CAS700850
Member
I've been planning this thread for a couple of days, in honor of it being Post 1,000 for me.
With all of the talk, and even short stories, about bugging out, I must confess that I am wondering how realistic it is, or even how desirable it may be, to bug out. Granted, a nuclear explosion or natural disaster may make it essential. However, provided that your home is not in a positionm of imminent danger from the explosion/disaster/etc., doesn't "bugging in" almost make more sense than bugging out?
First, if you bug out, you need somewhere to go. I'm blessed with family/close friends at varying distances in different directions, so there are plenty of options. But, if the situation changed, or I wasn't so blessed, where am I bugging out to. For instance, my mother is about 110 miles away. A disaster that hits me may hit her, making "bugging out" to her home impossible.
Second, bugging out means having to choose what to take, and what to abandon. We see threads along this line all the time. Which gun to take on a Bug Out? If you stay home, you have them all, with the ammo, reloading components and equipment, the associated gear, etc. It also means abandonning everything you have spent your life working for, leaving it to the "kindness of strangers" te be there when you return. For that matter, you may return to an empty lot.
Third, as was evidenced in the short story
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=172494
being prepared to leave is difficult to maintain. Bugging in is much simpler, as storage of materials doens't have to take into account mobility. As long as I keep the cupboards full of foodstuffs, have a fire that I can cook over, and water, my family will eat a lot better than MRE's. And, trust me, we keep the cupboards stocked, water available, and materials for a fire are right at hand.
Fourth, for some of us, bugging out is simply not practical. I have a five year old and a three year old. My wife has a bad back that limits what she can carry, and for how long. It doesn't affect her daily life, but a bug out by foot would leave her walking without much of a pack. I'm sure many of you have similar issues that would making bugging out very difficult if not impossible.
So, what's say we start a new line of "what if's" and start thinking about how to better "bug in". It's not as much fun, or as exciting, as the thought of fleeing from a mushroom cloud. BUt, sitting on the porch with a full belly guarding the homefront with your neighbors may just be more realistic, for some of us at least.
By the way, thanks to all of you THR members. Lots of fun, thought provocation, and education in the 1,000 posts I've been here for.
With all of the talk, and even short stories, about bugging out, I must confess that I am wondering how realistic it is, or even how desirable it may be, to bug out. Granted, a nuclear explosion or natural disaster may make it essential. However, provided that your home is not in a positionm of imminent danger from the explosion/disaster/etc., doesn't "bugging in" almost make more sense than bugging out?
First, if you bug out, you need somewhere to go. I'm blessed with family/close friends at varying distances in different directions, so there are plenty of options. But, if the situation changed, or I wasn't so blessed, where am I bugging out to. For instance, my mother is about 110 miles away. A disaster that hits me may hit her, making "bugging out" to her home impossible.
Second, bugging out means having to choose what to take, and what to abandon. We see threads along this line all the time. Which gun to take on a Bug Out? If you stay home, you have them all, with the ammo, reloading components and equipment, the associated gear, etc. It also means abandonning everything you have spent your life working for, leaving it to the "kindness of strangers" te be there when you return. For that matter, you may return to an empty lot.
Third, as was evidenced in the short story
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=172494
being prepared to leave is difficult to maintain. Bugging in is much simpler, as storage of materials doens't have to take into account mobility. As long as I keep the cupboards full of foodstuffs, have a fire that I can cook over, and water, my family will eat a lot better than MRE's. And, trust me, we keep the cupboards stocked, water available, and materials for a fire are right at hand.
Fourth, for some of us, bugging out is simply not practical. I have a five year old and a three year old. My wife has a bad back that limits what she can carry, and for how long. It doesn't affect her daily life, but a bug out by foot would leave her walking without much of a pack. I'm sure many of you have similar issues that would making bugging out very difficult if not impossible.
So, what's say we start a new line of "what if's" and start thinking about how to better "bug in". It's not as much fun, or as exciting, as the thought of fleeing from a mushroom cloud. BUt, sitting on the porch with a full belly guarding the homefront with your neighbors may just be more realistic, for some of us at least.
By the way, thanks to all of you THR members. Lots of fun, thought provocation, and education in the 1,000 posts I've been here for.
