For me, bugging "out" to the boonies is a low-likelihood option for many reasons. I would have to bug "in" - to a most favorable nearby local in my area, and I am moving there presently.
Some recent/accomplished preps:
- good start on friendly neighbors, one of which is well-known to me
- walking/cycling distance to church and basic supplies
- Stocked enough flour and yeast to make 1 loaf of bread per week per person, through winter
- 20+ jars of jellies made
- pickled some peppers for Vitamin C and flavor
- stocked vitamins and basic meds thru winter
- established relationship with a rancher for enough beef through winter. He harvests in October.
- acquired some heirloom seeds
- saved jars for pickling and jelly
- 1/2 cord of cooking firewood, various quality and sources
- purchased a small iron stove at yard sale
- gun stuff is good
- kitchen utensils are ok
- 4 boxes of matches from dollar store
- couple old propane tanks with a burner fitting
- some canned goods on discount
- A dozen+ candles for $0.25 each, miscellaneous sizes, at a yard sale.
- Clothing is ok. I keep old work clothes, even if they are worn, so we can make it through any winter in this region
- Home is small, simple, well insulated, but in a safer area surrounded by the right type of people
- old but serviceable fire extinguishers
- several rolls of barbed wire and concertina wire leftover from construction sites
- used buckets, paint cans and potting soil for specialty planting
- some hand tools
- basic hygiene supplies
- old but good walkie-talkies
Prep ideas I am pursuing (budget and time willing):
- stock enough vinegar and pickling supplies to put up a full season of tomatoes, cukes, eggs, etc
- get stocks to hand-dig a well (recently moved to a low water table level):
^fun video that shows a shallow well being dug, plus "divining" for water. Divining seems like baloney, but my grandfather was reputedly good at it. Worth a try.
- Improve firewood stockpile (if it burns, it can go into the iron stove and heat a covered pot)
- Get a roto-tiller for spring garden
- Improve fence line and security on property
- Develop better skills like gardening, smoking meat, canning all foods
- chicken coop, maybe goat/s
- More powdered milk, get powdered cheese and eggs somewhere
- trapping supplies
- cheap but good storage for extra supplies (used plastic/glass/crockery containers)
- plant some hardy fruit trees
- set out rainwater barrels
- an old, durable, manual sewing machine
- more insecticide
Prep sources:
- Yard sales, estate sales, auctions. All are fun, priced right, and can lead to good connections for personal and business.
- Dollar stores are still good buys
- Almost exclusively shopping on discount/coupon
- craigslist (free is surprisingly productive in my area)
- 2d hand and goodwill stores
- antique shops often have goodwill-type sections
- closest nurseries to your home. They know what grows and doesn't grow.
- On many yard sales, I have found that the seller is more generous if I am a little generous. If the total comes to $17 and I offer a $20 and say "no change needed," they will often offer me something more valuable than the $3 change.
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