Thanks David. I'm surprised so few have taken the move to make their own Gulch. I view so many here to have far superior intellect than I and I value their input and advice but have a question of why haven't so many taken the plunge when they have told me they believe the time could be so near. I know it's difficult to leave a comfortable life for the unknown. I can tell all its not bad it can be rewarding if you're of strong mind. Hope you can find your gulch.

Unfortunately, we're seeing Ayn Rand's novel AS being played out before our eyes. BHO wanting to raise wages to fifteen dollars an hour and demostrations demanding that are occurring across the country. We also seeing persecution of the Police around the country to the point that they can't do there jobs. The Stockmarkets wild fluctions make it very uncomfortable for the small investor like myself. Here it comes!

I live in a remote area of a far northern state. I live here because it is a long way from any major population center. Most people here have gardens and live stock of some sort. Many hunt for protein and/or just because they can. While no formal "prepper" network seems to exist, informally it is there. Once a person or family establishes themselves as a long timer( a couple of years in my case) people open up and let you see inside the fence so to speak.

Unfortunately, our nation and the world at large face some serious challenges that may blow up in our collective faces. For me I am trying to gain skills that were in force in the late 1800's. I am having a great time learning how to be a Blacksmith, a woodworker, farmer, etc. While I may take those skills to the grave with me having never had to survive using them, I am doing it for me.

Will I actively defend my property, You bet your sweet bippy I will. Will I feed people who don't prepare and expect me to feed them? LOL.. NO! Will I feed my neighbor who offers to work for the food, You bet.

do I hope to actually find some fellow gulchers in real time, You bet!

easier said than done.

Shhh. I also do not advertise my personal arsenal.

But using HHO Generators, or even using a "Gasefier" method, there is no need for gasoline.

Also if I find myself in an area where I can put together a waterwheel, the Generator can be powered that way too.

What about gas supply to run the generator and truck? I also have those items and for a 'normal' disaster I have enough fuel for a week or so because I always keep our gas tanks at least 1/2 full. How will you deal with a longer term fuel supply problem?

I'm currently looking for property away from the city. I still have the reality of having to actually go to work, but I can increase my commute enough to be outside the nashville city limits without having a ridiculous commute. Once I get things operational, I could probably stop working if I wanted.

I agree completely. They're not mutually exclusive. You can appreciate how good things are and still carry insurance (precautionary supplies)against calamities.

+1 for truth

stay half buried instead of fully buried in the sand....

There's no *one thing* we do. It's a bunch of little things. Here are some suggestions.
- Teach kids about liberty.
- Write letters to the editor or blog posts about when an issue comes up.
- Write leaders and politely let them know you're watching when a decision on liberty is being made.
- Build wealth and structure it conservatively, so little problem don't seem like big ones.
- Keep a weapon (like DavidMcnab's rifle) for protection against criminals, so you're not only dependent on the gov't for protection.
- Focus on solutions, not problems.
- Recognize that liberty is not the default state for humankind. We have an amazing thing going in the US, despite the problems/flaws. Let's not blow it.

I imagine there are a hundred more than many people do every day.

CIRCUITGUY HOW DO YOU PROPOSE WE ACCOMPLISH THIS MONUMENTAL TASK?

CircuitGuy and waytodude et al -

It is not a binary choice. One can both fight for the restoration of personal freedom and prepare for the event of trouble.

When someone wants to categorize me as a 'weirdo survivalist', I point out to them that while an asteroid hitting the earth sized cataclysm only happens every 100 million years or so, having your electricity and water cut off for some reason happens to most people every 5 years or so (due to storms, most frequently).

With the Internet, Susanne and waytodude and other 'far shruggers' can participate in lively discussions whilst tending their ranches and gardens - and they can vote when they want to.
We who are 'nearby shruggers' should have precautionary supplies on hand!

Jan

Wow, that's impressive. Well done!

Want to get prepared? Plenty of ways to do it, but I wouldn't wait any longer. Here are a few of the things I personally have done.

1. Take a basic gardening course. Many local Agricultural Extension Offices offer these at no charge periodically throughout the year. They can also help you identify and eradicate pests. Try growing a few staples of your region.
2. Get education or a books on edible plants. Dandelions are a surprisingly nutritious edible green. Even Martha Stewart uses them in her salads.
3. Take a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) class. It goes through basic rescue, basic first aid, basic threat identification, etc.
4. Get an amateur radio license.
5. Take a CPR class from a licensed instructor.
6. Store some basic necessities for 72 hrs. These usually include food and 1 gallon of water per person per day.
7. After you get the 72-hrs worth, get a week, then a month. Note that some governmental regulations prohibit this, labeling it "hoarding".
8. Take a firearms safety class. You don't have to get a Concealed-Carry license, but may if you wish. At least know the basics about how to safely identify and operate firearms.
9. Get with your neighbors and set up a community watch. This will enable you to get to know them and their abilities and pre-establish friendly relations in case there is a need for defense based on numbers.

Maybe Paul will float up to my top pick.
Voting for Paul is way far better than the media-enabled for the corrupt hag queen of Progressive phonies.

I don't see how see how voting stops this, since the other mainstream choice is Republicans who are worse. I hope a third party or a group that rejects the bipartisan consensus appears. Maybe Rand Paul is such a person.

Been there, done that... left the looter enclave a few years ago, moved over 30 miles from the nearest "city", with nothing on the other side of us but wilderness (reduces the traipsing of "zombies"), Put the shop together for extra income and barterable talent in a grid down scenario (and it's taken off on me, had no idea changing a business model would prove successful), got livestock, feed, food, etc... putting up a greenhouse, hardening our water supply, just to name a few things...

The neighbors have done pretty much the same thing. One put in a solar plant on his property, will probably follow suit.

The biggest thing, tho, is shutting down *everything* and seeing what works and what doesn't in a SHTF/Grid Down situation.

We need to get back to the basics of the Constitution.
Our Progressive (Obama, Hillary) progression to Marxism is a march to total slavery.
I say "total" because we are already part-way there.
If you want your freedom, you can keep it.

David,

I have been providing survivalist with many of my products since the scare(?) of going from 1999 to 2000. The sales of my sleeping bags in particular have accelerated significantly. my web site which is on this site is wiggys.com

also, descending into a police state is not farcical but tragic.

"Considered absurd by whom? "
The corporate-owned right-wing MSM do a lot of yakking and may try to benefit from people disrespecting their neighbors, but they accept equal rights unequivocally. It's something that we could have debated 100 years ago. Now everyone, not counting commenter's on YouTube, accepts that people are created equal in the eyes of the law.

"Be prepared." It isn't just for Boy Scouts anymore.

David I've already taken the plunge. I bought a small cattle ranch in a community that has always been about living off the land as much as possible.
My garden is about 1 acre , raise my own chickens for meat and eggs, raise cattle , starting a small personal orchard. Many ponds for fishing and water supply. I buy hogs from a local producer for pork using a local meat locker to process meat. I eat good.
Most around here are hunters and with no law enforcement for many miles we look out for each other. I'm very comfortable leaving my keys in my vehicles and my doors unlocked at night (several weapons next to my bed). If one of my neighbors needs anything they know they are welcome to it and leave a note on table letting me know. If I need help with things thley are there to help and vice versa. Most of these people don't know they live in a gulch.
There are all kinds of good info out there just Google it. The best information about off the grid living is the Amish go talk to them. Another spot is the local coffee café. Very good information can be gained by just listening to those who have lived in an area all their life.
For me it was not hard to leave my awesome paying job in the city for my life today. All it takes is hard work but it's rewarding.
Got to get back to the garden.

Considered absurd by whom? Certainly not the liberal govt and media. That's all they seem to talk about.

I am not part of any "Preper" community; however, I am prepared. I have all the required and necessary resources at hand to deal with a complete power and water infrastructure as well as economic collapse.

1) 5 gal Homer buckets with rice/beans/flour/sugar/coffee (Rotated regularly)
2) about 500 rolles of Toilet Paper.
3) 15 KW portable generator
4) Rototiller and seeds for planting
5) All the tools I would need to build anything I want.
6) 28' enclosed trailer with all my tools and room for my supplies and a small dump truck to pull it with, or run over anyone who stands in my way.