Some words from a fellow survivalist and enthusiast of this instinct, for some, are largely lost to modern conveniences.
Let's talk about simple planning that can be accomplished to prepare for a potentially grueling trek across several, perhaps many dozens of miles on foot, to get back home! Imagine for a moment what that would be like, and how you can prepare for such a journey.
Simple example of a Buy-In (or) Get-Home Bag - similar to the Bug-out Bag concept
Imagine...
Emerging from the metal confines of your automobile—whether it's a cavernous cargo van, an SUV bristling with gear, a full-sized sedan, a mid-sized commuter, a compact car, or even a nimble motorcycle—signals the moment your mechanized lifeline ends, and the ancient reality of moving by foot begins. This is no ordinary walk; it's a purposeful trek that could quite easily span 50 miles or more, a journey back to the safety and sanctuary of your homestead. Picture this scenario not just as a challenge but as a vital, real-world adventure rooted in plausibility—a future where gridlocked highways choke with stalled cars and work vehicles, fuel supplies evaporate, and emergency services become overwhelmed or immobilized. In such a real-world possible crisis, the ability to transition swiftly and effectively from machine to muscle may be the crucial difference between safety and vulnerability.
The first vital step in this transition is knowing what to take.
Regardless of your private automobile or professional work vehicle size or type, essentials must be gathered swiftly and efficiently—light enough to carry but comprehensive enough to sustain. From your private automobile conveyance or professional vehicle, you should prioritize retrieving your pre-packed Get-Home Bag—ideally toted on your back at all times while on the move—and any additional small, critical items that can be worn or pocketed: multi-tool, durable flashlight, fire starters, water purification tools, emergency food, and first aid supplies are among other essentials. Weather-appropriate clothing layers, sturdy footwear, and a high-visibility vest are indispensable for protection and visibility, especially if your route hugs busy, dangerous roads or railroad tracks. And, these are only a few items you will need.
Having your essential kit with you during travels is a vital preparation
This trek is punctuated by waypoints: safe stops known ahead of time where fellow survivors or emergency stock caches may offer respite, water replenishment, or additional supplies. However, these stops should not be relied upon as guarantees, but as planned contingencies within your larger survival strategy. Recognize that while mechanized help may be out of reach, aerial extraction—such as a helicopter rescue—remains a potential lifeline, albeit one typically reserved for the gravest of emergencies and least accessible.
Beyond supplies and shelters, an indispensable lifeline must be ready at your side: reliable, lightweight, and durable communication and navigation tools. A handheld radio operating on emergency frequencies can maintain vital contact with fellow travelers, nearby Community Resilience Units (CRU's) - emergency stations, Soil Jurisdiction County Sheriff's Office, or rendezvous points. - even an opportunity to contact your State Marshal-at-Arms/Sergeant-at-Arms to aid in a possible aerial rescue.
Compact GPS units, portable power banks or solar chargers, and personal locator beacons can be lifesaving, helping ensure you are not lost in the wilderness or urban maze. These devices transform uncertainty into actionable direction and safety.
This article marks just the beginning of a vital conversation—a primer on the imperative skills and gear to transition effectively from motorized mobility to self-propelled survival in an uncertain world.
Upcoming discussions will delve deeper into optimizing your gear—the radio and navigation tools that keep you connected and found—mastering terrain navigation, strategies for endurance, and mental resilience tips to carry you through such a grueling journey. The road ahead is arduous, but with preparation and commitment, every step taken is a step closer to home.
In emergency preparedness, few concepts are as critical as the bag you carry when the wheels stop turning and the only path forward is on foot. Often referred to as a Get-Home Bag, this essential kit equips you to traverse back to your homestead when traditional transportation significantly fails—a compact beacon of self-reliance packed with the critical supplies to sustain you for hours or days. But beyond the tangible items it holds lies a deeper layer of meaning, a silent pact of determination and responsibility.
This is the essence of what some call the "Buy-In Bag." It’s less about the gear itself and more about the mindset—the unwavering commitment to undertake the journey home, to stand your ground, and to invest fully in the plan to safely return and stay within your sanctuary.
Getting Back Home is your Buy-In. Where Buggong Out is NOT your only option
Where "bug-out" implies fleeing from danger, the Buy-In bag embraces a contrasting philosophy: a deliberate resolve to move forward, to buy into the survival process, to venture inward toward safety by way of purposeful travel home. This subtle but profound divergence shifts survival from mere reaction into a proactive act of ownership and resilience. The gear in your hand is the physical passport, but the real power is in your buy-in—the psychological contract that fuels every step onward.
Together, these intertwined concepts form a holistic survival doctrine where material readiness and mental fortitude merge. Your Get-Home Bag carries the essentials—water, food, navigation, first aid—but your Buy-In Bag fuels your spirit, your discipline, and your responsibility.
This synergy transforms survival from a passive event into a mission you own wholly, where success is measured not only by what you carry, but by how deeply you commit to the journey back home.
