how far have you come

**wareagle69** · 07-23-2012, 08:03 PM

this question is primarily for the folks who have been on here many many years, but also curious about others living the life for many years.As you can see i have been a member here for 5 years, at first i was a bug out type of person, but then after the thread "an absolute must read" i changed, bought an 80 acre homestead in north central ontario, basically remote.
Over the years i have adapted to a bugin with an escape option, actually several options, i have buried several 45 gallon drums in the bush, enough that i can walk away from here if nessesary, being former military i used to think i could defend my home, but a conversation with an antagonist, now a cherished freind about sniping on my property (you know who you are, my valued brother) i have taken a realisitic approach to things
I am not here much as i have taken to teaching others to perfect my own skills but have found i learn much more from them than i probably pass on to them.
So my brothers and sisters, have far has your journey come thru the years so first survive then thrive
cheers
WE

**Rick** · 07-23-2012, 08:07 PM

Well I'm sure glad to see you back. My basic premise, bug in unless forced to bug out, remains the same but the knowledge I've gleaned has changed me and continues to change me. While my preps are done (collecting, not rotating) my knowledge will forever mold me.

**Sarge47** · 07-23-2012, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

Well I'm sure glad to see you back. My basic premise, bug in unless forced to bug out, remains the same but the knowledge I've gleaned has changed me and continues to change me. While my preps are done (collecting, not rotating) my knowledge will forever mold me.

Pretty much the same as Rick. I also agree with the thread "An Absolute Must Read!" It opened my eys to a lot as well!

**nell67** · 07-23-2012, 08:21 PM

I have taken a major step backward since December's surgery,heavy restrictions from my doctors sucks,but I have to mind my p's and q's if I ever want to get back out and do something other than walk in the woods. Totally going stir crazy. Bug in is the game plan around here, it is what we did after the tornado in March,we have added a generator,and are weighing the pros and cons of a "bunker" that would do double duty as a storm shelter and a root cellar.

**Sourdough** · 07-23-2012, 08:49 PM

Wareagle, welcome back. It seems that there is no end to learning this game. And like you I know that if your out in front, running hard, there are NO teachers. My adventures in advanced Caching have gone very well this summer. It will sound weird but, I now kind'a have this other'self in the wilderness. This other'self is just behind me and slightly above my right side. It gently critiques everything I do, like a teacher/guide. On another subject, I expect to be moved into the new cabin by Thanksgiving.

I am now working design's for remote shelters, I still keep coming back to the 7' long doghouse design.

**hunter63** · 07-23-2012, 09:00 PM

It's kinda ironic that prepping has been called a lot of things, kinda falling under the heading of self reliance.

When I look back, it still is.......It just gets called different things thru the years.

I'm a bug in kind of guy, all my stuff is here, making the plans for self/family preservation do-able..save a natural disaster, fire, etc....that's figured in as well.

I have been working on this angle for a long time......
So in the words of Grizz, "Come far pilgram"......JJohnson, "Yea, feels far"

Am I done yet, no, I don't think so.....Y'all keep coming up with new angles.......

**Batch** · 07-23-2012, 10:24 PM

I am a bit further down the trail then when I first joined this forum. But, I still see lots and lots of trail up ahead.

**Rick** · 07-23-2012, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by Batch

I still see lots and lots of trail up ahead

It's the journey we seek. Not the destination. I look at the trail up ahead and get a good feeling. As opposed to the trail in the woods when I think, "Holy crap, not another hill."

**crashdive123** · 07-23-2012, 11:06 PM

Good to see you back around WE - (see that - I have come a long way).

I was, and remain a bug in mentality. I do have escape plans, but those are more for a short duration. Since joining here I have learned a lot, been able to refine many plans, expand my library and equipment selections. Heck - I even picked up a new hobby.

**BENESSE** · 07-23-2012, 11:11 PM

Welcome back WE!

For me it's not as much the distance as is the quality of the trip.

**Batch** · 07-23-2012, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

It's the journey we seek. Not the destination. I look at the trail up ahead and get a good feeling. As opposed to the trail in the woods when I think, "Holy crap, not another hill."

My point exactly Rick. I spend more time in a head than most folks would care to. I want to know every tree and plant in every head or tree island. That is not always possible. But, I try and learn every time. I guess Hammock would be the more proper term for everybody not from here.

**natertot** · 07-23-2012, 11:36 PM

I've been here for nearly a year. Stumbled across the site on accident researching first aid preparedness after I nearly killed myself. WSF has opened my eyes and the mentors here have pushed me farther than I can imagine. The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know. I look forward to see where I will be in another year!

**crashdive123** · 07-23-2012, 11:39 PM

I'm that way for some of the photography I do. Mrs. Crash tolerates me stopping to take pictures, but doesn't share my passion for it. I found a particularly interesting tree stump once, but she wanted to move on. The next day I told her I was going to take a hike on the same trails we hit the day before. Why, she asked? I told her so I could study that stump and take some more pictures of it. Like I said - she tolerates me.

**Rick** · 07-24-2012, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by Batch

I spend more time in a head than most folks would care to.

I'm sure glad you clarified that 'cause I was mentally going to a whole 'nother place. Just don't lay in the hammock when you use the head. Messy.

**wildWoman** · 07-24-2012, 11:24 AM

Well, we've finally come to ALMOST the end of our major building projects. Just little stuff left now. The next goal I'm sloooowly working toward is volunteering for a year at a wildlife rehab centre in BC in order to learn more about moose and bears and all sorts of critters. But that's still a few years down the road.

Good to see you're still kicking, WE!

**Old Professor** · 07-24-2012, 01:01 PM

I am also a BUG IN type of person, largely because of age and declining health. It certainly helps that I live in a lightly populated region in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Just this week I completed gathering and storing everything FEMA reccomends for disaster preparedness. This is in addition to all the wilderness type gear that I have accumulated over the years. As far as bugging out, If I wanted to go farther north and into greater wilderness, I would have to start swimming! This site has been a wonderful source of new information and ideas and I thank you all for your contributions to the various topics.

**Canadian-guerilla** · 07-24-2012, 05:00 PM

over the last few years
the one area i've improved the most is wild edibles

**wareagle69** · 07-25-2012, 07:13 AM

well if we was taking a vote i would say crash has come the farthest lol......
Wild woman good to see you still kicking, btw any questions about rehab just drop us a note, intersting critter here today is a baby hummingbird, amazing the loud pitch cry it does when hungary.
So back on topic, one thing i see with the more i learn is the limitations in alot of things, food especially, i have been trapping the past 2 yyrs and also still ongoing with my Wild edibles, i have spent and enourmous amount of time on my emergency first responder (efr) stuff, mastering first aid ,wilderness rescue,firefighting, rope and ice rescue land navigation. Subttile land nav with all the tricks, like natural navigation and dead reckoning(my favorite)
Now some of these skills i learned in the army, but they sat dormant, the last 5 yrs has been a re-awakinging of sorts, this is a passion, you either love it or you don't,
Mrs WE wonders how i can sit there(when i sit) while watching mantracking with a peice of rope in my hands just absentmindedly tieing knots, its cuz i love it.

Anywho folks good to be around the fire for a spell seeing old freinds and learning some new ones
cheers WE

**Old Professor** · 07-25-2012, 10:08 AM

One thing that I have been doing more of is canning food. Inspite of two large freezers, I do not seem to remember to take things out to thaw for my meals. So much simpler to reach into the pantry and grab a jar to open. My SIL and I are also very aware of how useless a freezer will be if the electricity goes out for any length of time, so we are canning when ever possible. Althougt I have not experienced any serious power outages during the last seven years (since I returned) I did when I first moved up here during the 1970's. As a result, I have battery lanterns in each main room and flashlight stashed everywhere. I also have warm sleeping bage incase electricy is lost in a winter storm. Having natural gas as a fuel is useless if there is no electricity to power the blower! I am seriously considering acquiring a generator and having an electrician set up my service panel to power select circits fron the generator.