Maybe I'm crazy, page 2

Not crazy at all. I recently began preparing for bug-out also. I ordered a 4-month supply of dehydrated food from EfoodsDirect.com. A 2 month supply each for myself and my girlfriend.

I have began stocking up on bottled water and I am contemplating buying 2 food grade 55-gal barrels to make large quantity storage easier. I have also began getting necessary survival supplies to make things a bit easier. Magnesium fire starting blocks, hatchet and a camp saw with extra blades and such. I am contemplating a chainsaw purchase to make permanent shelter building a bit easier. For the long run, when the gas for the chainsaws runs out, you can buy hand-powered chainsaws. It is nothing more than a chainsaw chain with handles on either end. Simple and VERY effective.

There are quite a few of us preparing for the worst, so, I THINK building a permanent structure will be reasonably easy. No job or school to get in the way after all.

I recently talked to the g/f about all this and she was surprisingly open to the possibility of the scenario coming to pass and was extremely interested in preparing with things such as food.

Something else those just starting might need to be reminded of, there are not an refrigerators in the wild. Food storage beyond the winter is a must. You must be able to store food during the summer. I have recently began reading up on salting and brining meats for long-term storage. A quick google will unveil many how-to guides. While modern guides specify to use "curing" salts, salt with potassium nitrate and nitrite added, from what i have found it does not HAVE to be. the temperatures simply have to be keft low and regular salt will work fine. I have began buying 50 lb. bags of salt from a local feed store. It is surprisingly inexpensive at about 5 dollars for a 50 lb bag. The salt preservation MUST be done in cold weather, so the idea is to preserve over the winter for eating over the summer.

Talking to the guy at the feed store he opened up another possibility. He mentioned that the did the salting in the old days in underground cellars since the temperature is a steady 64 degrees(depending on location).

One final thought, talk to a local professor or other environmental scientist and figure out the growing seasons for your bugout locale. Don't forget to buy seeds for growing fresh veggies.

Best of luck to all you who are thinking ahead. Being prepared is what decides if you live or die in a catastrophic emergency. I prefer to live. If people roll their eyes or call me crazy I simply tell them to not come running for help when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan, that is unless of course they bring food or guns...

Prepare for the worst, Hope for the best.

The Captain

[edit on 6-2-2008 by CaptInsanoX]