What is in Your Bug-Out Bag?
My wife and I have had freeze-dried food and other stockpiles since shortly after we were married over 35 years ago. However, one night, when learning to fly, I met my flight instructor at a little airport in Nowheresville, Ohio, and the place was locked up and our plane was still in the hangar. We went home, but I realized that this could be a problem. So, I changed my flight bag to a bug-out bag. Yes, it still had the local air charts, flight computer, and such, but also a Brita, playing cards, fire starters, radio, cash, gold coins, ... you get the picture...
I am now on a contract for my state police writing contracts for emergency preparedness deliverables. So, I have been giving this a lot more thought and searching for more resources for the "average" citizen. (Truth to tell, the "average" citizen is woefully unprepared, but we plan for that.)
Bug out bag:
http://www.dailypreparedness.com/2011/04...
Would you sacrifice a family member to save the family? Most people are unprepared for that. Theoretically, fans of "Atlas Shrugged" have explored Objectivist philosophy; and they are fully conscious of the rational standards for survival as "man qua man." For instance, most people generally place a lot of value on children. Ayn Rand was not alone in believing that children are replaceable; and your spouse should have already been the most important person in your life.
Exploring several "survivalist" blogs such as the one above, I noted that many do recommend having cash on hand, including coins for vending machines and pay phones. I have not found any that recommend a range of gold and silver coins. A one-ounce gold coin can be way more than you need to buy a bottle of water. I have a couple of rolls of silver dimes. I also have large coppers, big British Pennies, old Mexican 20 and 50 centavo coppers, that sort of thing.
I did find one patriotic sight that addressed "survival bargaining." It is important, but like all skills, really, it is something you either practice or you do not. Either you are a commercial person or you are not. If you are not adept at greeting strangers, making friends, and making other people feel important, then a United Nations occupation of your neighborhood will be a bit late to learn to get along with others. For that, I can only recommend the Ferengi of Star Trek, the best of them being Nog. See here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708654/
I am now on a contract for my state police writing contracts for emergency preparedness deliverables. So, I have been giving this a lot more thought and searching for more resources for the "average" citizen. (Truth to tell, the "average" citizen is woefully unprepared, but we plan for that.)
Bug out bag:
http://www.dailypreparedness.com/2011/04...
Would you sacrifice a family member to save the family? Most people are unprepared for that. Theoretically, fans of "Atlas Shrugged" have explored Objectivist philosophy; and they are fully conscious of the rational standards for survival as "man qua man." For instance, most people generally place a lot of value on children. Ayn Rand was not alone in believing that children are replaceable; and your spouse should have already been the most important person in your life.
Exploring several "survivalist" blogs such as the one above, I noted that many do recommend having cash on hand, including coins for vending machines and pay phones. I have not found any that recommend a range of gold and silver coins. A one-ounce gold coin can be way more than you need to buy a bottle of water. I have a couple of rolls of silver dimes. I also have large coppers, big British Pennies, old Mexican 20 and 50 centavo coppers, that sort of thing.
I did find one patriotic sight that addressed "survival bargaining." It is important, but like all skills, really, it is something you either practice or you do not. Either you are a commercial person or you are not. If you are not adept at greeting strangers, making friends, and making other people feel important, then a United Nations occupation of your neighborhood will be a bit late to learn to get along with others. For that, I can only recommend the Ferengi of Star Trek, the best of them being Nog. See here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708654/
