Category: Retreat Locales

Letter Re: Development of Montana and Idaho Economies

JWR: In today’s post there was a letter about the wisdom of encouraging development in Idaho and Letters Re: Development of Montana and Idaho Economies. The writer commented on how the new arrivals will ruin the area. I watched this exact chain events unfold over the last 35 years in rural Wisconsin where we bought and built our retreat. We purchased 113 acres in the second poorest county in Wisconsin. The area was mostly farming with pockets of recreational lake population. The lake we lived close to was a small (175 acre) “Grampa’s fishing Cabin” type lake. I was able to …


Three Letters Re: Why Not Canada?

Dear Sir, I just wanted to mention that Canada’s Conservative Government has recently eased gun laws quite significantly. Whilst pistol ownership is a nightmare here, I don’t see this as too much of an issue in rural areas, especially during a SHTF scenario. When it comes to rifles however, if you have a permit to own non-restricted rifles, you have many good options. This permit is simple to obtain. Once you have it, you can buy non-restricted weapons without any kind of registration. So whilst the Government might know you have a permit, they do not know how many or …


Why Not Canada?, by C.N.

I am often surprised to hear about people planning for an eventual societal collapse and hearing that you are choosing to remain in place where your worst fears are being realized. My question is, have you thought about the possibility of greener pastures  awaiting you just a short trip up north? I understand loyalty and having a fierce love for your country, however, in really bad times when bugging out is necessary, maybe Canada has what you might want for a short or long term visit. We are a kind and friendly people with one of the lowest homicide rates in …


Two Letters Re: Development of Montana and Idaho Economies

Hi, Just wondering if you could add something to your information on Montana and Idaho? Could you tell us a little about the differences in property taxes in these states. We live in Eastern Washington, and I have to tell you the property taxes are becoming a huge problem. There seems to be a move to get us all off of the open space or agriculture tax rolls if you are in the northern counties. We have considered a move to Montana. But this is one area we are not sure about. If we found a 40 acre farmstead in …


Letter Re: Development of Montana and Idaho Economies

Jim: Can you give me your thoughts on Montana and Idaho for business development, state of the state’s employment, state government’s interest in business development, general thoughts on state and personal wealth, state budget woes if any? I’m wondering would the government mentality in Montana would be inclined towards establishing world and nationally recognized things in some city center that would increase employment, tourism and their standing? (I’m thinking about Crystal Bridges Museum in Arkansas, Buffalo Bill Center in Cody, Wyoming., and even that odd Rock n-Roll Museum in Seattle. Things like that…. Do they already think that way? Would there …


Letter Re: A Home Purchasing Guide for Rookies

Mr Rawles, I read the article “A Home Purchasing Guide for Rookies” and the response to it. A few additional points occurred to me: Taxes: “Almost all counties publish their tax rates on their public web sites.” In fact, while they do publish their rates, and their rates can be taken as accurate, those rates do not reflect the whole picture. Buyer beware. Research carefully and thoroughly. Follow through on due diligence. While looking in a place where I’m now no longer looking — for this very reason — I found that the property taxing authority first decides how much …


Letter Re: A South Carolinian Seeking Retreat Locale Advice

Mr. Rawles,  I live in the Upstate area of South Carolina. Actually live in Spartanburg. Here is the info on my area, from Wikipedia:   “Spartanburg has a municipal population of 37,013 and an urban population of 145,058 at the 2010 census.[4] The Spartanburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, corresponding to Spartanburg County, had a population of 284,307 as of the 2010 census.[4] Spartanburg is the second-largest city in the greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Combined Statistical Area which had a population of 1,266,995 at the 2010 census.[4] It is part of a 10-county region of northwestern South Carolina known as “The Upstate,” and is located 98 miles (158 km) northwest of Columbia, 80 miles …


When Push Comes to Shotgun: Survival in the Suburbs, by Michael K.

To anyone who swatches the news or opens up an internet browser from time to time, it’s exceedingly clear that the world is becoming an extremely dangerous place.  From the abstract threats such as global economic collapse or pandemic to the more concrete ideas of natural catastrophes, terrorist attacks and the like, it’s obvious that preparedness isn’t just something to think about occasionally, it’s an absolute necessity.  Yet, with our feet firmly planted in the middle class, my wife and I don’t exactly have the money to go out and build the fortified bunker of our dreams for the day …


Nuclear Reactors Where You Don’t Expect Them, by G.B.

The recent “discovery”of a small nuclear reactor (only 3.1 pounds of weapons grade enriched uranium) in Rochester, New York started my wheels turning. Like most people reading SurvivalBlog I am concerned about what is around me and what harm could befall my family in the event of a TEOTWAWKI situation. Knowledge is power, and in this write up, knowledge about where nuclear power exists will go a long way. I have spent 20+ years in the Navy upholding the Constitution, making my living as a Radioman on nuclear submarines, specifically 688 fast attacks. (I’m looking forward to leaving the East …


Leaving Suburbia, by M.J.W.

It all feels so strange – I live, eat, and breathe “prepping.”  Sometimes I look in the mirror and ask “who are you?!”  In trying to remember when the change in me began, it is traceable back to the financial collapse of 2008.  Even before then, I had become very concerned about privacy – or the lack thereof.  In my professional life, I am a security and privacy consultant, so I know a lot about how little security and privacy exists in our networked world.  I understand in minute detail how online access to the most sensitive and confidential information …


A Rural Community Retreat, by Scott L.

Location is the most important thing to consider when developing a plan for long-term habitation in a TEOTWAWKI setting. Of primary concern are Community, Safety, Water, Food, Sustainability, and Natural Resources. It is absolutely imperative to find a locale with a well or fresh water spring. You will need fertile ground that is within distance of easy irrigation. The safest places will be those that are away from major highways and population centers; however, these small rural communities are typically suspicious of outsiders. You will need certain natural resources available as well to guarantee you are not reliant on trading …


Letter Re: Feeding The Redoubt: The Painted Mountain Corn Project

Dear SurvivalBloggers: For all who are called to the American Redoubt: Secure your food and preserve your freedom of action! If you don’t have a place to grow your own healthy food, support those who do. Go in for shares. Help them every way you can. Growing all your own food now may not be economically viable, but secure sources of food are your lifeline in the future. Our goal should be not only to survive, but to thrive! My brother and I were born and raised in the American Redoubt and grew up living the life of “preppers” and …


Three Bug Out Considerations You Probably Haven’t Considered, by Jonathan G.

For most preppers, the action plan for a TEOTWAWKI scenario can be neatly categorized into basically one of two categories:  Bug in or Bug out.  Many people live in rural areas with sufficient security and provisions to be able to go to ground in the event of a disaster and ride out the storm.  “Sufficient” security might include bunkers, shooters, stockpiles of ammunition and weapons, spare parts, etc.  “Sufficient” provisions might be enough food to get the defense force and extended family of the principal through to the harvest, and enough seeds to ensure that the harvest will feed the …


Letter Re: Maps, Legends, and Ground Truth

Hello James,  Our contribution to being prepared was a Sunday drive. Here is what we did:   An essential piece of equipment for anyone contemplating any kind of emergency relocation are good maps. If your relocation is a “bug out” due to deterioration of local conditions you need to have a plan. In consideration that my current well placed rural residence might be a point of contention for those who want to ‘borrow my belongings and harbor unnatural urges about the occupants I have taken to making exploratory trips about my county. Even though we are sheltering in place an …


Letter Re: List of Countries by Real Population Density

James Wesley: As they say in the radio world, “long time listener, first time caller”… First off, thank you for sharing your words of wisdom for those of us who aren’t prepared.  Admittedly, I am one of those fence-sitters, liking the idea of prepping but not having near enough money to start in that direction, let alone uproot the new wife farther from her family than we already are.  Nonetheless, your articles (and those by your contributors on SurvivalBlog.com) are eye-opening and help me remind myself that we are just a few small steps from something really bad. As to …