Jim,
I agree with you 100% that by far the West (Far West) is the best survival
locale, but I am one of those East Coast survivors. If
I really wanted to I would move West (I'm of the mindset that anyone can
do anything they really want to do, they just have to WANT it bad enough),
then I probably would. I won't go into all the excuses people normally
use when you tell them to relocate.
Something that ought to be considered as well is proximity to like minded friends
and family members. I "could" move out West but if I did I would
lose a support network that I have worked almost 20 years to develop. To go
from having a reliable support network to being a lone family survivalist is
a frightening thought, no matter how secure the new locale is.
Suffice it to say, everyone that cannot or will not move West (I'm reminded
of the old Westerns--"Go West young man!") absolutely must develop
a working Group or network of like minded friends and family members who they
can rely on when the times comes.
Also, I would prompt every survivalist on the East side of the Mississippi
to work towards developing a fallout shelter. This could be as simple as a
trench shelter with two 90 degree turns for entrances. Cover the trench with
railroad ties, a couple of layers of plastic and 3' feet of earth and you have
a basic shelter you can improve over time.
The downsides of living on the East Coast are many--higher
population, more nuclear targets, closer to seat of government, etc.
It's important also for people to realize that living away from the
cities when TSHTF is more important that having 10 years of freeze
dried food. No one single move can yield more towards your survival
than moving away from the cities (save for accepting Christ as your
Lord and Savior.)
Now is the time to cash out of homes that have appreciated
in value greatly in the last couple of years. $100,000 will
still buy some land and build you a modest home in most areas of
the countryside, especially here in the South.
Those thinking they will just bug out at the last minute have to realize the first warning
they may get is seeing the mushroom cloud over their city. - Mr. Lima