Bugging out revisited

Normally I'm not a huge fan of bugging out. Much rather bug in. Home is where my strength is. That's where I have access to resources and it's where my tribe is. For most situations, staying put makes perfect sense. I'm in the middle of nowhere so things like urban riots don't affect me. Food and energy shortages are easier to deal with when there's fish in the lake, game in the woods, and trees to burn for heat.

However, there are times when the logical thing to do is to bug out. Hurricane Matthew is a pretty good recent example. If you are living in the path of a hurricane it makes more sense to avoid it than defy it. The hurricane don't care. If you are in the path of a wildfire, just getting out of the way is the thing to do. Sure, you could lose your home and most of your possessions, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Your life and the lives of your loved ones are at stake. Everything else is just stuff.

You also have to pay attention to the political situation. At one time Germany was the country most friendly to Jews. That's why there were so many there just before WWII. Obviously things changed for the worse and it didn't take too long. Very few Jews survived by staying in Germany and those who did suffered greatly. WWI Jewish vets who fought bravely and served their country never thought it would turn on them. Even putting their lives on the line for their country was no protection. Germany has few Jews to this day.

What if someone wanted to avoid the horrors of WWII completely? Where could they have gone? Some countries in South America? Switzerland? -there were few places unaffected.

What would you look like when you got there? Perhaps you'd be in the same boat as the Syrian refuges today? Escaping with few possessions and resources puts you at the mercy at the host country. It's a rough way to go with uncertain outcome.

As always, those with means have better options. You don't have to pay a smuggler to cram you on an overcrowded boat with uncertain seaworthiness. Instead you board a commercial flight and go through normal passport control.

Even then, if you happen to be of the wrong political persuasion, you'd better get out before they start rounding up your kind. It doesn't matter what your kind is. As long as you are perceived to be different you can become a scapegoat. Just because you are wealthy doesn't mean your passport can't be revoked and your funds frozen.

With that in mind, bugging out early makes sense. Know which way the wind blows and avoid denial.

What about the rest of us with moderate means? Do you have relatives or friends in a safer place? Would they be happy to see you and help you get set up? Sadly, sometimes people have better luck with strangers than family. Strangers might give you a break.

There is something to be said for becoming a citizen of the sea. When power was being transferred from white to black rule in South Africa, citizens were forbidden from leaving the country with their wealth. A fair number got into sailing during those days. They did not have permission to leave the country, but one day their sailboat just disappeared over the horizon. Some had a little gold and jewels hidden in the bilge. Others left with just the boat. I know of some who became Dominican citizens because getting Dominican papers used to be fairly cheap and easy. Not sure what the situation is today.

People who don't have a plan are victims. Sometimes bugging out is the only thing to do.

-Sixbears