Hi Mr. Rawles,
I thank you sincerely for all of the great information that you
have made available to us all, for all your years of experience and knowledge.
I have what I hope will be an interesting question for you. I am
young, 25, and currently work for an NGO in
Nicaragua and previously did the Peace Corps work here as well. I have been
pondering over how reasonable Nicaragua
would/could be as a retreat location, for numerous reasons, such as, in any
given area:
- Rich topsoil and annual rains
- Extremely low population density (lowest in Central America)
- Low real estate prices
- Low real estate taxes
- An abundance of excellent [self-sufficient retreat] locations
These reasons make it seem to me, at least, as someone with minimal financial resources, as the best option, since preparing a retreat would be so much cheaper than in the USA.
There are, however, many downsides, such as:
- Lack of other prepared people
- Long distance from where I will be living (the USA)
- Lack of medical supplies, qualified doctors, etc.
These make me tend to believe that one would have to be of the lone ranger type...or at least accept that others that would accompany one would not bring any material resources to the table, only experience (especially in agriculture, animal husbandry, do it yourself repairs, etc.). Because a big plus in the Nicaraguan economy is that it is already very subsistence based - cooking is done with firewood outside of the cities, soap can be made, etc.).
However, I always ask myself this question: When TSHTF, if I am living in the USA, will I be able to make it to my retreat in Nicaragua in time? Since I love Nicaragua and speak Spanish, etc., for me it stands out as an ideal location, however, I want to ask your advice on this particular question: When TSHTF, would you leave yourself a long plane flight and [an additional] 100+ KM [by road] from your retreat location?
I hope this question warrants real interest on your part and that it is
a legitimate concern that other readers of SurvivalBlog can learn from. -
Daniel G.
JWR Replies: I only consider offshore retreats viable if
you relocate semi-permanently, and don't attempt to "time" your departure.
That might work in a "slow slide" scenario, but unless you are an
experienced blue water yachtsman and live within a few miles of where you keep
a fully-stocked
sailboat, it just won't work in the event of a sudden-onset
collapse. (Driving would probably be impossible, since borders will be closed,
and flying won't
be an option since most international flights will presumably be grounded.)
Given the high crime rates in much of central and south America, it is important
to find a farming community that is in a low-crime area. It is absolutely essential
to learn Spanish muy rapido, and to develop close friendships with
locals as soon as possible. Most of the Americans that I know that have made
this transition
successfully have either married into local families, or have set up companies
that have employed a dozen or more local employees. (Thus, the employers have
made themselves indispensable to the community.)
