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The question though is if you were forced to what are the essentials you would take with you.

If you have to leave because civilization crashed, you will be dead in 72 hours since most people who would be on foot would use you as their BOB.

In non-TEOTWAWKI scenarios it is quite simple: .45 1911, burn phone, passport, pre-paid debit cards, and cash, cash, cash.

I agree with cripplecreek, stay put unless the house is literally burning down around you.

The whole idea of a BOB is actually ridiculous once one actually thinks about it. Moving solo on foot for a hundred miles? Really? Only in grade-B movie plots. If one is stupid enough to leave the house, it better be in a crowd of friendlies and be the one humping food, the Katadyn and the coffee. With that as barter, everything else comes easily.

I wouldn’t be dead in 72, but some of those coming my families way might be.

My family is all 400 miles away and my wife’s is overseas. Locals aren’t hostile, but don’t feel I could depend on them either...except maybe 1 or 2 that are within 30 miles. Not a one introduced themselves when we arrived 4 years back for my job, I was the one who reached out.

In this scenario I’d never travel roads, I have an escape route through dense woods in the back of my property that puts me into farm country rapidly. The girls run CC so they have the endurance, it’s the wife I worry about; but then again she’s stubborn so if I can get her to set her mind to it... ;-)

You reminded me I also have a couple rolls of silver quarters in each bag...I didn’t mention wallets and passports as those aren’t in my bags all the time.

My preference is definitely to stay put (my library is one of my more valuable possessions), 2nd load up the vehicles and haul out on the backroads (short or long term), 3rd is a move into the woods for a few days and return to shelter, 4th if all hell’s breaking loose and we can’t get vehicles out, then we’ll have a hike - 3 routes through mainly forest and farmland get’s us close to home in roughly 3 weeks. It’s all about options.

That and a lot of people thinking about BOBs don't even put enough stuff in their automobile to survive overnight, if it breaks down before Lord of the Flies hits. I have a survival bag I carry, because I fly helicopters in the mountains and you never know when a chip light will mean an impromptu overnight camping expedition. It has all the basics; fire, shelter, water filter (plenty of water in this area), paracord, multitool, head to tow rain clothing, a trauma kit, and signaling. It is a weird shaped long rectangular bag, but it fits well in vehicles. In the summer I always have at least a gallon of water in my vehicles in the winter I always have sleeping bags, warm clothes and snow boot. I have chains in my car (that I have never had to use) year round.

It would also be smarter to prepare for the natural disaster that you might get evacuated for. What are the critical items you would take with you. Wedding photos, hard drives, critical documents. You might not have much time to make that decision. Even a list of those items made now, would help in a time of crisis when you aren't thinking straight.