I need some positive reasons why not to plan for a SHTF scenario.

[rfmad]

I am seriously thinking of taking to steps to go to a survivalist approach planning to survuve total chaos and financial and institutional break down. Some one please help me see why this is not going to happen. Thanks

[Miss Behave]

OMG. "Make sure you don't let it sit there too long...you could get root-rot." LOL. Can you imagine seeing that pickup coming down the road?

He's a corker!

Slim, do you know about this guy? LOL.

[B4Ranch]

Did our phone call spark this?

[ChocChipCookie]

Do you have a link for that product?

[Miss Behave]

I think that those are the practical man's "leg lamps."

Survival comes before sexiness. ;-)

[djf]

http://www.campingsurvival.com/ceprmiliprla.html

[JDoutrider]

Did our phone call spark this?

Dunno! My talk piece showed no evidence of taps... but then again...Oh My!

LOL!

[B4Ranch]

>Survivalists have been given a very bad incantation by the media.<

That’s because Survivalists are independent and they don’t require assistance from the government. It is difficult to control people who don’t require your services. Especially so if they are armed.

[Miss Behave]

I know what you're saying, Tammy, (in fact we have a pretty good sized farm that's been in our family for many, many years that will always and forever remain in the family,) but I don't think that people "invade" without people selling to them.

You can't deny anyone who buys and pays for land in the country, or for anywhere else for that matter. Private property is just that. Others are just as entitled to own property in rural areas as you are. This is still America...for now, at least.

[Miss Behave]

If you want more of a buffer from others, you need to buy and own it as yours. Then your patience wouldn’t be tested. Now would be a good time to buy, while the market’s so soft.

[usmom]

Let me just say that you are not the only one. Does that make you feel less ‘weird’ about it? Personally, I was feeling a little kooky about it myself, but not any more! (This is also not my first anniversary to recieve this kind of ‘gift’!)

[concerned about politics]

Learn how to make soap from hardwood ash and animal fat. Seriously. You can barter soap for just about anything. You can go to any town and find work.

Better yet? People will have to protect you. No you - no soap for them.

Cheese is also a good trade. Instead of rennet, learn how to use milk thistle. It's the only way top store milk for the winter if there's no electric. Farmers will love you.

[B4Ranch]

You can build a “tunnel network” for the exhaust to run through before it hits the free air. Place a large cardboard box (big enough to put a washing machine in) in front of the exhaust outlet. Cut a large enough hole in it so that the cardboard doesn't get warm. Then take another box and cut a 8X8 hole in it. Line it up with the first one, cut a matching hole in the first one. Just keep adding boxes with matching 8X8 holes until the reverberations have quieted sufficiently to meet your needs. You can cover the boxes with padded moving blankets and/or Styrofoam blocks to further quiet the noise.

If you put a divider inside each of the boxes that diverts the exhaust 3/4 of the way up, then down, then out into the next box you won't require as many boxes.

With six boxes I can use my generator anytime of the day or night and my neighbors don't know it is running unless they are standing at their fenceline.

[AirForceMom]

I’ve ventured into the DU ( and yes, I did shower afterwards each time ) a few times over the years and thought they sounded so bizarre much of the time. I sort of had the fear that I may have gone a bit around the bend on this.
Hopefully I will never have to use my gift for anything other than fun.

[TaxRelief]

But there is still the petrol problem. . . .

[seemoAR]

I moved to the country in 1984. I could see the writing on the walls. I live 9 miles out in the middle of 5 acres. I am a friend to any person that respects me and mine enough to leave us alone. I am armed and I am a pretty good shot. A “good” job in a large city will never pay enough for me to put my family in jeopardy. “A country boy can survive”.

[spodefly]

I can say with all honesty that I am no more “prepared” now than I have been for the past decade.

Which is to say, whatever happens, natural or man made, I am as prepared as I can be without moving to an abandoned missle silo full of bullets beans bandaids and water barrels.

[seemoAR]

It would be a good idea to send our Military overseas if a group of people were planning to have a coup. That idea just scares the Heck out of me.

[Miss Behave]

That’s fascinating B4! I can’t wait to tell my dad. Ingenious! Then it won’t scare...ME! ;-)

[Miss Behave]

"Cheese is also a good trade. Instead of rennet, learn how to use milk thistle. It's the only way top store milk for the winter if there's no electric. Farmers will love you."

Pinging you to cap's wisdom, Diana. Hope all is well with you up there behind the Cheddar Curtain. ;-)

[B4Ranch]

Buy an industrial plastic barrel, $15 or $20 and you’ll be able to stabilize 40 gallons for two years.