Buggin out to the redoubt.

[Guest Astra900]

Unless you're living miles away (as in miiiiiiiiiiiles away) from a populated area, none of this is going to matter much if the SHTF. People will find you and they will seek to either ally themselves with you or they will seek to plunder. The only way you're really going to mitigate those risks is to be somewhere far removed from people. Really far removed.

And let's not even get started on how insignificant most of these preparations would be in the face of determined military forces. An armed resistance from a few civilians wouldn't last very long at all.

Just saying.

LOL baiting the hook?

That's a hook I don't want in my mouth:D

David is absolutely right. People who are preparing for an invading army or big brothers door to door are fools. Evasion, stealth, concealment, and miles and miles of detachment are your only hope to survive in that scenario. Let's face facts, even those of you with military experience will have to admit, the logistics involved are astronomical. Normal guys just can't get the coordination needed. It takes leadership to unite a even a rag tag band of fighters. It's a joke to me really.

My whole focus is on secrecy and banding together some trusted able bodied hands to share the load on a homestead. Only in numbers can man survive off the grid for an indefinite amount of time. Even then the hardships are going to crush a man's psyche. Why is it, when the mention of TSHTF people automatically assume; Strap on the kevlar and all my super trick kit and start shooting? That's not logical. Building a post cataclysmic event home is going to involve gardening, fishing hunting, back breaking work all summer to collect wood for winter heat. Basically, if you saw Charles Ingalls doing it, that's what your going to be doing to survive:p

I have little fear of small bands of civilians roaming about, I believe we could face them down, but even then we WANT to see them coming and AVOID confrontation by hiding or misguiding them. If we were to see an organized group of size in time, we plan to do the most effective tactic for us......Let 4 barrel on the old small block moan cuz we're running like a mfer:D

Only a fool is not considering his options for the eventual collapse of society. If society never collapses, I've had fun preparing because it's my hobby and I enjoy it. Everyone can laugh at me for being a loser, and I might laugh with them as I eat some out of date rice. I strongly believe in a strong personal defense, but thinking you can survive on several thousand rounds of 7,62x39 is retarded. When I stop to think about what I have accomplished so far, and how far I need to go, just to scratch out an existence for me and my wife (God help you if you have kids!!) It makes me want to just give up, there's so much involved, I can't possibly do it. It's JUST NOT POSSIBLE. But if I give up, then I have already lost, and I'm not giving myself up for free.

Rants over now, just try to be realistic guys, thanks for all the posts so far. Keep 'em coming.

[Punisher84]

Only a fool is not considering his options for the eventual collapse of society. If society never collapses, I've had fun preparing because it's my hobby and I enjoy it. Everyone can laugh at me for being a loser, and I might laugh with them as I eat some out of date rice. I strongly believe in a strong personal defense, but thinking you can survive on several thousand rounds of 7,62x39 is retarded. When I stop to think about what I have accomplished so far, and how far I need to go, just to scratch out an existence for me and my wife (God help you if you have kids!!) It makes me want to just give up, there's so much involved, I can't possibly do it. It's JUST NOT POSSIBLE. But if I give up, then I have already lost, and I'm not giving myself up for free.

Rants over now, just try to be realistic guys, thanks for all the posts so far. Keep 'em coming.

I think preparing is a good idea and if building a cabin somewhere way out that is self-sufficient and can be a good retreat just for the hell of it is something you enjoy than do it.

I've put thought into my preparations and scenarios, but I'm honestly good with what I've done. I'm not stocking up for a war or the end of civilization. The very best a person can do is stock up essentials for a few years, after that you better know how to live off the land and go back to basics if it's really all that bad.

I think in all reality you look at 2 realistic scenarios:

1. The Road Scenario-This is the end of life as it ever existed. Nuclear war, an asteroid,comet etc. You cannot prepare for this long term. You will live or die period.

2. The Urban problem scenario- This is a natural disaster, civil war, economic collapse, etc This will not be a permanent scenario. It will last days to a few years at most. You can prepare for this fairly easily.

I think my thing is just when do you hit that line ya know? When are you worrying more about what might happen and not what is happening?

Not saying you are Astra, just saying that's how I'm starting to feel. Not saying I'm not prepared or watching, but I'm a loner pretty much anyway. I have no kids and all my friends can handle themselves so if the poo hits the spinning blades for more than a few days my thunderstick will get me where I need to go and get me what I need to survive.

[Guest Astra900]

I hear you Punisher. Be nice if you lived a bit closer;)

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst as best you can, take it in stride when it comes.

I'm not a fear monger (or don't mean to be) and I'm not a full blown anti government type. Although if some psycho went into DC and started cleaning house, I'd toss and turn for a whole two maybe three seconds, worrying about it before I fell asleep.

I've always been a loner myself, but that is a difficult thing to be if the situation goes long term, 2 or more years. I hate having to put my trust in someone else, and I do so over a VERY long and tedious process.

[Punisher84]

I hear you Punisher. Be nice if you lived a bit closer;)

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst as best you can, take it in stride when it comes.

I'm not a fear monger (or don't mean to be) and I'm not a full blown anti government type. Although if some psycho went into DC and started cleaning house, I'd toss and turn for a whole two maybe three seconds, worrying about it before I fell asleep.

I've always been a loner myself, but that is a difficult thing to be if the situation goes long term, 2 or more years. I hate having to put my trust in someone else, and I do so over a VERY long and tedious process.

Word brother. Likewise about our unfortunate geographical proximities.

[Guest Fenris]

If water is not a problem, then you might want to look into hydropower.

That whole site has some good info.

[oldblue1981]

the best thing, i my opinion is to just learn to be able to live off the land. in the event of any kind of break down in society, you my have to gather your own food and many other things.

first off, you can forget about going to the grocery store. even if you have food stocked up, if the disruption last to long supplies will run out. ditto for ammo. that is where a good flint lock rifle comes into play. it only takes 3 ingredients to make your own black powder, charcoal, saltpeter, and sulfur. wheel weights can make an excellent source of lead for making your own round balls. pouring hot lead from some height into water makes some crude shot.

as for getting away far enough from everyone, just don't think it can be done in this day and time. best a person could do is find the roughest territory you can find and hope it is enough to make people not want come in there.

learning what nature produces for us to eat and getting back to the hunter-gatherer state of mind will probably be one of the most essential things to making it through some forms disaster. knowledge will be our best offense an defense.

[creeky]

first off, you can forget about going to the grocery store. even if you have food stocked up, if the disruption last to long supplies will run out. ditto for ammo. that is where a good flint lock rifle comes into play. it only takes 3 ingredients to make your own black powder, charcoal, saltpeter, and sulfur. wheel weights can make an excellent source of lead for making your own round balls. pouring hot lead from some height into water makes some crude shot.

Don't forget meds. That is prescription stuff you regularly.

In a complete breakdown, if your insulin dependent... your pretty much SOL.

[oldblue1981]

great point creeky. another thing people need to think about.

[bteague2]

Food - gardening, chickens, maybe cows/goats?, pigs?

water - well, septic tank

shelter - house

heat - windows(cooling), firewood for heating

electricity - the house should be designed to use as little as possible, so when you do have to use it it isn't wasted. Skylights, compact fluorescent light bulbs, energy star appliances

The idea is to keep it simple so it is less likely to fail, and if it does fail you'll be more likely to be able to fix it yourself

[Guest waffenldr]

I am just loading up the fam and driving my truck through the front door of Wal Mart. You can live in there for months. They have everything except ammo.

[I_Like_Pie]

I am just loading up the fam and driving my truck through the front door of Wal Mart. You can live in there for months. They have everything except ammo.

Awesome!

[GLOCKMEISTER]

Best to stay mobile with your 10/22 tactical and a go bag until you can get far enough away.

[Guest wedge]

Anyone built, building or planning to build an isolated retreat for getting the hell out of the burbs? Myself and a very small group of fellars are planning to build a small hidey hole out in the sticks. We have the land, and supplies, but have not decided how to proceed. We have several ideas. I know there are a lot of books and references out there, but I'd like to share ideas with some of you guys who have/are actually doing it. I don't wanna delve into some tangent about fighting off hordes of zombies or chinese or gubment scum, just a place to go when the creeks start to rise, if ya know what I mean;)

BTW, all you rural folks that don't have to deal with the suburban blues, try not to rub it in please:p

Astra. i have been looking for land for this type of place too. We Williamson Co. folks understand how "fragile" our neighbors truly are. I am trying to find something for my family..remote..a get to drive from Williamson Co on local road in case the Brentwood zombies are out...any area ideas?

[Guest Astra900]

Not really, I had to turn to someone else, myself.

[bteague2]

I think there's some land for sale between Fernvale and Leiper's Fork. I wasn't really paying attention to the for sale signs though.

[Fadex]

I know some places around HWY 8 that would work well.

[Guest TEBISH]

http://www.landandfarm.com/maps/map_search.aspx?lat=36.08462129606931&lng=-85.60546875&z=7&s=34.31621838080741&w=-91.0546875&o=Area

Just keep zooming in til there's less than 100 properties. One of the best ways to find land sales out there.

[poak]

http://www.landandfarm.com/maps/map_search.aspx?lat=36.08462129606931&lng=-85.60546875&z=7&s=34.31621838080741&w=-91.0546875&o=Area

Just keep zooming in til there's less than 100 properties. One of the best ways to find land sales out there.

I wish I could swing that 91 acres in Rock Island....

[Guest TEBISH]

I wish I could swing that 91 acres in Rock Island....

Agreed - wished I had one of those places where if you saw anybody they were a trespasser...

[MacGyver]

Here's a little bit different take. This thread has migrated a little bit from the original topic, so I'll post it here as someone who is prepared for it all to head south.

Preparing for extremes is good even if those extremes never come to fruition. While we are likely to never see the proverbial zombie invasion, failed city state or all out anarchy, we may see other things that approach it.

I'm in the fray of the economic fallout everyday. As much as everything going on with this economy and administration depresses me, we'll make it through it. America is a strong country - there will be an opportunity cost to all of this, but at our worst, we are still far above most of the rest of the world.

What truly disturbs me in all of this as a American citizen, a Christian and a member of the human race is how truly incapable we have become at taking care of our neighbors and our community. As a society we have become utterly dependent on the government taking care of our every need. If we ever fail as a country - I think this will be the reason why. Take Hurricane Katrina - this wasn't a government failure - it was a community failure. It was the lack of caring for one person to look at their neighbors and say what can I do to help?

You may never have the need to use that pallet of beans and rice in your garage to feed your family for a year (a years worth for a family of four is a lot BTW). But, what about when the ice storm hits and the power is off in your neighborhood for a week. Suddenly, we have the ability and means to help our neighbor. That means a lot.

If society fails, people will be shooting each other for cigarettes and toilet paper within a week. Look at the Superdome after Katrina. Let's hope we never get there - but use our preparation and training to contribute something to the equation in the events where we can make a difference.

[Guest mikedwood]

I hope this is on the original topic. It's kicking it old school though.

I repaired a computer for this old fellow the other day and he was a WWII vet. Awesome nice guy. I got his computer fixed and where did he have it set up? A freakin fallout shelter that he (himself) had built in his basement in the 50's.

It had the thick real steel door with an oak 2x4 to lock the door from the inside, 16" or more of concrete, 2 cots that fold out from the wall still in it and actually useable, and a sink, fan, power if that lasted. It wasn't that big maybe 12 x 12. Lots of places for storage.

Over the years it has turned into more of his man cave than it's original intent.

But it's so cool. I had a million questions I didn't ask. He was kind of a keep things close to the vest guy.

When my grandfather passed away I found an old "How to Build Your Own Fallout Shelter" booklet. I might try and find that put it up. It was a government booklet from the Department of Civil Defense.

Not out in the woods but sturdy none the less.

[Guest maggie357]

I remember seeing on TV where someone inflated a large "balloon" and sprayed it with foam insulation. When it dried, they took out the balloon liner and voila, a home. When they wanted to add on, they just cut a doorway, inflated the balloon again and sprayed on a new room.

Of course you would probably want to store supplies underground as this would not be as secure as other types of construction, but maybe someone else has an idea for that.