Relocation Options: Realistic Or Unfeasible?

Is the relocation option something that’s realistic for most people, or is it not? While we can’t answer if it’s realistic in your situation, we can without a doubt state that relocating with an eye on prepping is something that few people follow through on.

We’ve been doing a lot of thinking on this subject; we’ve talked with friends about their various situations; and we’ve come to the belief that a lot of people choose to live in very bad situations because “it’s what we are used to.”

Trees grow where their seeds fall

Spice and I were riding our bicycles on the Katy Trail next to the Missouri River yesterday when she stopped and pointed to a tree that was growing from the side of a sheer rock face.

This tree’s seed had landed in a terrible spot; on a crack in a sheer cliff. But what’s a tree to do but grow where it’s planted? The tree had collapsed some time ago and was hanging down the rock face, but it was still alive, still  hanging in there producing seeds, and it showed no sign whatever of “giving up the ghost”. 

Of course, the thing about trees is that they can’t relocate by themselves… they can’t say “hey, this probably isn’t the best place for me to live, I should probably move out of this neighborhood and find some place not nearly so dangerous and stressful to me.”

Trees grow where their seed falls… but people are not trees…

Unlike for plants, self-relocation to get away from danger IS an option for people

We’ve talked about it in other articles like ones we’ve written about living in a flood prone area: It’s not nearly as hard for insurance companies and the government to convince most people to move out of areas that are repeatedly flooded or that are prone to other natural disasters on a regular basis.

What we find interesting, however, is those people who, no matter what, will rebuild right where they were when a disaster strikes. 

Example: A couple days ago, Salty watched an interview on the Weather Channel’s website with somebody who had been burned out of his home for the second time in the last 20 years. Two complete-loss fires in 20 years and what was he talking about? Rebuilding, of course. On the exact same spot. 

Some people call that persistence. We call it “he’s a slow learner”.

Options Limited As Future Earnings Consumed

Most people in America can’t afford to live a normal consumption-based lifestyle and additionally own a second property. The money won’t stretch that far for most people.

Most people in America are unwilling to give up a normal consumption-based lifestyle because that is “the norm.” Middle-class America has built a culture of social standing and status based not upon who our ancestors were (i.e. a hereditary class system) but rather we gain status among our peers by our possessions, our appearances, our job descriptions and our neighborhoods.

We keep up with the Joneses, and we in fact try our best to outdo those Jones people by having a newer car, a better-groomed yard, a two-horsepower larger lawnmower or a more elaborate Christmas light display.

All of this eats money, and in most cases it causes massive debt levels. All of this consumes options.

In a world where “normal” keeps happening, this isn’t that big of a deal. 

The thing is, preppers are not counting on the world staying normal. Herein lies the problem with overconsumption of consumer goods.

Understanding The Dangers

One of the most critical task that any prepper has is to have a realistic idea of what dangers are likely to occur if and when the SHTF. 

I contend that if a person knowingly lives in a flood plain, on a barrier island, in the eruption path of an active volcano (don’t just think Hawaii but also think places like around Mount Rainier in Washington where over 300,000 people live on the dad-gum slopes of the most overdue volcano in the USA)… they aren’t actually a prepper.

If people buy homes in an area like I mentioned above, where homes have been repeatedly destroyed by wildfires, they aren’t a prepper.

To us… and I admit this may well offend some people… if you live in a city (especially DEEP in a city, like in an apartment or condo) and you don’t have a bugout / relocation area all set up and ready to use at a moments notice… then while you may be a prepper, chances are if the SHTF in a big way you are not going to last very long. 

Full vs. Partial Relocation

The difference between full and partial relocation may seem obvious, but there’s a lot more too it than casually meets the eye.

Spice and I live in our retreat, and yet we have “The Place” available in case we need to locate. 

We also have partial relocation plans available including a livable camping bug-out vehicle and pre-arraigned places to go in other parts of the country. 

Most people, no matter how potentially dangerous of a situation they live in, will not leave if the Stuff Hits The Fan in a big way. While this may be realistic for somebody who is fully prepped and hunkering down during civil unrest (not something I want to try, but it can be done) it won’t work for many types of disasters. If the house is flattened, then it’s going to be really hard to shelter in place. 

BUT… We Aren’t Plants

We don’t have to stay where we are planted and just die if that place becomes uninhabitable.

The key, of course, to successful relocation at need is being prepared ahead of time… having prepared locations, having the means to get there, and getting there while the getting is good. 

Are you the cedar tree, doing a great job of hanging on to an unworkably bad situation?

I’d lay long odds that brave-looking little tree won’t be there in three years. The position is just too exposed. The rock flakes off too fast; and there’s not enough water. Drought years kill off those little cliff-hugger trees in droves. The tree doesn’t have a choice; but people do.

Need to live in a city to do your job? Ok, we all need to make a living. But not all cities are created equal. Is yours in the desert, piping water long distance? Does it depend on levees to hold back the ocean? Are the roads out abundant, or are there a few chokepoint bridges everyone will by trying to use in a disaster? How many times have your neighbors had to rebuild from scratch? Maybe most importantly, do you have a realistic plan that will let you get out before things get too bad, and somewhere to go To? Strengthening the roots holding you to a waterless, exposed cliff will only take you so far.