Last week, I talked about what you should look for in the context of bugging out; where and how and why. If you’ve done your homework, and scouted out locations and routes, you can be fairly confident that where you end up will actually be the right place.

If, however, you’re searching for a spot now for a future, unknown eventuality, what do you need to look for?

You need to decide, early on in the process, what use you’re going to make of the land you eventually purchase. For instance, we want a lot of trees that will protect us from the weather, from prying eyes and possibly intrusion (physical and auditory), with some open areas for gardening and pasture. We’ll grow most of what we need and hunt and trade for other things.

For power, we’ll go on-grid if that’s possible, off-grid if it’s not; we want live water, and we’ll drill a well and add septic. So far, so good. And of course, we also need to be able to get to it, and maybe quickly.

Yesterday, I talked to someone who had been worried about providing everything for her family. They raise chickens and her husband hunts; they have a small garden, but not big enough to grow everything they’ll need.

And then a light came on.

She was at a church function one day; the congregation includes several farmers who had brought produce to share. They were able to trade meat for vegetables!

So, you see, you don’t have to do it all—focus on your strengths and find a good community or prep group, or local sources, for the things you can’t produce yourself.

For me, I don’t really like game, and I’m not entire sure I could eat something that I kill. I have no problem eating something that SOMEONE ELSE kills . . . And I don’t do chickens. Ick. Nasty things. So we’ll trade for eggs too. My husband is on his own if he wants fried chicken!

But I can grow things, and cook and bake. Of course, many things, everyday items and those you make, can be traded too and can also provide a little income, most likely before SHTF.

Again, the better prepared you are, the better off you’ll be, whether it’s SHTF or a natural disaster or even just a tough winter or slow growing season. There are all kinds of possibilities, but you have to know your strengths and your weaknesses and be willing, sometimes, to compromise.