Picking The Perfect Hidden Retreat Location, by L.M.

Everyone knows the perfect location for family survival is the number one issue in being prepped.   How do I pick the perfect location should be the number one question in a prepper’s mind.  Many different survival instructors and writers have different ideas on locations and some even have scoring formulas to give your chance of survival.  I have a combined prospective on picking the perfect location from my military training and my working in the Third World as a trainer and combatant.  Let’s look at how I picked my location and facilities.   First, one has to be aware of the …


A Financial Advisor Becomes a Prepper Convert, by Kent Mathis

Allow me to take a moment to introduce myself (at least the self that existed prior to November 2010, when I started becoming a “prepper”).  I am a successful financial planner, married to a CEO of a mid-size manufacturing company.  We love our dogs, give to charity, and believe in God and Country…in other words, I am just like your friends who can not understand why on earth you spend so much time and effort preparing for TEOTWAWKI or SHTF events.  I had a kind of naïve, blind faith that all Republicans were Good and most Democrats were Stupid.  I …


Letter Re: A Simple IP Address Conversion Methodology

JWR, In reference to the recent change in Internet Protocol (IP) address for SurvivalBlog, I thought I’d describe a method to help people set up their computers to use it without DNS names. How to add important internet addresses to your computer. I’m using the new SurvivalBlog.com IPv4 address change as an example, I also recommend adding your mail server, and other important host names too. Audience:  I’ll try and keep the techno-babble to a minimum, so that the largest audience possible can use this.  Any Domain Name Server (DNS) experts or System Administrators out there will probably pull their …


Economics and Investing:

Gold is the Gut Reaction, Silver is the Smart Decision U.S. States Prepare For Hyperinflation Reader Sue C. suggested this piece by Rick Moran: Greece on the brink. No, really – this time for sure Items from The Economatrix: Oil Below $97 as Traders Eye Greek Debt Talks The Financial Crisis of 2008 Was Just the Warm-up Act for the Economic Horror Show That is Coming Markets, Murmurations, and Machines Gold Rises to Two-Month High, Eyes US Payrolls


Odds ‘n Sods:

F.J. mentioned this great evacuation route planning tool: Flood Map    o o o A reminder that there is another Self Reliance Expo scheduled for February 10-11 in Dallas, Texas. A half dozen SurvivalBlog advertisers will have booths there, including: Pantry Paratus, Backwoods Home Magazine, the Appleseed Project, Shelf Reliance, The Berkey Guy/Directive 21, and Ready Made Resources. Please mention that you are a SurvivalBlog reader when you stop by their booths. The keynote speaker will be Mike Adams of Natural News.    o o o F.J. spotted this: DIY Worm Compost Bin    o o o Mark H. suggested …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 39 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a …


The Expat Option, by Sandy X.

I am a 65-year old male expatriate (“expat”) from the US. I have lived in Costa Rica, Singapore and now Panama. I am thinking of moving to Chile, but I would go anyplace for the right opportunity. I have traveled extensively and love the expat lifestyle. It is definitely not for everyone, but if you are considering it, here are some things you should know. What Is Expatriation? The word just means the act of leave your native land. (Unless otherwise noted, I will be limiting my comments to Americans.) It is important to note that expatriation does not require …


Signs of the Times: What are the SHTF Tipping Points?, by CentOre

One of the most crucial decisions a ‘prepper’ will ever have to make is deciding when to stop preparing, and instead, begin surviving.  This is especially difficult when the life one has still contains the last dregs of normality.  It is difficult to make the decision to G.O.O.D. or Bugout in the absence of actual chaos in one’s normal life.  One reason many preppers move to rural areas and isolated retreats is to exchange space and time for having to make the decision to act, or not act, within a very short time frame.  This essay is about whether the …


Letter Re: Global Warming, Global Cooling, or Just Climate Weirding?

Jim, If climate change people would improve their arguments, it’s not so much global warming as it is climate chaos, or Climate Weirding.   As a Peak Oiler in the Portland area, I’ve also sat through my share of lectures, given by peer-reviewed scientists, on the subject. When you artificially add more CO2 and methane to the atmosphere, you don’t just necessarily get record warmer temperatures (although we’ve definitely seen this, within the last decade in particular). What you get is more unpredictable weather, along with dry areas getting drier (Texas, for example), and wetter areas getting wetter (We had a …


Letter Re: Barter, Post-TEOTWAWKI: The Micro Store

James, I thought Barter, Post-TEOTWAWKI: The Micro Store by A.A.A.[posted on December 22, 2011 that was recently awarded First Place in the blog’s writing contest] was a great article. I loved it and I was very appreciative. I’ve spent a little time thinking of the same thing and have a couple of notes to add:   Regarding coffee, it might be a good idea to buy a supply of black tea which is cheaper, still has caffeine-like effect, and can be sold by the packet.   On tobacco, instead of cigarette cases, I think it could be more economical to …


Letter Re: Your Lawn and OPSEC

The Schumer has  hit the fan, you’ve made it safely to your retreat, everyone is inside, bedded down for the night, prayers are said in thanksgiving, and you all go to sleep.  In the morning, as you look out the window, you realize your OPSEC is printed all over the lawn.  A series of neat lines trampled across the tall, un-mown grass tells any observer about how many people are inside, and where they went to when they were out. We take lawns for granted.  My forested mountain retreat came with a very unusual volunteer lawn, one that taught me …


Economics and Investing:

G.G. flagged this: Under Twist, The Fed Has Purchased 91% Of All Gross Issuance In Long-Dated US Treasurys Sicily Pitchfork Movement in Revolt – Western Media Blackout Hunkering down, or just a lifestyle change? Jim Cameron family “intend to reside indefinitely in New Zealand and acquiring property to operate as a working farm. (Thanks to N.V.T. for the link.) And from B.B. a link to another Zero Hedge piece: Greece Warns It Will Soon Be In “Condition Of Absolute Poverty” Items from The Economatrix: Silver and the Shift To Measuring Wealth in Ounces Instead of Dollars Hiring Surges in January; …


Odds ‘n Sods:

G.G. was the first of several readers to send this: The great Asian gold theft crisis    o o o I heard about some American-made Boost Regulators that are useful off the grid. These can produce 14 volts with just 9 volts input.    o o o Linda U. suggested this article: Three Oregon mushroom pickers rescued after 6 days lost. JWR’s Comment: It is indeed a miracle that they survived. Consider: Poor prior planning. (This was a case of PPPPP.) Pitiful clothing and equipment. No signaling capability. No map and compass. No GPS. And if the temperatures had been …