I’ve lived what some might call a ‘colorful’ life. It didn’t seem that way when I was young, but as I’ve grown older and gotten to know many others during my journey, this has become more clear to me. I feel it is relevant to establish one’s own background when making a big life decision. Let me explain.
I can barely remember my earliest days, growing up those first few years without a father, and the day he returned from the war, a complete stranger. We headed for the hills shortly after, living totally off-grid, no running water, no electricity, and we took care of business on a fold-out toilet seat, over a hole in the ground, inside a small army tent. I learned to shoot with a black powder musket, and trapped, fished and hunted regularly.
The author circa 1970’s before receiving his legendary ‘fringe’ leather jacket. Accessories include musket, skinning knife, ‘The Nerds With Me’ T-shirt, coonskin hat and possible bag.
We eventually got electricity, and my dad found a spring that we used for fresh water. He built a large rabbitry, and we spent many long days tending to our rabbits, chickens, guinea hens, geese, hogs, goats and one acre garden. Things began to get more normal over the years, but one thing that we did then, that I still do to this day, is preparing. Preparing for that unknown something that is seemingly always lurking around the corner.
I’ve lived in various places around the US and the world, through hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires and even a war. And through it all, I’ve emerged much wiser. Proper planning makes a huge difference when it comes to basic survival, and goes well beyond the basics of just having water, food and shelter. The goal is not merely to survive, but to thrive.
“If You Fail to Plan, You Are Planning to Fail”
Benjamin Franklin
The years rolled on, decades passed, and a day came when I found myself dodging wildfires near Los Angeles. Literally fleeing my home, with the flames well under a half-mile away and bearing down on my house rapidly. Fortunately, I was prepared. As I drove further away, all the while desperately trying to find a hotel with a vacancy, I’m thinking, how is it I’m making more money than I ever imagined, but still struggling to keep my head above water? I was commuting 2-3 hours a day through some of the worst traffic in the world. I was seriously concerned. Not to mention, my young son, who, after my recent divorce, now had to look after half the time by myself. What was I to do? The status quo didn’t seem the logical choice.
As a conservative, Christian, patriotic American living in California, the concerns for my family’s safety and financial stability became ever more real due to the rising crime rates, politics, and inflation. Moving to a more affordable state seemed to be a wise decision. But one cannot just leap out of the hamster wheel while it’s going 100MPH. So, here’s a solid plan for anyone else that can relate, to successfully accomplish this goal.
Gimme 10 steps, gimme 10 steps mista, and you’ll never see me no mo! Fo sho!
Ten Steps
Research: Start by researching the cost of living, job opportunities, school districts, and overall safety in various cities in a state that will support it’s citizens properly. Look for areas well over an hours drive from any liberal cities. Ideally, a rural area, with lots of natural resources, and a constitutionally aware sheriff. Schools that aren’t pushing evil agendas. Prioritize your family’s needs and preferences when making your decision. If at all possible, plan on homeschooling your children.
Visit potential locations: Once you’ve narrowed down your options, visit the areas you’re considering to get a better feel for the area. Meet with real estate agents and attend open houses to explore housing options. Consider flight paths, proximity to military bases, natural disaster areas, etc. Sit near a home that you’re considering and observe the area – a Friday or Saturday night is a great time. Are there sketchy looking people around? Also, another good rule of thumb is that if you can have pizza delivered – you aren’t rural enough.
Networking: Reach out to friends, family, or professional contacts who may have connections in the potential area. Networking can help you learn more about the area and possibly (with some luck) find job opportunities or housing leads. Don’t know anyone? Look to online ‘homesteading’ forums. Plan on attending the local farmers market and meet people there. Drive around, look for ‘for sale by owner’ signs, not everyone in rural America uses agents.
For me, well, I got ‘lucky’ and discovered my parents were putting their house on the market, so I got a great deal on a home I was already very familiar with. Trust me when I say, if you are praying hard and God’s willing, there will be a path for you. It’s not all just ‘luck’.
Job search: Start looking for jobs in your desired field. Update your resume and apply for positions that align with your skills and experience. Remote work is much more readily accessible these days then the pre-lockdown times. But keep an open mind.
My first job after my relocation was teaching high-school math. Then I learned how to do tile work – a great ‘rural area’ trade that can be done with minimal investment using only your hands. Now I work part-time from home doing computer work, and have the free time to write, which I hope will one day earn me some extra cash. It is noteworthy to mention that farming may not be the best option.
Finances: Calculate the total cost of moving and settling down, including housing, transportation, and any other necessary expenses. Create a budget and a savings plan to ensure you have the funds needed for the move and extra for the unknowns.
I’m not a financial expert – but when the ‘fed reserve’ (which isn’t federal and has nothing in reserve) printed over 40% more cash than what was already in circulation, anyone could see the writing on the wall. My cash on hand would soon be half it’s current value! So, I took care to get all money out of every computer screen, and put it into tangible assets, e.g. my parents house!
Housing: Secure a new home before moving. This may involve selling your current home, or renting it out to cover the mortgage.
Due to some complications, I ended up moving twice, and each time I unloaded more junk, and downsized. And let me tell you, it was so liberating! The more stuff I got rid of, the happier I became.
Education: If you have children, research schools in the area and make arrangements for their enrollment. Be sure to ask about student/teacher ratio. The fewer students per class the better. Look for red flags like liberal school boards, CRT, LGBTAlphabet and pornography. Or better yet, home-school them! Some states are very accommodating and it’s a good idea to find out ahead of time if that’s a possibility.
Prepare for the move: Notify friends, family, and relevant organizations about your planned move. Timing is everything, so try to have cash, checks, money orders all available as best as you can. Once that moving train gets started, there’s no stopping it until its destination, so double check everything.
One gotcha that nearly ruined my plans, was the U-Haul not accepting my card – if memory serves me correctly it was because it was a debit card. No problem, I have cash or a check right? Nope. And this is the morning I had helpers lined up to help me load, and hotels booked for that night, etc. etc. So triple check things like that! Check online for moving tips, there’s plenty out there you may not otherwise think of.
Settle in: Once you’ve arrived, focus on settling into your new home and community. This may include updating your driver’s license, opening a local bank account, registering to vote, finding a good church, and establishing new routines and relationships.
Stay informed: Keep up with local news and events to stay connected to your new community. As much as it pains me to say this, you may need to consider facebook. Personally, I had a great difficulty with this decision but hear me out. There is no local newspaper in a very rural area. So everyone uses faceplant for just about everything. Had I not joined, I would never have found many items I needed, such as a used log splitter, garden tiller, trailer, 4WD truck, and so on. So, pay full price for new items, or join facebutt. There’s methods to use that will mitigate the high risk involved, see my recent article, “Reclaiming Our Privacy – A Step By Step Guide” for more on that.
In summary, remember to be patient and flexible throughout this process, as unexpected challenges will arise. Stay focused on your goal of providing a safer, more affordable environment for your family, keep praying, and you will most certainly accomplish Gods plan.
Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.”
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