Bugging Out

If you browse through online preparedness communities, you'll see a lot of discussions about assembling bug out bags. You'll see significantly less discussion about what to do with a bug out bag. A bug out bag is little more than a talisman to many people who possess them. Having the bag makes them feel safe because when shit hits the fan, they can grab the bag and... do something? A lot of people seem to have a fantasy where a situation demands that they grab their bug out bag, fuck off to the woods, and survive until the situation blows over. Most of these people don't have a plan though.

Having a plan requires assessing your situation and capabilities. Let's consider the fantasy above. First, can you even fuck off to the woods? Are there woods anywhere near where you live? If you live in a large metropolitan area, the nearest woods might be 10, 20, or even 100 miles away. How are you going to get there? By vehicle? Do you think the roads will be clear during this situation? Maybe you'll walk! Have you ever put on your bug out bag and taken a several mile walk? Second, can you even survive a night in the woods? Do you know how to start a fire? Do you know how to build any kind of temporary shelter? Have you tried spending a night or more in the woods in your area with only your bug out bag? All of these questions become even more complicated if you have dependents.

My point here isn't to discourage anybody from assembling a bug out bag. A bug out bag is a tool and it's always good to have tools in your tool belt. But you need to have a plan for what you will do with your bug out bag. That plan has to be realistic to your capabilities. A good place to start is to ask yourself where will you go and how will you get there. The woods is actually a terrible bug out location for a vast majority of people. A far better destination might be a hotel or the home of a friend or family member. Getting there by car will certainly be the easiest method, but it doesn't hurt to take long walks while wearing your bug out bag so you can confidently do that if needed (and it's good exercise to boot). Bicycles are also a flexible transportation option.

The advantage to planning is that you can fit your bug out bag to your plan. If your plan doesn't involve fucking off to the woods, you can leave out a lot of wilderness survival gear. That allows you to either enjoy a lighter pack or fill the space with things that you'll actually use. I'll go so far as to say having a plan is much more important than having a bug out bag. A bug out bag without a plan is almost useless in most cases. A plan without a bug out bag is still incredibly useful.