Homer

I wonder if your scenario is actually "heading for the hills". FYI, this is our way of "bugging out" also: 5 acres in CO w/well and a small cabin.

Otherwise, even in a "Lucifer's Hammer" scenario, I wouldnt head for wilderness if I had a choice. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I dont see why. My gear includes short wave radio, kerosene heater, down comforter, MRE's from Long Life Foods, a battery powered TV, etcetera.

Even the dogs and cats get their favorite rations.

I never "rough it" if i can help it.

Could be. My family already has predetermined code words or phrases that tell members where the meet up point or final destination is. This is so messages can be left without telling everyone. It’s also so that certain family that are in positions that get advanced notice can warn rest of us without appearing to.
Technically we already live in the hills, but have alternates if staying home isn’t possible. One 5 acre plot we bought for back taxes about 1.5 hrs away. Sister and brother out of state.

I'm just trying to get a good definition for what the original post was saying. There's heading for the safe house, or the rendevous, or the home away from home, or whatever pre-prepared, more civilized long term shelter situation we can plan for. That's one case that is a possibility in certain scenarios.

Then there's the "ultimate catastrophe" or the "I can't get to anywhere I am going to be comfortable at" scenarios, where you can't maybe choose exactly where to head to, or are familiar with, or you got there only to find out it too was toast situation. What do you do if there's no cabin to get to, despite all your prior planning and investment. That, to me, is more indicative of a bonafide bugs bunny type "Head for the Hills" episode. You take only what you can pack and live off it for as long as possible, forget making to anywhere except away from immediate danger. That is how I was trying to define Head for the hills, the way I thought the originator meant it. Otherwise I am going to be reading my survival books by lamplight in front of a nice cozy woodstove with my dogs at my feet and my wife and kids in the kitchen or beside me.

Is this what we are "prepared" for on this forum? Is this what the OP (mntlvr) had in mind when this thread was started? If we are facing the apocalypse then I doubt the mentioned "evacuation center" would be in business. During the past world wars and global pandemics people, in general, did not head for the hills; and those that did were not really better off than those who stayed in town near a hospital.

That I will definitely agree with. If things get so bad that I gotta leave my home, then brothers and sisters, things are bad!!!

I don't think that is really what this forum is about. But when faced with two extreme choices, both of which are repugnant to me, I will tend to choose in favor of my own destiny as opposed to putting my trust and faith in any government run program. All these TEOTWAWKI and what if scenarios are good for is to get us thinking. Perhaps we have been over-emphasizing the value of that exercise (I blame the media, who espouse doom and gloom to boost ratings). It is prudent to stockpile, fortify, and educate, but not to excess. Burt Gummer is a bit of a fanatic, albeit a mythical hero to many. With all the toys the producers give him, I could afford to be a little eccentric as well.

Perhaps the best lesson we can extract from such activity as this thread has produced is just how fragile our delicate lives are, how much comfort we live in and take for granted day to day.

Agreed. I guess that is why we are all here anyway. To give ourselves a bit of reality check.

We should be cautious to ensure the pendulum doesn't swing too far the other direction. I am always amused by those who spend so much time and effort preparing for or preventing really unlikely events they don't have time to change the batteries in their smoke alarms. Or the people who don't wear seat belts for fear of getting trapped in their car under water.

I think it's interesting to look at the recent experiences from the hurricanes in the New Orleans situation. GIven that many of those who head to the public shelters are grossly unprepared in all respects or they wouldn't be there. And, secondly some of the things that happend in those same shelters, assaults, sexual and otherwise.........I will avoid public shelters as a last resort. But then again, I intend on not being unprepared in the first place, which is the true lesson to be taken from that unfortunate fiasco. JB