[kjoberk]

New to the actual prepping, but I've been thinking and learning some over the last year and a half or so. I'm just unsure of where to actually start! I have a couple lists...what I *want* in a first aid kit, what I want in a b.o.b, and what Id eventually like to accomplish for our house. However, we have a few issues that have me concerned.

First, we have no BOL. The closest place that either my husband or I would feel comfortable going is 19 hours (by car) and about 2000 miles away. And that's in ideal, non-SHTF conditions.

Second (and partly connected to our first problem) is we live on a very remote military installation. Remote as in, the closest town is 45 minutes away, and the nearest *good* town is about 2 hours away. Military installations had their pros and cons, definitely, but it's something I feel warrants a little concern, especially with how our government is as of late. Also, living in such a remote location has it's pros and cons. Not many people will drive 45 mins to raid a military base, but that also limits what we can do.

Third, we live in the desert...cold in the winter, extremely hot in the summer. My backyard doesn't have much sunlight for a garden. Bugging out would absolutely NOT be ideal for us if we couldn't use our car. We have three kids, 1 (almost 2), 3 and 7...plus two dogs. We physically couldn't bug out on foot with all of our family. I don't know how to prep for a possible bug out scenario. Obviously we would want to stay home as long as possible, but in the event we did need to bug out, I don't know how we'd do it.

Next, we live in, but are not residents of California, making it difficult for us to obtain firearms. We have a few, but not enough that I feel comfortable in a SHTF situation. I could defend myself and my kids without my husband, but that's about it. I could always go up to my home state, buy a firearm/ammo, and transport it home, but that isn't very cost effective.

All of this stuff has been weighing on me heavily. To add to all that, we're prepping on a less than ideal budget. We actually lost a lot of money moving from Hawaii to the mainland. We still have our bills to pay and to feed all of us in addition to starting our prep.

Any advice on my concerns would be great. I love to have things plainly spelled out for me, so what would be the most important things to start working on first? Water and food? BOBs? I'm also planning on putting bug out gear in both mine and my husbands cars, just in case we cannot grab our bags for whatever reason or we're separated for whatever reason. Anything is appreciated for this newbie.

 

[HuntingHawk]

Water is always a big priority. Store drinking water. Being you live on a military base a gas mask for everyone would be an idea since it could be a target one way or another. Option is a box of surgical masks or painter's masks.

No matter where you live or what your plans, each person should have a BOB. Fires, floods, chemical spills, etc justify having a BOB. Keep the BOBs small & light altering them for season.

 

[indie]

I'm in the same boat as far as figuring out how to bug out. The hubs is gone out of state so it would be just me with three that are 1, 3 and 5. If you don't already, you might consider getting the youngest used to a carrier like Ergo or Boba (Boba is my preference) so you can pack him/her. I pack mine, about 30 pounds, on my back and can do it all day but it takes time to get used to the weight. You can front carry with Ergo and Boba too, so you could pack a backpack on your back as well, or, if need be, another kid. I've never double carried with two carriers, but I pack a 45 pound kid in my arms while the other is on my back. Definitely something you want to be doing already if you foresee a need because it's a lot of weight.

If you are out on foot, none of your three will be able to continuously walk. I'm looking at something like this: http://dixonrollerpack.com/ or Amazon.com: Deer Cart Game Hauler Utility Hunting Accessories Gear Dolly Cart 500lb New: Sports & Outdoors to either pack gear or kids. A red wagon might be a good idea too, if you could rig up a harness to pull it.

You can get dog packs if your dogs are big enough to carry some of their own gear: Amazon.com: Outward Hound Backpack, Extra Large, Blue: Pet Supplies

The two littlers aren't going to be able to pack much but your 7-year old could have a BOB with clothes and other light things.

But you're right, the reality is that you just have to stay in place unless there's absolutely no other option.

 

[Denton]

Hi, K; welcome to the group.

 

[HuntingHawk]

Indie is right in that you want something you can put the kids in & some basic gear & push them for bugout on foot.

 

[LunaticFringeInc]

Well being in the military certainly presents you with some challenges that most don't have to contend with. That can certainly complicate things in many ways. I know I was in the military and a prepper too! In fact at one point I was stationed in Komifornia, god was a glad to get PCS orders outta that place and it wasn't that off the reservation when I was there last as it is today!!!

Your in the military and attached to them like it or not. You cant just not show up to work and wait for things to blow over, so I wouldn't waste much thought on a BOL. I would however concentrate on bugging in, especially if your in base housing! That's what I did while I was active duty before retiring. I concentrated on things I could do to make the going easier for me when everyone else was sucking up butter milk and hating life. You gotta have water! You gotta have food and you need shelter, not getting around the three. I would look at those three and see where at you can improve things. Think of prepping as a marathon not a sprint. Pace your self and do what you can when you can. After a time you will be surprised to find your self on much higher ground than the sheep around you. Then you will either leave the military or PCS some place where things might have a better out look for you. Then you can address other issues such as being able to bug out to a BOL or other safe place. While there may be a lot you cant do, there is still a whole lot that you can do. Do them!

 

[HuntingHawk]

Electric or water is lost where you are at on base housing you might need to relocate to another section of the base.

 

[kjoberk]

Indie, I've been baby wearing since my middle baby was born! My youngest, while he loves to toddle around and explore, but loves riding in the Ergo for long walks when he gets tired! I've actually been looking up patterns for a mei tai carrier for my husband if a second carrier were needed. They're lightweight and easy to use, and decently cheap to make. So I've added it to my to do list! a wagon or something similar is definitely something I want to invest in too. If we *did* have to bug out, it would be nicer to walk along the highway or in the desert with one than without one, I think anyway.

And yes! Thank you for bringing up the fact that it would be really difficult for us to leave, Lunatic. We've considered that. Like I said, bugging out would be our absolutely last option, and I would assume that by that point, my husbands Army job wouldn't be too much of an issue. I do have another concern with him being military in that what would happen if he was mobilized in a SHTF scenario? Either abroad or stateside, depending on what happened. He's not national guard, but that doesn't mean there's not a chance he won't have to go do *something*. I'm not an expert by any means. He's awesome in stressful situations, though I've been working on it.

I also have to keep in kind that while we do live surrounded by military personnel, I doubt all of them are prepared for something. I know that a lot of these guys and gals are pretty young. I know some of them cause trouble -- for example, while waiting for our house, we lived in temporary housing and the people across the street like to drink a little too much really often. Nothin wrong with have a few drinks, but they would get into arguments and the MPs would be called. Not exactly the type of people I want to be associated with...and they aren't very prepared for the next week, let alone prepared for something bs happening.

The one thing about living here specifically that I like is that we have a gas stove, so until gas went out, we'd have a stove.

Thanks everyone for your insight! Starting to get water together and ways to purify it will be top priority right now. We have R/O water faucets, so I think having a way to purify water would be smart since regular tap isn't recommended for drinking.

The more I think about this stuff, the better my husbands idea of getting out of the military and moving to Wyoming looks. Haha.

 

[kjoberk]

Electric or water is lost where you are at on base housing you might need to relocate to another section of the base.

Definitely something to think about. In August and September, we had two 24+ hour power outages. We had food (and our gas appliances) that we could use to cook, but it was so hot it was hard to do that in our house. They set up little cool air tents for the residents here, so I'll assume that they would set up something like that else where on base for different situations. Haha, not that being around a ton of people would make me feel good about anything (I'm kind of a hermit by nature), but the possibility is there.

 

[LunaticFringeInc]

You know...I really hated the ,military while I was in and I can relate to a lot of your concerns but staying in for my 20 year retirement was so worth it even though I lost my medical benefits. It was nice to wake up at age 39 and get paid for it! Weigh your options long and hard before you decide to bail. Its a tough road to sometimes walk and even tougher when your married!

 

[kjoberk]

His ETA date isn't until 2015, and if he reenlists, it's indef. I think he wants to stay in. Honesty, the benefits are worth it...we wouldn't have to worry about the entire Obamacare fiasco, or housing or anything else really. Any problems we do have are ours that we made ourselves. His reasonings behind getting out are purely opinionated...with the lack of a competent government, he just wants to do what's best for the entire family. Which I understand. I've been lucky that I've gotten to stay home with my kids, and right now, me having a job would be counter productive, with daycare costs. So ultimately, I'm leaving the choice to stay in or get out up to him...it's his career, and as he's the only bread winner, I feel like my say isn't as important (well, it is, just not as much as his, if that makes sense). I can, have and will adapt to whatever situation we find ourselves in.