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Two Letters Re: Some Offshore Retreat Considerations, by P. Traveler
James,
I see a lot of letters concerning 're-locating' out of
the U.S. What are these people thinking? If there is one country
that still has a modicum of privacy, freedom, and the ability to 'disappear'
into
the wilderness, then
it is here
in the U.S. Where in the world can you own the variety and quantity of
firearms than here? [Where else can you] stockpile food, go off the grid
et cetera?
The legal system is still intact
here
as well, so
you can win in court under most circumstances. I just cant
figure Americans willing to give up this uniquely free country for some Third
World gamble in
some distant land completely removed from family, friends, heritage and
culture. It boggles the mind. - Jason in N. Idaho
Jim,
I read with interest the article "Some Offshore Retreat Considerations", by
P. Traveler. There was much of value in the article. I hope I can add some
information for your readers. My circumstances are that I work and live in
a South East
Asian
country for an International NGO.
My background is prior military (paratrooper), Police and Prison service, followed
by working as an NGO security officer in
Bosnia and Sudan before taking my current post. I have a degree in Risk, Crisis
and Disaster Management.
I am also married to a local woman which impacts my survival planning. In
Asia you don't just marry a wife. You marry the entire extended
family which
brings some strengths and weaknesses.
Personally I am in the Jerry Pournelle school of survivalism: Prepared for,
but trying to prevent TEOTWAWKI. See [Pournelle's] Foreword to the first edition
of "Tappan
on Survival" which says, in part:
"'[Mel Tappan] saw civilization as hopelessly doomed. Collapse was inevitable,
and the only prudent thing to do was to be prepared for it. I didn't agree
then, and I don't now. I think civilization can be saved. Can be. But I won't
guarantee
it. Be Prepared is a pretty good motto for anybody,
scouts or anyone else. And of course there are times when I think Mel was right."
As Pournelle says, being prepared is a good and necessary thing. I would not
call myself a retreater. That implies running away.
Quoting
from Pournelle again:
"There's only one problem: I don't want to move. I like living in cities. The
word 'civilized' originally meant those who can–and do–live in
cities, and I happen to care a lot for my civilization. When challenged, I
can make a reasoned defense of city life, but I shouldn't have to. I like it
here. I don't intend to let the barbarians chase me out, and there's an end
to the discussion!"
I have been following survivalism since I read the book 'Starman's Son' by
Andre Norton. I did the usual bush survival stuff. I read Larry Dean Olson,
Mel Tappan, Dr. Bruce Clayton, Soldier of Fortune [magazine] and American
Survival Guide
[magazine]. I always had my bugout bag and stores so I could go about my duties
in law enforcement without having to worry about the home front. I note that
since
the 1980's the world has been collapsing so plan for things to go right as
well as for things to go wrong. I am alarmed by people (especially on the Peak
Oil sites) who tell young people not to go to college because the world is
doomed anyway. If I had followed that advice I would be unemployed instead
of working in interesting countries around the world. Just study something
that is useful in both a collapse situation and in good times.
In Asia the survival unit is the extended family. I am particularly fortunate
that the family I have married into is reasonably well educated but still has
[native] survival skills. My wife's parents survived a period of auto-genocide
despite the fact that my father in law had served on the opposing side during
the war.
It was family connections that kept him alive. My wife and her older brothers
and sisters still know how to live off the land and farm. The younger ones
are more of a concern and would have a more difficult time adjusting to a survival
situation. They tend to be more interested in mobile phones and karaoke. Having
said that, the bulk of the family accepts my arguments for survival precautions
and things like food storage. The younger ones think I am a strange foreigner
but the parents get it because they have lived survival. In a crisis the young
ones still do what their parents tell them!
If you have family (or marry into one) it is almost certainly a bonus.
A few tips you might want to consider.
* In developing countries the medical care is not great. Consider doing a Wilderness
EMT [W-EMT] First Responder course before you depart. The training will not be
available
locally.
* Get skills. They cannot take skills away. People have survived extreme situations
with next to nothing.
* Asia is a great place to learn martial arts! [Although there are equally effective
trainers in the US, Canada, Australasia and Europe. Still it is kind of fun training
in Asia for someone who grew up watching 'Kung Fu' on TV.]
* Get mentally prepared. I would share with your readers the view that religious
belief is important. Unlike most of your readers I am a Buddhist, as is my wife.
But I follow the warrior
view of Buddhism--not aging hippy pacifism which I believe
to be immoral (and not really Buddhist).
* Study how the indigenous people survived and how any guerrilla groups operated
in the country. If coming to Asia there are some jungle survival schools. (Web
search engines
are your friend!)
* If coming to Asia read some books about how non-Asians functioned behind the
lines [during World War II] against the Japanese such as the Coast Watchers and
the OSS/SOE.
'The
Jungle
is Neutral' By F. Spencer Chapman is a good book to start with.
* The book "The Sovereign Individual" by William Rees-Mogg and Basil Davidson
has
some
strategies for protecting your wealth when overseas.
* Enjoy life. Take precautions, learn defensive skills, medical skills,and so
forth.
But try not to get a bunker mentality.
* Learn about urban permaculture and food production.
* When researching a country you might want to look at some books about Country
Risk such as the 'The J Curve' and spend some time
looking around the Carlton University site 'Country
Indicators for Foreign Policy'
* Finally, while aimed at NGO security personnel, there are some good resources
for people living in developing countries at this
web site.
Regards, - Felix D.
