Single/unencumbered planning

[rob_s]

Since I have found my familial situation completely changed in the last 6 months, going from having a woman and a child that I considered my responsibility to living alone "without a care in the world" I've found my priorities shifting in many areas. One of them is the survival/defense aspect. In talking with a friend today at lunchtime I was reminded of just how much as he talked about his planning and I compared it to mine.

I'm curious to hear from other unencumbered folks re: your planning, if any. I frankly find myself rather unconcerned now, with more of a "have a gun, have some clothes, will travel" attitude. Without others to potential protect/feed/care-for it seems to open up more options but also make the idea of worrying too much about planning pretty moot.

Thoughts?

[Kfgk14]

Under my care are my fiance, parents, and in an SHTF scenario, my brother would join me as would his kids and wife, though they my brother would be an asset, not a liability/responsibility. This has required me to take the "bug-in" strategy with the majority of my preps. Bailing out is a last resort for me. If I wasn't taking care of all of them, my preps would be focused more on mobility and I would have greater options.

[PappyM3]

It makes everything considerably less stressful, that's for sure.

You don't have to worry about going to pickup loved ones and whether or not you'll be able to at the time.

You also don't have to worry about if a brazen action of yours could potentially endanger someone that's with you.

You don't have to listen to any moaning about something being too hard or too heavy.

Downsides:

You will probably have to carry more because you no longer have people to share the load for group items.

Morale is usually improved if you're enduring a situation with someone else.

[Doc Safari]

I've been unencumbered for several years now. I inherited a ranch, and as soon as the economy improves where I think I can sell it, I'm out of here and retiring to the city.

If the SHTF before then, I plan to make this my fortress, my bat cave, my island, my Shangri-La.

If the flash mobs keep spreading, or the general unrest starts turning into riots nationwide or something, then I'd rather be here than anywhere. A few worries being along the border, but nothing is ever paradise, is it?

To be perfectly blunt, in preparation I do right now is due to threatened gun regulations under the radar than any perceived need to get ready for the Apocalypse.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Rob, do you have parents? Any siblings with children? I do, and after my divorce my thoughts centered around them for me to assist in a bad situation.

If you have a surplus of supplies such as food stores then you could always trade/barter the items when things go south.

[Jfkudla]

I've been unencumbered for several years now. I inherited a ranch, and as soon as the economy improves where I think I can sell it, I'm out of here and retiring to the city.

That sounds awesome. I'd keep the ranch and dismiss moving to the city, but that's just me.

[Doc Safari]

That sounds awesome. I'd keep the ranch and dismiss moving to the city, but that's just me.

I'm a little too close to the border for comfort, and making money off the ranch is not easy. Eventually it will be worth more to me in money than in lifestyle.

[Dave L.]

If I was alone (and depending on the situation), I would look for a group to link up with. My plan would not be to stay alone. That whole "one is none" shit; it's true.

The other advice I like from JWR is to not only prepare for yourself and immediate family, but be prepared to take on friends and other relatives. They will panic then the first person they will think of is the "crazy guy" (you) who has a metric shit ton of canned food and guns/ammo. They will be knocking on your door within days of an event. I gave it lots of thought and came to the realization that I would not be able to turn away any friend or family member. So the burden falls on me to stock extra supplies.

Depending on your location, you may be better suited to have people come to you (ranch/retreat). Even if you have to stockpile enough shit for others who may not have the financial freedom to do so, it will be worth it when you have extra sets of eyes and trigger fingers.

[rob_s]

No family geographically close enough to matter in this case. Do have friends in the area.

For small-time, more likely events like hurricanes I'll simply leave and come back to survey devastation. That's a non-issue for me, and it's what insurance is for.

[NWPilgrim]

Being single does simplify things a lot. Before getting married and having kids I was pretty footloose. I didn't even worry about jobs since I did not need to make much to live on.

If I were single now I would look at having caches in a few geographic areas and capitalizing on my mobility. Either stored at a friend's/family's house elsewhere, or a trailer parked on someones larger property. Not buried but more like ready to use when I drop by. Use them as vacation spots during good times and as "alternate" locations if any one of them gets dangerous.