Overcoming Obstacles

Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Overcoming Obstacles - 12/11/18 04:56 PM

I'm getting useful information from the thread "What Do I Bring When Bugging Out?" Keep it up.

There is more to bugging out than the stuff you bring with you. My idea of roughing it is a house with no electricity and no running water.

As for my experience with a tent, I still need therapy to get over that. I also want to avoid a FEMA camp about as much as I want to avoid Hell. In earlier conversations, some of you suggested a bug out location. Well, in addition to being expensive that won't do any good if we can't go there. A friend recommended a trailer; that only works if you can drive to where you need be.

I'm running out of ideas. The only possibility I see is to overcome my aversion to tents. Any suggestions?

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: gonewiththewind

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/11/18 08:33 PM

You can read some of the work by psychologist Martin Seligman. Him and Donald Meichenbaum. Seligman's positive psychology and Meichenbaum's cognitive-behavior modification can help in overcoming anxiety and fears.
Posted by: Tjin

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/11/18 08:57 PM

If you have enough means and freedom, then after moving away from the inital danger and in a safe area; book a vacation and go on holiday.

Not much point in waiting in a motel/camp for weeks or months before you are even allowed back.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/12/18 01:22 AM

You mention "tents" when talking about a "fema camp", implying that a tent would be the shelter there. First of all, here in California, the disaster shelters are run by the American Red Cross, and they utilize standing buildings with indoor toilet and shower facilities - school gymnasiums are fairly typical. I believe this is fairly standard across the US.

There are tents and there are tents - some are very small and cramped, but appropriate for their intended use, and some are very large. They can be surprisingly comfortable. I have often stayed in tents during my career (the longest period was three months straight) in temperatures ranging from forty below to the high 90s, and they work quite well when properly erected and maintained.

Have you ever spent time in a tent? If not, a good experience most likely awaits you. I would second Montanero's advice in this regard; there are ways to diminish your aversion.

Finally, just what is a fema camp? On the survivalist websites, the term seems to denote a federal government camp, under very rigid controls - very similar, if not identical to a concentration camp. I don't believe that FEMA is actually in the business of directly running disaster shelters - that is more often the business of outfits like ARC. "Fema camp" seems to be a fictional construct, and a fairy tale bugaboo.

In practice, when we have had a disaster (large fire, for example), ARC operates a shelter at the local fair grounds, complete with accommodations for large and small animals. These are not heavily patronized since most people prefer to rent a room or stay with friends. And some of us leave hone with the option of pitching a tent somewhere nice.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/12/18 02:41 AM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
You mention "tents" when talking about a "fema camp", implying that a tent would be the shelter there.

"Tents" and "FEMA camps" are separate.

Originally Posted By: hikermor
Have you ever spent time in a tent? If not, a good experience most likely awaits you.

Yes, I have. No, it was not a good experience for me. My time in a tent summarizes everything that is wrong in this world.

Originally Posted By: hikermor
I would second Montanero's advice in this regard; there are ways to diminish your aversion.

Speaking of cognitive therapy, I had a session with Colin Ross, a nationally-recognized expert on the subject. As fascinating as it was to my inner geek, I would be better off if I haven't.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: gonewiththewind

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/12/18 03:26 AM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle

Speaking of cognitive therapy, I had a session with Colin Ross, a nationally-recognized expert on the subject. As fascinating as it was to my inner geek, I would be better off if I haven't.

Jeanette Isabelle


Never heard of him, but I do know many people that it has helped. You say you suffer from anxiety, and that you have a fear of sleeping in tents, and that is the best way to deal with the fear. I have personally helped a few people get over a fear or overcome an obstacle using those methods. If done right, it does work.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/12/18 03:40 AM

Originally Posted By: Montanero
You say you suffer from anxiety, and that you have a fear of sleeping in tents, and that is the best way to deal with the fear.

I didn't say I have a fear of sleeping in tents.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: gonewiththewind

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/12/18 03:48 AM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle


As for my experience with a tent, I still need therapy to get over that......

I'm running out of ideas. The only possibility I see is to overcome my aversion to tents. Any suggestions?

Jeanette Isabelle


You were saying?
Posted by: Herman30

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/12/18 05:42 AM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle

I didn't say I have a fear of sleeping in tents.

Jeanette Isabelle

Could we please hear what you don´t like in tents?
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/12/18 12:34 PM

As it is said in psychiatric circles, I had an unhealthy experience in a tent. That does not mean I have tisantaphobia.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Taurus

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/12/18 09:18 PM

They make some awesome mini camping trailers these days. There are some that can be pulled by a small car and some that even pull behind bicycles. Failing that, and depending on what your surroundings are I guess there aren’t many better options. Try to take refuge in buildings or other structures along your route. Depending on the circumstances though, that could be asking for trouble.
Posted by: Herman30

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/12/18 09:39 PM

If not tent, how about a sleeping bag under a tarp?
Posted by: TeacherRO

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/12/18 10:04 PM

going to a friend or relative
going to a hotel or rental cabin
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: Overcoming Obstacles - 12/13/18 03:55 AM

As a member of my local CERT, I have trained and drilled on plans for running a shelter.

Our shelter rules are simple but strict: no pets of any kind, no violence of any kind, no drugs or alcohol, and keeping reasonable quiet hours. That’s it — we ask for names as people enter and leave, but we don’t check IDs and we don’t keep anyone from leaving who wants to.

While FEMA administers some aspects of the CERT program nobody on our team has ever seen or spoken to a FEMA employee ever; as one of the leaders on our team I would know.

Our communication with our state’s emergency management agency is very limited. Our county’s emergency management agency can request for our team’s activation and to implement our sheltering plan, a situation which has happened.