I’ve always had a strong leaning toward self-sufficiency. But a few years ago I stumbled on the series “Doomsday Preppers” and began to develop a focus for it. While I didn’t relate at all to the “god & guns” focus of so many of the people profiled on that show, I WAS intrigued by the “grit”.
I’ve thought a lot about whether to bugout or bugin, coming close to buying remote property more than once. I finally decided that bugging in is the most sensible option for me & my daughter, given my time & resources. So my focus now is on building up my urban homestead and making it a little island of sustainability. I have solar panels installed (no battery system yet) and am creating ~2000 sq ft of garden/orchard/vineyard/berries. Chickens & goats eventually.
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2 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Well done, love the sound of your set up.
Every situation is different.
I love to be self sufficient and I also work on the 80/20% principle.
Prepping as it is now called is necessary for me, but clearly 80% at least of the times it will be useful will be short term events where I would not have to even consider bugging out. Flood fire, power rationing and the like.
So I support the way you have done it.
If we get a big crash of some sort, it is best to be able to ride out the initial period in a place that you know well, ie your own turf. Imagine being in someone else territory with thousands of others at such times.
Of course there is always the slight chance that we have to run, in my case it means leaving so much of my work behind, but if there is no choice, so be it. We have a small group of intelligent people, some decent 4wd utility vehicles and an escape route from here off road and lots of our gear can be made portable. This is so far from an ideal situation it is something I would rather not think about, but have to,
On the up side, we are very self sufficient in power, water and food to the point that we save money to invest in more planning.
Rugglesby
Level 8
June 22, 2018
0
For me, prepology is more about putting supplies aside for the very real eventuality that a hurricane or flood will leave huge parts of my state without power, potable water or food for weeks at a time. I live in the Houston area, and it has happened several times in the last 15 or so years.
Defensive capability is a must, but so is the ability to feed my household and maybe help friendly neighbors.
I saw a few episodes of Doomsday Preppers some years back, but watching TV isn't for me, and I got annoyed with the show's production decisions. Watching some idiot drive around in a SWAT van while his teenage daughter stares at him in disbelief isn't my idea of preparing for the next Hurricane Harvey. Spending that time researching the best camp stoves would be much more productive, in my opinion.
Jthurston2
Level 6
June 21, 2018
1
I agree. I live in a part of the country where we are, thankfully, well isolated from natural disasters. Wild fires are probably the biggest threat and, ironically, I would be exposing myself to THAT danger much more if I got a remote bugout location; another reason I decided sheltering in place is my best option. The flip side of that is, absent any natural threats to focus on, I think it must leave the typical prepper around here ample time to fret about nuclear war and a g’ment run amok. Cue the paranoia...