Wow! I am on the road and have not been able to check in here since posting. Thanks for all the replies! It is good to see that not everybody has the mindset of those on NatGeo (Doomsday Preppers) :-D
Might I recommend something to those who "bug in" and are worried about being "robbed". My opinion is that the best way to do this is to not draw attention to yourself. Think tactically and strategically. The more you try to keep people out, the harder they will try to come in. Obvious defenses are a sign that you have something valuable to protect. The most important in an isolated area (or even apartment building for that matter) is to "know they're coming". If it is a group of "civilians", then a show of force is in order. Look to riots for an example. Looters look for easy targets. They will avoid confronting a strong defense and move on to something weak or unprotected. If in an apartment building, a sniper in an overwatch position and a "near miss" shot, will most likely diffuse the situation. A remotely detonated "homemade claymore" in the entrance way will most likely deter even the most hardcore looters.
On the other hand, organized groups, militia, military, police, will most likely overpower you if you plan to defend. Here it is better to play the "live dog". Keep enough provisions in the open to indicate that you are just getting by. Everything else store in a very well concealed location. The key is to let them "find something". If you are there, but there are no supplies in the open, then it is obvious the "motherlode" is hidden somewhere. An example would be to have a cheap pistol and a few rounds of ammo in the open. The "real stuff" is hidden yet easily accessable. Same goes for food. If an "authority figure" comes in he may well "covet" your new Glock XL1000. If you have a military surplus revolver though, it may be left alone. Same goes for a "mosin-nagant" rifle while hiding your AR-15.
If you are in the country, scatter your supplies or hide them REALLY WELL in your house. If you scatter them, do not go to the same cache enough to leave a trail. NEVER put all your "eggs in one basket"! Same logic (defend or not defend) applies here. If confronted by the authorities, be a live dog. If a civilian group, take em out or at least give them a reason to move on to an easier target.
Always keep in mind the use of "force multipliers". Cameras, radios, mines, even gas comes to mind. If you retreat, and someone comes in to your home, chlorine gas can be a very effective deterrent. If confronted by a mob, move to a safe location and arm ****y traps on the way out (if nothing else along the way has deterred them) ;-)
Just a though.
