Subscribe for Real-World Readiness

Weekly checklists, tested gear picks, 10-minute drills.

Survival Retreat: Where Do You Go When You Need To Run?

Survival Retreat: Where Do You Go When You Need To Run?

Win a
$1,000 Milwaukee Tool Package

One DIY Projects subscriber wins on May 10. A full kit of Milwaukee tools — the kind that makes a weekend project easier to finish, whether it’s a fence post, a set of shelves, or the cabinet door that’s been sticking for years. Free entry, just an email.

Hosted by our partner site

A lot of preppers are looking for a retreat location in a rural area. Most people think that getting out as far away as possible is the best strategy. But I'll tell you from experience, moving way out to the hinterland is the biggest mistake you can make.

When we first panicked we headed out as far as we could. We were at least 6 miles from the nearest little store and 25 miles from a small town. After years of living that far out we realized as a family that we wanted to be closer to other people. I have seen this same pattern over and over again among people who move – way out. Then they end up moving back in a little closer.

We humans are at heart, really social. Who will sew you up after a misplaced blow while chopping wood?

Who will you trade with to get something out of those extra batteries and wire you have?

With whom will you celebrate the joy of growing all that squash?

Who will help you fight off that renegade mafia claiming to be the new Government?

Who are your kids going to marry?

Who knows the local plants to treat infections after the antibiotics are expired?

With whom will you make music or swap jokes?

In the numerous interviews and reading I have done with people who have lived through collapsed currency or civil war situations, the best strategy for survival comes from being in, or very close to a small community.

So being near a small community is ideal. Americans with our car-centric culture have lost touch with a pedestrian lifestyle. How close is best?

In the middle ages many European markets were spaced approximately 14 miles apart. That way you were only 7 miles at most from any town.

7 miles was a good distance as a person can walk into town, spend a few hours at church or the market, and then walk back home all within a day.

Being in the town itself, especially if you plan on being very active in leadership after collapse, is a good strategy.

I recently worked with a couple who moved back into town after years of being way out in the country.

After having a big acreage around them they thought they would only be in town temporarily until they found another farm that was closer in.

But with an easy walk to work and biking to the grocery store, and no gas bills, they’ve decided to stay in town.

They are working to teach neighbors how to garden and generally helping the small community to prepare.

So finding a place that is somewhere between being right in town and mo more than seven miles out is a good guide.

Finding the perfect survival retreat is a complex process and but it can be done.

And I can show you how…

Click here to learn more:

https://survivallife.com/retreat

Want to know more? Check out these related articles on our site:

To Bug Out or Stay In? That is the Question

Best Bug Out Locations | Where To Go When The SHTF

Bugging Out Without Leaving a Trail

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get field-tested gear picks and drills delivered before you ever need them.

Win a
$1,000 Milwaukee Tool Package

 One DIY Projects subscriber wins May 10. Free to enter. Approximately $1,000 in Milwaukee branded products, shipped via Amazon.com.

Hosted by our partner site

Related Articles

At a Glance: Hurricane Season 2026 Below-Average Forecast: The 2026

At a Glance The Golden Rule: Always pre filter cloudy

At a Glance: The Hybrid Survival Kit High-tech gear buys

Scroll to Top