Everyone who is new to the preparedness journey eventually encounters a variety of terms. The term “Bug Out Location” is usually among some of the first new vocabulary words one learns upon exploring the world of Prepping. Since there is no real dictionary description for a Bug Out Location it took a little bit of looking to see what others would define this term to mean.
Below is a generality of what someone may refer to as a Bug Out Location:
Often there is a pressure on many people to have a Bug Out Location. They are told that if they don’t have one that is fully self-sufficient and fortified to fight off marauders, then they will never survive any pending doom. However, an alternate location to which to Bug Out to is not always vital.
- If one can have a neighborhood or area prepared enough to bind together and ward off any unwanted infiltrators while protecting each other, just bug in.
- If one already lives rural enough that the population is sparse where we are, then fortifies the rural surroundings and rural neighbors and just bug in.
- If a family lacks the funds to secure an alternate location, do not give up on preparing and assume all is lost because there is no Bug Out Location. Learn what to do and deal with how you will bug in.
Having a Bug Out Location is not paramount to most preparedness plans. Having a Bug Out Bag or Bug Out Plan is…. but no location (property owned, stocked and available ) is required. So don’t let the lack of that stop you from preparing!
Age appropriate family preparedness is often a topic left off the table due to the wide variety of family approaches to preparedness planning. However we have seen some key elements that need addressing when discussing this wide and varied topic.
At what age is it reasonable to begin teaching our children about preparedness planning? Do we deny them a ‘normal’ childhood by drills, gas masks and fear? Do we allow them to live in oblivion thinking life as they know it will always be lollypops and fluffy clouds?
Parenting is difficult enough as it is in our current time, but throw in the prepping mind-set, some young children, a tight budget and the signs of the times ahead and a family could be headed for a disaster greater than the collapse of our economy. That disaster would be: resentful children, bitter parents and a disassembled or at least disconnected family unit.
At this point we will refrain from giving a LIST of things to do or accumulate for Family Preparedness. Although that is often what people are looking for to prepare their families for emergencies and we WILL get to that. Look for lists, steps and ideas in the upcoming June 2012 issue of PREPARE Magazine. For now, this short article will focus on just a few of the intangibles that Prepare your Family.
Parental Attitude must be Peaceful and not Anxious. Kids (from infant to teen) are thermometers. If you are prepping in a fearful or dogmatic fashion, they will react based on that attitude. Either they will become overly anxious and easily triggered to react poorly or they will simply rebel. After all, aren’t we as parents supposed to protect them? How much faith do they have in us if we act like people possessed by fear and anxiety.
Include, educate and involve kids. Explaining why you prepare and want them to be a part of it is more bonding than showing them all you’ve done for them (and expecting the accolades for it). Make it a fun, Family affair to learn new skills or build bug out bags. Keep fear at by by your attitude and enjoyment of doing this. Isn’t it a joy to provide for and protect your family? Yes. Show that.
Respect each teen and adult family member’s’ right to opt out. As painful and worrisome as it may be, forcing someone to ‘buy into prepping’ is usually the most counter productive thing we can do. If you’ve fostered the other two above traits and a loved one decides not to live as you do, relax. By shear raising, when the time comes – he or she will know what to do or at least they will feel welcome enough of where to come (to you) in an emergency. By then, they will have understood the need and will be willing to contribute.
If you shove Preparedness in the face of loved ones, if you Prepare out of fear like a control freak, or if you become the Martyr of your Family’s Preparedness Plan (you know, the mentality that “you have to do everything”) then your family is more likely to suffer a casualty of dismemberment than if you foster the ideals listed above. That casualty is likly to occur far sooner than an event of cataclysmic proportion that proves you need to have been prepared. You’ll want your Family Unit in that situation. Lay the groundwork NOW to keep that most precious commodity.
Within the Preparedness movement, there are varying degrees of Operational Security (OPSEC). There are two things we must always keep in mind about Preparedness Operational Security: Differing definitions and Respect.
Preparedness OPSEC can be defined mostly by two very differing views. It is my belief that the two are not in opposition but rather work in tandem, provided respect is also considered. The two types of OPSEC for preppers fall into the categories of spreading the word or laying low.
One OPSEC view is to share the message, skills, encouragement and enthusiasm for preparing to all who have ears, eyes and the mind/heart to receive it. To rally the troupes to work together and build toward a foreseeable solution. The other OPSEC view is to quietly and solely prepare in secret to avoid prying eyes and the local snitch from pointing out prepping to those who view it as a ‘traitorous’ act. Preparedness OPSEC can be managed either way and both approaches can be used simultaneously. My opinion is that a healthy combination of both approaches will make for the best OPSEC approach. Encouraging and sharing verbally with others what you do can create a more prepared (thus less panicked) community. Being selective on exactly what ALL you share (location, amount of food, etc) can keep you protected.
The second thing to keep in the forefront of our minds when it comes to Preparedness Operational Security is the value of Respect. Respect the rights of the privacy of others in your preparedness relationships. Never blab about someone else’s prepping, local or even lack of being prepared in an area. Respect the rights of other preppers to share (or not share) their own journey by whatever means they feel appropriate.
In short, when it comes to Preparedness OPSEC, you ARE your brother’s keeper.
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A new, one of a kind magazine is about to hit your inbox! That is if you’ve gone to get your complimentary year’s subscription while it is in the pre-launch phase.
The creators of PREPARE Magazine are so delighted to bring this to the preparedness community that offering it to you for FREE during the pre- launch will only help the publication become that much better!
Within the publication you’ll find encouragement to walk the preparedness journey, skills to equip you along the way and insight to enrich your life as you prepare for the future. PREPARE Magazine will help people from all walks of life. Whether you live in the suburbs and urban areas or in rural, there will be something for you as the complimentary year progresses. Whether you are new and feel overwhelmed or uncertain of where to begin or if you consider yourself a veteran of preparedness living, PREPARE Magazine will give you that booster shot of encouragement to keep you on the right path.
What you won’t find in PREPARE Magazine are: conspiracy theories, zombies or scare tactics to cause you to react irrationally.
What you will find in PREPARE Magazine are: urban and suburban ideas for preparedness, rural ideas for preparedness, preparedness community happenings so you can connect, skill building tips and articles to inspire you in your journey.
YOU can help us build the magazine as we approach the official launch of the print publication to suit the needs of the preparedness community all over the globe! Place your own classified ad , or submit an article to be contributing columnist or by add events to the community happenings board. This magazine, both the pre-launch digital version and the upcoming official launch printed publication will truly be for those of us that see the need to PREPARE.
Find out more – but don’t neglect your own free year!
