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Retreat Owner Profile: Mr. and Mrs. Oscar
Home/property: Located in eastern Wisconsin. 160 acres of mixed
pine and oak forest. 32,000 trees planted in the last two years. Entered
in tree management program. House 2,800 square feet. Principally heated
by a soapstone stove with propane hot water backup. Built in 1981.
Outbuilding shed/library/reloading room. A 40x30 pole barn. Shed
has cast iron "cooking/heating" stove, wood fired…propane
backup. 1,000 gallon propane tank. Inverter in place for addition of
6,500 watt diesel generator to be installed spring '07. 200 gallons
gasoline stabilized and in place. 70 gallons kerosene. 500 gallon diesel
tank to be in place at addition of generator. Several solar panels
in inventory and more to follow. Plan to get off grid by '09 if there
is time. Have 15 springs and an artesian flow into 18 acres of wetland
with a five acre pond adjacent to home. Pond built as trout rearing
facility by DNR in
1941. Trout/walleye/perch/crappies abound in crystal clear
cool water. Site not nearly defensible as wished but 2-3 miles of barbed
wire in inventory with staking to be erected when time comes. Dozens
of caltrops on hand for roadway interdiction Security system in place
with video system to follow. Another large pole building will be built
in '07-'08 for further storage of vehicles/tools.
Age: He, 59 and She 55. Children grown and gone but back to farm
regularly.
Income. In excess of $400,000 annually.
Professions: She is an M.D. with 22 years on the job. He is an Instructor
in Administration of Justice at a local community college. He
is a
Viet
Nam vet and witnessed the Tet offensive firsthand. Saw Saigon a city
in chaos, a society in collapse. He graduate with B.S./M.S. in education.
Graduate
of Oregon Institute of Technology (Gunsmithing) 1976. Practiced full
time/part time 25 years in the trade.
Investments. The land and the trees, stocks and bonds, and "investment
grade" weapons.
Property will be paid off in March of '07. Plan is to invest in off
grid power upgrades
Vehicles. She, a Mercedes. He a Ford 4WD pickup. There are two BMW
motorcycles, one a 2002 1100RT, The other is a perfect condition
1985 80ST. The ST should need no protection from any EMP threat. Many
small engine
gas powered garden implements of the DR type. She has an Vespa scooter.
Bicycles were bought last month. 11-06.
Weaponry. He is a state certified instructor with pistols,
rifles, shotguns and submachine guns. He also teaches vehicles contacts
and emergency vehicle operation and chemical munitions.
They have incorporated a small business corporation to obtain registered
Class 2 and Class 3 weapons. There are currently:
1 Ingram
M10 in .45ACP with [suppressor] can. 1 Swedish "K" 9mm SMG,
1 Sterling Mk4 9mm SMG, 1 Thompson .45ACP SMG, 1 FN-FL heavy barrel
select fire .308, 1 SAW
M16 with
can,
1 M-1A with glass, 1 FN Belgian .308 with glass, 1 Bushmaster .308
with Nightforce glass. 3 SKS, 1 AK-47 semi, 2 M-1 Carbines (U.S.G.I.)
1 Marlin Camp
Carbine
9mm and 1 in .45 suppressed. 3 Remington Senderos one .223/1-.308/1-.300
W.M. All with Nightforce glass. One Barrett .50 BMG single shot with
Nightforce glass. The Bushmaster will be suppressed in 01-07. There
are many,
many more "sporting arms." 11 other suppressed items. Many
handguns. Currently there is a FN 5.7x28 with can and four 30 round
mags and four 20 round. There is a FN M90 5.7x28 rifle. A FN .223/M2000
is
in the pipeline. The 5.7x28 weapons are astonishing in their performance
and penetration. There are 6 fighting shotguns of various manufacture,
all 12 gauge. We all shoot a lot.
Ammunition. Thousands and thousands. A full compliment of reloading
capability.
Fuel: Gasoline. Kerosene, previously mentioned. We have six cases Coleman
fuel. Many cylinders of bottled gas for stoves and 200 pounds
of charcoal. (diversify, diversify)
Future improvements were previously mentioned. They all depend on
what is affordable and when and how the poop hits the prop.
Crops/garden: 2,700 square foot garden. To be planted this next season
(Spring of '07) with non-hybrids only. We can 300-400 jars annually
the rest
gets the
deep freeze. We murder big and small game regularly and plan to try
drying/jerky experiments with game in '07. There are 20 fruit trees
planted with 20-30 more to follow in '07. We put up 20-30 pints/quarts
of berries from the woods this year.
Property tax was typical of Wisconsin. Two years ago it was in excess
of $6,800. Cut to about half by entering the tree management
program.
Animals. One old Bouvier a new one to follow in '07. A Labrodoodle
for hunting. Two cats. No animal husbandry however we are looking at
rabbits and chickens. Perhaps a Rhodesian Ridgeback in '08 for a set
of teeth
for the farm.
Communications. Two receivers capable of AM/FM Ham. Four handhelds
and one base Marine Band. We are well inland from the Mississippi and
expect no interference. CB base and portables. 6 FRS walkie-talkies.
Will obtain 2-to-4 field telephones when found for sale. Already have
two
miles
of commo
wire for same on hand.
Food. 1 year freeze-dried for 2 adults. At least 1 year of same in
wet pack. 12 cases MREs, with more to follow. Much bulk stored wheat/rice/beans.
300 gallons of water in plastic. Capability to filter and clean
50,000 gallons from pond.
Hobbies. We read quite a bit with over 1,500 books in the library.
He has been into preparedness for 30 years. She for 5. We can/garden/shoot/bird
watch/tend the forest/study foraging ( a noted forager with a new book
out lives within 6 miles…we will take his courses next spring).
Reloading/hunting/woodcutting (Four cords on hand and ongoing).
Background. She a native South Dakotan. Now an M.D. A Christian. Enjoys
hunting. A voracious reader of all things. He a former police officer
(14) years who found teaching Law Enforcement was infinitely better
than the frustration of being a practitioner. He, an atheist with
respect
for
all peaceful faiths/beliefs. He teaches a course on terrorism for a
local community college.
Concerns: There is a growing population of predators (animal) in the
area. There have been five credible sightings of cougar in the district.
We have a compliment of bears. Our county has been a dumping ground
for "problem" bears from other parts of the state. Thanks
a lot! Six wolves have been sighted this deer season on the property.
Coyotes abound. I have no problem with a "healthy" predator
population. It is a sign of a healthy environment. I worry for livestock/chickens/rabbits
and the dogs. Feral pigs are a growing problem south of us. No doubt
to be here any time. They are destructive.
Further preparations must be started for the improvement of the defenses.
There will be an influx of at least eight adults and one child if the
poop hits the prop. More prep for those. Several "by in" to
preparedness. Most (the spouses) do not.
There is a lot on our plate as with anyone in the process of preparing.
We would like to meet with others of our ilk. How to do this is a conundrum.
We have obtained a large amount of trapping supplies. Two close friends
are trappers with years of experience. We will learn.