Background:

My g-g-g-g-great-grandfather came to this once wonderful country from Germany in 1765. He served in the revolutionary war from 1778 (age 30) through 1783. Received a service pension in 1818.
I don't know the service records of many of my ancestors but Uncle Bob died of service related injuries (US Army Air Corps). Uncle Ivan served in tanks in Italy and Dad was a Motor Torpedo Boat mechanic. All three in World War II.

I am the oldest living person in this direct lineage at 67 (in a few days). My service record is totally unremarkable.

I pissed away my youth, fast cars, fast women, and party hearty.

In 1981 I began a serious task of preparing for when the SHTF based on Howard Ruff, Mel Tappan, and Kurt Saxon's writings. Did a pretty good job of prepping. 70 acres, 8 miles from the nearest highway, power, or phone line. 95% self suffecient and well equiped with many firearms, ammo, reloading supplies, defensable location, two years of food, spring water, medical and dental stocks, and like minded neighbors. Several thousand in gold coins and junk silver coins, livestock and most anything else you could think of.

A terribly nasty divorce, engineered by my wife and her attorney brother left me with my old truck and a tank of gas. Guess I shoulda loved her more, better, or whatever.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda?

Now approaching 70 years old, I am working to start the whole process over.

Continued in next message describing current plans, progress, and desperate goals.

Bob

My current situation......

Paying off IRS from tax mistakes from way back when, $100.00+ per month from my Social Security retirement check. Medicare takes another $100.00+ per month.

Met and married a very attractive, caring, younger lady (20 years my junior). She does not see the handwriting on the wall quite as clearly as I (think) I do, but is very happy with the fairly remote semi-self suffecient lifestyle that I require for my goals.

We divorced (on paper) to prevent any attachment of any of her resources by my ex.

I had only an old truck, one .22 single shot rifle and some casting and reloading equipment when we met. Since then we have acquired a Mossberg 500 twelve guage riot shotgun, a Ruger 10-22, a Thompson Center .54 Hawken sidelock, a Navy Arms .44 cap and ball revolver, a CVA .50 sidelock, and a Turkish 8x57 Mauser. The next firearm purchased will be a Hi-Point .45 ACP.

I purchased 4 acres of remote property in the midwest, bordered on three sides by national forest. Making payments 'cause my credit went with the first divorce.
Maybe two months of foodstuffs, a 31 foot self contained camper, and I just bought a Ford Ranger 4WD pickup.

I now have a considerable inventory of casting and reloading supplies, still need to stock up on more primers and powder.

Current needs and desires are naturally - more storage foods, gardening supplies and equipment, more medical supplies and a LOT more barter supplies. Fishing and trapping supplies.

Most animals are out of the question, just chickens, ducks, maybe rabbits and or turkeys. Anything else will become her pets and ya know what THAT means! We DO have two terrific watch dogs, Lab-Shepard crosses and NO-one can come in or near without warning or teeth-barred response.

I really do not want to discuss the merits of the firearms I have chosen, I chose "cheap" and ammo rather than expensive and no ammo. AND IF I could afford it, I would have an M1A or similar.....but.....

Perhaps someone could mention or respond with reminders of what I have overlooked (or just maybe forgotten to mention)?

Thanks,

Bob

sounds like you are getting back on track pretty well. How's your water sources and storage?

Herbalpagan wrote::welcome:
sounds like you are getting back on track pretty well. How's your water sources and storage?

Hmmmmmm...
Why din't I think of that? I DO save all bleach bottles and fill them with water and can go for a while without bathing IF NECESSARY, but have not been paying enough attention to water supply.

Good reminder! There is a year around stream about a quarter of a mile away but it has to be better than that when things go sour.

Thanks HP,

Bob

Yea always think of water before ANYTHING.
Also maybe try doing a drive point well? Not sure how the terrain is but a small drive point and a hand pump could work well for water supply in case of no power.


Also maybe look into rain catching.
storage-harvesting/55-gallon-water-barrels-free-t1101.html

Here is my old one in FL, we have not set one up here in NC yet.
post12375.html#p12375

VillageIdjit,

Sounds like you are on track, I suggest you get as many sandbags as possible in order to fortify your home after things turn ugly, also as Johnny said be sure you have a good water supply. Other than that look into building something underground if you can, think of using a 40+' used cargo container. Think about making it very covert as a refuge if things really turn ugly.

Follow HP's general suggestion and have at least 2 years worth of food and supplies.

Yes,

Just before logging in here tonight I spent about two hours researching cargo containers but it looks like I'd be looking at somewhere around $1500 to $2000 (or more) and that just ain't in the picture.

I have the knowledge and perhaps even the physical ability to build a small, partly buried masonry structure with enough berm for several kinds of protection and concealment. Probably native stone and timber.

I am not familiar with where to get sandbags but do have a limited source of woven feed sacks.

I am well read on much of the "Patriot fiction" and in spite of many of the stories being replays of previous stories with different characters, many of the scenario are very plausible. Were I as financially qualified and as young and physically qualified as most of those characters, I would not be in this conversation.

Thank you for your insight and lending credence to my concerns.

Bob

VillageIdjit wrote:

I am not familiar with where to get sandbags but do have a limited source of woven feed sacks.


Bob

I did a quote on 500 here and was only like 140$ but you wont need 500 LOL
http://cgi.ebay.com/EarthAid-Sandbags-w ... 68c653f8fc