My family is selling our existing home and moving into a different home in October.
My existing home is in a very upscale country club community, but we are on one of the main roads through it. Due to the # of people moving in / out, visitors, delivery drivers, etc... it's impossible to know exactly who belongs there and who doesn't. You can never tell which vehicles have no business there. Also, there are too many different ways in and out of the subdivision, so access couldn't easily be controlled. If SHTF and a zombie horde starts heading North from Houston, my house is too close to the parade route. Also, if National Guard (or other) decides to move in and "help", my subdivision will definitely be on their list of places to secure. Nope. We decided to just face reality and understand that the neighborhood is a great environment, nice upscale showy location... but it's indefensible and too open... so better to move before the November election and the possible chaos following it in 2023 and 2024.
New home location isn't very far away, less than 2-miles. However, it's in a more out-of-the-way location and isn't along a zombie horde parade route. We looked for a home that is off of smaller secondary streets, and found a nice one in a looped section of four small residential streets, with only ONE 2-lane entrance/exit to the whole subdivision. If SHTF, access to the entire loop subdivision can be controlled by a check point and/or barricades on that one road. It's easy to tell exactly who belongs there and who doesn't. There isn't heavy vehicle traffic or visitors or constant deliveries... it's off the beaten path. Still better, there are heavy woods surrounding the subdivision on 3 sides. Also, I know and trust the local law enforcement. They don't play games and are very responsive.
It may sound irrational to some, but if people begin getting desperate in 2023 & 2024 (shortage of food, economy going into a Depression after the November elections, joblessness, lawlessness, etc...) you don't want to be in an uncontrollable environment. The chaos and crime will eventually reach my new place too... but it will affect everywhere else first and our home will be last to see it. Meanwhile, it is a neighborhood community where we can coordinate with neighbors and work together.
I urge everyone to consider that politicians have an interest in preventing the economy from going into a recession before November elections. After that, particularly if Republicans take over the House and Senate and State Governments, the outgoing Democrats will have 60-days remaining in office to cause as much chaos as possible. Watch for fuel prices to double, watch for environmental whacko laws to be passed, watch as energy prices increase, housing interest rates may go over 8% to 10% (knocking the life out of housing starts and existing home sales and driving the economy into a serious recession)... and then the Democrats who did it will watch the incoming Republicans get blamed for the recession. Things could get far worse than that. A serious recession would be the mild form of what is possibly on the near horizon.
My family discussed and decided that it's a good opportunity to move now. We wanted peaceful, quiet, plenty of nature around... and I wanted an area that I KNOW can be defended by a small group working together if need be.
Mostly, I just wanted to urge everyone to look at your own surroundings now. Look at a map of your subdivision. Think in terms of how crime might move in, or where desperate people may tend to wander if SHTF. Decide for yourself how comfortable you would feel if your situation changes overnight. I believe we all have about 2-3 months left to make good choices. Possibly more, because any outgoing Democrat decisions to cause chaos and destruction could take a few months to destroy the economy. However, I feel it's coming. Wherever you are in Spring 2023... there you are. Choose and prepare wisely. Remember also that any neighborhood area that isn't along a major street can be access controlled if everyone involved works together. I don't count on more than a dozen families cooperating together. Therefore, I wanted to be where that will be sufficient.
Time is getting short for preps. Make the best use of your time and think clearly about what you have, what you need and where you are located.
Not forgetting that. I will enjoy the new home and surroundings. :>) I'm not some crazy prepper by any means. However, I am a realist.
Being closer to natural areas, closer to where the eagles are nesting, where deer are living in the woods nearby and where the otters are on the lake is a good choice. I chose the new home because it gives our family exactly what we want. However, I did also keep my eye on future security in choosing the location. I know from past hurricane experience (and staying in the aftermath, refusing to evacuate) what it's like.
You don't have to necessarily move or relocate. In fact, staying at home in a familiar neighborhood environment is often your best bet. My family plans to stay at our new home regardless.
If you are staying anywhere (house, apartment, trailer, etc...)... I urge everyone to drive by your own home. Stop on the street in front and look at it for a few moments. 99% of deterring crime is to make your home look like it's not an easy target. Any criminal can break in anywhere they want, once they've decided to. Most only glance at a home for 2-3 seconds to decide if you are a potential target. In those few seconds, you want to discourage them by looking like a risky target. Look at your home critically. If you were there to steal or were desperate for money or food... what about that home makes it vulnerable. What makes you an easy target. What can you change to make it look like you are NOT the easiest selection on the block.
I have a neighbor who prevents people from pulling into his driveway... by simply placing an empty 5-gallon bucket upside down in the middle of his driveway near the street. Nobody knows what it's there for. Nobody ever moves it. Nobody ever crosses his yard. That empty 5-gallon bucket seems to make every pedestrian stay in the street and avoid his yard completely. It's uncanny, but it works.
Do you have a breaker box on the outside of your home? If so, your electricity can easily be shut off from outdoors. What can you do to make it look uninviting? How about buying (some available online) a large (decorative) wasp nest and placing it on the front cover of your breaker box? What criminal wants to find out if it's really an active wasp nest? From the street, it looks real enough.
How about keeping a few black painted 1/2" PVC pipes in your garage, sized to fit snugly in your exterior front window frames. If SHTF, you can choose to place the PVC piping into your window frames. From the street, they look like wrought iron security bars. Makes your home look like a hard target if times get tough. Maybe consider placing a fake surface mounted conspicuous "dead bolt" lock on your front door. From the street, it looks real. I have working security cameras, but I also have fake security cameras with red LED 'active' lights on them. Day or night, nobody can tell which cameras are active and which are fakes. They also don't know if they are being recorded or who may be watching. It makes your home less of a target.
Anywhere can be secured. Anywhere can be fortified in case of an emergency. The main goal is to present a risky target (or at least appear to be) so perps move on. In their 3-second glance, you want them to see at least 2 or 3 reasons to leave YOU alone. In my case, living in a small neighborhood community with one way in, one way out... is not conducive to criminal activity. A neighborhood where everyone is likely to spot a suspicious person or vehicle that doesn't belong... and where they can easily become trapped and caught presents a very risky target.
Don't be a crazy prepper... but also don't be an easy victim. There is life in between the two extremes.
The other side of the coin...
Or DIE in the event something does happen???