[sofasurfer]

Reading these forums it seems that a heaping dang lot of you live in tim-buck-too. Is this possible? Do so many people with internet access really live outside of societies. I live in a small mid-western town and if shtf I would have no where to bug out to. I could not get lost to where I would need a compass. Killing game is not an out-in-the-backyard thing. A hunting knife is a novelty (which I recently acquired). Right now, survival is a generator. When shtf survival is food and a gun.

Don't get me wrong, I know my life is wrong and I envy all of you wilderness livers. I'm just saying, there sure is another world out there that I have no access to and I wish I did.

So, I was just wondering, where do some of you live, or what do you do, that makes you need to be a surviver?

 

[Nomad 2nd]

Reading these forums it seems that a heaping dang lot of you live in tim-buck-too. Is this possible? Do so many people with internet access really live outside of societies. I live in a small mid-western town and if shtf I would have no where to bug out to. I could not get lost to where I would need a compass. Killing game is not an out-in-the-backyard thing. A hunting knife is a novelty (which I recently acquired). Right now, survival is a generator. When shtf survival is food and a gun.

Don't get me wrong, I know my life is wrong and I envy all of you wilderness livers. I'm just saying, there sure is another world out there that I have no access to and I wish I did.

So, I was just wondering, where do some of you live, or what do you do, that makes you need to be a surviver?

I'm a Marine Corps combat arms vet, I grew up in hurricane country, I've lived through being home bound for weeks due to ice storms, I've been in several 3rd world countries, I've been an EMT, and I have a degree in Emergency Management and have worked with FEMA and "other agencies" which have given me an idea of how unstable this country is.

Oh, and my property is 14 miles from the nearest gas station, and beoyond that anything else requires a 90ish minute round trip.
(my nearest neighbor is 1/2 mile away, and that's where the power grid ends)
Nor do I want, or will I allow it to go further.)

I could use my new building as a deer blind. I've stepped outside and jumped deer 60 feet away.

So yea.


That said:

Just like I've never used my guns this side of the middle east... But I've used my first aid kit dozens of times....

So "the small stuff" is much more likely than an asteroid hitting the earth... Or whatever.

So?

I don't care if it's job loss, zombies, hurricane, illness, or what.
I want to eat tomorrow, take a shower, and have a safe place to sleep.
Same thing next week, next month, and next year.

It's not about "the cool stuff" that it's fun to talk about.

I could get by with one of my old SKS's and the $250 S&W I picked up a few weeks ago.
it's about keeping me and mine safe, healthy, and happy, no matter what.

It's that simple.

 

[Tugger]

I'm a Marine Corps combat arms vet, I grew up in hurricane country, I've lived through being home bound for weeks due to ice storms, I've been in several 3rd world countries, I've been an EMT, and I have a degree in Emergency Management and have worked with FEMA and "other agencies" which have given me an idea of how unstable this country is.

Oh, and my property is 14 miles from the nearest gas station, and beoyond that anything else requires a 90ish minute round trip.
(my nearest neighbor is 1/2 mile away, and that's where the power grid ends)
Nor do I want, or will I allow it to go further.)

I could use my new building as a deer blind. I've stepped outside and jumped deer 60 feet away.

So yea.


That said:

Just like I've never used my guns this side of the middle east... But I've used my first aid kit dozens of times....

So "the small stuff" is much more likely than an asteroid hitting the earth... Or whatever.

So?

I don't care if it's job loss, zombies, hurricane, illness, or what.
I want to eat tomorrow, take a shower, and have a safe place to sleep.
Same thing next week, next month, and next year.

It's not about "the cool stuff" that it's fun to talk about.

I could get by with one of my old SKS's and the $250 S&W I picked up a few weeks ago.
it's about keeping me and mine safe, healthy, and happy, no matter what.

It's that simple.

amen to that.

 

[ROCK6]

I don’t think we’ve ever lived in a major population center but often near one. Also military, most bases have significant build up around them and I would rather commute than live in a dense suburban area; which we have done and I prefer not to.

A small rural town is not bad, in fact if it can be somewhat self-sustaining and contained, it would be ideal. We live outside a smaller town; there are neighbors, but only a couple visible in the distance. A small chunk of land and an 11 acre pond stocked with fish. I wish I was a little more remote, but it works for now. There is a large population area east of us and about 30-40 miles away; that’s our biggest threat and fortunately we’re off of main highways.

We live in GA, my family lives in WA state and my wife’s family is in FL. Our best option is to “bug-in” however we could do very short term bug-outs to a hotel or local national forest (we do that all the time when backpacking). For a real bug out, it would be 350 miles to my wife’s family or 2800 miles to my family which is pretty unreasonable.

If we lived in a more densely populated area, bugging out is a higher probability and only because of resources and security would play more important roles on your decision making process…

ROCK6

 

[DentalAsst68]

I do live in "civilization", fortunately or not. I am uncomfortably close to my neighbors (housing association type neighborhood) and within two miles of a freeway. Taking that into account, my plan is to watch and assess the situation, if the need ever arises. Ultimately, the goal would be to bug out because I don't feel my home is defensible and it's in a pathway that is conveniently close to too many people. While I live in a better neighborhood and my neighbors are nice people, we all know that could change rapidly if something happens and it could get ugly quick, especially given that I would be what many view as a "prime target", being a single mother. Fortunately, my children know the plan and they have good aim (we regularly visit the shooting range). Hope it never comes to that, but we would definitely head toward Timbucktoo (piece of land my family owns outside of town) if things went sideways and my ultimate goal is to own a large piece of property in Montana away from civilization.

 

[catlady12]

Our 300 acres are in a very small town in Eastern KY. No stop light, 1 gas station, very small post office and train tracks parallel to front street. Deer look in our windows to tease our cat and have no fear when we are out bc we don't allow hunting on the mountain.

This property has been in my husbands family since 1875 when it was bought off the state. He knows every single tree and we love the fact we don't have to worry about trespasser cuz you have to know where we are to find us lol

 

[Just Jeff]

As much as labels mean anything, "survivalist" just entails a state of mind. It's about being able to take care of you and yours, regardless of setting. It's not about hoarding guns for the collapse or running barefoot through the wilderness; it's about making sure you're trained and equipped to survive whatever life throws at you. Guns may help you do that, and knowing how stay alive in the woods with minimal gear may help you, but those aren't the defining characteristics of a "survivalist." It's the mindset.

The urban/rural thing gets a lot of play here because there are strong opinions and loud voices on both sides. The survival mentality is based on self-sufficiency, which evokes the American image of rugged individualism, which is based on the pioneer, alone and unafraid in the wilderness. That requires a rural setting. Therefore, some survivalists feel like they're being more faithful to the American ideal of rugged individualism if they live in rural areas. There are clearly practical concerns for discussing whether it's better to live in the city or the country, but that doesn't really explain the amount of discussion about it on this forum, IMO. JMHO.

But at its root, survivalism is about being able to take care of yourself and your loved ones, regardless of setting. Everything else just gives us something to talk about while we're figuring out how to do that.

I grew up in the country but have lived in the suburbs for most of my adult life because that's where the military sends me. Right now I have a few acres in a relatively rural area near a medium-sized city.

 

[George Newbill]

Well um define "Civilization".

I have lived in Boston, Berlin, Honolulu, Dallas, I have visited many other cities all over the world, how civilized these places are or are not is debatable.

I no longer live in such places. Which says volumes about cities.

 

[gearheadon44s]

What do you have that I don't? I can let my kid play outside without worrying. I can go to my neighbors to borrow a cup of sugar. I dont have to worry about people sticking their noses in my business. I know everyone who lives within ten miles. I have satelite tv. I have internet. I drive a brand new Ram. The wifes car is five years old. Yes I have shot a 300 pound bear in my backyard. I have a garden. I cut firewood. But I think you're the one thats lacking because I can pee off my front porch.:thumb:

 

[Kpz1234]

And here I was thinking, to be a survivor, I needed the Eye of the Tiger.

 

[soldier506]

I live out in the country. Have to drive half hr one way just to get mail. About 40 min drive one way just to get milk. Sometimes that is not far enough. No cable out here. No natural gas. Internet is via a dish/antenna. Tv is by a satellite dish receiver. This is where I grew up and lived all my like. Usually have a jack rabbit hanging around the yard. Sometimes moose or deer around the yard. Have to plow snow in winter since its private property. Gravel in summer

 

[Rascals]

see some of us cant understand how anybody could call the city civilization. When I was young I lived in the City, You would never get me back again. I don't like people telling me my cars are to load, I cant shoot critters on my property, or get my own fish out of my own lake. Or I cant do this or that.

Some of us still believe America is based on individual Rights and Freedoms and the Pursuit of Happiness. Where others then a phone attached to there ear, I see who calls when I come back in from the fields. When there is a pest threatening me or my livestock I dispatch it. I only go into town every 3 or 4 weeks just to get supplies. If it all fell off the earth I would just have to manage the herds differently but we could go on and not miss most things, But I sure would miss avacados.

 

[Grogan14]

Closest neighbor is a mile from me, and that's plenty close enough. Densely forested here, so nothing within sight. We see more moose and bear than we do people up at the house here. Occasionally, I'll hear logging going on in the distance, but otherwise nothing but the sounds of nature. Wouldn't have it any other way, other than maybe someday live even more remotely.

Come here for the talk on camping, fishing, firearms and whatnot. Most I reckon I'll ever have to survive is our occasional ice storm or blizzard, and I've always been plenty prepared for such.

If wilderness living is something you envy, just make it happen for yourself.

 

[601reconteam]

Closest neighbor is a mile from me, and that's plenty close enough. Densely forested here, so nothing within sight. We see more moose and bear than we do people up at the house here. Occasionally, I'll hear logging going on in the distance, but otherwise nothing but the sounds of nature. Wouldn't have it any other way, other than maybe someday live even more remotely.

Come here for the talk on camping, fishing, firearms and whatnot. Most I reckon I'll ever have to survive is our occasional ice storm or blizzard, and I've always been plenty prepared for such.

If wilderness living is something you envy, just make it happen for yourself.

Can you adopt me and my little family? We really are nice guys

 

[tortminder]

Civilization?

But I think you're the one thats lacking because I can pee off my front porch.:thumb:

They do that in the Chicago ghetto all the time!:upsidedown:

 

[swamppapa]

I was born in orange county California before they started tearing out the orange groves after that the whole place started to go to crap.
Joined the military got out learned a lot about people and didn't want anything else to so with them been that way ever since now I'm told I'm "not fit for civilized company"
I'm good with that

 

[Jojo]

Not all of us live in tim-buck-too. I live smack dab in the middle of a large city. I can drive an hour in any direction and have access to hunting, fishing is within walking distance. Living in a small town - why don't you have access to those as well? You know there are other places to hunt besides your back yard - right? If you won't be able to do those things PSHTF, then just like other city dwellers you adjust what you prep to compensate.
There is nothing "wrong" with your life, but it never hurts to learn something new, consider things from a new perspective. We are all constantly evolving.

 

[zemio]

New Zealand. Like most of the above I've lived a bunch of places, from a 1 room 'apartment' (converted storeroom) with no windows and people on all sides as well as above and below in a semi converted factory in an area I wouldnt fly over given the choice to a shearing shed at the end of a dirt road a 10 minute drive from the nearest neighbor and 40 minutes from anything else. I liked that one the most. It had power but nothing else including cell reception. For that I had to climb the hill out back.

It's all about what you want vs what you let happen. The sad and simple fact is most people are slaves. Slave to your minimum wage going noplace job, slave to your living expenses, slave to the bank, slave to your credit cards, slave to iPods, iPhones, this year's model, next year's model, low monthly payments ring now our operators are standing buy.

The sole purpose of 2/3's of the population is to consume. Even the lucky (organised) ones with a patch of land and a homestead/bol etc are not immune. Try not paying your taxes then scream a round over the head of the tax man/ sheriff when he comes calling.

Maybe there will be TEOTWAWKI, probably there won't. Much more likely (near certainty) there will be a Katrina/Fukushima/general purpose weather event of some sort that will put the lights out, stop the taps from working and the john from flushing. Thats usually enough to confound most people, more's the pity, since that level of disruption isn't hard to prepare for and seldom lasts more than a week without help becoming available.

It's not all doom and gloom, life in general doesn't have to blow royal corgi pretty much where ever you are. To borrow a quote : Free your mind and your a$$ will follow, but if your mind is truly free, it doesn't matter much where your a$$ is at.

Here endth the sermon.

 

[Kansas Terri]

Sofasurfer, wildlife is where you find it. In my case it is mostly about 20 minutes away, which is why I only post on the wilderness thread now and then.

OH! What makes me a survivor is that I have a honkin' big garden, fruit trees, 5 chickens, stored food and tools, and I go out fishing when I can. I have also been known to trap a nuisance raccoon or opposum.

 

[jeffr]

What we consider "survival" today was considered common sense back in the day. Asking why someone "needs to be a survivor" is like asking why someone needs to lock the front door at night.

I don't really consider anything I do to be "survival", mainly because I don't like the negative stereotypical eye-rolling connotations associated with it. I consider it to be learning ancient skills lost through the ages. The vast majority of us, I think, don't live in the middle of nowhere. Most of us live in the suburbs, apartments, cities, and I'm sure some even live in their mother's basement.

Why do I do what I do? As a whole, we're a reactive society, not a proactive society. When a storm is about to hit, everyone flocks to the store to buy the strangest of things, bread and milk. What good is milk if the power goes out anyway? Bread and milk sandwiches? Instead, I rather have these things beforehand so I can sit back and relax the day before a storm. Not to mention avoiding the potential physical brawls and stampedes over the last loaf of white bread. Hell, I'll even spend the day baking my own white bread because baking and cooking is a skillset that comes along with being a "survivalist", whatever in the world that term means anyway.