Bug in or bug out? – That is still the question!

   OK then, what were we discussing? Oh that’s right, you still think that hitting the road for points beyond the pavement is a better solution to TEOTWAWKI – The End Of The World As We Know It? Maybe your right? If we truly do see a life changing event, I’m with you or should I say I’ll be seeing you because I’m outa here too!

   Bugging Out is by far the more talked about solution that I see survivalists come to. Unfortunately, I don’t hear a lot about the details that will be involved if and or when that fateful day did arrive… 99% of any disasters we are likely to be involved in would not be best handled by “Bugging Out”. Think this through for a moment… What are the most likely emergency situations that any one of us is likely to find ourselves facing? Earthquakes, a hurricane or even the meltdown of our economy… With the exception of damage that could be sustained to your shelter by that weather event, bugging out would be only for a short time to stay out of harms way while the winds were actually blowing. Even economic upheaval would often find you required to show up for work or looking for a position to show up for…

   I know what you’re thinking… Prepper was going to talk up the “Bugging Out” option today? Be patient, I am going to talk about that but I have to be clear, bugging in is the better choice up until we hit a real meltdown… Short of an event that allows you to truly say screw it and walk away from your J-O-B with no intention of be able to come back to it after whatever is happening quites down again, bugging out isn’t the right choice. Also for clarity, bugging out to the next town down the highway while the flood waters recede isn’t the “BUG OUT” were talking about today. When I say “Bug Out”, I mean you have one shot at loading the family and leaving… You can take one load with you and that’s it, whatever you can’t get loaded or don’t have room for gets left behind for the scavengers. By scavengers I mean your neighbors that had no choice but to “bug in”…

   Have all of you “Bug Outers”, really thought about what it means to really bug out? There would be no way you could take everything you might need or even half of that pile of stuff you thought we didn’t know you had under the house. Face it as prepperswe have a lot of stuff. That stuff represents a huge amount of time and money. Often we have spent years acquiring the items we feel necessary to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the uncertain future. Just leave it behind, I doubt it! I bet your like me and have assumed that the back of the truck would hold more gear than it actually will.. How about weight, be honest – you and I both know those cases of ammo weigh a lot more than we wanted to admit when we were carrying them out to the car after the gun show…

   Planning to take the family dog with you when you leave for good? You better be if you know whats good for ya, those kids are going to pitch a fit if you try to leave the mut behind. How much space will the dog and its “stuff” be taking up? What are the kids going to have to bring if they can’t be convinced that you’re just leaving for the weekend? You and I both know the kids have a way of getting the better of us because we don’t want to see them unhappy for long! If you haven’t got a quick answer to these questions than you are NOT ready to choose a “Bug Out” for your primary disaster plan! Yes, if pressed we will all bug out if the need was desperate but again I’m talking about this being our desired solution…

   So when would I agree with you that a bug out is the best choice? If you have a real poor chance of surviving where you are now. Inner city neighborhood or even an apartment in the suburbs would probably have me convinced that leaving would be better. That situation would have me asking myself what am I doing in an inner city neighborhood or this crappy apartment long before the disaster was at hand though. Either of these type of current dwellings is perfectly acceptable but should be for a reason and recognised as a less than optimal survival retreat and thus a bug out plan would be appropriate. It may still not require that you make the BIG jump to heading for the hills, possibly just a short jump to a relatives place that is better situated for a bug in. If these options are all contemplated before hand that short trip to your brother in laws place could be putting both families in a better position. Just think it through now while the fires are still small and the truck isn’t being repacked for the 6th time trying to find a place for all 3 of your kids, you did remember that they are accustomed to riding INSIDE the vehicle, right?

   OK, enough of the pessimism about your short sighted “Bug Out” plan. You’re leaving your driveway witheverything in place just as you planned. The truck is fully fueled and both spare tires for the bug out trailer are in place so you can change one in record time while the oldest boy keeps a close watch for approaching MZB’s. With the exception of the sadness you feel for having to leave the house you’ve lived in since the kids were little, everything is going just as you had drilled for it to go…

   Are we getting anywhere, I didn’t think so… The next thing we’ll get into is the – WHERE? As in where are you going now that you are loaded and ready to head down the road. Are you really as prepared for what that road may bring to the equation? What about when the National Guardsman is standing at your window asking you to produce -what? Let’s spend a little time on these issues tomorrow… Just so you don’t think I’m against the whole “Bug Out”, remember I have the BOL. I’ll be Buggin Out for sure and I’ll share all of the things I’ve come up with to get that plan to where it is today…

See ya tomorrow!

Prepper