Let's dream a little bit...

[Lowdown3]

(Within reason) ;)

Let's dream a little bit and create a "wish list" of infrastructure needs for a survival retreat.

I don't mean logistical stuff like "2 years of food". I mean infrastructure needs like: housing, wells, fencing, etc.

Not necessarily an "if you won the lottery" type of deal, but more of a you have a 5-10 year horizon before stuff gets really bad (let's pretend everything is great right now) and you can work towards these goals over time.

What would you want as part of your ideal survival retreat? Infrastructure.

[Rmplstlskn]

Right off the bat... No one really knows when it could get bad, so I will build for comfort, enjoyment and security. I will also keep expense within reach of someone who makes a low-6-figures per year, which seems to be normal here in the USA, but I missed that train somewhere...

A two-story home made of insulated concrete with an additional solid brick exterior (to look nice), laid out with a courtyard in the center... like a square donut or a rectangle with an open slot in the middle. Minimal windows on lower floor that face outside, but windows on second floor both inside and outside walls to enjoy the view. The courtyard in the middle, surrounded and protected by structure, would have a garden, patio and a pool. An oasis of sorts... Steel plate shutters on outside second story walls with shoot slots made to look nice. Roof would have deck on top with a reinforced concrete wall around the perimeter tall enough to protect from small arms fire but low enough to shoot over effectively. Risers on roof wall to allow head to look out from SIDE rather than have to lift noggin up exposing forehead to see over wall. Like a castle uses... Access to roof from inside courtyard via stairs that connect at second floor as well. Basement with safe room that is also suited for NBC protection, with functional filtration. Dumbwaiter lift from basement ammo locker to 1st, 2nd and roof floors to get ammo and supplies where needed without lugging up stairs. Concrete column car stoppers placed around perimeter. Fire sprinklers throughout home with designated firefighting areas equipped with hoses and supplies. Building materials used to resist combustion and fire resistant.

Large underground cistern next to building or below basement, ideally spring fed via underground aquaduct with valving to shut off if contamination is possible. Designed so water is always flowing in and out. Inflow filtered of large debris. Outflow goes to barn for animal use and for garden use. Oversized septic system and grey water treatment.

Barn, equipment sheds and small grain silo. Elevated water tank would be nice, but not required.

Naturally, solar panels for DC power and water heating. Windmill if area is conducive to it. Diesel genset with buried diesel tank. Same tank would be used by boiler for heating. DC appliances if possible, otherwise Energystar 120v. Gas stove and demand water heaters.

Fenced property with cut sensors, IR cameras in key locations, motion sensors. Communication bunker checkpoints around property perimeter where those on security could be safe, hidden and have easy communications with war room in basement and rooftop. Fields of fire clearly designed with funnels that will force unsuspecting foes to enter via fields of fire.

Large garden, ideally secured with a walled area, but $$$ may prohibit that...

More later as I think about it...

[Jerry D Young]

Just some of the things from a 65 page Dream House list


Master bedroom suite built as safe room
Walk in closet with gun vault

12" exterior insulate walls + 12" Skousen bullet resistant out wall construction w/brick facade
Sound and temperature insulated interior walls
Laminated triple thermo-pane windows
Armored roof top cupola
Sheet copper roofs w/300 wat PV panels on south facing roofs
Security shutters on all doors and windows
8' ceiling full attic w/load bearing floor and roof access
10' finished basement ceiling, concrete basement roof w/3' earth cover w/42" crawlspace above
Multiple exterior egress points in basement
Whole house fire sprinkler system including exterior roofs and walls

Entry porch w/wheelchair access ramp
sand/mud/snow collection grill/drain w/
stationary shoe scraper
side & bottom stationary shoe cleaner brush
Hanging tool rack w/
snow/dust broom, whisk broom, feather duster, handheld shoe scraper
Concealed security camera w/intercom panel and doorbell button

Steel front doors w/ magnifying peephole/spy panel
inside wall inset video monitor & intercom panel
Bootjack
Overshoe/boot stand/rack

Walk in entry closet w/hanging bars, rack w/long handled waste pan, whisk broom, clothes brush, sponge, sponge mop, waste basket, bucket

Main staircase from 1st to 2nd floor
sencond staircase under main staircast to basement
Elevator (basement, 1st floor, 2nd floor, attic)

All bathrooms w/bidet for when the TP runs out

Living room w/
built-in fireplace or wood/coal stove
built-in book cases

patio w/
Large brick/masonry barbecue grill assembly w/
structural roof/awning w/deployable cold weather enclosure
Chimney's extending through awning
Wood, coal, & charcoal storage unit
Large counter height work center w
masonry sind w/freeze proof hot & cold water faucets
work area
wall shelf/cabinet unit between cooking units
covered/lidded smoker/cooker/griller w/
masonry/steel/cast iron construction
rotisserie
gas burner
wood/charcoal buner
open cooker/griller w/rotisserie w
masonry/steel/cast iron construction
gas burner
wood/charcoal burner
drop deck burner for 36" cast iron wok
2 deep drop deck burners for 2 large cast iron caldrons


If a pool a fire pump with feed from pool

Utility room w/
water well
water pump
water filter/water treatment system
city water/water pump selector valves
water heater solar pre-heater tank
water heater
public utility/standby AC electrical power alternator transfer switch
Electrical power circuit breaker panel
telephone wiring master panel
cable TV/TV antenna master panel
built in vacuum system power units
zoned systems HVAC units

Exterior wood/coal furnace w/solar power system

Exterior attached utility equipment shed w/
lattice work brick walls w/fine screen lining
drained slab/gravel floor
2 turbine roof ventilators
HVAC system A/C condensers
HVAC system fresh air intatke filters
HVAC heat/humidy air exchange box
Standyby AC electrical power alternator

Attached utility patio w/
light duty incenerator
non-recyclable paper waste receptacle
non-recyclable light duty burnable waste receptacle
non-recyclable heavy duty burnable waste receptacle
non-recyclable other waste receptacle
clear glass wast receptacle
colored glass waste receptacle
4 types of plastic waste recepticles


Storage room w/shelving/racks/cabinets for seasonal storage items

fully equipped emergency shelter

[MJC]

In addition to many of the above listed items I would suggest an outdoor kitchen. Without AC, cooking indoors can be unbareable. Also now is the time to plant fruit and nut trees and berry vines, these things take years to mature. One thing noone with enough property should be without is an apple tree and the know-how to make cider vinegar. Cider vinegar is an excellent antisecptic and internal cleanser. It is also good for cleaning and sanitizing everything in your home from surfaces to laundry. I would also consider digging a deep outhouse so there is a back-up to the septic system. Get into the habbit of "if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down." if you are already on a septic tank this makes good ecnomic sense, you don't have to have your system sumped as often. Also consider planting an old fashioned "witches garden" with perennial herbs and medicinal plants. Plant these in a seccured area near the house for protection from the weather and two and four legged thieves. Do some research now on the proper uses for each of the plants in your garden and collect old fashioned recipes and remedies and try them now to see how effective they are. And for heavens sake QUIT SMOKING NOW!!! I've been trying to quit for a long time and I can't imagine going through this S*** after the balloon goes up!

[EX121]

My addition to the first reply would be tunnels to the out-buildings, along with camoflagued observation points.

[610Alpha]

So I am going to go with a 10 year plan on the infrastructure of my retreat.

1. Get out of debt.
2. Purchase a farm house way out in the country.
3. Upgrade the septic system.
4. Replace asphalt shingle roof with metal roof.
5. Reinforce entry points.
6. Solar power.
7. Dig additional well.
8. Setup low tech perimeter security measures.
9. Install fence for pasture for animals and purchase animals to raise.
10. Reinforce house's ballistic resistance.

Don't know how much of this I would get accomplished in the 10 years but this would be my starter list Number 1 would take me a couple years in itself so that wouldn't leave me much time for the rest of the items. Some of these items would need to reordered as I look at it one last time before I hit the submit button.

[rvans]

Idael place

Well I don't have the money put I do have the perfect prospect in the way of property. I have a close friend who has his farm for sale. This piece of property is properly situated away from major population areas. It is a 50 acre tract. The land is fertile and farmable. It has a year round creek with a waterfall. (possible hydro power) It also has 2 natural gas wells. (possible generator fuel and retreat fuel). It has a few structures icluding a liveable cabin. It also abuts a small river. Wish I had the funds.......

[1Admin]

rvans- maybe you can work a cooperative arrangement with your buddy to bug out to that place together if something happens. That being if it doesn't sell.
Sounds like a really nice place.

Maybe he would be willing to split off 10 or 20 acres and sell to you?

[Benn Gleck]

I find this post especially interesting.

The reason? I'm doing it.

The house I live in is in a suburb of 20,000, it is paid off.

A year ago we purchased 11 acres in the country. it has a well, septic and a crappy single wide mobile home. This is our BOL. Last year we planted a few grape vines, blueberries and blackberries. The place already has a ton of wild raspberries. This year we fenced two sides (with the help of our Amish friends) and for the last month we've been planting dwarf fruit trees, 14 total, also more blueberries and grapes.
Next year we plan on starting a garden, building a shed, putting a culvert in the smaller creek, starting beekeeping and if funds allow fencing the front along the road.
The XYL and I have been talking about writing down a 5 year plan but have yet to do it.
If the economy ever improves we'd like to sell this house and use the money to build a house at our BOL.

Any suggestions/ideas?

[rockriver]

tunnel system.
lots of good house details above.
assume a house and several significant outbuildings. barn, garage, storage bldg, etc..
from inside the basement run a small tunnel (thinking round concrete drain pipes or squared up poured/concrete block walls)
tunnel would have room to walk but also storage to sides.
now, if there is pack of wild dogs in your barn, you could gain access to dogs from your house and come at them through the equipment room in barn
or if house is hit hard by storm blast, you could exit house through tunnel, exiting damaged area from your storage building.
in addition to access to major buildings in a private manner, you would have long stretches of storage, in various areas, and long stretches of safe area for temp shelter for friends and family in event of an emergency.
dreaming.

[Lowdown3]

I find this post especially interesting.

The reason? I'm doing it.

The house I live in is in a suburb of 20,000, it is paid off.

A year ago we purchased 11 acres in the country. it has a well, septic and a crappy single wide mobile home. This is our BOL. Last year we planted a few grape vines, blueberries and blackberries. The place already has a ton of wild raspberries. This year we fenced two sides (with the help of our Amish friends) and for the last month we've been planting dwarf fruit trees, 14 total, also more blueberries and grapes.
Next year we plan on starting a garden, building a shed, putting a culvert in the smaller creek, starting beekeeping and if funds allow fencing the front along the road.
The XYL and I have been talking about writing down a 5 year plan but have yet to do it.
If the economy ever improves we'd like to sell this house and use the money to build a house at our BOL.

Any suggestions/ideas?

Sounds like your off to a great start- congrats!

First things I did on our property- years and years before we moved- was to dig a pond and put in an orchard. Because of getting an early start on this, we were harvesting some fruit the first year "boots on the ground" and their was full size fish to harvest.

Ponds and trees take the longest time, do them first.

https://www.homesteadingandsurvival.com

Has free videos on gardening, fruit trees, AE systems, etc. This should help in planning.

[All Talk]

This isn't exactly on my wish list, but I recall from a Robert Heinlen book (Friday?) a couple that had a sort of redoubt/dream house that included two interesting features, which were used when some over-nosy government types came in harassing them.

One was something like a deep hot tub with an overhang seat, below which was a water-filled tunnel, swimming through which was the only access to the hidden room in the house. A good supply of water tight bags was necesary.

The second was a vat of lye or some such, in this hidden room, the purpose was to dispose of the bodies of intruders without ever facing paperwork (or worse in their case).

[Benn Gleck]

Sounds like your off to a great start- congrats!

First things I did on our property- years and years before we moved- was to dig a pond and put in an orchard. Because of getting an early start on this, we were harvesting some fruit the first year "boots on the ground" and their was full size fish to harvest.

Ponds and trees take the longest time, do them first.

https://www.homesteadingandsurvival.com

Has free videos on gardening, fruit trees, AE systems, etc. This should help in planning.

Thanks for the congratulations and the link to the videos. I've been watching the beekeeping videos for a few months but never noticed the vids on fruit trees.

We'd like to have a pond but I'm not sure where I'd be able to put one if I could have one at all. We have one small creek about 20' across and another smaller drainage creek that isn't always wet. We are in the midst of a drought right now so even the bigger creek is dry except for a spot about 30' long that is either fed by a spring or by a leak in the neighbors pond.

We only have about 5 flat acres with the rest being hilly but there is a place between two hills that narrows down and the small drainage runs through that. We think that'd be the best place for a pond but the low area is full of large black walnut trees so we'd have to timber that out.

Anyway, this has been something I've always wanted and it's very fulfilling to work on it.

[wingfooted]

Pacific Northwest - except California
At least 25 miles from the nearest interstate highway
Minimum 80 acres
Class III soils or better
Southern exposure
Homestead site not located in a flood plain
Low enough elevation for a minimum 180 day growing season
Access to gravity irrigation or at least 18 inches of average rainfall annually
Senior water rights
Zoning allows build of a new home or existing home is adequate for current needs
Cheap enough that you can pay cash or put at least a 50% down payment on purchase

[Klayton]

sounds good wingfooted, only problem is, WHERE CAN I FIND SUCH LAND????