When I decided to move from the city to the country, as most preppers with the means eventually do, I was lucky to have a couple of decades of learning to fall back on when making my choice. Choosing a new home will be a compromise for most, they will desire to near a certain city perhaps, or near certain relatives. I know that was the case with me. But even within these constraints a good choice can be had if certain prerequisites are adhered to.
The society: I put this at the top of my list because even with all the other ducks lined up, if I found myself living in a place with high crime, racial problems, or people who generally didn't want me there, life would be miserable from the get go. Hence I considered only small towns with cohesive populations -all white basically- In other words people I had common roots with, common attitudes. The town also had to have a decent proportion of outsiders who had moved there, nullifying the parochial nature of such towns.
Food: I believed it was important to either have a place where I could grow food or be in a region where food and meat was grown in abundance. I chose the latter since any food grown here is also for-sale here, Even the butchers source their product locally.
Nuclear fallout: A big consideration in this day and age, even down here in OZ. I thought it was critical to be well outside the full blast radius of any target, and as important, to be upwind of any fallout. nukemap helped with this as did a study of the prevailing winds in my areas of choice.
A dead End: This only came to me at the last, after I had actually decided on a place. Moving to a town that is off the major highways and up a dead like a valley is a good choice I believe, because with little passing traffic -people in other words- it's easier for the population to keep track of strangers.
Neighbors Close by: Prior to this home I lived on a larger rural property and had trouble with local thieves. Disaffected young locals who would spend their days and evenings roaming the backblocks looking for an easy target. Again if you are an outsider, word gets around, and unlike the homes of the people they grew up with you are fair game. After all, didn't you move in without their permission? Didn't you take a property one of them might have bought if only they had the money. That's right, you are a city slicker, a moneyed up outsider and fair game. Because of this I chose to live in the inner township on a standard suburban block surrounded by neighbors who keep an eye out, we are sticky beaks by nature, it's why we all slow down to look at accidents.
Fitting in: When I moved in I started wearing checked shirts and blue jeans when out in town. I walked slower and stopped to chat with people. It sounds almost silly I know but the wise animal blends in with their surroundings. Thankfully everyone drives nice cars here and many spend money improving their properties so the rest of my life blends in well.
There are no doubt other considerations to take into account when choosing a home, this was my list though and now the die is set, I don't plan to move again.
The society: I put this at the top of my list because even with all the other ducks lined up, if I found myself living in a place with high crime, racial problems, or people who generally didn't want me there, life would be miserable from the get go. Hence I considered only small towns with cohesive populations -all white basically- In other words people I had common roots with, common attitudes. The town also had to have a decent proportion of outsiders who had moved there, nullifying the parochial nature of such towns.
Food: I believed it was important to either have a place where I could grow food or be in a region where food and meat was grown in abundance. I chose the latter since any food grown here is also for-sale here, Even the butchers source their product locally.
Nuclear fallout: A big consideration in this day and age, even down here in OZ. I thought it was critical to be well outside the full blast radius of any target, and as important, to be upwind of any fallout. nukemap helped with this as did a study of the prevailing winds in my areas of choice.
A dead End: This only came to me at the last, after I had actually decided on a place. Moving to a town that is off the major highways and up a dead like a valley is a good choice I believe, because with little passing traffic -people in other words- it's easier for the population to keep track of strangers.
Neighbors Close by: Prior to this home I lived on a larger rural property and had trouble with local thieves. Disaffected young locals who would spend their days and evenings roaming the backblocks looking for an easy target. Again if you are an outsider, word gets around, and unlike the homes of the people they grew up with you are fair game. After all, didn't you move in without their permission? Didn't you take a property one of them might have bought if only they had the money. That's right, you are a city slicker, a moneyed up outsider and fair game. Because of this I chose to live in the inner township on a standard suburban block surrounded by neighbors who keep an eye out, we are sticky beaks by nature, it's why we all slow down to look at accidents.
Fitting in: When I moved in I started wearing checked shirts and blue jeans when out in town. I walked slower and stopped to chat with people. It sounds almost silly I know but the wise animal blends in with their surroundings. Thankfully everyone drives nice cars here and many spend money improving their properties so the rest of my life blends in well.
There are no doubt other considerations to take into account when choosing a home, this was my list though and now the die is set, I don't plan to move again.
