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Guest Post: Bugging Out of the D.C. Burbs

Cognitive Dissonance's picture




 

Guest Post: Bugging Out of the D.C. Burbs

by

Mrs. Cog

 

(And now a few words from my better half on creating a lifestyle change we can live with. - Cognitive Dissonance)

 

If there is one thing I dramatically misjudged during the great looting of the past five years, it has been the depth of the bag of tricks the banksters and politicians could use to perpetuate the game. How many times have we said in the threads here at Zero Hedge "This is it. Cue the deer Tyler"? We fall for it again and again. The dungeon masters are so artful in their game to pit us against each other simply because it works. If we are focused on "them" we are not focused on "us." Whether it is them at the NSA or the perceived enemies of the state, the state itself, or the crooks at 33 Liberty, our angry energy is collected and dispelled in ranting threads which are largely unproductive at bringing about any real change. In the end, we can only change ourselves. I think self reliance is perhaps the most important act of revolutionary change available.

Whether change comes roaring into our lives express freight train style via collapse or as a crumbling away of the periphery of what we thought made our individual world stable, the leading edge of the storm is here. Change is here whether we like it or not. Options are still available, but it is getting harder and harder to maneuver. Cog and I have elected to completely change our lifestyle so that we can at least try to deflect or redirect the nature of the change rather than waiting for it to be forced upon us.

After spending many months choosing the criteria we would use to best position our family for the future, there were several discoveries. There is no shortage of cheaply priced homes for sale in very rural areas. Although it is not "the norm" yet, other city folks are bugging out (permanently) to live in the sticks. Within a week of putting our new home under contract there were two other contingent cash offers on it. We had considered waiting to buy because the prices would be dropping dramatically when that shadow inventory hits the market. But we don't really know that for certain.

If inflation has set in when the excess housing inventory becomes available then we could miss the opportunity to buy at today's prices. What if capital controls (something we cannot accurately time) prevent us from moving funds around to pay for the property? We actually liquidated some of our PMs so that we would have no mortgage, considering it the act of trading one precious tangible asset for another. What if it becomes illegal or a huge red flag to sell physical gold or silver? The truth is no one really knows just what future constraints the banking or political elite will impose upon us so we have chosen to err on the side of caution.

Conversations we’ve had with a wide variety of people were by far the most revealing aspect of our decision to move. While interviewing the first moving company representative we found that there was an unusual trend going on in the DC area. People were moving in and out in droves, a phenomenon we were told usually only occurs immediately after a presidential election brings a change in leadership to usher out the old and in with the new. Not only were people moving out of DC to all the usual places such as the West Coast, Texas, and Florida, but there was a large and peculiar exodus to strange out of the way locations such as Montana, Colorado and the Dakotas. She was at a loss to explain why.

Our neighbors, mostly employees of the Federal government or companies who support it, have had interesting reactions to our news about moving far away. When we get to the part where we somewhat tactfully say, "we don't think things will be improving anytime soon with the economy or other conditions in this country..." everyone nods vehemently in agreement. They know. They, like us, support the very system that is bringing about our social destruction, yet we are all bound to operate within it. Complete strangers who we strike up conversations with, like vendors who come to work on our current house and see our boxes ready to move, all understand why we would leave a nice, large condo and move to a house on a mountain in the middle of nowhere. I keep expecting someone to ask if we have lost our minds, but no one does. The cat appears to be out of the bag.

Of our numerous encounters with present and former government workers, the more "inside" their experience and knowledge (their naturally gained intel) the more adamant their agreement is that indeed something wicked this way comes. One former Special Forces and FBI employee, now a small businessman, practically said run. <Talk about confirmation endorphins clobbering you over the head.> Thank you sir, I am in scadaddling mode!

This whole self sufficiency thing isn't easy either. Having heirloom (non hybrid) seeds doesn't imply organic gardening knowledge, let alone the ability to preserve the food and the seeds for next season. I have spent more time in the past year reading about herbal, alternative and emergency medicine than reading charts or attempting to trade. Although I have no intention of deliberately living without electricity (the new place has DSL and central heat/air), I am trying to prepare to take us off grid if only to combat future soaring energy costs. Hand tools for the garden, manual systems to cut logs for the “water” wood stove, solar panels for certain necessities... I am still astounded as I learn how "not" self sufficient I have lived my entire life without ever realizing it.

Acquiring the tools and the knowledge to begin living this way has been an adventure unto itself. It turns out it is far less expensive to buy books than to use all the printer ink and paper to print and retain, then learn the new skills we’ll need. Although I will certainly use it as long as I can, I am not depending upon electricity to enable me to read my .pdf eBooks and articles because that would require me to rely on outside help, in this case the power company. It's now evident to me that I am going to need many books to understand how people lived before the age of modern convenience and specialization. I am discovering that the actual tools needed are not what I thought they would be.

One recent purchase was a grain mill that can be powered manually or electrically. The mill will enable me to make our own flour from alternative grains I can grow or purchase in bulk and then store. After all it would be silly to be making maple syrup from our trees if we didn't have pancakes to dribble the syrup on. We also have a gluten intolerant child and I am not going to gamble that specialty foods will always be available or affordable to feed her in the future. Turns out there are really only three decent brands of hand operated grain mills available and they vary dramatically in quality and price. Do you think there will be any available when the first hint of a real food crisis finally takes hold in the mainstream media? How about solar ovens, dehydrators, pressure canners and the like?

There’s also the matter of being able to acquire what you need. Over the last year we have learned that many home improvement items from the big box stores are defective, warped, substandard, you name it. This includes brand name products. Quality control is not what it used to be. Things are made out of cheaper materials than in the past. In addition, processing the transactions for various purchases seems to be glitching more often. Cog was none too happy when his check/debit card was double billed for a tractor just a few weeks ago. This was done by a major corporation who kicked him around to several different departments without solving the problem. Thank goodness he IS Cog and could finally resort to his mind control powers in order to get resolution lol.

Step by step we are accomplishing what we set out to do, but it has taken a great deal of patience. For everything we set in motion we expect it to go wrong at some point and it often does. Just getting our utilities turned on with the services we were assured were available became a major problem. We consciously steeled ourselves for these types of troubles when we made the decision to purchase a home at the end of a back road, off a back road, off the back road on a mountain. If we had not learned to anticipate these problems I am not sure how we would have mentally handled all the roadblocks. I cannot imagine trying to do what we have done in the past six months in a year or two from now.

After all the effort and work towards establishing a new lifestyle it turns out that where we are going WE are "them." We are the “city folk” who think they can make a go of it in the country. We are the ones who used to work for banks and play in the stock market and think we have answers. We are the new people at the farmer's market with a funny accent and strange ideas and clothes. We are the one's invading the bunny, turkey, deer and bear stomping grounds. It turns out "they" is a relative term. It is not lost upon us that we have our work cut out in order to begin to fit in to our new community and show our value as good neighbors.

Our new digs are not exactly Galt's Gulch, completely independent from a decaying society, but one step at a time we are withdrawing our consent from the system we were indoctrinated into from birth to rely upon. At some point, with someone somewhere, the simple act of withdrawing will be the snowflake in the avalanche that will be the end of the long con, at least this leg of it. I know that I can once again sleep peacefully at night, knowing that we are working towards depending only on ourselves going forward.

 

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Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:21 | 3729610 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

 

Congratulations!

 

Just remember...

 

When you settle in, please set up a guest room for me and other ZH visitors...

 

.

 

Another useful tip

 

Mon, 07/08/2013 - 01:31 | 3729992 Hulk
Hulk's picture

Hey Banzai, don't get drunk in that thing man, thats one hell of a fall !!!

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:42 | 3729665 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

The bad news is that the DSL has an upper limit of 1.5 MB download speed. The good news is that it's still faster than dial up.

Mrs. Cog just cleaned out the chicken coop and even painted the walls antique white before making it her garden tool shed. We will be more than happy to shoehorn you in somewhere between her new wheelbarrow and the leaky bags of cow manure. :)

Mrs. Cog's mother keeps telling us to set up a still. I suspect the hillbilly locals won't take too kindly to the competition so your image of chilling bubbly looks like a great idea.

<You are most certainly welcome to darken our doorstep any time you wish. Just make sure to ditch your tail before arriving.> :)

Mon, 07/08/2013 - 02:57 | 3730067 delacroix
delacroix's picture

a chainsaw will run on alcohol

Mon, 07/08/2013 - 07:43 | 3730230 New_Meat
New_Meat's picture

but not 4 long

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 23:03 | 3729725 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

How's Ed doing?

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 23:19 | 3729767 Mrs. Cog
Mrs. Cog's picture

OK, I'll bite... who is Ed?

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 23:42 | 3729816 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

Snowden...

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 23:49 | 3729832 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

"Ed" is in the guest house. That's why you get the (renovated) chicken coop when you stop by.

Mon, 07/08/2013 - 00:25 | 3729896 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

In there cleaning his gun...

Mon, 07/08/2013 - 05:46 | 3730156 Wakanda
Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:56 | 3729707 New_Meat
New_Meat's picture

CD, just in case, here's Gingery: http://www.youroldtimebookstore.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=still&Searc...

These guys bought out Lindsay.

- Ned

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 23:05 | 3729732 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

There is a local "store" 10 miles away that sells a little bit of everything people around here need to live. While trolling through the small plumbing section I swear to God I found all the fixin's I needed to set up a still. I have never seen so much coiled copper tubing in one place in my life. :)

Mon, 07/08/2013 - 00:31 | 3729904 JohnG
JohnG's picture

 

 

Couple of places:

Lots of info here,

http://homedistiller.org/

And this sets you up,

http://www.coppermoonshinestills.com/index.html

 

Caveat:

It's illegal to have a still in one piece.  Revenuer's git ya.

So just take it apart when not in use, then it's just a pile of copper.

All you need is fresh water, sugar, a LARGE fermenting vessel (one might use an old aircraft fuel tank) and some of this

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/alcotec-48-hour-turbo-yeast.html

Discard the head and tail of the run.  And cut this stuff with more fresh water.  It is potent.

 

 

 

I did not write this.  I've never done this. I was never here.

 

Mon, 07/08/2013 - 00:02 | 3729864 Real Estate Geek
Real Estate Geek's picture

YouTube recommendation: Popcorn Sutton's "This is the last damn run of likker I'm ever gonna make."

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:06 | 3729566 Forgiven
Forgiven's picture

My wife and I have all but cut the final cord before embarking out of the matrix.  Like my friends, she thought I was nuts in '07 telling her the shitstorm was coming...Bear Stearns, Lehman, Countrywide, TARP, Obamacare...all made quite a few converts of the sheep in my neck of the woods.  All I have left to do is sell or disband my company and the PTB can pound salt while we make due as God intended us. 

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:48 | 3729520 KennyW
Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:38 | 3729491 Barking Spaniel
Barking Spaniel's picture

I am just shocked that government employees agreed with the Cogs. Most of the ones I know are zombified.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:54 | 3729532 Mrs. Cog
Mrs. Cog's picture

Cog and I figure we are both saving the average US taxpayer money and helping out government workers by allowing a single NSA team to monitor us rather than two. I would think they agree this makes it much easier lol.

But seriously, the typical government employee I have encountered seems as concerned and worried about the state of things as we are. They are as in need of their job as you or I are in need of a checking account. We are all beholden or reliant upon some degree of the Matrix that is the control structure around us. I think most people, like government employees, just don't have a venue (like ZH) to share their dissent and evaluation with others.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 23:36 | 3729807 QQQBall
QQQBall's picture

Being debt free really gives one options.  Bernanke is and has been really screwing the prudent; being debt free w/o a decent yield on investments and getting really walloped in taxes with no write-offs, the ultimate alternative is probably to just move to where there are no jobs. That is my whole reason for developing trading systems. I almost retired in 2000; my ex-partner retireed in 1994 at 40 years old. I can make a certain amount and be fairly tax efficient; takes 4.5 months to reach it. I have foreign relatives where I can live on almost nothing.

Read the wheatbelly blog. Cut out the wheat if you can. Congrats on taking action.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:55 | 3729543 fonzannoon
fonzannoon's picture

Mrs. Cog I wish I could agree with you but I am in gubby employee hell over here and things they are lovin it.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:19 | 3729599 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

We found that the closer you get to DC the more indoctrinated the .gov employees are. Prior to our move we lived 50 miles from the center of DC and even further from Northern Virginia so there were a few minds trying to break free. At one time I lived in Northern Virginia so I have experience with the .gov zombie mind up close and personal. This also applies to .gov contractors and suppliers as well as the military and its civilian support systems. There are many military bases within 100 miles of DC.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:41 | 3729662 Thorny Xi
Thorny Xi's picture

Welcome to the weird world of seriously waiting for the collapse (as in skin in the game investment of not only money but time and materials)!  It can be done right if you find the right community and you and your place offer  some resources to your family and the community.  If you have any running water on your land, even with just a few feet of head, think about pico-hydro power ... after all, the local Miller never went hungry.  Back in the day - 1795-1800 - there was a 2 to 5hp water mill for every 175 people in this country, and having access to one (a day's walk, max) meant the difference between civilized life and 'the frontier.'  2hp is about 1800 gallons of water per minute dropping 7 feet (or less water falling more feet).  If you have a live, cold spring - even if it's really low flow - you have refrigeration (in addition to fresh water).  Without a spring, you need power to have water.  If you can make enough power for your community, you won't need as much ammo, since your neighbors will help defend the mill.  

The odd things one thinks about when one lives up Galt's Gulch! 

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 23:23 | 3729774 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

One of the primary requirements we had when selecting the place was two sources of fresh water. One of the two sources is a stream that borders our property and to which we have rights to.

Now if I can just get those damn beavers to work at a faster pace I might just have lights for Christmas. :)

Mon, 07/08/2013 - 01:08 | 3729945 Widowmaker
Widowmaker's picture

You are still not safe from lies and injustice trying to masquerade as the Federal "government."

Your fears are misdirected.

Mon, 07/08/2013 - 01:22 | 3729983 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

The thing is that we are not living in fear and our move is not motivated by fear. We understand that ultimately we cannot run and we cannot hide from a totalitarian government if it is determined to come after us. We simply wish to be more self sufficient and to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. That might sound corny, but it is the truth.

On the other hand only a fool cannot see that times are about to get much tougher for many who already live on the margin. Before we lived among many on the margin, now less so. If you are crossing a road and a truck comes barreling around a corner only a fool would not move out of the way. If we had felt we could have accomplished our goals where we were living we would have stayed put. We did not feel that it was possible there so we did not stay.

Mon, 07/08/2013 - 02:32 | 3730025 Widowmaker
Widowmaker's picture

Athough decisions are seemingly reasonable and prudent, the precious unelected "government" will simply privatize the road and move it through your living room - the drivers are exclusively drunken bureaucrats.

What if you and the Mrs. could expose the brutal forces moving the road and make the neighborhood safe for your grandchildren?

In the interest of risk, the USA is a very dangerous place - truth makes one a target.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:42 | 3729502 otto skorzeny
otto skorzeny's picture

they know what the fuck is going on as far as the govt being the last bastion of good paying jobs- they're just sucking the host dry so that makes them complicit in the crime. do you think they will speak up at work or only in hushed tones in private.  the US's path is exactly following the last years of the USSR's.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:38 | 3729468 blindman
blindman's picture

best to you two, three, what have you...
.
you both are wordy(literary endowed), how does that play out ?
well done anyway.
peace
is there another "dissonance" author in the wings?
.
I hope so because I have this fantastic title with
absolutely nothing to back it up. it is
" essence of snake oil "
, and I was hoping to find a literary source to
impart said phrase. in the right hand it is
an instant classic !
2013.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:40 | 3729495 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

"you both are wordy, how does that play out ?"

We take turns and Mrs. Cog keeps count.

<"That's one for you Cog and two for me. No wait, three for me." - Mrs. Cog>

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:07 | 3729567 disabledvet
disabledvet's picture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch6yn_toTbI i always loved this scene. if you're feeling short on protein here's an option: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q7Jif1FXds we've got too many of the things anyways. "oversized rodents" in my book. just start gardening and you'll understand. God help you if you get the goofy gophers.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:44 | 3729510 fonzannoon
fonzannoon's picture

They need to invent a word pedometer.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:59 | 3729556 Mrs. Cog
Mrs. Cog's picture

No need to keep count, we just take turns... rocks, scissors, paper bitchez

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:08 | 3729570 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

She cheats. It's the ONLY explanation. I don't know how and I haven't been about to figure it out.....yet. But I'm sure she cheats. :)

<I've got my eye on you Butchie.>

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:22 | 3729609 Mrs. Cog
Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:42 | 3729505 blindman
blindman's picture

I recently heard someone say that men
speak an average of 2000 words to women's
30,000 words per day.
the source may have been a comedian so don't
quote me on that.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:48 | 3729681 New_Meat
New_Meat's picture

"That's one for you and nineteen for me"

Oh, nvm, that was TAXES.

Good on all y'all CD and Mrs. CD.

- Ned

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 23:18 | 3729764 blindman
blindman's picture

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Taxman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNDYArDUgSg
.
The Beatles - Taxman (2009 Stereo Remaster)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqK97av7I3s
.
but who is the tax man? there you find your banker
for interest, of course payment, co-lateral and
even vertical, fiat acompli owner and principle
and partner, legal fiduciary , notary and all
recipient.
.
Junior Parker - Taxman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byjPd28KegM
.
there it is but there is always so
much more ......!

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:25 | 3729456 francis_sawyer
francis_sawyer's picture

Funny you should mention "bugging" & "DC" in the same sentence...

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 23:16 | 3729760 toxic8
toxic8's picture

yes I thought this was an NSA post

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 23:24 | 3729777 Mrs. Cog
Mrs. Cog's picture

LOL! For the first year of our relationship Cog swore I was an NSA agent sent to pacify him. Clearly I knew too much.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:38 | 3729484 otto skorzeny
otto skorzeny's picture

"bungholing" and "DC" -is that a better fit (pun intended)?

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:28 | 3729451 durablefaith
durablefaith's picture

Excellent Post MRS COG! May I suggest that you locate a local foraging expert and pay them a hundred bucks to come walk the property with you. They will show what useful plants you have on your property that you may not recognize or understand the value of. I just did this and trust me, its the best hundred bucks you will ever spend. Green Deane has a list of foraging experts around the country on his website -> http://www.eattheweeds.com/foraging/foraging-instructors/

Welcome home.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:41 | 3729500 Mrs. Cog
Mrs. Cog's picture

Funny you should mention this... its a great idea. There are so many mystery plants here, I spend time almost everyday trying to identify them online. When we bought the place we had no idea what was already growing as it was during the dead of winter. What a delight to find so many perennial fruits and herbs.  An expert to help identify the amazing growth here is just what we need. It's like a rain forest. Cog was kind enough to find the poison oak for me.

Thank you for the link.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:16 | 3729597 centerline
centerline's picture

http://www.amazon.com/The-Foragers-Harvest-Identifying-Harvesting/dp/097...

Not as good as getting an expert out there (which I would definately do), but worth putting in your library among other great books.  I just got this one myself on a recommendation from another like minded person.

 

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:54 | 3729536 fonzannoon
fonzannoon's picture

Okay Mrs Cog....here is my story for you.

I live in Nassau county NY. Houses spaced 10 feet away from each other. It's like this everywhere.

So last summer around this time I was walking my dog. I always walk her around 5am. I do shit early. Anyway I am a few blocks from my house when I look down the block (my vision ain't the best) and I see this tall animal slowly walking down the street. No owner, no leash. But it was bearing down at us at a decent pace. I froze. My dog did not even see what I was seeing, so she was just sniffing around and chilling. I finally make the call, we need to bolt. I start pulling th leash and my dog looks at me like "dude....wtf". Finally my dog realizes I am acting unusual and retreats at a decent pace. This animal, at the same time, picks up the pace towards us. So now I am running, with my dog (shephard mix) towards my house.

With me at a full sprint, and my dog as well, a deer sprints past us both. I stop, my dog stops.....looks at me like "you are one incredible pussy" and we go home.

A deer....

I wish you guys luck. There is truth in humor, and the truth is, I am going to hang back, and hope we somehow get through this.

 

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 20:33 | 3729301 TrustWho
TrustWho's picture

If the world falls apart, a tight community with different skill sets is first requirement. If you are reading books, you may not survive the second winter. Make friends quickly in your new community and if you are going really rural, be patient. I do not know the level of tribal that will be required to survive.

Best place to start is a church.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 21:25 | 3729449 otto skorzeny
otto skorzeny's picture

the more you distance yourself from the fucking idiots that compose 97% of the  population- or "community"-in the US the better off you will be- live in the herd-die in the herd.

Sun, 07/07/2013 - 22:09 | 3729577 centerline
centerline's picture

The potential scale of this mess is huge.  I could so easily imagine about everything from a slow shift into a new sort of dark age, or an express ticket to a zombie apocalpse.  Either way, I have to say that getting out of the big cities is going to be a smart move.  And getting invisible is going to be really damn important anywhere.

Mon, 07/08/2013 - 10:20 | 3730587 new game
new game's picture

 centerline-having spent time with the wolf and understanding their well being, I can only say "think as the wolf" and ye shall survive...your pack will be your survival with each member fully understanding - YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN BITCH...

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