My current threads will not be up to the standard I've established previously because, frankly, its painful to work on my laptop for extended periods of time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbdn.gif" alt="" /> However, if you bear with me you'll probably find the couple of survival topics I have in mind to be useful <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> if not slightly rough in their presentation. Caveat presented so lets move onto the meat of this post....

I was going to create three separate threads for these topics, but since they are so interconnected I thought I'd just use this singular thread to present the information for discussion / consideration.

[color:"red"] PLEASE NOTE: I will be adding the second and third topic later in this thread. It will NOT be today! [/color]

The topics will involve:

* Survival Philosophy
* A Survivalist's Mindset
* Survival Planning
* Survival Gear
* The Short vs Long View Of TEOTWAWKI

Here are the three topics I'd like to open for discussion. Please recognize that I'm very ill and will not be able to fully present my ideas at one time. This will be a gradual process in which I add information as I can. Everyone is welcome to contribute, refute, argue, and generally behave like rabble - however - I may or may not respond to all questions as I try to sort through my thoughts. These are lofty and broad topics that might take an extended amount of time to flesh out - so tune in and contribute so this one doesn't die on the vine.

I am not THE SURVIVAL AUTHORITY! I welcome everyone's input. There are people here with a great deal more life and/or survival experience and/or training than I have. Please contribute freely! Your input is how we learn and grow.

TOPIC ONE

72 Hours - Why, When, Where, How & What? The myth of 72 hour kits and the need for a simple/fast/effective/small PSK for rescue, transport, and defense.

TOPIC TWO

The BOB - What does this really entail? Why do you need one, and where are you going?

TOPIC THREE

The world as we know it is going to end - what now?!?!? The maturing prospective of someone who grew up in a militant survivalist family, and has been a practicing / evolving / deeply thinking survivalist for the past 27 years.

I had this real long post and decided to delete it. But I will re post part of it

Your posts come from REAL WORLD experiences either by yourself or those you know. When your thoughts are on something you have just read or researched about you indicate as much. THIS I feel gives your posts much weight as you "Have been there and done that". And you are willing to pass what you have learned on to us. PLUS you solicit input for everyone regardless of their expertise of lack of. You have proven time and again that you are a deep thinker and want to make sure you are correct before putting down your words.

You may not be "THE AUTHORITY" on survival but you would qualify as an expert witness!

I personally look forward to your posts as I know I will learn something, something based on FACT not just conjecture, or if it is it will be labeled as such.

Thank you for everything you contribute.

I am no expert, on anything that I can think of but here goes some thoughts about the "72 hour window". And please understand these are just my thoughts and not based on any real "facts"

Perhaps at one time 72 hours was a good bet for getting help. "Back then" folks helped each other, and in many areas still will. BUT in a lot of areas the 72 hours I feel is only half as long as it should be.

IF you are preparing for "IT" to happen, lay in enough for yourself and your family. I am speaking of food, water and the means to prepare both for consumption. Also needed will be hygiene items, to cover the full range of bodily functions, and for cleansing and oral use as well although this COULD be bypassed for just a week, but why omit it if you don't need to. Besides it will help maintain your health, something VERY important in a survival or disaster situation. Let's face it, I think what most of us are preparing for is a disaster situation more than a TEOTWAWKI scenario.

In most cases a lot of Us country folk will already have enough foodstuffs to last at least a week, sometimes considerably longer just as a matter of course. Patty and I have enough canned goods for a stack 8 ft tall consisting of beans, peas, corn and other veggies and fruit along with some canned meats.

As mentioned water is also a consideration. Patty and I have stockpiled several cases of bottled water. Water that was given to us. It may, if we ever need to use it, taste stale but it will keep us hydrated.

Our plan in a disaster or TEOTWAWKI situation, IF we have to leave, is to make it the less than 10 miles to her brothers place "In the hills". Up there is a fresh supply of spring water, a 4 acre lake, and all kinds of animals in hundreds of acres of prime woodland and pastures. There is also permanent shelter there that is being expanded when funds allow. Why there is even a Privy!

So much is my thoughts, anyone else.

If we would have to Bug Out, we would have a 22 pistol, 22 rifles, AR15 and shotgun with ammo for them. All this would be thrown in the truck or jeep and driven as far as possible then "shanks mared" in the rest of the way. This weaponry added to what is already up there would fend off a sizable force IF they would happen to stumble across it, it is not easily accessible nor widely known about.

I'm already lovin' this. I can't wait to learn.
Question: "The end of the world as we know it" seems to be a long term situation no matter how I currently look at it, feedback please. Please let me know how this could be short term. The 72 hour thing seems a little ill prepared. A month minimum seems more realistic depending on where you live. I'm already ready for this (at least I think I am). Could you really be prepared for anything? We should discuss different situations and real life possibilities.
As a Christian, my faith comforts me. I must be prepared for what I think can happen. God gave me a brain to use, not set idle. "Pray but row for the shore" is a good philosophy in my book.

I have never been in harms way for any length of time. Never been lost for more than a few hours (Colorado Elk hunt), never had to spend the night in the wilderness unless I wanted to and have never been hungry enough to care about it.

Let's get this goin'.

Fred

My faith comforts me as well...but god gives us the will and the minds to be prepared and we should take full advantage of it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I like Psalm 23 - This is only part of it but it says a lot.

The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

I think this is going to be another one of Arch's good threads!

Arch seem to possess a great deal of knowledge and skill. I hope he has the patience to recover thoroughly first. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Arch thanks for the post about a great topic. I hope the recovery goes well. When you feel up to it please elaborate on the "myth" of a 72 hour kit, and what you carry in your psk.

I have some form of psk as well as other preps or survival kits in both of my vehicles, plus I add more trip specific and more emergency gear for any longer trips. I have a BOB or GHB (get home pack) that I carry in whatever vehicle I am using. I also have a couple of plastic totes filled with stuff for quick loading into a vehicle for quick evacuation scenario.

I think that most of us would rather not be in a position to have to leave our homes but I believe it is prudent for all of us to think and be prepared for multiple possibilities.

The 72 hour kit I think works better for military and expecialy police or sheriff
deputes in remote areas. If the thing really go south I found that the BOB is the way to go. If the situation is bad enough you have to use a 72 hour kit I really would rather have everything in my BOB and carry the extra weight.

Very good info here. Thanks Arch for starting this thread!

Three:

I have always said the only long term survival prep is to know Jesus as your personal Lord and savior.

But, TEOTWAWKI...

We won't be bugging out. It will be the new status quo. In that case how bad is it? How long until we have fuel (gas, electricity, etc) again. Likely, we would start to rebuild. Band together.

So if people are roaming around in looting, raping and pillaging there is and would be strength in numbers. “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12

But if not?

Mountain men of days past relied on others. They bought, sold and traded goods. It is a fact we can not do it all.

But, with the tools we already have can we hack it out on our own? Maybe, we could hunt an area bare as the Indians did and move along. Although, I know that statement isn’t politically correct I do know there are a lot of historians who say that is why they were nomadic.

Remember meat doesn’t last long when it isn’t in your freezer.

So TEOTWAWKI has a lot of possibilities and they would have to be addressed accordingly.

One:

72 hours?

3, 3 and 3

We all know what I am talking about. Three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food.

So we have air and can check that off the list. Next, we will need water. I have enough for three days of drinking at the house. Water is cheap. We should all have some in the garage.

IF I have some heads up. I would put a piece of tape over my tub drains and fill those puppies up as well as every pot and pan in the house.

Food is nice but if it is only 72 hours stent I’m thinking about; I would survive with none. So that situation is ok.

If however I was stuck away from my home with the subject of topic two, my BOB, I would need something to filter water (I need more work so I can afford to buy these things!). Or some of the water purification tabs or even bleach would work although not ideal. Heck, when I lived in Mexico we had to soak veggies in treated water before they were even fit to cook. I didn’t have a salad the entire time I was there.

Most people have a car or truck etc. Tossing a sealed dollar and fifty cent sealed gallon of water in the trunk or toolbox is probably a good idea.