Bug In Or Bug Out?

This is not a simple question because depending on the crisis at hand either may be right or wrong, so let's take a look at some reasoning for each. For myself I plan to stay put as long as it's safely possible, because of course the majority of my preps are where I am but I have the triggers in place that will get me to leave.
I have heard many people say "I have this remote bugout place that I am going to when it gets bad". Here are the questions I put to them.

1. How far away is it? 
If this remote place is more than 50 miles (or 2 days walk) from you how do you plan on getting there? If people are fleeing like you are there will be traffic tie ups, panicked people, and perhaps already gangs of looters just waiting to take whatever you have. If it's more than 50 miles you may never make it there. Do you have at least 4 different routes to get to your place? Have you drilled these routes so you know them by heart? Do you have cashes buried along the way so you can restock? Have you ever stayed on this place and know where to obtain water? Know the topical graphical layout of the land for security and hunting purposes? Most people say they will bug out to the woods but have no clue how to get there in a SHTF scenario or what to do when they get there. And if it's more than 50 miles like some I know have theirs hundreds of miles away you better have a great plan to leave early or chances are you won't make it.

 2. I'm not leaving I have all my preps and tons of ammo and I can ride it out. Really? Are you will to bet your life and your families lives on it? Alot of people said that with Hurricane Katrina and they paid the ultimate price. Being a prepper means you prepare for any kind of danger not just the man made ones. If you have a wild fire headed toward you are you going to sit there and burn? No you are gonna get out of it's way. So do you have a plan to bug out? Have a more than one location chosen that are at the farthest 2 days walk because you may not be able to use your vehicle. Make sure your bugout bag is current for the season at all times. Make sure you have cashes buried along the way that has fresh water, food, ammo, and clothes in it. Remember no preps are worth your life! 

 

 I made this video a few years ago and it still holds true. Make a plan A B C D E...make sure your family knows it and...drill drill drill!

Bug In Bug Out?

Be prepared, not sorry.
 

It's Canning Season!!

It’s Canning Season!!
I am so excited it’s canning season!! I don't just stockpile food for a collapse but I rely on it year round. I have to say I got my love of canning from my mother. We were a country family of six and she knew how to stretch a dollar. My Dad would always plant a huge garden because his philosophy was “You plant a garden that will feed your family and your neighbors” and we did! At least 2 acres of sweet corn, pickles, peppers, etc. The summer was 4-H for me but full mode canning for my mom. I never really appreciated this until a about 10 years ago when I was on a fixed budget and was totally done with eating Ramen Noodles, and basically empty carbs and calories. For my birthdays and Christmas’s I asked for storage units and a high pressure canner and a water bath canner. I turned my 2nd bedroom into my pantry/storage room with a chest freezer that my parents also gave me.


That room has been my lifesaver over the last few years. It has provided me with food and Christmas presents (yes Christmas presents). On the lean weeks and sometimes months I just go back to my pantry and I have plenty of food. From Jan 2014 to May 2014 because of financial emergencies I lived out of that storage room, it provided all my food,  toiletries, and grooming products.
This is not something you don’t just kinda do, it takes effort and work. I clip coupons and when things are on sale I stock up when I have the money. Not just food but toilet paper, paper towels, deodorant, shampoo etc. and at one time I had about 500lbs of food and supplies on each of my 2 storage units..that’s 1000lbs of food for a bit of work and planning! My deep freeze I use more for meat and I make casseroles, chili, soups, goulash etc that I freeze in individual containers for my lunches which think about it for a minute…how often do you buy your lunch, how healthy is it, and how much could you save taking your own?


Last year for $58 I made all of my own pasta sauce, salsa, summer in a jar, a few jams, frozen peppers and zucchini, and they were also the Christmas presents that I gave out. How much did you spend on Christmas presents to your family and friends and for your own use on the items I mentioned. And the best thing is what you can is THE healthiest!
So my challenge to you today is add up what you spent on what I mentioned above, your weekly eat out meals, and what you spent on Christmas presents to your friends. So with a bit of effort right now will save you HUGE over the year! Over this summer I will be posting my canning recipes and also I will do the math on how much it costs me vs. how much I would spend to buy it. Not to mention how much fun it is just to do it!!

Being A Single Goddess Prepper Part Two

I have received much feed back regarding being a single woman and prepping and some of it was great and some was down right disturbing. I had a few individuals which I assume were male that basically said to whore ourselves out to be safe. This is the type of mentality that we are up against in the present and the monsters we will face in the WROL. The positive is I have heard from many single women that are prepping and making their plans now.

survivalistsingles.com

Survivalistsingles is the only dating site that I am aware of. This site also allows you to search for groups too. It is free which is a great feature but like any dating site it has it's share of scammers and and prepper wanna be's so if you do decide to use this site use your common sense.

survivalistboards.com

This site is full of opportunities to connect, network, and has a vast knowledge base. They have a groups section where you can locate individuals and groups by region and state. They also have a singles area. The downside of this site is be prepeared to have a thick skin because there tends to be alot of personal attacks. Myself I like to learn so I just don't make many comments unless I am asking questions.

americanpreppersnetwork.net

This site is a great resource for learning and finding a group and they have webinars every month.

Facebook

You can find alot of pages for region and state. This is a great way to network and find a group.

Please I urge you to make your plans now and as I always say....

Be prepared, not sorry

Being A Single Goddess Prepper

Being a single women it is always on my mind "how do I stay safe when SHTF?" Let's face it as single woman we are targets and as a prepper you are a rich and easy target. I know this is gonna ruffle feathers but I am being a realist. I don't care what conflict, war, or civil unrest the female population is the one that is the most exploited and desimated.

The whole purpose of my blog is to show women how to survive and thrive.

So the first thing I want to touch on is

No person male or female can do it ALL alone

I don't care what gender you are, you can not do security, forage for food, tend garden, food storage, livestock care all by yourself. Believe me I love being single and self sufficent but I know when the world as we know it crumbles I can't do it all on my own.

So right now while you can,  I urge you to really make a list of your options, do some research and cover your bases now.

1. Look at your current situation.

Take your inventory of your current situation. Are you renting or owning? Can you have a garden or livestock? What are your current preps and how long could you survive? Do you have a support system family or friends that can support you? and have your back? If there is no way you have safe shelter, a way to grow food, hunt, scavage, and have those that will help you to do all these jobs you have to start making a plan.

2. Look for a group.

If you do not currently have a group or support network look for those individuals now! Facebook has a ton of local groups. American Prepper Network. Yahooo Groups. Survivalist Singles. Go to Prepper Expos thats a great place to meet people. I can tell you right now it's very difficult being single and dating because like my last date when we were speaking about tv shows we like and I said I like Doomsday Preppers he started laughing and said "You must like watching kooks and stupid people wasting money" Needless to say that was the first and last date for that guy! Let's face it it's hard being a Survival Goddess!!
This is the first on being single and prepping so I would like to hear your thoughts and hear your comments.

Be prepared, not sorry

Prepping On A Budget

Being a single woman and lately on the roller coaster ride of unemployment I have to prep on a very limited budget. This next statement is very sexist so I apologize but men tend to want the shiny new, things that go boom, explode, and or cause great bodily harm. But women tend to gravitate more naturally toward the practical and go for the needs versus the wants. Men may be the hunter gatherers but women are the hoarder, storer, and preparer for the next critical moment. I think it is that mother bear instinct where we are always thinking ahead. The problem with all this which I have seen in the prepper world is that the man tends to allocate most of the prepping budget to what he wants and the woman tends to go with the flow. But believe me you can prep on a limited budget and here are some of my favorites.

Yard/Garage Sale

I have purchased most of my prepping supplies at these little treasure chests. Canning supplies, camping equipment, fishing and hunting equipment, and the list goes on. When my sons were young I purchased a military cabin tent that could house 6 men and had a vent opening that a wood stove pipe could run through for $100 that normally run used for about $800. My sons and I wore that thing out,  it took all of use to put the it up but there was so much room that it was incredible and made out of the heavy canvas and not the flimsy nylon. I have purchased a $79 fishing rod and reel for $6, a water bath canner for $1, a -20 degree sleeping bag that look absolutely brand new for $2.50, the list goes on. One word of caution sometimes you are getting such good deals that you buy more stuff than you actually need. Always look at something and say to yourself "Do I really need this?"

Estate Auctions

I LOVE THESE! What I love about these is the variety of things you can obtain. I tend to lean toward the auctions that are farm. I purchased a counter top hand crank meat grinder for $5.00, a whole box of mason jars and canning supplies for a $1.00, and the best thing about these auctions is you will not have to drag your prepper man kicking and screaming to them because majority of the time these auctions have tractors, farming equipment, hunting/fishing equipment, and ............GUNS. A word of caution here also, because these are auctions and you are bidding against others you may get carried away and spend more than you intended. What I normally do is I go early and scope out everything that I want, write it down along with the limit I will pay for it and that keeps my spending in check.

Part 2 will look at some other ways to prep on a budget.

Be prepared, not sorry.

The Fallout From Aurora

It is such a tragedy what a madman can do to ruin so many lives. This horrific thing will once again fuel the gun control debate. Like the saying goes....

"When you take all the guns from the criminals you can have mine". The fact is criminals will always have guns even if there were gun control.

I'm sorry but I can't help thinking if there were one person in that theatre that had a Concealed Permit the loss of life would have been less. I hate to get on my soapbox here but

"Why does it take something like this for people to think about their safety?

And then a sadder thing is in a month, life will be consumed with the next tragedy and this will fade to the back. People need to say "you know what? I am not going to be a victim, I need to take charge of my life and well being.

Many Years ago I was married to a very physically abusive husband. When I decided I had had enough and was seeking a divorce he stalked, harassed, and terrorized me. Back then they didn' have domestic abuse laws, women's shelters, or help lines. They issued you a personal protection order and unless they caught him in the act there was nothing they could do. After he had slashed my tires for the 2nd time and of course was gone before the police arrived a officer said to me "Well your ok you have a PPO." I looked at him and said "What am I supposed to do with a piece of paper, beat him with it?"

I realized that this was never going to quit until I was dead unless I took charge of my own safety.

So I decided that I was going out without a fight and made a plan. First thing was my dad brought me a rifle from his huge stockpile of weapons. I had been raised hunting and shooting so I was lucky that I was comfortable in handling it. But he would harass me at work, follow me shopping, etc, so I knew I may not have a weapon with me if he attacked me in public. I enrolled in a self defense class. I knew I didn't have time to learn something that would take years to master, I needed something NOW. So I found a class that was run by a former green beret and he taught us a combination of Krav Mago (self defense system of the Israeli Defense Forces) and down and dirty street fighting.

The combination of the rifle and the classes saved my life.

First was the rifle. He came to my home one night with a huge Rambo knife but he brought a knife to a gun fight. Once he was staring down a loaded weapon he left never to return to my home because I stated "the next time he would be leaving in a body bag". The next was when he tried to jump me in the parking lot of my work. I dropped him with a broken nose and believe me once I had him on the ground I nearly kicked him to death. He moved out of state 3 months later and I haven't had to deal with him since. Violence is going to increase with high unemployment and skyrocketing food prices and women tend to be the first and easiest targets....

Don't be a victim...take a proactive role for your own safety.

Take classes, both hand to hand combat and gun safety glasses. Get comfortable with both so if you are faced with being in danger it comes second nature to you..you react automatically. Always be aware of your surroundings. I remember my instructor starting every class saying that. When your walking thru a parking lot who is around you, when you go into a movie theater were is the closest exit, walking down the sidewalk is there someone sitting in a parked car? He even went as far as to say "when you board a airplane count the seats to the nearest exit because if you go down there will be panic and thick smoke so you may have to feel your way out". My point is better safe than sorry and also taking responsibility for your own safety will give a that sense of empowerment that you will need when SHTF.

Be prepared, not sorry.

How Do You Keep Your Sanity?

You know we concentrate so much on the basics of what will be required for the day to day survival in the WROL situation, after I watched this video I began to think "How do you keep your sanity or derive any pleasure'?

Alaska Man Goes off Grid

This man is bringing a dog and a Kindle loaded with books to keep him from going stir crazy, but there will be a period of time of withdrawal from society that we will all go through. No computers, tv, cell phone and perhaps for some the only human contact will be in a self defense mode.

Our sanity is just as important to our survival as food and water.

As humans we crave that interaction with other humans, and that part of our brain that needs pleasure. To some people it's music, others its reading a book, or for some like myself going for a run with a friend. I have planned for so many things but no plan for keeping my sanity. In a WROL situation going for a run will not only expend added calories that would be fool hardy to do, but suicidal. There will be no extra power to run mp3 players or e readers. Remember watching Little House on the Prairie? At night they would read and Charles would play the violin. That was the entertainment and pleasure they had.

So in the post apocalyptic world...where will your pleasure come from?



I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas on this.

Be prepared, not sorry

False Information... A Test??

If you have or have not heard this past weekend, survivalist and prepper boards, blogs, email, and You Tube were buzzing with information that federal agents raided a LDS cannery in Tennessee trying to obtain customer lists. This information so far seems to be false and it has caused an uproar and apparent rift in the prepper community. SouthernBellePrepper has ties in the LDS community and decided to do her own investigation which is great that she took it upon herself to not take this story at face value.

Once it began coming to light that this was false information SouthernPrepper1 made a video that many lost the points that he was trying to make about sticking together and how the government is always throwing out false rumors and propaganda to test a foe on how they will react, to gain recon, or to cover their own tracks. My brother served during Vietnam and used to talk about the government doing this all the time.

Again I want to reiterate the points that SP1 was trying to make. Stick together and its fine to report anything you deem worthy but take it with a grain of salt and don't be afraid to dig. I am convinced this was purely done by the government to test the prepper communities reaction. To gauge how we will react and with how much resistance we will put up.

Information and networking is vital in the prepper community and we can't be afraid to share or take it personally if for some reason the information is false as in this case. Knowledge is power and we can't allow fear or ego to strip us of that.

Thank you SBP and SP1 for all you do for the prepping community.

Be prepared, not sorry

The Physical Toll When SHTF Part 2

THE BIGGEST PREPPER CHALLENGE

As we discussed in the first part of this series when SHTF the physical demands of daily life are going to increase and if that day were to come today are you physically ready? If your answer like mine is "no" then I want you to participate in this challenge with me. It doesn't matter how much ammo or food we have stocked if we physically can't meet the demands to survive. Can you physically carry your BOB for miles? What about chopping wood for days on end?

Growing up on a farm and participating in high school sports, 4-H, and FFA I was in great shape. I continued to work out and up until a year ago I was running 5-7 miles 4 times a week with strength training 2 times a week. But like many people I had a injury and my workouts stopped, I gained weight, and started the mind games with myself saying "Oh I will start working out again next week" and next week comes and I justify not working out by telling myself I have too much work to do around the house or working overtime at work.

Excuses stop now

I love to run and used to run half marathons. It's funny how you can love to do something but sabotage yourself from doing it! One of the best marathoners in history (the penguin) when asked what is the hardest part of training for a marathon answered "getting out the door". He's totally right because once those shoes are on and your out the door the excuses stop and the hard part is over.

In training for half marathons I learned these guidelines which you will need to apply to this challenge.

1. Start slow and gradually work up - Starting any new physical regiment go to your doctor first and get a checkup to make sure your healthy enough to start your challenge. When you start your challenge start slow and work your way up. If you overdo it and are sore or injure yourself you are setting yourself up for excuses and failure.

2. Schedule your workout time - This is a must to ensure that you have that time for your workouts and also cuts down on the excuses. I work nights so I like to run in the morning after work. It's cooler at that time and it also helps me unwind and sleep better during the day.

3. Find a activity you enjoy - This an important component to your challenge. Find something you love to do. I love running, a friend of mine loves her Zumba classes. Let's face it if you don't like doing the activity it will seem like work and a chore and you will find excuses not to do it.

4. Set a goal and reward yourself - When I decided to take up running I set my ultimate goal of doing a half marathon but I had small goals all the way in my training. My first was a 5k and upon completing that I rewarded myself with a fleece running vest I had been wanting. The next goal was a 10k which I rewarded myself with a Columbia ski jacket that I wanted. Then the half marathon was actually the reward. I signed up for the Pacific Shoreline Half Marathon which is held at Huntington Beach California. It was a great weekend trip with 30,000 other runners, a beautiful hotel room that overlooked the ocean, a health expo, and the run was breath taking along the beach with bands every mile. Goals and rewards will keep your motivation up.

5. Make your workout social time - Most of my running time is done on my own but when I was living in Dallas every Saturday morning I would meet my girlfriends at White Rock Lake and we would run the lake (9.2 miles). It didn't even feel like a workout because we were too busy talking about our week, dating, etc. then on Sunday we would meet for yoga with brunch afterwards. Believe me workouts are way less painful when sharing with friends.

The Physical Prepper Challenge - Foundation

The three basics we want in this challenge are

Endurance 

Strength

Flexability 

When SHTF you will need all three of these elements so setup your Prepper challenge to include these.

My challenge will be structured this way.

Endurance - Running 4x's per week
Strength - Weight and resistance training 3x's per week
Flexability - Yoga 2x's per week

I will be making a Prepper Challenge page where we can share our workouts, goals, and experience. Keep in mind that these will apply to the physical demands of the WROL like carrying your BOB, gathering firewood, building shelter, etc.

Will you be the Biggest Prepper?

Be prepared, not sorry

 

The Physical Toll When SHTF Part 1

Can you physically handle the future after SHTF?

Have you thought about the changes your body will go thru after the SHTF? Your diet will change dramatically along with the physical demands. Your day to day living will consist of activities that are grueling physical labor that is needed to survive.

*Gathering/Chopping Wood
*Hunting/Fishing
*Food Preparation and Storage
*Growing and Tending Gardens
*Tending Livestock
*Scavenging

And the list goes on and on.....

Take a good look at yourself right now and ask the question

"Am I in physical shape to handle the SHTF if it happened right now?"

If your answer like mine is "NO" than maybe it is time to start working on that issue right now. The next few posts I will be dedicating to this subject because literally your life and your families life depends on this. If you die in the first few days of a WROL situation from a heart attack game over for you and those who are depending on you.

Thank you EastTennesseePrepper for being brave enough to take on this scenario, show the vulnerabilities, and sharing them with us.

Be prepared, not sorry

Childrens Role In The Retreat

Do your children have a role in your retreat?

I grew up on the family farm. What that means is "everyone" contributes to the operation of that farm. I remember I was driving tractors before my feet could reach the pedals. I remember driving the tractor and the baler while my brothers stacked the bails on the wagon.

When I was in my teenage years my brothers had left home and so it was my job to wake before school and take care of steers, chickens, pigs, and my horse, then I repeated this in the evening. Also it was my job to take care of treatments, wounds, and on many occasions emergency situations where I had to "wing it".

This taught me responsibility, work ethic, and the most important.......self-reliance...

When I was in Alaska I was impressed by the kids with their skills, self reliance and the best example of this is the "Junior Iditarod". These kids as young as 9 compete in a 125 mile out and back course which is a overnight run. They are out there alone in sub zero temps with their teams and they just take it in stride very naturally.

They know how to survive, hunt, fish, drive quads, snowmobiles, and avoid danger. It is second nature to them.

I have heard several parents say they want to shelter their children and I think this is the absolutely worst thing they can do to their children. Children can be an important asset to the retreat. They can tend livestock, gardens, food preparation, and depending on age and skill they can contribute to security.

Teach them now.....

Teach your children to use weapons, prepare food, fish..etc. Use this as family bonding time. Go camping, teach them to build fire, build shelter, fish, navigate, etc. It doesn't have to be gloom and doom it can be lasting fun family memories.

Valuable memories that can contribute to the retreat and maybe save their lives...

Be prepared, not sorry.

Economy Makeover

Please watch and chime in....

Gear And Knowledge

I think as preppers we are always looking for newest ideas in gear and of course more knowledge. But how do you sort through it all? I don't know about you but I am at times overwhelmed buy the opinions and sometimes contradictory information out there.

I have purchased gear that looks great in the pictures and someone says "this is a must have" and when I received the gear it had plastic parts that I know in a long term survival situation it will never last. Then you have people saying "you get what you pay for so you have to buy the most expensive to get the best". Well all I can say is I have to prep on a "budget" so huge purchases are out of the question. I will honestly say I have picked up gear and supplies at garage and estate sales.

There are also individuals that are conducting survival classes throughout the country that I would really love to attend but again I'm on a budget so that is really something that has to be saved for or I have to work on my own to gain that knowledge. So I would really like you to share your experiences with myself and the readers on

What gear, gadgets, and knowledge sources

You have used and were worth the money?

What wasn't worth the money?

What isn't out there now that needs to be?

Knowledge is power.

Be prepared, not sorry

Homemade Grapejuice Wine

Well I have just tried a new experiment, I am trying my hand at making Goddess Wine! Jump on over to the Goddess DIY page and check it out!!! 

Goddess Wine

Silence Is Golden/Video

Because I feel this is such an important subject I wanted to post this video. This is not to instill fear but to give a reality check that security is just as important as your food, water, and shelter. This is how the bad guys will think and act....... you have to be prepared.

Thank you to NewAmericaNow for making this video and the permission to share it.

Be prepared, not sorry

Silence Is Golden

Silence Is Golden.......that old adage to me has a new meaning......

In Alaska when you are fishing you carry a small wooden bat which is used as soon as you bring that fish on shore you bat them quick to prevent thrashing which is a dinner bell to bear....

One of the most interesting and entertaining things I have ever seen was when I was in Alaska during the salmon run. In Alaska there is a term called "Combat Fishing". This term means 4 deep fisherman in a river who may hook each other or become a bears new target.

This is a contact sport!!

I was sitting on the hood of my truck and watching this spectacle when a mama grizzly walked on the scene with her two cubs. You could almost read her mind as she looked at them as if to tell them to "stay, watch, and learn".

The cubs planted their butts and mama seemed to take a deep breath and charged the fisherman. The poles and catch were immediately abandoned as this huge mass of muscle and fur decided the buffet was on.

Amid the scrabbling fishermen she then took her pick of the days catch and took it back to her her cubs..What did she did teach?? The bigger....the badder...and the most resolved wins.............also she taught them "where you hear a bunch of humans making noise there will be food"

Silence

Silence is Golden.....in a WROL situation you don't want the hum of generators, the gun shot, the tractor, the sound of vehicles or lights during the night. To those that want to take what you have these are the same as 'ringing the dinner bell"

You want LIVE traps...learn how to use a bow..learn to set snares. If you have generators house them in a room or building with sound deadening material. Always be conscious of how much noise your making because there will be others listening.

Be prepared, not sorry

Guns And Goddesses

This is a subject that that most women either are intimidated to approach or they are dependant on their men and feel they will leave it up to said partner. I can't stress this enough........

You are responsible for your safety and that of your offspring...

I lived in Alaska for a couple of years and there is nothing more pure or dangerous than a grizzly protecting her cubs. Her whole existence is to protect them and with her instincts, brute force, and.......NO FEAR.. she will defend them to her death.

I was raised with a father who was the Great White Hunter/Fisherman and three older brothers. My first experience shooting a gun I was 6 years old, standing on a bucket with a 12 gauge resting on a fence post with my father next to me. When I pulled that trigger it knocked me off that bucket and on my ass. As I lie there trying to regain the wind that had been knocked out of me my father came and stood over me and said...."Always respect what a gun can do"...and I always have.

Now living on the farm with said Great White Hunter there was a family of six to feed so we hunted. We hunted rabbits, squirrel, pheasant, turkey, and deer. I learned how to field dress a rabbit before I knew my times tables. I thought everyone ate that way until high school and a friend came over after to school and raided the refrigerator and ate what she thought was chicken and was squirrel and she informed me that "squirrel was something you fed in the park and not ate"....

Over the years I have come to embrace bow hunting. In Alaska I was even on a women's league and it really does give you the sense of empowerment. Every women needs to know how to use and be accurate with a weapon/weapons when it comes to prepping and when SHTF.

Take a hunters safety course or sign up for a shooting class at a local range because you need to be that mama grizzly that will protect herself and her family no matter what. Another piece of advise my father gave me which women have a hard time with and you MUST get over is..........

"If you point a weapon at another person you MUST be ready to kill them"

If it comes to the point of you or your family being harmed or killed and you have pointed that weapon there must be no hesitation or conscious wrestling to pull the trigger.

Be prepared, not sorry

Where Do I Bug Out To?

Craftbyrd sent me this question:

"I have a question? Where is everyone going to bug out to? I'm being sincere here. I have always had this in the back of my mind. Get in the car and go but then the thought of what do I do when the car runs out of gas and where the heck am I going to go?"

This is a question that has a million different answers by a million different preppers and I hope my readers chime in on this and give their answers also.

My answer to this question has many different aspects to it. For one there is "no perfect bug out location" every location has it's pro's and con's. Climate, growing season, water availability etc. are all factors to be considered.

The first thing I would ask you is:

What are you used to? By this I mean where is your location now? Is it in a southern state where you have lived for years and know the area? Understand the challenges of living there such as hurricanes? You know where the fresh water is located? This is something that could be your saving grace. This is a huge factor because most people say " I will bug out to the wilderness where no one is" and the problems with that are:

They are not familiar with the area

They don't understand the challenges it offers

Where or how to obtain their food and water

A good rule of thumb is find a bug out location that is within 1 tank of gas from your current location. And I urge you to do this now so you have that time to:

Find your location

Know your location, where is the fresh water? what food options do you have i.e hunting fishing? what is the population in the area?

If you have to bug out for an extended period of time (weeks/months) these are what you need to have in that location.

Water
Food
Shelter

I am looking forward to seeing additional comments and answers from my readers.

Be prepared, not sorry

The Price Of Prepping

The price of prepping can not only drain you financially but emotionally. Right now the media spotlight is on shows such as "Doomsday Preppers" and "Living for the Apocalypse". We see these very prepared individuals with thousands of dollars in food stores, off the grid bug out locations,  and weapons that could outfit a small army. I am in awe of these individuals and hearing their story and how they have prepped is amazing but.........sometimes I do feel like I am behind and I almost get in a full fledge panic that I'm not near ready like they are. I have seen people that are new to prepping basically throw up their hands and say "I'm so far behind what's the since of even trying" and they quit so if your feeling this way........

Take a deep breath and take a step back.

Remember the people you see on these shows have been prepping for years. Every journey starts with that first step and every step gets you that much closer. I realize with the state of the economy and trying to prep is a challenge but here are some practical ways to prep on a budget and ease that panic mode.

Coupons - I am an avid couponer and with a bit of effort you can save money and prep. For instance I had a coupon buy 1 deodorant and get the second free and the same for shampoo. Right there I was able to save and prep!

Farm Markets - Farm markets are a great place to save money and prep. Many times when you approach these farmers you can buy in bulk at a great price and can these items. For a fraction of what you would spend at the store and some effort you can do alot of prepping this way.

Make Lists - I am a compulsive list maker. I have lists for everything! The reason I make this lists is because it keeps me focused and working toward my goals. Not to mention everytime you check off something on your list you achieve that sense of accomplishment and a piece of mind that you are getting that much closer to your goal.

Network - Sometimes as preppers we get so caught up in the op sec that we isolate ourselves which can breed more anxiety. Now I'm not saying tell any and everyone about your location, stores, etc. I am saying there are plenty of survivalist boards where you can go and talk to people about canning, or what you need in a bug out bag. You can get answers to your questions from like minded people and ease that feeling of anxiety and who knows you may make a few friends along the way. A couple of great boards are http://www.survivalistboards.com/ and http://www.survivalblog.com/. There are also some great podcasts such as www.blogtalkradio.com/theprepperpodcast and www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/

Set Small Achievable Goals - Set small achievable goals for your prepping. Start out by storing 3 days of food, then, 7, then 14 etc. You will be amazed at how this will add up before you know it and remember each step gets your closer.

Learn New Skill Sets - Knowledge is power and when SHTF it's also priceless. Take a first aid course, many times these are sponsored and cost little to nothing. You Tube is amazing for gaining knowledge, this past week I just typed in "Homemade Smoker" and I got all sorts of great ideas! Many times a new skill set will cost you little or no money but could make that HUGE difference later on.

It is possible to prep on a budget without the drain on your bank account or your sanity.

Be prepared, not sorry.

Why Your BOB May Not Save You

This past Labor Day weekend of rustic camping with my boyfriend and his sons inspired this post. Now mind you when I go camping I bring everything but the kitchen sink. Medical supplies (including supplies for toothaches) my own supply of firewood, bathing and hygiene supplies, toilet paper for the outhouse, and the list goes on. Basically the whole back of my truck was filled for a 3 day camping trip not to mention Scott's truck was also.

We had a great time and upon packing up this morning Scott uttered the words that inspired this post...

"You know if we had to bug out we wouldn't even have a tenth of this stuff"

On the way home my mind was trying to wrap around those words and all the scenarios that ran through my head. Go to any survival board, You Tube, or survival blog and you will find endless information on the best type of BOB's to have, what you should have in it, etc. But the consensus is it should have 3 days of supplies in it to get you to your bug out location.

Ok you made it to your bug out location now what?

Most people have given more thought to whats in their BOB then where they are bugging out to and what happens when they get there. Some don't even have a bug out location but they have a BOB? If you don't have supplies stashed at your bug out location how do you live past the 3 days of supplies you have in your BOB? What if you can't go home for weeks or months or perhaps not at all, is your BOB going to save you?

With the contents of your BOB could you last weeks or months? 

Unless you are a hardcore survivalist your answer like mine is going to be "NO" so you need to have a plan. A bug out location that has food and supplies to sustain you for months and those supplies have to include a way to purify water, and hunting and fishing supplies. You have to have the answer to these these questions and the answer has to be for MONTHS

Shelter
Water
Food

Be prepared, not sorry.