I would recommend getting a private mailbox (at a UPS Store, or similar) in the nearest town.

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. We may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

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Reader Z. wrote to ask:

“We are in the process of selling our home and moving to our retreat full-time next week. (Off-grid retreat in the Appalachian mountains.) Our retreat has no address, which leads to my question(s):
Should we get an address assigned for the retreat from the local government and list this address on our driver’s licenses? Or should we use a local family member’s address? My only concern with not getting an address for the retreat is possible weaknesses in 4th Amendment protections. We want to maintain full OPSEC for the retreat and ourselves, as much as possible.”

JWR’s Reply: If your state law allows it, then I would recommend simply getting a USPS P.O. Box or better yet a private mailbox (at a UPS Store, or similar) in the nearest town. A complete “Township & Range” legal description of your land can be carried in your wallet, if that is ever needed. (The DMV might demand a physical “address”.) Propane deliveries and services like septic tank pumping can be arranged with the P.O. Box address for billing, and providing them driving directions. Most UPS and FedEx parcel deliveries can be directed to your private mailbox address. The only downside is directing sheriff’s deputies, ambulances, and fire engines, should the need arise. Have those directions printed out and posted next to your kitchen phone and provide another set to your nearest neighbor. With those directions, someone –even a child–can read them aloud when under a stress, in the event of an emergency.

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Reader Marc M. directed us to Optima — a gasoline with at least a three-year shelflife. Marc says:

“Expensive, but very high-quality. Obviously, significantly cheaper to simply stabilize and rotate, but a consideration for a cache, or for chainsaws and other sensitive engines.”

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Our Editor-At-Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this:

“According to one of my larger import contacts:
There are now 88 container ships hanging off the coast of California. California is insisting on COVID checking and social distancing of the unloading crews, etc.
The current timeline for the 88th ship to get unloaded is 704 days.
That’s on top of the horrendous increase in costs for porting (not constructing) each container. That cost $1,500 a couple of years ago, but now is now $20,000.

Obviously, this is not sustainable.”

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MSN reports: Verizon has unveiled THOR, a custom Ford F650 that can deploy a satellite dish, 5G mast, and drones to respond to natural disasters and emergencies.

Bob wrote to ask:

“A few weeks back you had an article about what the police would do when the SHTF. Got me to re-thinking that scenario. I have read several fiction accounts of law enforcement and other government agencies going rogue, and of course they kept their vehicles, uniforms, and firepower.

My question and dilemma is: How do we know the difference between real cops and/or say, National Guard and [freelance] ones who have come to forcefully take our stuff and possibly doing great harm along with destroying our property? What do we do when they are knocking on our doors or addressing us at our gate? I’m sure they will appear legit, with real badges, etc. If they have bad intentions, they are not just going to go away. How best to deal with this?”

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At CBN: Stealthy Israeli Aid Group Rescues 41 Afghan Women from Taliban After Hiding in Safe House for Days.

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Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio suggested this article: Lawsuit: 220,000 Military Service Members Say ‘No’ to Biden’s Forced Covid Injections.

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My # 1 Son mentioned and excellent two-part article from Claire Wolfe: Dealing with our new totalitarian reality, Part II (We have just two jobs to do)

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Reader H.L. spotted this piece by Paul Craig Roberts: Fired For Being White.

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S.F. in Oregon sent us this query:

“With all the incoming refugees (land invasion), it occurs to me to think this out, and I would like your opinion on the topic. Where will all these refugees go? They have no money, no possessions other than what is on their backs. They may not speak the language.
Perhaps they will be given stolen money (pre-paid cash cards) and food assistance.

Will they choose rural America? Unlikely. I think they will they choose liberal cities where crime is easier commit and there are more resources like shelters etc. Additionally, with Fall now here and winter approaching, I think they will choose warmer locations. So, I’d expect Southern California and places Austin Texas to bear the brunt of the hordes. Your thoughts?”

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Karen B. spotted this: Vaccines in your salad? Scientists growing medicine-filled plants to replace injections.

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Reader L.S. wrote to ask the SurvivalBlog readership:

“Do you know of any organized [intentional community] location for Bible-believing Christians? Libertarians have Fortitude Ranch, and Mormons have Riverbend Ranch. Is there any similar place for Christians?

Dear readers, please chime in! – JWR

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C.B. spotted this: Climate change from a nuclear war’s smoke could threaten global food supplies, human health. The article begins:

“Nuclear war would cause many immediate fatalities, but smoke from the resulting fires would also cause climate change lasting up to 15 years that would threaten worldwide food production and human health, according to a study by researchers at Rutgers University, the National Center for Atmospheric Research and other institutions.

The study appears in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

Scientists have long understood that nuclear weapons used on cities and industrial areas could initiate large-scale fires whose massive amounts of smoke injected into the stratosphere could cause global climate change, leading to the term “nuclear winter.”

But in the new study, researchers for the first time used a modern climate model, including aerosols and nitric oxide emissions, to simulate the effects on ozone chemistry and surface ultraviolet light caused by absorption of sunlight by smoke from regional and global nuclear wars.”

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Video blooger Matt Christiansen: Prosecution Takes Major Losses in Rittenhouse Pre-Trial | But the Feds Have a Wildcard.

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Reader C.T. wrote us:

“I have background in a bioscience, so I have a bit of background knowledge…. not in virology – but in the application and granting process. Read this: Wuhan Scientists Planned To Release ‘Chimeric Covid Spike Proteins’ Into Bat Populations Using ‘Skin-Penetrating Nanoparticles.

And then keep in mind that researchers need to have preliminary data to have any chance at getting funding… Prelim data in this case would typically mean, having already proved out the feasibility of this “experiment” and frequently, but not always … you are actually applying for funding for work you have already done… This may seem strange – but I can speak to the fact that in life sciences, you are sometimes using the grant funding you currently have to carry out new experiments for which you will apply for the next round of funding… meaning that sometimes a good chunk of the work that you propose to have funded is already complete.

This is well known to folks who work in this space… So we can either expect something to come from this – or have yet another assurance that those culpable will never be held to account as long as this shadow regime stays in power.”

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And, lastly, H.L. sent us this news that would be funny, if it weren’t so sad: Police Bust Gang Members With Car Trunk “Full Of KFC” Takeout Breaching ‘Strict Lockdown’.