-7 themselves who have 5-6 each who are now having kids with 2-4 already) this is Mecca for Mormons. So they dont move. Seriously if you thought the land you lived on was blessed by god would you leave.
So the families are not normally spread far and can get to a central location.
I am not Mormon, but grew up here. I understand their thought process. My wife lived in California until she was 9. She is not Mormon and does not grasp them at all.

 

[flyer]

It's in gasket sealed plastic containers, my TP should be there for a while.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Good thinking, you have potential. You would be an asset.

But also understand that when armed, it still makes less sense to be open about it. People are like dogs, they get a sniff of something, and they come running (I.e., what is he guarding...?). Discretion being the better part of valor...

Greg

 

[flyer]

If things settle down after a few days it wasn't really SHTF.

A better strategy is to be ready to get out quickly and bug out at the first sign of anything remarkable.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Yea, I grew up around Mormons too. They're crazy organized when it comes to SHTF (even if it's an individual family illness or such). Conversion at the start of the Apocalypse is always an option.
You'll have to force yourself to plough through the Book of Mormon, the Pearl, and the book of Covenants before you can convince anyone you're in the tribe. That is alot easier said than done. I'm a voracious reader and I had trouble staying awake through them.

There is actually quite a few Mormons in my area, my house is right next to one of their churches and another temple is right down the road.
I've talked to them quite a bit (they are very happy to pay you a visit at your home apparently), and they have guns and enjoy talking about them.
I read the book of Mormon and most of their other stuff and such.

They wanted me to join up and get baptized but I mentioned I'd have to wait till I'm ready..... The whole giving them 10% of my money and spending 3 hours in church each Sunday was not exactly high on my list of things I wanted to do in life.

However in a time of big trouble, they would probably have a lot more in common with some of us than others. I'm just a bit worried about what the leadership would decide to do as I've seen a bit too much bad go down when religious leaders can directly control the lives of others & it would be a bit iffy in a pinch.

I guess you have to know your ward, some wards are very normal & freedom loving & rather progressive.
Other wards are a bit more insular and "scary" even for other Mormons...

 

[flyer]

When food stores become a priority for me, I will shop among Mormon sources and if I like their product I may buy some but I don't think I'll join up.

 

[diverdon]

Be advised, termites enjoy toilet paper...

Those who plan for the long haul will have one of these to make it easy to wash their backside when there is no mote TP.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I think that if things get bad enough to want to bug out, there will not be any safe places safer than the ones that are purposefully defended. In such circumstances, getting anywhere is less preferable to being there already; with nothing to lug, and no risks associated with highly adverse travel. That purposeful defense needs to be at hands' reach, not at the end of a dubious flight; taking effect within a minute or two of recognizing the threat.

Contrary to the impressions inherent in survivalist fiction, any migrants will be 'going from' a lot more than they will be 'getting to'. The road will be a death march in no small way.

I tried reading some of the more explicit of the Survivalist fiction. It appears ingenious, very depressing, and my thinking is that if the author thought of these things, who else has had the same thoughts?

Where does my government stand in all of this? Does anyone seriously believe that the military and LE have no clue how to proceed in such circumstances? What would be the opening moves? Would such be worth deep consideration? I believe in maintaining alternative options.

I also believe in hiding in place, and projecting a harmless image, in being a recognizable part of an established community. In many ways, it would be an accurate one, so it would be somewhat reasonable to expect that it could be accomplished. It far exceeds the the role of a newly arrived stranger. But that would go right out the window if one projected hostility, impregnability, or appeared aggressive. Better that one be taken as harmless than as vigilantly aggressive; the time for such would only come after the other impression failed.

Being a hardass is one thing, advertising it is something quite different. You don't need to wait until the apocalypse to cultivate a better image.

Greg

I suspect a lot of what we're talking about is currently unfolding in the Carolinas today with Florence. Or just a thin veneer away from unfolding, anyway.

 

[flyer]

Yes, it would be ideal to live in a place that is remote enough that it wouldn't attract the "I'm coming to your house" crowd with a secured clean water supply, geography conducive to armed defense and a low profile to be ignored or dismissed.

On the other hand, that's hard to do if you aren't retired.

I've got about a 30 mile trip to my spot which is not ideal but I could hike it in a day if I had to.

If it was 50 miles, that would be bad.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

You hit it smack on the nose; I'm retired. I can look up on the Stronghold, I honestly doubt I could climb to it.

Greg

 

[W54/XM-388]

I've got about a 30 mile trip to my spot which is not ideal but I could hike it in a day if I had to.
If it was 50 miles, that would be bad.

I have possibly a 50 mile hike just to get from work back to my house...
Something I plan a lot for in case things go bad in a big way sometime.

 

[SilentStalkr]

You are right in that respect and the other families and I have discussed it but the issue with that is a trust thing as well. If you let them in, you also have to trust that they will do the right thing and continue to do so. It really is a double edged sword. Depending on the event, letting the wrong people in to gain an increased number may work against you as well.

You danced around a major concern of mine. Let’s say your circle is as lean as it can be, inevitably, it’s likely someone will try to challenge the leadership or take over at some point, or worse run out and team up with someone on the outside telling them all about your set up and supplies. Not sure how to curtail that yet.

Hypothetically speaking, this is going to depend a lot on your environment (anyone else remember the acronym KOCOA?).
I'm no prep'er, but when we bought our home in suburban'ville SoCal, I specifically looked for an area that is close to water (lake), near a major access point, an easily secured neighborhood (limited street access) and terrain that has a view (elevated/high ground). Not that I think the world will come to an end, only that a major earthquake will likely bring a short period of lawlessness and disorder, and being prepared for such a (likely here in SoCal) event is just prudent.

As the saying goes "A gun is a lot like a parachute. You'll likely never need one, but when you do need one, nothing else will quite do."

We think alike! I have views from the top of this neighborhood and from my house almost in every direction, which is very helpful. However, you can’t watch them all by yourself, hence the need for help. Plenty of woods around, freshwater stream, quarries not too terribly far away, a national guard armory two minutes away, plenty of wildlife and cattle nearby. Winters are not brutal here so that’s not too much of a worry but the heat sure is. My problem is, my likeminded people are all moving away. Somehow they think we are still going to magically meet up even tho some of them are quite the distance away now.

 

[SilentStalkr]

It's in gasket sealed plastic containers, my TP should be there for a while.

Speaking of those, where have you found them cheapest or did you just buy the first ones you came to?

I have possibly a 50 mile hike just to get from work back to my house...
Something I plan a lot for in case things go bad in a big way sometime.

Same here. That’s definitely going to be an issue if it starts st work. Then the question becomes do you risk getting as far as you can in the truck or do you abandon it and go on foot?

 

[Mooncake]

In a lot of ways, my locale and lifestyle are tailor made for surviving a total breakdown of ROL and infrastructure. That's not an accident.

I do have more than a few friends and neighbors who have said those same words: "I know where I'm going.." usually when I'm trying, sometimes successfully, to introduce them to firearms. My reply is well rehearsed: "What you'll have to eat is exactly what you bring with you so put away a few months of food minimum AND now is the time that you need to learn to use this (whatever weapon I'm holding)". I have a way to get water out of the ground (270' deep) without power, enough wood to heat my straw bale for years, and enough weapons and ammunition to arm a platoon. But I only have two hands and my sons are too young. Most of my friends from my outdoor adventures are in great shape and mentally and physically tough from decades of extreme skiing, mtb, ww kayaking, etc. even if they do live in liberal la la land. They have endured more hardships afield in inclement conditions and are more accustomed to adrenal dumps than the majority of well armed "net commandoes". I too fall into the camp that believes political leanings would evaporate in a survival situation and that they will make excellent soldiers if aptly lead. Should decently sized gangs of armed marauders form in a long term scenario, not an unlikely outcome regardless of your locale, they might not be survivable on your own.

Food is the rub. "I'm headed for the mountains". Well, I live squarely in the mountains and our county has about 15,000 inhabitants in a land mass roughly the size of Rhode Island. Anthropologists at the local college tell me historically the valley supported roughly 500 paleo-humans with locale flora and fauna. That's not hard math to figure.

Agriculture is difficult at mountain altitude and although steep terrain can be stepped for agricultural purposes that doesn't happen overnight. The growing season is short. And although there are thousands of head of elk and mule deer, they won't last long if that's everyone's plan. Exacerbating the situation is another 10 to 20K tourons (that's an amalgamation of the words "tourist" and "moron") that clutter our valley in the summer months and, IF they can get here (big if) they will. Tens of thousands head of cattle would fill some bellies for a while but I'm sure the ranchers won't let that happen easily.

My point is this: there are just way too many people to feed without mechanized agriculture and food distribution. Everywhere in the lower 48. TEOTWAWKI will be a shitshow no matter where you live, unless it's a cabin in AK and you're already self sufficient. Plan accordingly. So, yeah, I guess listen to Jerry and buy more ammo.

 

[308pirate]

Same here. That’s definitely going to be an issue if it starts st work. Then the question becomes do you risk getting as far as you can in the truck or do you abandon it and go on foot?

I see little to no downsides to setting out in a MV and ditching it only when there's no other choice. I think it would be stupid to leave a perfectly good vehicle and take off on foot unless you live really close and roads are completely impassable.

A vehicle gives so many advantages over walking it's just not a hard decision. Least of which is being able to transport with you some significant firepower without attracting attention.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Same here. That’s definitely going to be an issue if it starts st work. Then the question becomes do you risk getting as far as you can in the truck or do you abandon it and go on foot?

Lots of variables depending on what is going down.
Do vehicles work or did an EMP take them out?
Are the roads clear or jammed shut?
What exactly is the threat?
What time of day / light / temperature / weather?
Is is best to head out immediately or wait?
Is their a bicycle available and can it be used?

Pretty much you have to at the moment it happens weight the options based on all your plans.
If you can just get in the truck and drive home easily... then it's your lucky day and you might as well do that as soon as possible.
If you can only go part way in the vehicle, it sure beats walking or riding a bike so go for it... but be careful not to get stuck in a place you can't bail out of easily.

If it's an EMP event, my theory is to head home whatever way is fastest, immediately either vehicle, bicycle or foot to try to get home while most are still in a daze wondering what happened and waiting for someone to come save them, before they start to turn feral and violent.

If it's a full on red dawn scenario, vehicles / roads may be a no go and just lead to you getting captured / dying in a shootout at a hidden check point, in which case heading out through rough terrain on foot / bike and waiting for cover of weather / darkness etc may be useful.

 

[diverdon]

Sadly the world has shown that nothing is more counter survival than becoming a refugee. I read a study on the Vietnamese refugees at the end of that war. Those who abandoned their home with some gold to trade or a gun to defend themselves survived at about 25%, others lacking gold or a gun less than 1%. The lesson, do not become a refugee, live where you can make your stand.

 

[SilentStalkr]

Lots of variables depending on what is going down.
Do vehicles work or did an EMP take them out?
Are the roads clear or jammed shut?
What exactly is the threat?
What time of day / light / temperature / weather?
Is is best to head out immediately or wait?
Is their a bicycle available and can it be used?

Pretty much you have to at the moment it happens weight the options based on all your plans.
If you can just get in the truck and drive home easily... then it's your lucky day and you might as well do that as soon as possible.
If you can only go part way in the vehicle, it sure beats walking or riding a bike so go for it... but be careful not to get stuck in a place you can't bail out of easily.

If it's an EMP event, my theory is to head home whatever way is fastest, immediately either vehicle, bicycle or foot to try to get home while most are still in a daze wondering what happened and waiting for someone to come save them, before they start to turn feral and violent.

If it's a full on red dawn scenario, vehicles / roads may be a no go and just lead to you getting captured / dying in a shootout at a hidden check point, in which case heading out through rough terrain on foot / bike and waiting for cover of weather / darkness etc may be useful.

If I have to move on foot, I learned a long time ago that it’s best to do so at dark and travel in the shadows as much as possible. Sounds like something out of a Kung fu movie but for those if us that have had to use it, we know it works. Much harder now with the advent of thermal and NV becoming more mainstream but I still don’t think many are utilizing such tools because the price of entry is still decently high. So odds are still best to go at night.

 

[flyer]

Speaking of those, where have you found them cheapest or did you just buy the first ones you came to?

I over spent and bought some big bulk food containers. If I were to do it again, I would get that thin PVC or ABS drain pipe in the right size and glue a cheapo test cap in one end with a cap or rubber clean out plug on the other. That should resist insects and humidity so probably ok in a relatively dry basement.

Food grade buckets with Gamma Seal lids are another good dry storage container but not shaped well for TP.

 

[flyer]

Sadly the world has shown that nothing is more counter survival than becoming a refugee. I read a study on the Vietnamese refugees at the end of that war. Those who abandoned their home with some gold to trade or a gun to defend themselves survived at about 25%, others lacking gold or a gun less than 1%. The lesson, do not become a refugee, live where you can make your stand.

Agreed, if you are going to move, you need somewhere to go to and if you move early, you're less likely to run in to people who have decided to kill random people on the road.

If you have nowhere to go, don't leave unless you know your chance of survival is very very low.

 

[W54/XM-388]

If I have to move on foot, I learned a long time ago that it’s best to do so at dark and travel in the shadows as much as possible. Sounds like something out of a Kung fu movie but for those if us that have had to use it, we know it works. Much harder now with the advent of thermal and NV becoming more mainstream but I still don’t think many are utilizing such tools because the price of entry is still decently high. So odds are still best to go at night.

That is very good advice, the only thing I'd add to the decision making issue is this:
In my case, I'm in a city industrial area and have to head through a large metropolis to a suburban area.
Based on what I see from the habits of those around me, if suddenly an EMP or such went off and everything shut off.
If it's during the day, a large amount of people will be not on the roads and will sit in their offices / buildings / workplaces / shops / houses for some significant time, or mill around a small parameter not far away for some considerable amount of time before they accept that something is really wrong and then they will spend more time waiting for someone to save them, then eventually they start to get edgy.

In that case, my idea is to move as soon as the balloon goes up, long before most understand anything and then try to make distance out of the city as inconspicuously as possible, at maximum rate of travel.

If it's an actual military nuclear attack, assuming I'm still up, I'll want to be getting as far away as possible as quickly as possible depending on wind conditions before the fallout has time to start settling back down heavily.

I may do it in several stages such as get moving immediately till I reach a good concealment point, then wait.
This may also be very important if it's something where a control net is being setup, you don't want to wait till the net is setup, you want to slip out before it's locked down. In the case of a dirty attack or a biological attack this may be done and you don't want to be on the X when the men with guns start rounding everybody up "for their own protection".

 

[deersniper]

My point is this: there are just way too many people to feed without mechanized agriculture and food distribution. Everywhere in the lower 48. T

Yup any long term SHTF will be a starvation event. Less than 1% is feeding our country plus many overseas. And without fuel/chems/seed/parts that will stop quickly.

People overestimate the amount of food a garden will produce. They underestimate the labor and know how also.

 

[Mooncake]

I feel decently prepared to survive in place and the only place I would be running to more remote than my house is a dirt road out my back door into thousands of acres of NatForest and BLM land. But one can't discount events that make even the most removed locale uninhabitable -- wildfire in particular.

I must admit, going on vacation is a fairly harrowing event for me though. Any time I leave my food and armory I'm nearly too anxious to enjoy myself without some help from our good firend EtOH, and do so mostly because my wife wants to get away and my boys need to see some different environs. There are the myriad every day dangers of being in a foreign, more populated place with two small children in tow, and I have refused to go where I am not legally allowed to be armed (Commiefornia in particular), but it is the prospect of being stranded without anything and a family to keep alive that keeps me in my mountain valley more often than not.

I'm not sure I've told anyone that. You guys are like a support group for the paranoid.

 

[Rerun7]

To me, this is where discretion is so important. Even my closest friends and relatives have no idea if I’m prepared or not. They know I shoot and enjoy hunting but when it comes to preps I follow a couple simple rules:

- I ain’t heard nuffin
- ain’t seen nuffin
- and couldn’t really tell you nuffin

Nuff said... ?

 

[SilentStalkr]

I feel decently prepared to survive in place and the only place I would be running to more remote than my house is a dirt road out my back door into thousands of acres of NatForest and BLM land. But one can't discount events that make even the most removed locale uninhabitable -- wildfire in particular.

I must admit, going on vacation is a fairly harrowing event for me though. Any time I leave my food and armory I'm nearly too anxious to enjoy myself without some help from our good firend EtOH, and do so mostly because my wife wants to get away and my boys need to see some different environs. There are the myriad every day dangers of being in a foreign, more populated place with two small children in tow, and I have refused to go where I am not legally allowed to be armed (Commiefornia in particular), but it is the prospect of being stranded without anything and a family to keep alive that keeps me in my mountain valley more often than not.

I'm not sure I've told anyone that. You guys are like a support group for the paranoid.

I’m the same way! Anytime I’m away I am freaking out. I do have decent neighbors, an alarm and inlaws close by though. So there is that but I still freak out. My wife is not too worried about telling people crap, I on the other hand, don’t even like inviting people over. Invite people in, they know somewhat what you have, the layout of your house, whether or not you have alarms and cameras, where you keep your dogs and so on. Makes me a nervous wreck.

 

[diverdon]

I’m the same way! Anytime I’m away I am freaking out. I do have decent neighbors, an alarm and inlaws close by though. So there is that but I still freak out. My wife is not too worried about telling people crap, I on the other hand, don’t even like inviting people over. Invite people in, they know somewhat what you have, the layout of your house, whether or not you have alarms and cameras, where you keep your dogs and so on. Makes me a nervous wreck.

In the last ten years my wife has had 50 dear "friends" to the house. Today she considers at least eight of them enemies, and another four scumbags or cheaters. She thinks I should get guns out of the safe to show her friends. Somehow I never get around to that. Last time we argued she said whats the point of trying to keep secret, everyone on snipers hide knows you have something worth stealing.

Oops.

 

[MarinePMI]

In the last ten years my wife has had 50 dear "friends" to the house. Today she considers at least eight of them enemies, and another four scumbags or cheaters. She thinks I should get guns out of the safe to show her friends. Somehow I never get around to that. Last time we argued she said whats the point of trying to keep secret, everyone on snipers hide knows you have something worth stealing.

Oops.

LOL! She does have a point...

 

[SilentStalkr]

LOL! She does have a point...

Does she? Not everyone keeps all their stuff at their house. And not everyone knows how to track someone over the inter webs, even if they do there are ways around that. Finally, I’m not that concerned with fellow hide members. They will be trying to care of themselves, I hope.

 

[Geno C.]

People joke about the simplicity of my '57 ford. Emp don't bother me?

 

[W54/XM-388]

People joke about the simplicity of my '57 ford. Emp don't bother me?

But is that your all day daily driver to work and back for the rest of your life?

Most likely if you commute to work and back each day, you will be driving something else and need to figure out how to get home. Then from there once you are home, you would have the use of that vehicle (if safe to use, otherwise keep it hidden till safe).

 

[Geno C.]

I work 2 miles from home most days and if the weather is nice I am driving it. If I'm driving my newer truck it won't be that big of a deal to get to the old one if needed. Staying off the roads will be a better idea than just cruising around.

Wife works right between my work and the house. Each boy is 1/4 mile on each side of her. They all know the plan if something crazy happens and it doesn't involve listening to a limp dick teacher.

Most of my acquaintances think they know my plan but have no idea. I sit around a fire with 3 other heads of family in my hood and 2 think it's crazy that I even think of stuff like that. The other, oldest one, has been in the army and is a lineman. He knows what can happen and that being prepared is a good thing. The younger 2 have kids close to mine's ages and will be sheep, lost in a flock...

 

[Redmanss]

Having over eight years in war zones, I have my own experienced based opinion of what works. While others may be accepting or even perpetuating the decay of society, I'll be working to help keep it together and strengthen it further.

I bet I'll be in at least a battalion of citizen patriots that will stand a greater chance of survival than the best prepped prepper. Know your community, it goes far and wide in a disaster, regardless of what created the disaster.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Having over eight years in war zones, I have my own experienced based opinion of what works. While others may be accepting or even perpetuating the decay of society, I'll be working to help keep it together and strengthen it further.

I bet I'll be in at least a battalion of citizen patriots that will stand a greater chance of survival than the best prepped prepper. Know your community, it goes far and wide in a disaster, regardless of what created the disaster.

If you want to have any hope for long term survival and to be able to thrive and rebuild, that's pretty much the outlook you have to have.

I plan if at all possible to help keep my local area safe and secure and keep civilization going.
I just have to get back to my area first and then also probably deal with a few of the local Communists who may decide to not be on the nice side.

I do need however to eventually move, it seems slowly the rot spreads out from the cities & you have to pick up sticks and move further out every 20 years or so.

 

[MarinePMI]

Having over eight years in war zones, I have my own experienced based opinion of what works. While others may be accepting or even perpetuating the decay of society, I'll be working to help keep it together and strengthen it further.

I bet I'll be in at least a battalion of citizen patriots that will stand a greater chance of survival than the best prepped prepper. Know your community, it goes far and wide in a disaster, regardless of what created the disaster.

Damn straight. You can tell a lot by your neighbors and community. Katrina? Mass looting, lawlessness and thugs running loose through the streets. 2007 San Diego Wildfires that ripped through central inland? Two cases of looting. Two. In what was the largest evacuation of people on record at the time (and surpassed Katrina/N.O.).

 

[2ndamendfan]

But is that your all day daily driver to work and back for the rest of your life?

If it is that bad fuel will be gone with in weeks. better find some "beasts of burden".

 

[diverdon]

Having over eight years in war zones, I have my own experienced based opinion of what works. While others may be accepting or even perpetuating the decay of society, I'll be working to help keep it together and strengthen it further.

I bet I'll be in at least a battalion of citizen patriots that will stand a greater chance of survival than the best prepped prepper. Know your community, it goes far and wide in a disaster, regardless of what created the disaster.

Thank you! The best preparation is to live our lives in a way that this all remains theoretical.

 

[flyer]

Yes, maintaining society is better than SHTF even if we would like to see some places burn.

I think it is kind of pointless to prepare for a disaster that lasts more than 3-4 months. It probably makes sense to have food and water for 6 months but in reality, any disaster that lasts that long is not something that is going to be really recoverable. The only exception I can see is possibly war and if you wind up in the crosshairs, you can move and even if it continues to go on, there is going to be enough of society operating that you will be able to continue to survive if you managed to survive for 3-4 months.

A bug out location should try to be away from any strategic targets or terror targets.

So bug out, get your defences up, keep your head down and wait for things to blow over.

In case of zombies, I'm headed to the Winchester Mystery House. I figure if there are actual zombies I can try a Sean of the Dead survival strategy.

 

[ArmyJerry]

my hoods in S Florida and here in Texas were seriously perfect pictures of teamwork handling hurrucanes, taking care of the old and those hit harder. then going over to the next neighborhoods to help, pretty standard in these two states. Both states shoot looters on site, Fla more so than Texas.

Damn straight. You can tell a lot by your neighbors and community. Katrina? Mass looting, lawlessness and thugs running loose through the streets. 2007 San Diego Wildfires that ripped through central inland? Two cases of looting. Two. In what was the largest evacuation of people on record at the time (and surpassed Katrina/N.O.).

 

[Mooncake]

Having over eight years in war zones, I have my own experienced based opinion of what works. While others may be accepting or even perpetuating the decay of society, I'll be working to help keep it together and strengthen it further.

I bet I'll be in at least a battalion of citizen patriots that will stand a greater chance of survival than the best prepped prepper. Know your community, it goes far and wide in a disaster, regardless of what created the disaster.

That is a noble sentiment, but what is your battalion going to eat? Unlike your experiences OCONUS there will not be a supply chain.