Identifying Your Ideal Survival Retreat
When it comes to preparing for the unpredictability of life, many preppers prioritize finding a suitable survival retreat location, ideally in a rural area. It's a common belief that distancing oneself from urban centers is the best strategy for ensuring safety and self-sufficiency. However, I’m here to share some insights from my own experience: moving too far into the hinterlands can often lead to complications that might make you reconsider your choices.
During a time of heightened anxiety, my family and I ventured out into the countryside, situated at least six miles from the nearest store and around 25 miles from any significant town. After years of living in such isolation, we eventually acknowledged our desire for proximity to a community. This realization is not unique to us—many individuals who adopt a survivalist mindset ultimately gravitate back towards populated areas after a taste of rural life.
The Importance of Community in Survival Situations
Humans are social beings, and establishing a solid support system during uncertain times is crucial. Consider the variety of scenarios where having a community can be beneficial:
- Who will assist you if you suffer an injury while chopping wood?
- With whom can you exchange resources, like extra batteries or medical supplies?
- Who will share in the enjoyment of successful harvests from the garden?
- In dire situations, which neighbors can you rely on for mutual assistance against threats?
- How can you ensure your kids have access to social connections or potential partners for the future?
- Which community members possess knowledge of local plants that can treat infections without resorting to antibiotics?
In discussions with those who have endured currency collapse or civil unrest, the consensus seems clear: being close to a supportive community vastly improves your chances of survival. For comprehensive preparedness, you cannot overlook the social aspect of surviving. The ideal survival retreat is ideally situated within close proximity to a small community.
Finding the Right Distance from Urban Areas
In our car-centric culture, many have lost connection with a more pedestrian lifestyle. So, how close is the “ideal” distance from a town or community? Interestingly, historical trends reveal that towns in the Middle Ages often featured marketplaces roughly 14 miles apart. This created a maximum walking distance of about 7 miles from any location to a community resource.
Being closer to the heart of the town not only enhances your ability to network and form relationships but also prepares you better to lead in emergencies. I recently collaborated with a couple who moved back into a small town after years of rural isolation. Initially, they thought it was a temporary solution, but they gradually found joy in the community. With an easy walk to work and access to local stores, they embraced the experience of engaging with their neighbors while teaching crucial survival skills, such as gardening.
Finding The Perfect Survival Retreat
When searching for your own survival retreat, aim for a location within a short driving distance of essential services while maintaining the peace and tranquility of rural living. Balancing access to community resources with the solace of nature provides the best of both worlds. Consider a property that ranges no more than 7 miles from the nearest small town or city to reap the benefits of community support.
Creating your survival retreat doesn't have to be a daunting endeavor. Evaluate your personal preferences, lifestyle, and needs to ensure the area you choose complements your survival goals. Whether you are planning for an emergency or looking to embrace a sustainable lifestyle, consider investing time in finding the right spot.
Learning and Sharing Knowledge
Your survival retreat should be a hub for personal growth and sharing ideas. As you prepare your property and establish connections, look for opportunities to learn various survival skills from others. The exchange of knowledge can empower you and your community—collaborate to enhance everyone’s preparedness.
For more insights and resources on survival strategies, check out these related articles:
- To Bug Out or Stay In? That is the Question
- Best Bug Out Locations | Where To Go When The SHTF
- Bugging Out Without Leaving a Trail
- Top Survival Skills | Learn Now, Survive Later
- 29 YouTube Survival Skills That Could Save Your Life
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right survival retreat is both an art and a science. By considering accessibility, community support, and a commitment to personal growth, you create a plan that will serve you well. So whether you're prepping for economic collapse or natural disasters, remember the importance of social connections and the balance between peace and practicality as you cultivate your survival haven.
What are your thoughts on finding the perfect survival retreat? How have you evaluated potential locations? Share your insights and experiences in the comments section below!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Jan 27, 2014, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
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I have received your information for several months and awhile back I noticed several of your survival guides were $ 7.00, a discount from the $ 27.00 you had posted, Have I missed the boat by not ordering at the discount price? Any Information you could send would be greatly appreciated. Thank You Ron
This is an interesting topic that seriously needs more discussion among preppers.
Whether to “but out” or “bug in” is a very controversial topic, the answer to which is often situational.
A problem with bugging out no matter how near or far, is that wherever you bug out to you will likely be viewed as a stranger to be regarded with suspicion if not open xenophobic hostility (given that that your bugout location will be under nearly as much social stress and deprivation as where you bugged out from, plus the burden of hosting many other stressed-out buggees.)
Bugging-in might be better unless you are being forced out “for your own good” by police and/or military, or a catastrophe that makes the area uninhabitable. You are familiar with your surroundings, and most of your belongings and supplies are likely to be right where you live.
I think that a VERY under-discussed topic is OPSEC – keeping a low profile, and avoiding attention.
Truth is, all that prep work will make you a huge target, and no matter how well armed you think you are you will be no match for the zombie hordes (or government troops) out to take your supplies.
This is the criticism I have of SHTF survival plans which rely on growing your own foods, or aquaponics, or methane generation for power. All of that stuff has a big footprint, and will ultimately attract the notice of the hordes of the unprepared, who will swarm to take it all from you before ripping each other to pieces to take it from those who took it from you.
The “reality” series Doomsday Preppers is quite the joke. First of all they go out and find the nuttiest people willing to show themselves on camera, all for the purpose of painting all preppers as paranoid nut cases. Secondly, no real prepper worth his salt will tell even his neighbors about his preps, much less brag all over national television what he has stashed away in his cellar.
Living in what appears to be a ramshackle little hut with nothing to your name but the filthy tatters on your back is probably a better approach than the heavily-armed and techno-heavy survival castles on a hill shown on TV. No one needs to know what you have stashed in your basement – or even that you have a basement to stash anything in.
Seriously?? Who are your kids going to marry? 25 miles out is still a suburb!
Oh really? That depends on where you live. Where I live – a small town of 300 – it’s 27 miles to the nearest town with any kind of services. We have no grocery store here, a convenience store, a couple of bars and 2 eating establishments and a small bakery, all with limited hours of operation. There isn’t much of a need for us to head for the boonies…we’re already here! 😉
Agree with Michael… I’m on the far outskirts of a small town (1,200)with open lots across, alongside and behind my home… open farmland across the street and about 600 yards from a river… If SHTF, there will be a lot more open space… many will move into town to be with family and leave empty houses… farms will have unplanted fields and offer a new “homestead” opportunity (for use only, not occupy or own). Nearest towns ~ 4 and 6 miles and 2 small cities ~ 15 and 25 miles. It’s more like an “outpost” than being totally isolated and there’s a bar/tavern about 1/2 mile away (on that river)… a natural meeting spot to socialize and organize community needs… Home-Sweet-Home…
I live 60-75 miles from shopping and a normal life’ I’d still bug out to the mountains or somewhere safe if the SCD. I know what to take to survive,have campers to live in and all neccities stored in them. If push comes to shove (maily from our local Gestopo ,over 100,in a town of 1500’I’m next to the border’)I’d bug out in a heart beat’
I’m about 9 miles from town in a small community. We’ll be okay!
The link at then end of the article for the retreat 404s on my iPhone. FYI
I agree w the article, it is important to stay somewhat close to others. Social is just as important as biology to our survival.
I live 6 miles from town 4 from a store in the head of a hollow. Road is one way in one way out. My house burned 20 years ago I rebuilt. I built a cord wood house. Folks said it wouldn’t work that I would never finish it. But with the help of a lady I worked with we did it. I hired the foundation built and a post and beam built could not get any one to do the logs. Sooooo we did it just two old women(53-55). It is still doing fine walls are18 inches so that helps with warming and cooling. You can do it no matter what people tell you.
I feel it depends on the situation at hand. In a complete fall of laws and civilization I would want to be far away from large groups of people and the chaos that will follow. Eventually we will want to work together again and reform societies. At that point you will be safer with a group of people for the reasons you gave and to avoid people preying on the helpless and secluded.
When I decided to leave the DC metro area, I had a list of things I needed. Because my kids have special needs and health concerns we needed to be near a hospital. I wanted to be far enough from the Potomac so as not to have to worry about another hurricane like Isabella. I needed a good school system for my kids. I found it in a lovely undisclosed town, where happily my parents also live so I can have reliable child care when I need a break. It is a long commute for my husband but he does have the option of working from home when the weather is bad. I am building raised bed to grow my own food, planning on planting some mini fruit trees and a rosemary hedge to keep out the deer. Also considering rabbits for meat. Eventually we hope to afford solar panels and the rain barrels. We are replacing the appliances and lights with much more energy efficient ones, one at a time. We would not bug out but as a very last resort or a wildfire, which is unlikely but possible. Since we are in town, we have access to a lot of things like good internet access, fire hydrants, trash pick up, reliable sewer and water. My parents live farther out and they have none of those things. I would love to move slightly further out to have larger livestock eventually, but the kids come first.