JWR,
I have been reading a longtime reader of your blog since it started, and wish to thank you for writing your novel “Patriots”, which I have read cover to cover many times and has helped me on my way to becoming a prepper.
In response to Paul’s letter for a forward location between your retreat and current home I have some ideas as well as some other good info I feel your readers could benefit from.
Now the plan of having a forward location by Paul is a somewhat good idea but like you pointed out a bit flawed.My idea may not bode well for everyone, I really think a bachelor or a family that is really into being prepared will only live this way: What you do is if you must work close to or in a city because of your job, family or other obligations I suggest you either buy a small condo/apartment or rent one. Depending on how close you are to the city/town you may find the prices can be cheap (further away) or quite expensive (closer). Not all of us can have the luxury of living at our retreat full time or having some kind of caretaker thee watching it for us.
So what you should do is simply have two locations. One location near your job, nothing fancy but a small condo/apartment like I described above should fit the bill. All you would really need are some minor supplies and your everyday use items at this location. No need to really stock it to the gills, at least have some items there in case travel is restricted, you cant leave for whatever reason, or worst case scenario you get to your retreat and its stripped. The other location of course your fully stocked retreat, in which I would go to great lengths to meet any friendly neighbors and give them your contact info (a disposable or regular cell phone) just in case something happens while your away.
The whole idea is to simply treat the city home like a in between location. Like I said this wont bode well for many people who are used to amenities, and it certainly may not work for those with non like minded people living in their immediate family. But for a single person or a family who is on board I think it could work. Perhaps in between the city location and the retreat you could have a friend and store supplies their or rent a storage unit for a year or more in advance. I know there are many storage rental places around these days as they are quite popular and you can not only rent a simple garage setup but heated units for sensitive items, closed sized units and units of all shapes and sizes. This means not only can you be sure that in the event you cant make it your retreat or you make it there and have no supplies that you have back up supplies and stuff.
You could even have a travel trailer located at either your city home or the rented storage unit so there is no real loading-just hitch it up and go. A word on proper transportation: many people do not have an SUV or at least a truck to haul this stuff with, I highly recommend you pick up in the very least an older pickup of some kind. I would recommend personally if you don’t need a lot of space or have a smaller trailer an older Toyota with either the 4cyl 22R(E) engines, the newer 4cyl engines or a 3.4L V6 model. Run away from the 3.0L V6 they once offered, nothing but headaches with head gaskets and thrown rods and such.
Sure they may not haul as much and certainly don’t fit the bill of an older super easy to maintain truck, but they are very reliable, easy to maintain once you know what your doing, and generally don’t break down unless it was a poorly cared for vehicle. Having owned a Toyota camry and currently own a T100 truck (its like a tundra only with a V6 produced only from 1993-1998) I can say the car was very reliable compared to the american made vehicles of the time (1993) and the truck has outlasted almost everything else I have seen people have and have driven personally myself. Can you really argue 190k miles on a 1996 with very minor maintenance? Same transmission and the engine was only recently replaced because of a head gasket recall that never affected me anyway. It did have 135k though, still ran like a top. Only downside is these vehicles generally can only tow a maximum of 5,000 lbs and no more while a full size can do 7-9000 pretty easily. This is alleviated if you buy a newer Tundra with a V8.
Now, if you want a full size truck I would highly recommend people to look into an older Ford or Chevy HD model. Nothing truly fancy but a decent V8, a full size or extended cab. The reason to get the HD package as it usually has a 3/4 ton suspension and much heavier duty running gear which is essential if you load it down to the gills or plan on hauling a very large trailer. I never really had problems with my old F250 circa 1991, but it never ran or held up as well the toyotas did. I wont argue that people should really buy Domestic vs Foreign, but I would suggest a person look at their needs and wants and then decide. No reason to buy a full size truck if its just you and you’re only towing a small 8 foot trailer, or nothing at all.
I would suggest that people only look for a four wheel drive vehicle. There is no reason not to own one as it will save you (along with a good set of all terrain tires) from many sticky situations, I know it has with me and I cursed driving a 2WD truck many moons ago in the winter. Again, if you can find a good deal buy it-no reason not to. One last thing, get a cap for the bed, it will easily allow you to store things hidden out of view in the bed, which is a very good idea if you don’t get a trailer.
The bottom line I think is not to keep all your eggs in one basket as the old saying goes. You just never know what the future may hold and how things may go. We could easily be totally devastated in a matter of a week or less, or slip slowly into the situation depending on the event. There is no telling how, when, and where it will happen only that it most likely eventually will happen and best you be prepared at least a little. Preparing for best and expecting the worst is the way it should be, think ahead for what may happen, you just never know..
I hope my words have given some insight to your readers and perhaps steered them in the right direction. – Marc in NJ
JWR Replies: I discuss various retreat and G.O.O.D. options at length in my book Rawles on Retreats and Relocation. There was also extensive discussion of the Golden Horde effect and related issues such as retreat locale selection criteria in the first few months of Survivalblog posts. (BTW, these posts are now available in the hard copy book SurvivalBlog: The Best of the Blog, Volume 1.) Staying on in the Dirty Big City in the midst of a slow slide is a risky proposition. If you have the chance to bug out, then take it! I tried to illustrate the perils of staying a day too late in my novel “Patriots”. (Namely, the experience of the characters Ken and Terry Layton, who end up taking a 1,000 mile hike to their group retreat.) Even if it means quitting your job rather than just burning up accrued vacation hours, then so be it. If you made proper plans, and if the economy staggers along (a la the Great Depression of the1930s) then you will be able to ramp up a depression-proof second income at your retreat–at least enough to put food on the table and pay your property taxes. (For some ideas, see the results of the recent SurvivalBlog reader poll on the best home-based businesses.) Of course your decision to bail out may in retrospect be seen as premature. That is certainly a substantial risk. But in my estimation it is better to be a year too early than a day too late. Being that one day too late could at the least leave you stranded away from your family, or perhaps even result in you reaching room temperature, and leaving your family left to fend for themselves.