Why not just see who all is interested, then set up meetings and discuss individual needs, wants, and desires. Go from there. Choose a group leader to make everything happen. Someone needs to step up and start organizing the meetings for this much the same way that traveller did for the southern alberta preppers meetings.

I for one am not particularily interested at the moment. I'm just throwing some ideas out there for those who are. I suggest getting started right away, because the way things have been going latley, you may not have much time to jump through the hoops necessary to pull it off.

The smart people were starting preparations to bug out at the beginning of the second Bush election victory,

'Bugging out' takes years of premeditation, i feel sorry for those with just a RV backpack, a $2000 solar generator, a few cans of beans and a gun in which they have no clue on how to use.

Unless of course your a blind Denzel Washington.....

'Bugging out' takes years of premeditation, i feel sorry for those with just a RV backpack, a $2000 solar generator, a few cans of beans and a gun in which they have no clue on how to use.....

Some of us just happened to live in blissfull ignorance back then. However we are trying to catch up and hopefully we will have time yet to at least get "stable" when something happens and that is why we come here Crybaby. So we can learn from those who have been doing it for years and who have already gone down the road we are now trying to navigate. I appreciate your pictures and information as they get me thinking and looking at new options that as a new prepper I would never have thought of...heck never even knew exsisted like the Wood Burning Hyrdronic furnace you had previously posted information about.

So to those that are new keep asking questions, working towards getting prepared and sharing your ideas as well so we can get input on them. To those that are prepared already because you are old hats at this, keep posting your pictures and thought and experience so that we can learn. And both sides try and remember that you can not always judge a book by its cover, and perhaps you can learn something from someone even if they are a newbie, red neck, old school, yuppie, tall, short, skinny, fat, or whatever type of silly label we automatically put on people. Who knows maybe we will all be suprized and learn something from that pink haired, Prius driving, metroboy that resides lurking on the boards here somewhere.

Well done Crashed! And at $4000, count me in!

And while bugging out may take years of premeditation, those of us with basic prepping are still going to be far better off than the masses that will be asking WTF when SHTF. That being said, I don't feel ready at all, being so new to it. I would love to have a nice little chunk of land, a cabin fully stocked for anything, some goats and chickens and a few guns lying about but that all takes major $$ and some of us don't have that luxury. Going in with people for land would be a brilliant option for those of us who don't have a lot of capital but may have skills that can be used. Or supplies. Or a knowledge base.

Friends of ours who first put the bug in our ear about getting prepped are just about to retire, have sold their house and a few years back went in $30,000 with a few other couples to buy land and start getting things ready. They're prepared. When they offered to us to get in at $30,000 we just couldn't do it, no matter which way we sliced it because we're at a completely different stage of life. They're retiring. We're just starting out with a little one. We're kicking ourselves now for not selling the house and getting in, but there are other options. We're always on the hunt for land, but being with people who are like-minded and have some skills is a million times better than going it alone.

All that to say: we're interested.

Some of us just happened to live in blissfull ignorance back then. However we are trying to catch up and hopefully we will have time yet to at least get "stable" when something happens and that is why we come here Crybaby.

Fair enough, but it still does not negate the fact I feel sorry for those just starting out. Especially for those who put no forethought into what they are actually doing or purchasing.... Or the fact they haven't even the basic of basics covered. Worse yet, they accumulate stuff and YouTube knowledge and do not practice.

They don't listen to anyone but still consider themselves ready. Drives me nuts.

For me, I work only one day a week, and the other five days working towards my preps.....and I'm still not anywhere close to where I want or need to be .....and I've done this for over 20 years......

May I suggest that you would want it to be away from main roads that others might take as they "bug out" with no supplies. You don't want to waste your manpower fighting off people who want to take everything you have stored up or grown.

Joy29not,

I don't think the majority here will argue with you about trying to avoid major roads when selecting a parcel of land. Hell, if the right piece of land was walk in that would be even better in the long run. And I think must who are interested also understand that time maybe running out to get started. At least, as far as having preps on the ground and ready to walk into in the event of SHTF.

I will guess the major stumbling block for those of us without land at this point in time is $$$$. Or the lack of it. Land in Alberta is overpriced. Too much reliance on corporations buying land not people buying land. So the prices are high.

Thus the idea of getting like minded folks to pool what little cash the may be able to beg, borrow or steal to buy in on a parcel.

As for "those that knew should have been buying land and making preps years ago" yah, we knew what to do and have known for years but knowing did not make money appear out of thin air to purchase land, of course I am only speaking for myself on this point.

Just my continued two cents,

Mountainman.

PS - Plans have changed for me and a long bugout has been taken off my list, so getting a locale closer to where I live is now higher on my list. The old plan did not require purchasing, just getting to.

Fair enough, but it still does not negate the fact I feel sorry for those just starting out.......

Any chance this means you are willing to make some room in one of those cozy little cabins?

Especially for those who put no forethought into what they are actually doing or purchasing.... Or the fact they haven't even the basic of basics covered. Worse yet, they accumulate stuff and YouTube knowledge and do not practice.......

Each of us needs to examine what his situ is, because they are all very different. You are 100% correct in putting forethought into what our personal situ's are and how we prepare for them. Taz's up in Edmonton is going to be very different from mine, yours, travelers, Dangs, Antsy, Moutianman, Rangers.....well we all get the point. Mine situ is that I travel a fair amount and at great distances. So if SHTF while I am in...O say Atlanta, Indianpolis, Chicago, Vancouver, Regina, Edmonton, Saskatoon or Denver then I need to have planned very different from someone who is only trying to get home from downtown Calgary or someone like yourself. You for example have an ample supply of fresh water out your back door and nice clean wells, whereas if I am trying to huff it from Winnipeg I need a way to be able to drink from questionable water sources or heck even puddles. If I dont have a way to drink clean water along my route it might mean not getting home, and I sure as heck can not carry that much "pre-treated" water on me.

I took to heart your previous comment about practice and headed out for 3 days with my pack and realized a few hard mistakes. My pack is still fairly new since I am new to this but it needs to be checked on a regular basis and if something is taken out it needs to be put back or replaced. Thank goodness it was only two nights and I could live without an extra pair of clothes in there, but the para-cord length that was snagged out made for some interesting times, and it was a darn good thing that I have been practising at starting fires with Flint and Steel versus a lighter as it was MIA. So guess what, I am doing a reload and heading back out in a bit when my wife and work allow. I think "knowledge" is a good thing, but without practice you are right it is just pointless. I know folks who have purchased many books on survivalism, gardening or other topics and say they are there in their homes as a just in case. I know folks that have a dozen + guns but they rarely shoot them, and again it is J-I-C.

I also find it humerous those who think they will simply be able to shoulder their pack and walk 30 miles a day for multiple days in order to get to their BOL just like that. I started walking and jogging last year and have now completed 4 half marathons (I know suprizing for those that I have met) and let me tell you even without a pack 13.1 miles is a long ways and even with months of training you are sore. So I do not understand how some folks think they will simply just get up and do it over and over for days. Also when did they stop to find shelter, food and water? The walkers at a Half are usually between 3 - 4 hours from what I have seen, so it just does not add up to me.

They don't listen to anyone but still consider themselves ready. Drives me nuts.

Anyone who considers themselves completely ready is simply living in a delusional state. No one know what type of "S" it will be that hits the fan one day, so how could they be 100% ready? Those who think they have it ALL together and are 100% ready are those whose plan is to burry their head in the sand and try to "live" in an underground bunker type with no outside contact with others. I have said it before and will say it again...those folks might be alive a bit longer than others but it is not truely surviving or living.

.....I'm still not anywhere close to where I want or need to be .....and I've done this for over 20 years......

That is one of the things that makes me like you Crier, and for the record I do not see your posts as something to be jealous of, but as something to aspire to...if I have enough time and $$$. You have 20 years of navigating this road that myself and others are just starting to figure out, help us to miss some of the potholes you hit so we can be there and maybe help others or who knows even yourself.

Part of my job is that I "mentor"/coach/train folks in my indusrty and I fully admit if I could chose someone to mentor me in regards to this type of stuff it would be someone like yourself.

Any chance this means you are willing to make some room in one of those cozy little cabins?

Here's another little gem I've been working on (broken solar panels) Atv or snow machine access only though. Lower elevation too.

Crybaby,

Nice looks like an original sheep herders cabin or possibly a trappers cabin.

Mountainman.

Not bad for somebody living with his parents in a low income Calgary Housing. This shows that there is hope for the rest of us.

Thank you Crybaby, you are truly an inspiration for everybody here

😥 sniff sniff... its... its .. beautiful!!! sniff 😥

Howdy Folks,

The new server seems to have trashed a few posts, so I will try to re-write this one. LOL.

Someone on the Forum has mentioned that a nomadic survival style may be more successful than bugging in or bugging out to a BOL. Not sure, but if that seems logical to you, consider a vehicle such as the Mitsubishi Fuso Earthcruiser 4x4.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvVYQkrTxbA

Interesting gypsy wagon for sure.

Mountainman.

Holy carp Mountainman! I'd be willing to bet I have wandered around the Bergen Springs property as young child, my playground per say. Having looked at the website I believe my father owned that land a loooong time ago.

That said, they do get REAL winters there and I think in a full blown SHTF scenario keeping warm during the winter will be a near full time job even living 150+ mile south of Bergen with more frequent Chinook conditions. I'll pass on tougher winters thanks.

Nothing personal, just saying...

BTR,

None taken. 🙂

I would prefer easy winters, too; like Bora Bora in the South Pacific. The Rockies just happen to be a little closer, lol.

I am open to alternate options and ideas. Just trying to get everyone to post their thoughts, the solution is out there. Just waiting for it to be posted here.

Cheers,

MM.

A MLS description that is more to my liking...

"154 acres of ranchland with unobstructed views of the mountains. Tod and Cow creeks run year-round through the property and they have been fenced to preserve trout habitat. Moose, elk, deer, coyotes and eagles are abundant. Mixed fir/spruce forest covers the eastern hillside third of the property and pasture the rest. The original 1913 log homestead, barn and older outbuildings still sit on the property. Accommodations include a cabin built in 1996 with efficient wood stove. A bathhouse provides shower and biolet toilet. Natural gas, electricity, phone and gravity fed spring water in place."

This land is well withing the 'Chinook belt' but can receive some pretty substantial snow fall. Being near 'the end of the line' on the electrical grid, power outages are a given. Between 2 year round creeks and the gravity fed spring I'm betting ground water for a well won't be too far down. Make a deal with a water well driller to come in and drill 5 or 10 wells at a time should net a discount per ft of well drilled. One well shared by 2 homes would also save on costs. Sewage is another consideration. All of this costs money. I know subdivision isn't cheap either and population zoning may come into play.

OK, I'll just check my pockets and see if I have a spare $550K in them... Nope, a bit too rich for me to do it alone. At a bit over $3500 per acre (probably closer to $4500 per acre when allowing for common areas) with few exceptions some type of 'communal' (non Hutterite colony???) living arrangements would have to be made. This would lead to an elected 'community board' of some sort. (Refurbish the barn into a community center/town hall? The other buildings are in falling down condition.)

Having lived in a suburban condo complex before buying my first single family home I'm pretty sour to condo boards. I actually caught hell for using one of 3 empty visitor parking spots for less than 15 minutes. I was 'abusing visitor parking' to save about 125 ft of packing groceries (3 trips) between my private parking space and my front door then immediately moved my vehicle to underground parking. Lets just say I was glad to leave that condo and the 'overachieving, retired, busy body, wannabe security guard', condo board member. (yes, I really didn't like him)

While I can appreciate 'community standards' to avoid living next to a junkyard or downwind from a pig barn, there has to be some flexibility in the rules to allow for exceptions within reason. The key is to get cooler, reasonable heads to prevail. Common courtesy and simply asking yourself "Will my planned project/changes impact my neighbors?" would go a long way towards community harmony.

Where I live right now I will consult with my neighbors before making substantial changes well within my rights (tree removal for example). While good fences make for good neighbors, perverse sculptures towering over that fence do not. I have an agreement with a neighbor across the street and over 1 lot to have security cameras watching each others front yards to possibly capture images of prowling and/or break and enter. While in a near nonexistent crime area, it's better to be prepared for the worst. (go figure???)

Just some thoughts to ponder....

Strange...
I completely missed this entire thread until today.

It seems that if the world doesn't end this Christmas maybe there is still interest in people meeting for coffee to discuss exactly what they might want in a piece of property and then how we would go about getting it (co-op, etc).

A slow economic burn might make such a project difficult so hopefully the fiscal cliff is pushed off for a few more years...