what should be considered in bug out placement choice

[easy rider]

A lot to take in here ,you have given this great thought I'm sure.
Not quite so simple as it first thought appears .
I need to go over this several times and then look for a better location,I have a few days location but no long term retreat that's viable.
Great stuff ,ta

[Bubbles]

IMHO anyone that doesn't consider bugging out is far from prepared. The ability to live wild is completely lost for many and it's not generational its down to your ability to survive without your phone and technology.

If my family have to do it then we will, they won't be happy but I will be smiling on the inside.

Location is firstly about resources, can you get wood to build, water to drink, food to eat. After that is a case of security - can you be seen from a distance, are you accessible to passers by or is it out of the way enough to be hidden.
Routes to and from hunting spots fishing spots water points all need to be considered in the same way. You need routes in and out that can be concealed because if you go wild then someone else will be as well and tracking is a very important skill so learn to hide your tracks.

If you have this as a spot then we'll done, next you need to prepare your mind for true survival none of this survive or thrive rubbish its the first only. If you don't plan to survive every scenario then don't plan to thrive because you will not make it.

I admire you for thinking big to start with, maybe just go for a few walks with what I can stashe bags, just cheap plastic bags with cardboard boxes in covered in tinfoil. Find about 5spots and leave then to see if people find them or disturb them if not it's a viable place.

[jansman]

I think that is a little harsh Bubbles. Not everyone wants to go live in the woods. Running away with no real , solid place, a place you can call yours whether rented, hired or owned, is not viable. You effectively become a refugee.

Being a Country Lad born and bred, I am capable of looking after myself, and mine, if I had to. But I will say this: No way after the end of September to the beginning of June do I want to live under a tarp in the woods, it is a recipe for a slow death. How many times we hear of living off the land . I did that shit in the services. And NO way would I drag my Wife into such a situation especially if there are loads of freaked out crazies out there.

Many members of the forum are Bushcrafters, and enjoy living like that. Good for them. Many also plan to bug out in emergency, but to a relative or hotel. It is our plan if need be. Just because people do not wish to live like Bear Grylls does not make them any less survival minded. And The Mind is the key.

[Bubbles]

I'm not trying to be harsh I've met so many "preppers" that have "things in place" in an emergency, when in my opinion what they actually have is common sense and a plan in place for a bad situation. An emergency is much worse. It is not me being dismissive I understand that emergency is subjective but as someone that works as a contingency planner I can assure you there are things that are much worse than joblessness or homelessness. And although officials have plans - those in the service will repeat "no plan survives a contact" when shtf staying in your house nice and cosy will be the slow death, what happens in 2/3/4 months when it all starts running out and your cabin fevered and you need to venture out but your unsure what to expect what could really be out there. Better to to be tired, cold, and alive than waiting for death.

The mind is key and if you can't do the worst then how will you do what is necessary.... Would you steal to support your family? Would you fight another person for water? Would you be willing to do the worst?
My answer is I wouldn't do those things unless I needed to... And that's is the key.... I could do it.

[Deeps]

I'm not trying to be harsh I've met so many "preppers" that have "things in place" in an emergency, when in my opinion what they actually have is common sense and a plan in place for a bad situation. An emergency is much worse. It is not me being dismissive I understand that emergency is subjective but as someone that works as a contingency planner I can assure you there are things that are much worse than joblessness or homelessness. And although officials have plans - those in the service will repeat "no plan survives a contact" when shtf staying in your house nice and cosy will be the slow death, what happens in 2/3/4 months when it all starts running out and your cabin fevered and you need to venture out but your unsure what to expect what could really be out there. Better to to be tired, cold, and alive than waiting for death.

The mind is key and if you can't do the worst then how will you do what is necessary.... Would you steal to support your family? Would you fight another person for water? Would you be willing to do the worst?
My answer is I wouldn't do those things unless I needed to... And that's is the key.... I could do it.

Can't you accept that we're a fairly disparate bunch on here Bubbles. What might work for you or seem important to you might not fit my expected scenarios. We have women on here, older people, folk who have various conditions that would limit them running off to the woods. I've got a bloody princess that wouldn't appreciate being dragged off to live under canvas and while ultimately she would be dragged if required, its not our first choice.

You seem to have made your mind up that you'll abandon your house and head for the woods, the counter argument is that once you've left it others might move in and its lost to you, I don't think there's a hard and fast rule to this, we'll all have our own views on it, you've got yours, fair enough but I'll not be leaving Casa Deeps unless I really have to, to be reviewed at the time of course. Horses for courses.

[junmist]

What you would do when you are young, fit and single is deferent to what you would do when you are married and have family or if you are older and not in good health or are looking after people who are not in good health. I have a few idea's that I can use as short term, medium term, and long term but I have to say none of them include camping out in woods it's not that I can't its that I don't want to And unless your other half is into wild camping then you are going to meet series resistance when you want to go, being in a relationship means thinking of everything. And don't forget extended family
1. What are you going to do if you have a teenager who cannot get hold of their friends doesn't want to be there won't do what you ask them to do and might wonder off and give your hiding place away.
2. What do you do if one of your young children becomes ill/hurt and your other half wants to get back to people in the hope of finding a doctor to help.
3. What happens to your family, if something happens to you in a place that they have no idea what needs to be done to survive like,. Boiling water and finding food.
4. What to do if someone finds them while you are out getting food/water and are not there to protect them.
And that is only 4 things and some of what I have said can happen anywhere BUT something's are easer to cope with in familiar surrounding and course less arguments and stress

[jansman]

And there in lies the crux. We all have a different outlook, as Deeps and junmist says quite rightly.

Many here do prepare for Armageddon. Many also prepare for what is possible on a daily basis, such as the aforementioned unemployment- which can lead to homelessness. I have been out of work, and it is traumatic. My Brother was, AND lost his home. This week parts of Lancashire have had a water crisis. The average Prepper would not even break stride over such a thing, unlike the general public. That is what it is all about. The bigger things MAY come later.

We must not, any of us, fall into the trap of thinking ours is the only approach.

[Wales1]

As most people have said my first priority is to bug in. However if that option becomes impossible then we are heading towards family, both of whom have coal/wood burning fireplaces and remote-ish locations. We are well aware that we would be refugees and would have to pay our way in skills and lending a hand.

Hypothetically speaking if there was some kind of Plague event meaning the surviors could pick and choose from the bones of society, then my considerations would be:
A well/stream/water supply
High-ish ground.
Strong sturdy structure-solid construction nothing built within the past 40 years.
Neighbors-either a village location or a large enough 'manor house' to enable communal living-there is strength in numbers.
Land-gardens/feilds to grow crops on.
remote-ish location.
Outbuildings/barns.

[Deeps]

And there in lies the crux. We all have a different outlook, as Deeps and junmist says quite rightly.

Many here do prepare for Armageddon. Many also prepare for what is possible on a daily basis, such as the aforementioned unemployment- which can lead to homelessness. I have been out of work, and it is traumatic. My Brother was, AND lost his home. This week parts of Lancashire have had a water crisis. The average Prepper would not even break stride over such a thing, unlike the general public. That is what it is all about. The bigger things MAY come later.

We must not, any of us, fall into the trap of thinking ours is the only approach.

[Briggs 2.0]

Would you steal to support your family? Would you fight another person for water? Would you be willing to do the worst?
My answer is I wouldn't do those things unless I needed to... And that's is the key.... I could do it.

Have you considered that some people prep for people like you.