The ideal bug-out location is where you can live contentedly during normal times, and do little different upon TEOTWAWKI. “Bugging out” is best done in calm times, not when everyone else is attempting the same thing in a mass panic. Survivalism/prepping is best a way of life, not a contingency plan.
I like recounting this as an example:
When the potential severity of the “Y2K Bug” was looming, I explained to my father in great detail what could go wrong (societal collapse, etc.). He understood, agreed, shrugged, and replied “so I’ll throw another log on the fire and go back to my book.” Indeed, short of reading by candle light and hand-pumping the well, his life would change little in a “bug-out” situation.
The #1 rule of self-defense, a rule rarely discussed, is “don’t be there”. Ditto “bugging out”: on the whole, don’t be anywhere you’ll need to bug out of in a crisis. Life will change enough in such a scenario; minimize that change.
“don’t be there” - concur. Can’t retire yet, tho. Need to pay my dang taxes.