A Survival Retreat for Under $1,000, By Wolverine

Call it a survival retreat, hunting cabin, or summer cottage, a place away from the crowds and turmoil of the cities is a dream most of us share. Some folks plan out a survival retreat in such detail that long-term storage, over lapping fields of fire, and fuel supplies are worked out. Others, like myself, approach it as a vacation spot that can be readily converted if need be to an alternate living location.
Back in the late 1960s my family had a small two-room cottage on a lake in northern Michigan. The cottage had no electricity, no running water, or no heat. What it did have is nostalgically called a “bath with a path.”
This cottage did however provide what we needed. A few steps from the back door was a pump with clean, clear, cool water. All that was needed was a strong arm and a few minutes to fill the bucket. Cool summer nights were warmed by the glow of the fuel oil lantern that was hung over the dinner table. This lantern produced enough light to fill the cottage and allow card games to be played well past a normal bedtime. The heat from the lantern warmed the place and fuel was cheap. Dinners were usually planned around the nightly campfire, but the old propane stove would serve if needed.
During those periods of time that my father was laid off from work we would spend a week or two stretch of time at the cottage. Living was easy and cheap. Fish from the lake provided many meals and nuts and berries from the woods around the place were gathered and baked into pies. Fall small game season produced meat and poultry in the form of rabbits, squirrels, pheasants and grouse. My Dad and I talked often about living up at the cottage if the world went to h**l in a hand basket.
After high school and moving into the world of college and working, my trips to the cottage were few and far between. Usually they were only to go up and help Dad secure the place from the last break in that occurred. Sadly, I let the cottage fall into neglect and vandals took care of the rest. Broken doors and windows let the weather in and after a few years the cottage became uninhabitable.
Mom kept the land after Dad’s passing and I started taking my sons there for a few weekend camping trips. Soon the idea of getting the cottage back in shape was talked about, but the northern winters did a good job of making the place beyond repair. The approach of Y2K and talk of chaos renewed my thoughts of a survival retreat. I discussed this with some buddies of mine and ideas of small barns to large military tents were discussed. Like the old saying about when all is said and done, there is more said than done, Y2K came and went and still nothing was done about the cottage.
One of the guys that I had discussed the ideas of a cabin in the woods with called one fall afternoon and suggested that I drive out to his campground and look at a travel trailer that they were giving away. Giving away, free for nothing, giving away? Yup, just make sure it is gone before Halloween.
My youngest son and I drove out and looked at the place. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. Although it was a 1955 travel trailer, the interior was clean and bright. The wood finish on the walls was unstained and the place showed signs of good upkeep. I drove home and talked the idea over with my wife and my Mom. The wife had to agree for us to take it, and my Mom had to let us put it on the lake. Both agreed, and my sons and I started planning on getting it up north.
My wife and I agreed that a budget of $500 was all right to spend. We knew that we couldn’t build a lawn barn to use up there for that much money.
Calls to find a mover to haul it north for us were made. Prices ranged from $700 to over $3,000. I was taken aback by this and did a total rethink. The guy that helped us find the trailer to begin with suggested I try the guy that moved his out to the campground he was at. That turned out to be a cold trail, but I did find a company in Indiana that was willing to do it for around $200, PROVIDING, I put new tires on it so that it would be pretty much guaranteed to make the trip.
They no longer make the same size tires for travel trailers that they made in 1955. After countless phone calls to any kind of a place I could think of I was referred to a place that dealt with a lot of farm equipment. They informed me that the size I wanted was no longer made but they did have a cross-reference tire that should work just fine. $135 later a pair of the tires were mine. The bad news was I needed them put on the rims and the rims were still on the trailer, 60 miles away. Several more phone calls to repair stores and a place was found that would put them on at the site, but the cost would be around $200.
Getting the tires on proved easier than anyone led me to believe. Even though they were old fashion split rims, the job took just under an hour and the cost was around $170. [JWR Adds: Always use a safety cage when working with split-rim wheels. If you don’t, they can be killers!] This put the cost of moving the retreat at the $500 level we had agreed would be reasonable for our budget. I was very pleased and at 11:30 in the morning I left the north central Ohio campground headed for northwestern Michigan.
Thankfully the trip was uneventful. Ben, the very nice driver that the transport company assigned to the job did an outstanding job of getting the trailer to the lake and spotting it where I wanted it. We had to chop out a couple of small trees to get it parked in the sheltered area I wanted, but the job went easy and we were done before darkness set in. The last act of the night was to finish putting the lock and hasp on the door of the trailer before I headed north to my friend’s cabin for the night. I figured it was easier to drive a little farther north and stay at a buddy’s cabin than make the long drive home.
Mediterranean, Southwestern, early American and assorted other styles of furniture are discussed in the finest design magazines. We settled on what my sister termed “early garage sale.” The propane stove came from a travel trailer that was being scrapped out. The chairs for the kitchen table came from the roadside garbage pickup in the neighborhood. The table was a gift from my sister’s basement. Some pots and pans and silverware came from the local Goodwill store. Two sets of bunk beds came from a buddy in the Reserves that worked for a college that was recycling the bunks they had in dorms. The picture pump for the well came in trade for some home repairs done for a neighbor down the street. All in all the cost of the retreat was under $600. Some expenses that will be incurred soon: a new coating on the roof to insure it stays water-resistant and plywood shutters to secure the windows during our absences.
We now have a three-season retreat that allows us to fish, swim, hike, and hunt in the outdoors. We can practice our survival skills, such as fire building and outdoors cooking, and not look like we are doing much more than having a family camp out.
We are away from crowds and turmoil of the city. Our friends and family think of it as our “vacation” home, but we know that in a time of crisis we have a survival retreat to go to, and under $1,000 cost.

Two Letters Re: Shocking Facts About Wolves, by Steven UP

James:
Steven UP’s article is self serving. He writes to stir up hysteria and emotions. Much of his “thesis” is pure bunk, conjecture, speculation. I am a former resident of the Upper Peninsula. I was born and raised there and lived in the U.P. for the first 40+ years of my life. While I live in nearby Wisconsin currently, I still regularly visit family and am currently looking for property in the U.P. for my retirement place. I resent this article by someone who has only been in the U.P. less than 15 years.
He is writing to try to win your prize for the contest, not to alert anyone to a mismanaged deer herd and/or a wolf population out of control in my opinion. Sincerely, – William

 

Jim:
As a regular vistor [sic] to your website and to your advertisers, I must say that the article on wolves so misleading and full of propaganda that I cannot believe that it was allowed to be on your website. I had up until this time thought that your website served a better mission then resorting to this type of onesided [sic],uneducated and totally biased opinions of a person who does not state any credentials on his suppossed [sic] authority of widlife [sic] biology. I myself am not an authority nor am I defender of wolves, however I am a person who believes in factual and unbiased reporting be it on your website or any type of media.
I would hope that in the future that your website does not again stray into this type of trash journalism.
Regards, – TD ______ PS: This email has also been sent to many of the advertisers on your website that I have done business with or have recommended to friends.

JWR Replies: I posted Steven UP’s article because in recent months several readers have mentioned that they consider feral dogs and wolves a potentially inimical threat in the event of TEOTWAWKI. Thus, it met my tests for both suitability and “on topic” blog applicability for posting. As space permits, I do my best to post every letter or article that is on topic (vis-a-vis survival, preparedness, or emerging threats.) I don’t attempt to muzzle SurvivalBlog readers or otherwise censor what they have to say, even when what they have to say is controversial or even when they are contrary to my own opinions. (Witness, for example, the recent letter that derided my Christian faith, and the politically incorrect letter from the employee on the Navajo Reservation.)

I’m sure that any article on such a controversial subject is bound to elicit contrary opinions. I am happy to post those, too. Including yours.

Letter Re: .50 BMG Rifles

Hello Jim,
After much research and test shooting several of the available conversions out there I finally decided upon the ALS [AR-15 lower] conversion. Darren Wardle in Oregon hand builds them in his factory on CNC [Computerized Numerical Control] equipment and test fires each upper for accuracy before shipping. Darren is a world class record holder in the FCSA and his work is first class. His price is very reasonable but the wait is [currently] almost a year. Worth it, in my opinion. – D.C.

Two Letters Re: The Current Ammo Shortage and Galloping Prices

Jim:
Perhaps it’s a regional thing, but there seems to be an ammunition shortage in the United States. Here in NY, 7.62×39 has doubled in price in the past year. It is to $200 per 1,000 when you can find it. At last weekend’s gun show only two of the 40 tables were selling 7.62×39 and one of those vendors only had 500 rds. The bad news is thus that it is too late to stock up on cheap 7.62×39. The good news is that your investment in ammo [already] on hand has doubled in value.

308[Winchester] is still available at $200 per 1,000 and up, depending on country of origin. A year ago I could find it for a few cents per cartridge less, but I think the time to stock up is now. One reason is that the military ammo is simply being used in Iraq and Afghanistan, so there is less surplus on the market. Another factor is the budding Chinese automotive industry absorbing every bit of metal they can buy. Copper wire has doubled in price in the past year. It is only reasonable to see this carry through to the raw materials for ammunition. So the price will be passed along to us even if the “shortage” is temporary prices are clearly rising.

I can see no downside to stocking up on the cartridges still available at reasonable prices. For instance, it is my personal policy to buy a 550 round box of 22 LR every time I’m in Wal-Mart. At $8.97 per 550 box that’s still under two cents per cartridge, including sales tax. I just don’t think prices will ever be lower. And with a 100+ year shelf life, how can you go wrong? Worst case – even in the unlikely event that my son and I don’t shoot it up during father/son backyard plinking sessions, I’m stocking a commodity for the next generation. Keep up the great work. May God bless you and yours, – Mike S.

 

God bless you Jim.
I just got back from a gun show here in the mid west and there were two over-riding topics of discussion among the dealers. First and foremost was that the cost of ammunition was going up. Soon. A case of .223 which was being sold at $219 will cost the dealer $250 just to stock it. Even if he sold it just to break even, that’s a noticeable jump. Certain ammo streams (South African .308 for example) are drying up. One dealer who sells flashlights, cases, knives etc, told me not to buy his stuff and go get my ammo. I thought your readers should know now is the time to buy ammo.
The second topic of conversation is that people were being cautious, that they had feelings of unease, that things were not as good as we’re being told it is. Add this to the bad wheat harvest projected and it equals Now is the time to get as prepared as you can. Just thought this might be of interest. – D.D.

Odds ‘n Sods:

David in Israel Recommends: An excellent idea is to buy several dozen “button compasses” and scatter them in the pockets of your gear. That way you will never be without a compass.

   o o o

Wow! Our global hit map (from ClustrMaps) is showing even better distribution this month. OBTW, I heard from Jake Stafford that the new “big box” preparedness course is selling well to readers in Europe and Australia. I’m glad to see that SurvivalBlog is so popular around the world.

   o o o

The BBC reports: A shooting war with Iran could triple the market price of oil.

 

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species… Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of.” – Stephen Hawking

Note From JWR:

Today we present another article for Round 5 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best non-fiction article will win a valuable four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificate. If you want a chance to win, start writing and e-mail us your article soon. Round 5 ends on July 31st.

Shocking Facts About Wolves, by Steven UP

It all started when I first moved to the Upper Peninsula [“U.P.”] of Michigan back in the early 1990s. When I first came up here it was paradise. Beaver, ducks, grouse, bears, and lots of deer. What happened over the years to change this paradise is truly remarkable. It is now now almost a wasteland, barren of wild game. What happened? Wolves were planted–200 of them from Minnesota. Okay, all of us that live up here “know” that wolves were planted because the population of wolves skyrocket from 20 to 220 in a single year. One noted wolf biologist even admitted in a speech that he was on the project that live trapped and transport the wolves from Minnesota to Michigan. What happen next was truly amazing. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) changed their story. What!? In full cooperation with Michigan department of Natural Resources (DNR) the truth disappeared. Now the story is that the wolves were never planted here and it was natural migration. Why in the world would anyone not believe the USFWS and the Michigan DNR?
Let us look at some facts about how much you can trust government employees?
Check out this article. Here you read about seven Federal employees that planted fake lynx hair. Millions of acres of land would have been closed off to human use if this big lie of fake lynx hair had been successful. It is a proven fact that Federal biologists have been caught lying. So it makes sense that Federal employees here in Michigan would do the same thing.
But the Michigan DNR lie? Well I happen to interview a school teacher. He was hired with another teacher by the Michigan DNR to do a study. He did the independent study completely his report and turned it in. The report was turned back to him and he was told if he wanted to be paid he had to change his outcome to conform to Michigan DNR outcome. What!? It is an independent study as long as you play the game and lie. He refused and submitted the report as he wrote it. The other teacher needed the money and rewrote his study to conform to what the Michigan DNR wanted. The finally outcome was the teacher with integrity report was tossed in the big round circulate file and the report that was doctored up was used by the Michigan DNR.
Back to wolves. We were all fed a large pack of lies about the wolves. They only eat 11 deer a year each? They would keep the deer herd healthy and the population would increase. What a pack of lies. I used to hunt northern part of Ontonagon and Houghton County north of Highway 26. My favorite stretch between Mass City and Bruce’s Crossing was overrun with deer. In that stretch you would normally see over 100 deer trails crisscrossing crossing the hwy. On opening weekend you would see 30 + vehicles parked and hunters in the woods. I just drove it Sat November 19 opening weekend. What I saw was stunning? Less then 10 deer trails crossing the road and around 5 vehicle parked with hunters in the woods? What happened? A drop of over 90% of deer trails? 60% less hunters in the area?
Wolves have been devastating on the deer herd. Are hunters still getting deer? Yes. But is the area supporting all the deer it was before the wolves? No. The wolves are thinning the deer herd so badly in the area that people don’t waste time hunting there. I watch this year after year. And each year there are less deer and more wolves. I started researching to see if this has happened in other areas where the wolf has been planted? The answer is big YES.
Here is some startling evidence. I’ve noticed a change in those mountains over the past seven years, and I’m certain if the American people had any idea what was going on in Yellowstone and the surrounding area, they would be appalled and very angry. Prior to wolf introduction in 1995, there were 19,500 elk in the great northern Yellowstone elk herd, over 300 big horn sheep in the ten square miles around Gardiner, Montana, abundant moose, antelope and mule deer. Now we have fewer than 10,000 elk and 40 big horn sheep. Montana state moose biologist Kurt Alt tells us the moose are all but wiped out, the National Academy of Science in its’ March 2002 report tells us that the antelope population is a small fraction of what it was. A Montana Game Warden north of Yellowstone Park tells us the mule deer population is also in real trouble. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Wolf Project Coordinator admits in the press that there are 560 wolves and 150 pups this year with anywhere between 34 to 46 breeding pairs depending on your definition of breeding pair. The Project Coordinator himself, Ed Bangs says, “There are too many wolves.”
In this report we see elk number have drop almost 50% big horn sheep have drop over 600% and the moose are all but wiped out. Antelope population is small fraction of what it was? Mule deer are in trouble? The evidence is in folks wolves kill one heck of lot of big game anyone that says different is clueless.
I heard a story about Montana biologist that did a study on elk calf ratio in Yellowstone. The study clearly showed the destruction of the elk herd by wolves. Read what happened here. (There is an annoying pop up but read how the Feds suppress the states evidence of the elk herd.) The Canadians have been dealing with wolves for a long time what do they have to say about wolves? The last two paragraph are a real eye opener
Veteran wolf biologist, John Gunson, Alberta Ministry of Environment, summed it up, when he said, “Really, there isn’t any room for [elk] harvest by man, if you have a healthy wolf population.”
Hunters, please understand the impacts of wolf recovery on hunting, and the role wolf recovery plays in the anti-hunters’ agenda. Natural predation, especially wolf predation, can replace your privilege to hunt.What about Minnesota? Here is real eye opener about Minnesota. An article in the Journal of Wildlife Management 64(1): 129-136, Wolf Effect on Deer Harvests :Mech and Nelson reached the conclusion that increasing uncontrolled wolf numbers can very significantly reduce human deer harvests.
The next biggest Myth the pro wolf still to this day say is there no documented wolf attacks in North America.
Let us look at the real facts: More than 80 documented cases of wolf attacks on people.
Sports Afield Magazine, December 2000/January 2001 issue, has a picture of six-year-old John Stenglein, lying in a hospital bed that had been viciously attacked by a healthy male wolf. The wolf was killed by loggers near his Alaska campsite.
Why is acceptable to put other people children in danger when you are far away in another state or in a city?
In August, 1996 eleven-year-old Zack Delventhal was viciously attacked, the boys face had been ripped open, his nose was crushed, parts of his mouth and right cheek were torn. Blood gushed from puncture wounds below his eyes, and the lower part of his right ear was missing and dangling. The wolf was killed by Park authorities and found to be a young healthy adult male wolf. (Cook, Kathy; “Night of the Wolf ” Reader’s Digest, July 1997 pp. 114-119.)
Now I am confused we were feed this big lie that wolves are safe around children but with research we find we have a large predator with a proven track record of attacking children. Aug of 1996. Fact you can’t change the truth unless you work for Federal government as we have seen early.
What about livestock attacks? “MINNESOTA – Cass County 1997 – Tom Johnson lost 4 cows and 10 calves, valued at $8,000. In 1996 he lost 14 calves and was reimbursed for two. Minnesota paid $400 maximum per animal.” (Outdoor News, Tim King, Dec 19, 1997.) Be advised that both biologists and agricultural interests report that agricultural producers absorb, tolerate and address up to “89% of sheep and 93% of cattle losses they believe are caused by predators without requesting ADC [Animal Damage Control] assistance or receiving compensation.”
Ranchers are reporting the same thing all over the country. Facts are 1984 style report happens 14 calves killed but only paid for 2?? This is so the official report looks better on the wolf programs. I have talked with ranchers in several different states and all say the same thing. The Federal agenda is to underreport the actual wolf kill numbers. Federal biologists do lie for the benefit of their agenda.
What happens if your dog is attacked by wolves can you shoot the wolf? No. That is right the wolf has more rights than you or your dog.
Since 1986, when the first claim was filed, we’ve had 82 dogs killed by wolves and 27 injured that we know of,” said Adrian Wydeven, Department of Natural Resources wolf expert.
Noticed that he said “…that we know of.” That means that several more dogs have probably come up missing, and wolves most likely killed them.
The biggest surprise and shock to me was hunters being so pro- wolf. I thought the hunters would like to know the truth that the wolves are a disaster to the deer herd. Some hunters get it, but then there is a very loud vocal group that turns it into an attack on the person reporting the truth. Why the attack? Part of it is they have been fed this constants stream of myths from Hollywood and The Discovery Channel showing all the great benefits of wolves. The other part I think is some are actual Animal rights group members posing as hunters and just waiting for the chance to attack any negative reporting on wolves. But real hunters have attacked me and said I just want to exterminate the wolves. This is the part that surprises me. They used the animal rights argument that hunters only want to exterminate what they hunt. Hunters need to wake up. You have been fed a big pack of lies on wolves it is not for your benefit wolves wipe out and are devastating on big game herds.
Another surprise I found was that a local pro-wolf newspaper reported that there was no documented wolf attacks in North America. I quickly wrote a rebuttal article proving that there has over 80 documented wolf attacks on people in North America. What happened? The editor admitted to me that she was familiar with the study but refused to print my rebuttal because she was pro-wolf. You read that correctly she refused to print the truth. So much for “unbiased reporting” and “fair and balanced, you decide.”
I find this over and over and over again. People say even when you prove beyond a shadow of doubt that we have been fed a pack of lies on the wolves. “I don’t care I just think it is great the wolves are in the wild” What that really means is I don’t care if children are attacked, Wolves are more important, I don’t care if ranchers are losing money and going out of business, Wolves are more important, I don’t care that dogs are being killed as long it is in your area don’t plant wolves near my dogs, Wolves are more important, I don’t care if elk hunting guides have lost their jobs, Wolves are more important, I don’t care if your deer hunting is lousy, Wolves are more important. This mindset is pervasive.
Are there good honest hard working people in that worked for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Federal biologist? Yes there are, but there is also the big lies and the deleting of the truth. I would hope that some of the people working in these department would give out the real agenda in play here.This has been a real eye opener for me. I got it. Hide the truth, ignore the facts, close your mind off from reality because in the end wolves are more important.

JWR Adds: They have a saying in Idaho: “Shoot, shovel, and shut up.”

Product Review: Replica Viking Tents From Panther Primitives

Jim:
I’ve used a tent from Panther Primitives for Viking and Middle Ages re-enactments for about a decade. I can report on being in a Viking Wedge style tent during a storm that spun off nearby tornados. Not a leak or break. I like a canvas Viking Wedge because of the strength and transportability. The tent is supported by an internal framework of poles (traditionally, one used the sail over the oars), so there are no ropes or pins. When it’s time to pack at the end of an event, two to four people simply pick the tent up and move it ten feet to the side, and the inside becomes the outside. This is not a tent that packs up small (the poles aren’t), but it’s easy enough to transport with a truck, van or roof rack–I’ve carried it on an old station wagon with the inside stuffed with enough gear for two weeks.
Other tents that hold up exceptionally in storms are Tipis, French Belled Wedges and Yurts. But all are harder to move once assembled. The Viking Wedge simply sits on the ground.- Michael Z. Williamson

Note From JWR:

Please keep spreading the word about SurvivalBlog. If you could add a link at your e-mail footer or web page, it would be greatly appreciated. SurvivalBlog link buttons and banners are available in a variety of sizes. Thanks!

The recent announcement of my preparedness course has brought a lot of old friends and acquaintances out of the woodwork. It has been great hearing from so many of you! I just hope that the course gets into a lot of hands so that more families get squared away and are truly ready for the next disaster. OBTW, Jake Stafford sent a “opt-in”e-mail to the folks on my e-mails list yesterday. Not to worry–the e-mail is legitimate. Since it is a “opt-in”, you will only stay on my e-mail list if you respond by providing your e-mail address. Please do, so that you’ll get the word each time that I release a new book, report, or course. Thanks!

Letter Re: Recommended Guns for Left-Handed Shooters?

Mr. Rawles:
One of my sons is left handed. Which guns do you recommend I buy for him? (I’m talking here both hunting and self-defense.) With Thanks, – L.B.T.

JWR Replies: I recommend that your son try shooting several different models and that you then buy him whatever he is most comfortable with. First, as with all members of your family, you should check to see if you son is right or left-eye dominant. Cross-dominance is a problem that can take considerable training to overcome. If your son is “left eyed” and/or he is not comfortable/fast/accurate shooting right handed, then buy him special left hand or ambidextrous models.

A good shotgun choice for lefties is the Ithaca 37 pump action , or the newer Ithaca 87. They have bottom ejection. Some lefties find it disconcerting to shoot a Remington 870 (or similar right handed pump or auto shotgun) and have those big red empties fly past their faces. I can’t say that I blame them.

Most pump and lever-action rifles are essentially ambidextrous, and hence are well-suited to the gauche.

Many semi-auto pistols are available with ambidextrous safety levers and even ambidextrous slide releases and de-cocking levers. Then again there is the Glock–with NO traditional safety lever, and their magazine release buttons are ambidextrous. The Glock 21 is a fine choice for left handers.

Many bolt action rifles are made in left hand variants. (Browning, Winchester, Ruger, Remington Savage, SAKO, CZ, et cetera.) These can sometimes be hard to find at a reasonable price in the desired caliber. You might try doing a “LH” or “Left” search at GunsAmerica.com. Sadly, the Steyr Scout bolt action has not yet been made in a left-hand version, but you could probably have another left-hand bolt action converted to scout configuration.

A detachable brass deflector is available for shooting early model AR-15s (and clones) left handed. The later “A2” models have an integral brass deflector that is cast into the upper receiver housing.

The ultimate ambidextrous semi-auto rifle is the Steyr AUG bullpup, which can be set up to eject to the left. Special replacement left-ejection bolts are made by the factory and are currently around $150. The rifle itself is $2,800+. (Gulp!) But the good news is that in May of 2006, Steyr-USA company officials announced that they would “commence with the AUG A3 semi automatic rifle production in the U.S. Its targeted availability is by the SHOT Show 2007.” Hopefully this wasn’t just a test balloon. I predict that if this does happen, then U.S. production will bring the price of Steyr AUGs back down to $1,300, or perhaps even less. My #1 Son, who is a lefty, will surely be saving his pennies, in anticipation.

Letter Re: Recommendations on Hardening a Garage Door?

JWR,
I am finally getting to build a house out on my retreat property. First st on the agenda is the 25′ x 40′ steel storage building that will give us secure storage for materials, etc., and then I will build a garage/shop. The issue that has us stumped is how to harden the garage door against someone being able to “work” at getting in while we are away at work all day. A chainsaw would chew right thru the normal fiber board panels and no one is close enough to notice the noise. So far we have thought of fixing “U” stakes (the stamped cheap replacement for “T” fence posts) to the inside of the door panels, and concrete reinforcement wire mesh. The concerns are the weight/ability to be able to lift the door after hardening. There will be no lock on the door from the outside, since we will lock through the roller tracks from the inside. Any other/better ideas?

OBTW, we are using insulated concrete forms for the house – 2.5″ of form, 8″ of concrete, 2.5″ of form, drywall. The siding on the outside will be about 2″ of cultured stone – I think that will make for pretty tough walls. – D.A.B.

JWR Replies: I have experience with steel garage and shop doors, but not wood or fiberboard doors. So what you are asking is beyond my expertise. I think it is time to poll the audience. Comments, folks?

Letter Re: Indian Reservation Boundaries a Determining Factor for Retreat Locales?

Hi Jim,
Excellent web site! Regarding the recent discussion on living near or in a reservation, I have a couple of informed comments. I have been living near the Navajo Nation, and working in the Navajo Nation for about one year. I am of Caucasian descent. Here’s a couple of observations:
1. Native Americans seem to have a subtle racism/dislike for whites … when TSHTF, I am sure that they will draw together, and whites will find themselves an “outgroup.”
2. Most reservations and reservation residents, even though proclaiming sovereign status, are actually very dependent on the US government for various government hand-outs (e.g. welfare, etc.), and the bloated reservation bureaucracies are also very US government dependent. In a SHTF scenario, with governmental economic collapse, all of these dependent structures, and dependent people will have the economic rug pulled out from underneath them. Most native people have done nothing constructive with this massive US government input, such as developing true self-sufficiency … instead [funds from] the US [Treasury] are wasted on things such as casinos and to feed rampant local corruption. When the SHTF, the reservations will be total disaster zones, with a lot of people whining about how they are no longer getting US [government] hand-outs.
3. Most reservations are in areas with poor land, as in poor soil, limited water supply; essentially undesirable land.
4. Reservations contain many alcohol abusers, and they will be dangerous in their search for their next fix, when TSHTF.
5. Gang activities are increasingly developing in reservations, and these gangs will likely ascend to power in a SHTF scenario.
6. Reservations are famous for “rez dogs”, and these essentially wild dogs will easily group into packs, leading to extreme danger for any humans and/or potential food source animals for humans.
After evaluating this situation, I am moving to the Intermountain West, post-haste.- G.S. (Currently in Gallup, New Mexico / Northeastern Arizona, soon to be in Northeastern Washington state)

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“We have discovered that the scheme of ‘outlawing war’ has made war more like an outlaw without making it less frequent, and, that to banish the knight, does not alleviate the suffering of the peasant.” – C.S. Lewis