I'm makin' my list, checkin' it twice, ready to bug-out with my rifle and rice...

That movie, to me, was by far one of the most depressing movies ever!

People can survive in the woods in the winter, some years ago I went on a high school survival trip. For a week we lived in the woods, build warm shelters (with only what nature provided us with) had great meals (ok maybe not great, but we ate). It was the best trip ever. We learned a lot.

Wash (OP) - great thread title! Good for you......

It's strange that the "prepper movement" has migrated from referring to obscure "crazies" that were the same as denoted by "militias" in the 90s, to a more main-stream unique sect of society that even the US Gov. has printed pamphlets referring to simply stocking up.

Lately, however, it seems "prepping" is back in the shadows as unnecessary and associated with "those people". Even the front page of this site currently has two (2) threads concerning how preppers are treated or otherwise viewed.

The one, sole idea I wish people would familiarize themselves with is that while the term "prepping" is fairly new, the act is not. However, it is the dependence on society as a whole and the government in general that is the new idea.

While growing up, I never heard the words "prepper" or "prepping", however, our freezers were full of deer, beef, duck, quail, chicken, rabbit, etc. The cabinets and other storage areas were full of various fruits and vegetables that had been canned and put away. Water was stored (even though we used well water), and in winter, the tools/ supplies used to addressed a frozen well pump were always readily available, as we knew our water would likely freeze a few times over the course of the winter. Hay/ feed for livestock was brought in BEFORE the winter storms, just as water was conserved as much as possible during the summer months.

This leads me to the thought process that we teach and promote - PREPPING IS A LIFESTYLE; not a fad, not following a trend, but a serious, constant effort to best take care of yourself and your family.

As of late, this disdain towards prepping/ preppers seems to have only one source, and that is stemming from those who wish to continue their exercise of control on a people.

Control is an illusion, but one that only gains validity directly proportionate to dependence. It is this dependence (specifically on governmental programs, direction, and influence) that destroys one's initiative, drive, and personal responsibility of establishing self-sufficiency. Once these traits have been lessened (destroyed?) within a society, the only alternative is a greater dependence upon the aforementioned governmental programs, direction, and influence.

In our modern society, it is no great feat to look around and see the lacking of "life skills" within the general populous. This has been no accident, as now millions of citizens are dependent upon the government. My reference here is much, much broader than those receiving government assistance ($$) directly. This reference is to how the people of our country have grown dependent upon a government to tell them what/ how to eat, what/ how to raise and educate their children, what/ how to worship, and even what to think of/ how to deal with others that have destroyed the fabric of this once-great country through multi-culturalism and/ or other social and/ or political lines that run completely against the Constitution. As a people, the US has again become familiar with the chains of bondage cloaked in the wrapper of dependence.

Make no mistake - it is a government's greatest achievement to crate a populous that is primarily dependent upon the programs and direction of said government. By achieving such, a government is empowered to make your decisions for you. Let me state that again; BY ACHIEVING YOUR DEPENDENCE, A GOVERNMENT IS EMPOWERED TO MAKE YOUR DECISIONS FOR YOU.

Rationing water, food, and fuel, dictating where you may rest/ sleep (Katrina/ Superdome? Sandy/ NJ/ NY?), or even how/ when one may travel are not natural, however, they are useful tools of creating a greater dependence.

What does this mean? It correlates with one of the most simple idioms ever spoken - you don't bite the hand that feeds you, and this is exactly the purpose of creating the ever increasingly high amounts of dependence upon government.

With all of this being said, we have seen the up-tick in preparations being purchased, as was expected for 2012. As of late, however, what we have seen a real increase in is the interest in medical supplies. I don't mean the pocket first-aid kit available from most any corner store - I'm referring to serious gear; large triage kits, trauma supplies and kits - even body bags. The otherwise concerning part of this is that many of these products are destined for other countries, so there is some merit to the lines of thought that governments see the storm clouds and are preparing for the storm. By preparing for yourself and your family, you empower yourself - this is the ultimate "prep".

Secondarily; we see many people genuinely interested in beginning to prepare for themselves and their family, but are overwhelmed by the myriad of offerings, or the varied ideologies currently promoted regarding prepping. We stress, simply enough, to prepare for those events with a real propensity of happening within your geographic area. If you do so, and with sincerity, then you'll be more than prepared should the day arise that zombies begin walking down your street.

Even if it's a box of band-aids and a can of ravioli, begin somewhere. Myself and many others on this board I am more than sure will be more than happy to assist those who are seriously concerned with setting out on the journey of establishing their individual independence and self sufficiency.

A hungry man is an easily swayed one.

Free men don't ask permission.

Just my $.02

This was mine, but got disconnected/ logged out while composing the post

I had a different reaction - remember how beautiful and colorful that food was that they found in the bombshelter. Everything else was grey toned in the movie, but the light and color on the can labels almost sparkled in the underground shelter. It represented happyness and safety.

I know and I woke up in a grumpy mood.

All better now.

One of the most useful threads in a long time. Nice work OP.

Of course people can live in the woods in Winter, but are you seriously thinking most people with BOBs are going to do that using the items in their kit solely? No tent or sleeping bag? Why not? Yes, in some cases one can make a survival shelter based upon finding a source of insulation, but often by winter it's under snow. Yes, you can build a snow shelter by digging with a shovel. I haven't seen a lot of BOB lists that include one.

Mostly this BOB phenomena is pure nonsense. No serious bushcraft person would ever deliberately walk into the woods in Winter without a tent. It's stupid. You don't build a shelter from scratch unless there's a ready amount of natural supplies in a region based upon season. A hundred million things could go wrong to just "wing it". A high school roughing experience is a far cry from a collapse situation.

You're talking to a serious bushcraft person who's actually been to survival school, not some wannabee prepper who's proud of packing ultralight based upon what he/she thinks they need for a collapse.

What's really being talked about is a way for urban folks to leave their cities for a rural and hence safer situation. Walking out from the city en masse with other frightened rabbits will likely get most of em killed.

Most of these folks have no plan whatsoever other than to walk to safety. It's assuming a lot. Like there's plenty of food to source in the wild. That it's possible to gather more calories than expend by hiking. That people are in sufficient shape to walk cross country, not on flat highways, but most like trying to evade detection. That the rural folks wouldn't take pot shots at people using up their firewood. That most of these prepper wannabees won't shoot livestock to get a meal, or most likely loot rural folks pantries if not worse. That they can find water to drink.

Is there a link to that song?

Re comments on the necessity of a BUG OUT BAG---

Wouldn't you rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it?

(Keep in mind, it can also be used as a GET HOME BAG.)

Well, those of us who live here, amongst the trees in the forest, may have a slightly different opinion to those of you who do not. Yes, it is messed up, but it does function, and more efficiently than you may think.

I am not unaware of our problems, they are legion, but things could have turned out WAY worse.

When (if) TSHTF, we have a very different dynamic here and bugging out is hardly feasible, but staying in place and defending as a community might work for the first couple of weeks until things have settled, then moving out, if there is anywhere to move out to, and if the danger has thinned out sufficiently.

you may have seconds to get out of your house because of a gas leak, fire, whatever. And guess what? you have to bug out....

Don't forget that most of the Book of Revelation is about punishing the wicked, you know the wicked is going to get punished unless they repent of their evil deeds.

So bad times are coming, especially for the wicked.

Precisely. We all have BOBs in case we must bug-out for fire or whatever, but we sure don't make that our primary plan.

Bugging-out is not usually the right thing to do. It only the right thing to do if you have a specific location with supplies.

Let's say you think, "I live in Philadelphia, Penn. I'm going to head West to my Aunt's house in Nebraska." First off, she probably has little food for herself and immediate family. Second, how the heck are you going to get gas between Philly and Nebraska? Can you imagine the traffic? Are you planning on walking there? What are you thinking you're going to eat?

Strong people will powerful wills attempt the Appalachian Trail each year. Probably 80% of them fail. These are people, usually young and in decent shape. They can get new shoes drop shipped to them along the way. They can resupply. Guess what? They get injured, tired of it, quit from the grind, lose heart.

Take a look at the videos of the BOB folks. How many are way out of shape? They don't look like they could walk 30 miles without a heart attack.

But then the idiot father leaves it all behind.
Dumb ass father.

Each point you have stated has merit, however, the BOB is a tool. Specifically, it is a tool with a purpose of facilitating the transport of other tools and supplies.

As with all tools, the BOB/ GHB/ 72hr bag/ whatever you'd like to call them cannot be the primary focus, nor the singular answer. They are tools, and should have their place solidly established within one's preparations.

Personal preparation by way of personal health, mental preparation, discussion with your family, and learning the ever-important life skills are the areas that warrant the primary focus, and once undertaken in such manner one's preparations (including bags/ weapons/ food/ location/ etc.) will also reflect such.

The only thing that will make me grab my children and bobag:

Flood( I'm at 800 ft elevation).
Firestorm of any kind if Yellowstone wakes up.
I'm in direct path of fallout.
Foodstamp zombie onslaught and/or I'm short on ammo or area heavy contaminated with corpses.
Military action in my backyard.

OP: That's not a bug out bag that's bringing your HOUSE!!

The only thing you forgot was the sink or did I miss it in that list?

I just purchased a couple pair of Rocky, heavyweight fleece long johns from Walmart. Talk about warm and comfortable. I'll never buy the cheap ones again.

anti-biotics...

that house in Indiana that got hit with something is still a mystery. the loud booms being heard all over the country. the lights and meteors. Just a tad spooky if you ask me.....

OP already addressed this

no where to run here, se MI, I would have to leave behind animals, old parents, adult children

not happening

I will make my stand in my home

prepped and ready to face what the evil has in store for us

isn't it amazing their are millions more of us then 'them' and we are afraid?

Rifles are not good enough.

You need fully-automatics to properly protect yourself when the shtf.

Last Edited by Kurta Apijirra on 12/11/2012 01:53 PM

That's great.

yikes...where do you live?

waste of ammo. no thanks....