Retreat Locales in the USA!!!

[Mullenite]

Criteria for Choosing a Retreat Locale in the Continental United States (CONUS)
When doing radio interviews or when giving lectures, I'm often asked where the "perfect" place is for a survival retreat. The short answer is: There is none. Granted, there are a lot of places that are much better than others, but there is no single "one size fits all" perfect place. Like buying a pair of boots, the decision has as much to do with the size and shape of the foot as it does the maker of the boots. Everyone has their personal needs and expectations, as well as their own ideas of how a retreat should be configured. (See my Profiles page for many examples that show this diversity.) Some people prefer dry climates while others can't stand them. Some folks like the feeling of privacy provided by a wall of trees where others would feel claustrophobic. Some need the stimulation of exposure to the arts, while others could care less. And some have good health, while others need to live close to medical specialists.

Even more importantly, before deciding where you might move, you have to weigh the Risks and Benefits of moving at all. From an actuarial standpoint, you might have nearly as good a chance of living to a ripe old age if you stay in the suburbs. It all depends on your personal "worst case scenario". If your envisioned worst case is an economic depression similar to that of the 1930s--with a relatively intact infrastructure--then you might conclude that there is no need to relocate. (You can just "stock up" and stay put where you are.) But if your worst case is a full scale whammy--such as a terrorism campaign that levels cities and/or causes a long term grid-down societal collapse, then you will probably want to move to a remote, lightly populated farming region with plentiful water. I'm not in the business of making scenario-based decisions for people. Those decisions are up to you, as an individual. Once you decide that you definitely want to move, then, yes, I certainly have some good suggestions on potential locales for you.

As a Christian, I believe that any major decision should be preceded by prayer. Seek God's providence for your life. You can only do that if you have repented of you sin and have begun a Christian walk. In deference to the nature of this forum and the wide range of views held by my readers, I won't go into great detail about this. But you know where I stand.

Deciding exactly where to relocate is not an exact science. You can gauge the potential threat and plan accordingly. But you can never be sure what will happen and where you will truly be safe. But you can sleep well, knowing that at least your percentage chances will be higher if you make the move.

There is an apocryphal story about a man who was living in Virginia in the late 1850s. He could see the U.S. Civil War brewing, and he wanted no part of it. He realized that his native Virginia was likely to be heavily contested territory, so he set about finding the safest place possible where he could shelter his family during the coming war. After much searching and deliberation he finally found a peaceful place that was far, far away from where the anticipated the battles would occur. He moved his family up to Pennsylvania--a little farming town called Gettysburg.


Basic Criteria
Once you have selected a potential region to concentrate on, select an experienced local real estate agent. Odds are that you won’t be able to find one that specializes in retreat properties. So it may take a while and a few false starts before your agent starts showing you the right type of properties. The following is a basic criteria list that you can give a real estate agent. (Tailor to suit your particular needs):

Plentiful water--preferably spring fed or an artesian well. (Pumped well water would be an inferior second choice.)

Good exposure for gardening and photovoltaics.

Not on a flood plain.

Southern exposure (for those reader in the northern hemisphere, naturlich)--particularly important at higher elevations

"Panoramic views.” This usually means a hilltop location with open fields of fire and defendable terrain. The concept of holding high ground goes back to pre-history. Yes, I know, that this is mutually exclusive with the concept of having a house that is not in line of sight of any major road. TANSTAAFL. Decide on one or the other. But don't buy a place that has neither attribute.

A diverse and healthy local economy.

Minimal noxious weeds. (Russian Thistle, Teasel, Russian Knapweed, Yellow Star Thistle, etc.)

Not in the path of real estate developers. Look at where suburban developments have been established in the county. Suburban tracts tend to follow a “line of march” in certain directions—especially where there is level terrain. Note that in most regions row crop farmland and orchard land is at the greatest risk because it is easy to subdivide. Put on your thinking cap and do some extrapolation. If your intended area is in the path of the sprawl within 10 to 15 years then start looking in a different direction in less advantageous terrain, or a little further out of town.

If it has an existing house, a house with fireproof/ballistically-protected (e.g. masonry) construction. Note: If it is also in an earthquake prone area, you might weigh the odds in this regard and opt instead for more earthquake safe timber-frame construction.

Low housing costs. As discussed in detail in some of my previous blog posts, don’t overlook examining as many factors as possible including home and car insurance rates, property taxes, and so forth. This useful Internet tool compares cost of living in two cities.

My personal preference is to select a retreat in a mixed farming/ranching/timber region in low-humidity western state, preferably in the inland northwest. I generally discourage folks from living in coastal regions for health reasons, risk of tidal waves or hurricanes, oil tanker mishaps, visits by foreign terrorists, and the outside chance of dramatically rising or falling sea levels in the event of a climate shift. I also discourage relocating to anywhere within 150 miles of the Mexican border. (Note: I'm not a racist--just a realist. The crime rate is higher near the border, and in the event of civil war in Mexico or any number of variations on TEOTWAWKI there could be a huge influx of illegal immigrants.)




State Level Data and Rankings
The following data (also available in an Excel spreadsheet) describes 19 western states. After much consideration, all of the eastern states were intentionally excluded from this analysis because they are all either downwind of nuclear targets and/or are in areas with excessive population density. (See my post on population density, back on August 5th.) This wasn't just the result of subjective bias. I try to use the dispassionate mindset of an actuarial accountant.

You will also note that I didn't mention overseas locations with retreat potential. That is outside of my area of expertise. I would appreciate hearing from folks who have viable retreats in other countries. I will gladly post your letters to the blog. (Anonymously, of course.)

As evidenced recently with Hurricane Katrina, population density is perhaps the most crucial factor to consider when selecting a safe haven. The big cities on the Gulf Coast are hell holes, whereas the small towns are getting by fairly well. I know that this will cause acrimony with a lot of my readers who live east of the Mississippi River, but the plain truth is the East has too much population! Unless you are among the uber-rich and can afford to buy an elaborate fully hardened bunker with HEPA filtration deep in the Smoky or Appalachian Mountains with a five year food supply, I firmly believe that you will be safer west of the Mississippi. That is just my opinion, so your mileage may vary (YMMV). However, before you write me a tirade about how wrong I am and how safe you'll be in upstate New York, please re-read my August 5th through August 10th posts. Also, take a long hard look at the "Lights of the U.S." photo maps at: International Dark-Sky Association. A picture tells a thousand words.

When thinking about where you’d prefer to buy your retreat and/or retirement home don’t just look at climate. Look at all the factors. Depending on your age and interest in true independence from “the system” you might also consider factors like home schooling laws and home birth laws.

Here is my overall Retreat Potential ranking of 19 western states, which I will explain in detail:

1 Idaho
2 Montana
3 Oregon
4 Washington
5 Wyoming
6 Utah
7 South Dakota
8 North Dakota
9 Arizona
10 Colorado
11 Nebraska
12 Kansas
13 Texas
14 Nevada
15 New Mexico
16 Arkansas
17 Oklahoma
18 Louisiana
19 California

[Loudmouth_Mormon]

Originally Posted by Mullenite

Deciding exactly where to relocate is not an exact science. You can gauge the potential threat and plan accordingly.

And exactly what potential threat are you thinking we need to evaluate? What's coming our way that would necessitate dumping careers and moving away from roots and relationships into the middle of nowhere?

But you can never be sure what will happen and where you will truly be safe. But you can sleep well, knowing that at least your percentage chances will be higher if you make the move.

Percentage changes are based solely on this potential threat thingy you seem so worried about. If the life-changing threat isn't gonna happen, then by moving further away from paved and plowed roads and hospitals you are INCREASING your percentage chances of harm.

So clue us in - what's the threat motivating this extreme behaviour? Aliens? Commies? The Illuminati and their CFR dupes imposing the Amero on us?

It seems to me like you're jumping the gun here, starting on the second half of the book. We need to read the introduction and first few chapters before we buy in to the need to become anti-populist militant survivalists.

LM
[edit - changed "treat" to "threat"]

[Mullenite]

Wolfgram Prophesied


Economy Wolfgram...right on schedule
The economic collapse as prophesied by Wolfgram..appears to be right on schedule!

The Wolfgram prophecy was that "in the 3rd year of the second term of the son of George Bush" the economy would collapse. This would happen just before the war and invasion by "hundreds of millions" of foreign troops.

Allan South who had received this blessing where in brother Wolfgram had mentioned the event... and then who had asked brother Wolfgram some details about it. She was very clear on every point.

However, that brings up the question...What does it mean that the economy would collapse? Does it mean the stock market? Does it mean a depression with lots of people out of work? I just don't know, and so I have basically come to the simple conclusion that something bad will happen to the economy in 2008...causing major problems.

A bad economy generally translates...sooner or later into a lot of people out of work. this fits exactly with the warnings by the leaders of the Church, and especially President Hinckley (1998) about getting out of debt and preparing for hard times.

And so we have been expecting something or some things to happen to the economy. Well, there have been several things that have, or should have greatly affected the economy...the biggest cutting interest rates by the Feds. Also, the upswing in oil prices( $115.00 Barrel) and other prices.

During the last couple of years, one of the few things that has kept the economy going is the terrific housing boom. Though the speculation on property has been tremendous during the last few years...many experts have predicted that the bubble as burst. the combination of interest rates cuts, high energy costs (gas, electricity, etc.) tremendous consumer debt, and other factors have translated into a downturn in many other economic sectors.

For example, another big economic indicator is new car sales. Right now... car sales are way down...and still dropping. the result is Ford, GMC and others are dropping 70,000+ jobs.


I believe the economic collapse prophesied by Wolfgram...is right on schedule.

[skalenfehl]

Who the heck is Wolfgram?

[Loudmouth_Mormon]

Originally Posted by Mullenite

Wolfgram Prophesied

Iohani Wolfgramm was not a prophet. The Lord's Church is a church of order - which means that any doomsdayish prophecy concerning the whole church will come out from the 1st presidency and quorum of the twelve - not out of Tonga.

The Wolfgram prophecy was that "in the 3rd year of the second term of the son of George Bush" the economy would collapse.

The son of GB was inaugurated on January 20, 2001 and his second term is scheduled to end at noon on January 20, 2009. That makes today (April 2008) part of his 4th year. Since the economy failed to collapse during his 3rd year, that makes Wolfgramm's prophecy a failed and untrue prophecy.

Do you have anything else on which to base your doom and gloom scenario? Because as things stand now, you have failed to persuade me that we're facing any sort of situation that would make it necessary to become an anti-populist militant survivalist.

LM

[Mullenite]

This e-mail article is from Darren


I served as a councilor to Ensign Wolfgramm, Iohanni's nephew, throughout the 80's and early 90's. As a result of my relationship with Ensign, my wife and I had the wonderful opportunity to receive a blessing from Iohani.

I knew that Iohani had raised at least 2 people from the dead. One was his daughter, and Elder Oakes speaks of the event in one of his talks. (Also in the June 2001 Ensign http://lds.org/Static%20Files/PDF/Ma...2001Ensign.pdf Pages 13-14) I had the opportunity to talk to this daughter of Iohani and she told me about her experience of being run over by a car, having her head crushed, dieing, receiving a blessing from her father and coming back to life without any physical evidence that her head was crushed.

Another story I was told was that a relative of Iohani was in the LDS hospital and had died, It took over 2 days to get Iohanni to come and give him a blessing, as he was in California when his relative died. The staff at the LDS Hospital told the family of the dead man that they could not keep the dead body any longer in the hospital room and they were about to move him to the morgue. Finally Iohani got there and revived the dead relative.

The reason that Iohani had the gifts that he had is that he was so very humble and a true follower. He went on eight full time missions to Tonga. He told me that he visited the huts or doors of every person in Tonga, even the King and Queen. Tonga is now predominately Mormon, and some of that success is due to the efforts of the Lord working through Iohani.

My wife and I each received blessings from Iohani, my wife was told in her blessing that she would see the Savior and that she would witness the return of the city of Enoch. Mine was equally wonderful.

Iohani Wolfgramm did not mention to us the coming economic collapse when we met with him, but he did mention getting our lives ready for the Savior's return as he told us that His return would happen very soon.

Iohani's words have sunk deep into my heart. It was a great blessing.
Darren

[skalenfehl]

Who's Darren?

[Canuck Mormon]

Originally Posted by skalenfehl

Who's Darren?

My thoughts exactly. Who is Darren and why should we listen to him? If you want to run off to Idaho or Montana and live in the mountains go right ahead. I'll wait until I hear something from the First Presidency. Besides if

This would happen just before the war and invasion by "hundreds of millions" of foreign troops.

does happen, they'll still find you in the mountains.

[Mullenite]

Ensign June of 2001 pg. 13-14


Elder Iohani Wolfgrams, one of many Miracles

Another sacred experience is

related in the book Tongan Saints.

It happened while Elder ‘Iohani

Wolfgramm and his wife were serving

a mission in their native Tonga,

presiding over a branch on an outlying

island. Their three-year-old

daughter was accidentally run

over by a loaded taxi. Four of the

occupants of the taxi sorrowfully

carried her lifeless body to her

parents. “Her head was crushed

and her face was terribly disfigured.”

20 The sorrowing helpers offered

to take the little girl’s body

to the hospital so the doctors could

repair her severely damaged head

and face for the funeral. I now quote the words of

her father, Elder Wolfgramm: “I told them I did not

want them to take her but that I would ask God

what I should do and, if it was possible, to give her

life back.”21

The helpers took the little girl’s body into the

chapel. Elder Wolfgramm continued: “I asked them

to hold her while I gave her a priesthood blessing. By

then the curious people of the village were flocking

in to see our stricken little daughter. As I was about

to proceed with the administration, I felt tongue-tied.

Struggling to speak, I got the distinct impression that

I should not continue with the ordinance. It was as if

a voice were speaking to me saying: ‘This is not the

right time, for the place is full of mockers and unbelievers.

Wait for a more private moment.’

“My speech returned at that moment and I addressed

the group: ‘The Lord has restrained me from

blessing this little girl, because there are unbelievers

among you who doubt this sacred ordinance. Please

help me by leaving so I can bless my child.’”22

The people left without taking offense. The grieving

parents carried the little girl to their home, put

her body on her own bed, and covered her with a

sheet. Three hours passed, and her body began to

show the effects of death. The mother pleaded with

the father to bless her, but he insisted that he still felt

restrained. Finally, the impression came that he

should now proceed. I return to his words:

“All present in the home at that moment were people

with faith in priesthood blessings. The feeling of

what I should do and say was so strong within me

that I knew Tisin‰ would recover completely after the

blessing. Thus, I anointed her head and blessed her

in the name of Jesus Christ to be well and normal. I

blessed her head and all her wounds to heal perfectly,

thanking God for his goodness to me in allowing me

to hold his priesthood and bring life back to my

daughter. I asked him to open the

doors of Paradise, so I could tell her

to come back and receive her body

again and live. The Lord then spoke

to my heart and said, ‘She will return

to you tomorrow. You will be

reunited then.’”23

The parents spent an anxious

night beside the body of the little

girl, who appeared to be lifeless.

Then, suddenly, the little girl

awoke, alive and well. Her father’s

account concludes: “I grabbed her

and examined her, her head and

face. They were perfectly normal.

All her wounds were healed; and

from that day to this, she has experienced

no complications from the accident. Her life

was the miraculous gift from Heavenly Father during

our missionary labors in Fo‘ui.”24

[Loudmouth_Mormon]

He sounds like a heck of a guy. But again, not everyone who issues a prophecy is a prophet, and since one of his prophecies has been proven false by the test of time, I don't feel obliged to believe much of anything he has to say about the economic outlook.

And since you put him forth as your ONLY reason for moving out into the middle of nowhere and becoming a militant survivalist, I feel pretty confident in rejecting your suggestion as well.

If you're holding some extra wealth of evidence that would get us all convinced, please feel free to share.

LM