Learn how to poop in a hole. I'm serious. 😯
it repulses most people, but is one of the most basic and essential skills you can acquire!
Still laughing so, SO hard. My MIL pooping in a hole just might kill her, never mind lack of food and water. 😆 😆 😆 😆
I have been prepping for many years. I never planned to bug out. I purchased a location in an area somewhat in the bush that has lots of game, a plentiful fresh water supply, abundant fuel supplies, off a main highway on a dead end road, 30 minutes from a town with a population of 5,000 and 90 minutes away from a city of 50,000 and five hours from a metropolis. I have a group of friends with diversified skills, we have enough food supplies for at least one year and plan to be self sufficient after that. Bug out? Not likely.
After the Japanese disaster last year, particularly Fukushima, I revisited my plans. Not because I am downwind of a nuclear reactor , not even hundreds of miles downwind but because that disaster highlighted the uncertainty factor. No matter how good you may think your plans are something may occur that would render them inadequate or even totally useless. How many Japanese citizens would have though two years ago that they would have to leave their home and everything in it never to return? I amended my plan to incorporate a bug out plan, a plan "B" if you will. Then along the same lines a backup plan, plan "C".
Very few things could make me activate either of my bug out plans but the point is you never know. It is just like having extra insurance. I don't want to do it, I would not like it but it is there if I need it!
It sounds like some people are already "bugged out" just by where they live, but like ICRCC it is always good to have a bug out plan wherever you are.
I like the term "uncertainty factor" - like a wildfire running through your area, or a tree blowing down on your house, or a lightning strike, or that meteor that has your name on it.
As far as "sustainable living" goes - we can sustain a living, it just will not be the living you are used to.
I laugh every time I hear something about green energy - we want to provide for our needs with renewable energy but every year we use more energy than the year before. Back in the 70's home electricity panels were 60 volts maximum. Now you need at least 100 volt panels to keep your giant ice-making fridges, computers and big screen TV's going. Our lives are far, far from sustainable, at least at our current state of luxury.
But even true 'sustainable living' doesn't have to mean 'uncomfortable'. A cabin with a wood stove and a well stocked root cellar sounds pretty comfy to me 😉
Lots of good info and comments. thanks to all for your ideas and opinions it gives a guy lots to think about. I agree that there may be an imminent need to bug out as we have no idea what challenges we'll face in the coming years and months. But as several stated it will be safest and most comfortable bugging in. We have to make due with what we have on hand. I don't own an acreage tucked away in the forest so for now I'll modify my 4level split and city lot to be the best it can be...
I am in line with the self sufficient ideology voiced by Crashed. This isn't about buying cans of food and ammo; For me this is a lifestyle. If we can't provide for ourselves today we are going to be hard pressed to learn when the SHTF. We need to live now the hardships the future holds.