I wish you all the luck you deserve Mooncat. This State of Alabama is so messed up - my ass NEEDS to get out of it ASAP. West I am going.

hubba hubba!

my resume (featured on survivalblog.com's retreat profiles page i might add):

Retreat: Sailboat

Ages: one male 34 years old

Background: Grew up in small town next to Vandenburg AFB watching missles being launched and sometimes blown up over the ocean. Allways knew that one missle means test and two or more means death. Grew up with most "toys" being bought at army surpluss, my brother and I were the only kids who when we played "war" dressed in full army gear complete with combat boots, helmet with outer cloth liner stuffed with branches, belt with 2 canteens, belt back pack, shovel, ammo cases...the list goes on and on. Moved to a southern california harbour 20 miles from santa cruz island about 2 years ago to be closer to work (and distance myself from Vandenberg AFB). I have been getting everything on the boat ship shape for last 2 years. I have also been buying survival gear suited for an ocean retreat wtshtf.

Annual Income: Was 46k a year till I got laid off 3 months ago.

Investments: so far 30 grams pamp suisse bullion, survival gear, food stores

Present Home: 1977 30 foot Catalina Sloop sailboat. I have upgraded the rear stern rails to ones with incorperated rear seats, repaired both sails, replaced the lifelines, replaced all essential lighting with solar powered led lighting and have kerosene backup lighting in every berth. I also have solar powered exterior lighting. For entertainment I have a xpower solar power pack that will charge my creative zen and portable dvd player from dead with a days charge on the power pack. That gives me 3-4 hours of dvds and 11-12 hours of mp3 music a day, every day for free. I have spare new batteries for all three units in the boat. Since I live aboard I am tax exempt and only pay like 45 us every two years for registration. I also have to pay 20 us once a year to have harbour patrol give me a live aboard safety inspection.

Vehicles: I have a 2005 Tank Urban Sporty 150cc scooter made out of chineseum and a 1999 honda civic LEV (low emissions vehicle), they cost about 120 us a year for regristration and about 600 us a year to insure with the minimum required by law. The scooter gets about 60-80 mpg and the civic like 30-38 mpg but I mostly ride the scooter.

Firearms: winchester 12 gauge semi auto rifle with muzzle choke and 300+ rounds of birdshot(also have bandoleer for 50 rounds), with the choke i get a nice spread at 100 yds. Compound bow and steel arrows. Flare gun and 10 flares. About 60 yards cheap floating rope (keep reading it is a weapon) to foul the props of any would be attacking boats just cut into 10 foot strips and throw into water. Also have a machete, an axe, a blackie collins design gerber clip lock serrated knife as well as about 30 other varying knives.

Gardens/Orchards: Whats the biggest highway in the world that is full of food? The ocean, it is also the biggest moat in the world.

Property tax: None.

Communications: VHF radio handheld and onboard units for emergency use, cell phone for domestic calls.

Food Storage: 50 pounds of rice, large supply of canned ham, large supply of canned food, I have also stored a lot of extra salt and cooking oil onboard for bartering purposes. I have room to store 20 gallons water built into the boat and have room for about 50 more gallons in storage.

Fuel Storage: 20 gallon tank built into the boat, 5 gallon tank in the dinghy and 5 1 gallon tanks under the cockpit seats.

Survival gear: Lp BBQ with extra canisters of Lp, PUR SURVIVOR 06-LL DESALINATOR WATERMAKER, 400 pcs 65 mg potassium iodide tablets sealed in factory bottles, solar lighting inside and out, solar fan i made that works day and night, 2 fishing poles and assorted fishing tackle, sailrite lsz-1 sail and canvas sewing machine with heavy duty stainless steel hand crank for use offshore.....assorted tools needed to keep the boat working.

Worst Case Scenario: Economic collapse, nuclear war, waterworld, tsunami, civil unrest, corrupt government declaring martial law....you name it, I am a power cord and 4 dock lines from New Zeland via hawaii or Baja California to mexico. The thin vernier that holds "civilized" society from becoming the Rodney King riots is not as thick as you might think. Like a castle with a large moat, like an island or an oil rig is how I will bug out. Since owning the sailboat I have travelled over 200 miles in 4-5 trips to the islands and in that time I used MEBE 1 gallon of gas. Blow ships are the cats meow when it comes to efficiency. Top sailing speed (so far) 9.4 knots under full main and 120% jib.

hubba hubba hubba!!!

Welcome Mooncat, and a happy New Year to ya!

welcome and happy new year