Bugging Out-Choosing a Location

Tips for Picking the Perfect Bug Out Location
https://survivalistprepper.net/tips-picking-perfect-bug-location/

  If we had our choice, none of us would want to bug out and leave everything we own behind. With that being said, there could be situations that require us to get out of dodge for a few days, or even longer. Natural disasters, civil unrest or man made disasters could make bugging out necessary, so what is the perfect bug out location?
The truth is, there is no 1 correct answer to this question. We all have ...   ---CONTINUED---

Identify And Secure Your Retreat Like An Engineer, by JAD
https://survivalblog.com/identify-secure-retreat-like-engineer-jad/

Area assessment and planning is a key component of determining where to establish your secured retreat location. Establishing a retreat is not enough; you need to have clear objectives for what that area will accomplish for you or for those in your network. In order to establish your secured area and to determine the objectives necessary to allow it to function, you must assess and plan. Your planning must consider varying threats, uncertainty in threat duration, and likely enemy strength. Effective planning requires beginning at a macro level and reducing the scope until all details are captured. ---CONTINUED---

When a Prepper Relocates: Finding and Moving to the Perfect Survival Retreat
https://www.backdoorsurvival.com/prepper-relocation/

(SNIP) ... Before starting, let me just say this. Planning and executing a move is going to take over every free moment for up to a year. There are more moving pieces than you can imagine, especially if moving more than 300 miles from your home base. At times, you will want to give up. It is a lot of work, and it can be lonely. ---CONTINUED---

12 Things You Need to Know Before Choosing Your Bug Out Location
https://www.askaprepper.com/12-things-you-need-to-know-before-choosing-your-bug-out-location/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=AAP

  (SNIP) ... before looking for a bug out location, there are some key things we need to know. Otherwise, we’re not going to come close to making a good decision. Basically, these things we need to know fall into two categories; things about us and our bug out and things about the place itself.   ---CONTINUED---

OK, this thread, on a different forum, gives some food for thought.
(We can discuss it here, even if you don't read the thread on the other forum. I don't think there is enough meat in it to justify another thread, unless we want to get really in depth with taxonomy and the differences between residence, retreat, and bug out location. but this is a consideration when choosing a bug out, or a retreat location.)

http://www.city-data.com/forum/self-sufficiency-preparedness/3142092-concerning-trend-locals-denying-access-2nd.html

Even the title gives pause:
Concerning trend in locals denying access to 2nd (bug out) homes.

The Upshot: there are places that are denying entry to anyone they don't recognize, who has out of state plates, etc. This was something that was given a passing glance in the book "One Second After," as they talked about "outsiders."

I did a couple postings on the topic on a thread on APN, relative to the "preppers" in the movie "Blackout." One thing I mentioned in my postings was that the "preppers" in that movie was that they didn't know their neighbors in their bug out location, and they didn't have a list of people they were willing to share their rations with.

We're looking at that issue here. We live in a high tourist area, by several lakes. Many city folk have properties down here, usually just a few acres, no facilities. They're bringing camp trailers and lots of people down here.

Our little local country restaurant had to turn 2 sets of people away. One wanted to rent out the dining room for a party with all her friends coming there instead of partying in the city because everything was closed! The other couldn't understand why we rurals were observing SIP...that was only for the cities and that's why he came here!

Husband noted that the last time he went to the store, our country coveralls/jeans/camo folk suddenly were dressed in business casual and seemed nervous and more hyper than usual, and then he realized they were the tourists.

While we have some empty shelves, no one seems to mind, but then again, as I've said before, the locals are all preppers, even if they don't use the handle. Farmers/rural folk who go to town once a week, stock up in winter and keep stuff on hand to feed an army in Spring/Summer because farmhands need to eat.

We live on both a curve and a ridge right next to the dirt road - our property is lined with native trees, so you don't see the driveway until you're right on top of it. At that point, the tourists always slow down to gawk. While the house looks nice, it is also innocuous. No one sees the well house, due to the natural curvature of the earth. One has to drive all the way into the driveway to see anything else, including our carport full of firewood, outdoor tools (trailer, garden cart, wheelbarrow) and the big garden.

We have been sharing with our neighbors, when needed, exchanging goods and services for a long time. I also made masks for several.

A few of the vacationers have made a point of stopping in and getting to know us, exchanging phone numbers, and trying to fit in when they are here. They've also gotten to know the other neighbors, so that's good.

We'll see what happens when times get more desperate. Husband and I are cautiously willing to help the strangers, if we are helped in return (should the need arise).

You are on the receiving end of the "outsiders" in your local area. While I was writing about the Outsiders being shunned or even banned by the locals, both sides need to be explored.

Where I was going with this, originally, was that I disagree with the advice in the first three postings on this thread. First, they don't differentiate between "retreat" which is where you intend to live for the duration of the event, and "bug out location" which is where you don't want to go, but will go, if forced out of your retreat.

Secondly, they advocate a location that is far, far, too far, away. I advocate a bug out location that you can drive to, and return overnight, without filling up with gas. Even if you start with just over a half a tank.

That way, you can go there, do maintenance and return, without anyone being aware that you went away.

In addition to that, you should, if possible seek one in your own state, so that while you are there, your out of state tags don't call attention to you.

You should know your neighbors in both locations, enough to know which ones will need your help, which ones you can trade with, and which ones will be a problem.

This CoVid-19 thing is a good scrimmage, a good trial run on our plans. We should know, by the end of July, what parts are not working well.

Excellent points, TRex.

And I agree, in a few weeks, we should know what's working and what's not.

It's happening here in Northern MI. Word got around Thursday that law enforcement was stopping vehicles with out of state plates. There are only 2 cases in my county, both elderly.

Some local officials have released statements saying "please don't come here, even if you own property". Let me be clear, there are $1M+ vacation homes along with modest family cabins and simple hunting camps with no running water.

DNR has closed all campgrounds as well as fishing spots for salmon and rainbow trout.

I haven't heard of confrontations. Yet.

The Dangers Of A Remote Bug Out Location
https://urbansurvivalsite.com/dangers-remote-bug-out-location/

Urban areas seem to be a target for civil unrest. If you have a prepper mindset, you’ve probably already considered a place to bug out that’s remote, rural, and isolated.

Before we talk about the dangers of a place like that, let’s talk about the benefits, of which there are many (especially if you own land). You can cultivate crops, raise livestock, plant and harvest fruit trees, you have trees for firewood, and you can do all the things homesteaders did when America was young. ---CONTINUED---

What To Do If You Don’t Have A Bug Out Location
https://urbansurvivalsite.com/dont-have-bug-out-location/

Unfortunately, most urban dwellers would have nowhere to go if their homes were destroyed of if their cities became too unsafe. If you can afford a remote piece of land or if you have friends or relatives in the countryside, great. But what are those of us without a bug out location supposed to do?

Here are a few suggestions. ---CONTINUED---

11 Bug Out Locations You Haven’t Considered
https://urbansurvivalsite.com/bug-out-locations-you-havent-considered/

If there ever comes a time when you need to bug out, you’re going to need a good bug out location. But not everyone can afford to purchase hidden acres in the middle of nowhere, so what will you do when the SHTF and you need to head for the hills?

Here are some unusual ideas for bug out locations you may not have considered, and some suggestions on what makes a good place to run to when you need an escape plan. ---CONTINUED---