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A whole lot of “stuff” has come across my desk, and I wanted to share it right away.

What I’m reading…

I recently received a copy of Scott B. Williams book, Bug Out: The Complete Plan for Escaping a Catastrophic Disaster.  I’d read a couple of reviews and decided to check it out for myself.  He has some good insights on what to include in an emergency kit or Bug Out Bag.  Although much of his information isn’t geared toward families, it is still instructive.  There’s no doubt that Scott has, personally, lived what he writes about, and he and his blog, Bug Out Survival, are credible sources of information.

I’ve been thumbing through Self Defense Against Disasters by Ed Copp, ever since he handed me a copy back in June.  I recommend  his book highly, especially for anyone who is hesitant about preparedness.  It’s an easy read with plenty of workbook-style pages to help you develop your own preparedness plan.  He doesn’t come from the perspective of a prepper, but has an extensive background in being ready for all sorts of crises, and it shows.  At just $7.95, this book would make a great stocking stuffer or something to casually hand to someone you’ve been hoping will begin taking preparedness seriously.

Still slogging through How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It by James Rawles.  It’s not that the book is difficult to read, my reading level remains steady at a 4th grade level (comprehension a bit lower), but I have so many interruptions in my day that I have to keep setting it aside.  Plus, who wants to read that they only way to survive is to wear brown and green all the time??  Seriously, I’ve picked up numerous tips from Mr. Rawles, and it was his blog, SurvivalBlog, in fact, that inspired me to start TheSurvivalMom.

What I’m considering…

Last month I received an email with a very interesting proposal by Rich Seng.  He has a vision of something like a prepper dating service.  No, he doesn’t want to date me, he just wants to help city-dwellers find places of safe refuge in the country when the S hits the fan.  His website is called Amerisafe, and registration is free with no strings attached.

Naturally, I was quite skeptical of this idea and emailed Rich:

I’ve read too many comments on blogs and forums that indicate people in the country see city people as a horde to mow down with their rifles.  If a family shows up at a homesteaders door without food, clothing, or any resources, other than Christian charity, what’s in it for the homesteader?

Here is his response.

In answer to your question about the hostilities people in the country might have for people flooding in from the cities, well, this is EXACTLY why I made this site. It was in my prayers and flowing imagination that I thought this sort of network would help avert mistrust and conflict between city-folk and country-folk.

I mean, if we ever start turning our guns on each other, we are really going to be miserable, and it would be so unnecessary too. The mission of Amerisafe is to build this network of hospitality and planning NOW so that if the you-know-what ever does hit the fan, people will not panic and hence, become desperate.

Rich’s heart is in the right place and only time will tell if his plan will work.  I checked out his site, and as my luck would have it, there are no homesteads anywhere near my house that have signed up yet.

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