<DrumBeat: March 11, 2007The Oil DrumAddicted to Oil and Drunk on Ethanol>

108 comments on Nigeria: Energy Infrastructure Firestorm

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

westexas on March 10, 2007 - 4:54pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I do plan to relocate, eventually, but will probably do it in the form of building a highly-sustainable vacation home in the near future and gradually transitioning...

The question we (or at least many of us) are asking. Where to live?

One idea I think that might make some sense is the 40 acre survival plan. Buy 40 acres of farmland, perhaps with a joint venture group, 10 or so other people, close to a town. In the short term, you could at least lease it out to an organic farmer.

Longer term, you might think about moving there. If nothing else, you could move a very small prefab energy efficient home on to the site.

At least it would keep some farmland out of the hands of real estate developers. . .

One idea that some of you might pursue is to get an option to buy some farmland, and then get nine people to pay 100% of the cost of the property (you would get carried for 10% of the cost of the deal, in exchange for organizing it).

You could try to be more aggressive and do a deal where you get carried for 25% of the cost, perhaps with three people paying one-third each. You would of course need some detailed agreements, with buy/sell provisions, etc.

Edit: For confused people (like me), I think that all references to "Jeff" refer to the author of the article.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
jeffvail on March 10, 2007 - 5:21pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

"Where to live" seems to involve at least the following: water supply, energy supply (as necessary given climate), food supply, local community. One of my favorite topics to write about is the theory of sustainable communities because I know that the feedback I receive will be highly personally appicable. Here are two posts that I've written that will guide much of my own transition to a more sustainable life:

Envisioning a Hamlet Economy

Creating Resiliency & Stability in Horticulture

Good chance that I will throw conventional wisdom out the window and choose a piece of the Sonoran desert as my location... There are obvious problems, but I think also some great advantages.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
The Chimp Who Can Drive on March 10, 2007 - 5:54pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

J,

I have your hamlet economy post saved in my favorites file, fwiw.

I would add to your criteria:

1. away from nuclear targets

2. away from fall out patern

3. low population density

4. isolated

Some people will likely argue #4, but reference the "law of attraction." If your place is well-prepped in any significant way it will simply attract people and the capacity of the area will be overtaxed and fall into as much chaos as whatever area the people fled from. Thus, it has to be isolated for there to a chance that it will remain a pocket of reciprocal altruism.

Trying to find a place that has all of these features is not easy, particularly if you have to maintain a foot in the petroleum economy.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
tylerhavlin on March 10, 2007 - 7:57pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I couldn't agree more with the criteria here. Stay away from anything related to the military, stay away from cities with populations over 100,000 and get as far west as possible to take advantage of prevailing winds.

My personal recommendation is Oregon.

http://www.survivalring.org/nuclearsurvival/states/or.htm

As you can see from the map, there are large amounts of targets to the north and a few scattered along its southern border, leaving a large chunk of green grass in the middle. Also, further down the page is a map of fallout patterns. Oregon is the only state projected to have zero exposure to fallout. While I'm sure there will be fallout no matter where you are in the States at the time of a nuclear attack, it sure would be better to place all of your chips on Oregon rather than anywhere else.

http://4umi.com/image/map/America_at_night.jpg

Be smart guys. Head west.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
totoneila on March 10, 2007 - 10:28pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Hello Tylerhavlin,

If you read my earlier speculative postings on Earthmarines: you can expect 50 million or more Southwesterners and Mexicans headed along the Oregon Trail shortly. I suggest you and most of Cascadia look into legal Secession, the building of large, contiguous biosolar habitats, and protective local militias [Earthmarines]. Otherwise, expect to be overrun with refugees like South Africa is currently experiencing from Zimbabwe and other countries.

Is Grants Pass, Oregon the best location to replay the American version of the strategic battle of Thermoplyae?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grants_Pass,_Oregon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_thermopylae

I have never been to Oregon, so you may have a better idea of where to make your final stand postPeak. I hope you have a better outcome than the Greek Spartan 300.

Bob Shaw in Phx,Az Are Humans Smarter than Yeast?

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
DelusionaL on March 10, 2007 - 11:01pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Oregon is a great place for Ducks and Beavers - and frogs, lot's and lots of water. Best place to be...hmmm. I'm not so sure, could be that after it gets posted here and elsewhere a billion times you might be living in the better spot.
Find where Bush is going to hide (like Paraguay) Maybe he needs a drinking buddy.-)

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Seth on March 10, 2007 - 11:06pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I grew up in remote mountains a little northwest of Grants Pass, a favorite for survivalists. It's horrible. I really can't tell you how dismal the chances are here for the future.....no one even consider moving here....please....

I floated the idea of secession to my undergrad class here in Corvallis, OR last week and was met with loud cheers. 2010 will be the year ladies and gentlemen. Mark your calendars and load your wagons.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
totoneila on March 11, 2007 - 12:02am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Hello Seth,

Thxs for responding. Good for Cascadia and/or the Jeffersonian State! The sooner you get your community and or state started towards Secession--the better your chances for long-run sustainability. The more Peakoil Outreach permeates your area, the greater the chance for widespread preparation. Maybe far NORCAL, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska can sufficiently prepare to pre-emptively hold off the invasion of the Southern hordes-- you won't have to replay a desperate battle of Thermoplyae.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadia
http://www.jeffersonstate.com/

For Easterners:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Republic
http://www.vermontrepublic.org/

In the years I have been googling orgs such as those above: it is remarkable to see the exponential growth. I fully expect the Patriot Act to eventually declare State's Right to Constitutional Secession as illegal if the topdogs true desire is to force globalization and Detritus MPP to the energetic extreme with NA SuperNafta. IMO, it would be better to let various geographies decentralize along the lines of watershed flows. Recall that the Hirsch Report calls for fifteen favored Detritus States-- maybe the other States will be given free rein to become the Biosolar States. My speculative WAG.

Bob Shaw in Phx,Az Are Humans Smarter than Yeast?

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
wehappyfew on March 11, 2007 - 12:38am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

"I fully expect the Patriot Act to eventually declare State's Right to Constitutional Secession as illegal "

Ummm, sorry Bob, secession has been illegal here since 1865.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
totoneila on March 11, 2007 - 12:54am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Hello Wehappyfew,

Thxs for responding. I am not a Constitutional Scholar, but I believe Secession is still legal. The question is if the Union will let a State go its separate way, or by force of arms cause reunification, ala Pres. Lincoln.

http://civilwar.bluegrass.net/secessioncrisis/890304.html

Bob Shaw in Phx,Az Are Humans Smarter than Yeast?

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
old hermit on March 11, 2007 - 12:59pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Good chance that I will throw conventional wisdom out the window and choose a piece of the Sonoran desert as my location... There are obvious problems, but I think also some great advantages.

Jeff V. You might want to contact me with regards to that aspect of your thinking. I live about 80 miles east of the Sonoran Desert, on 40 acres at 4700ft elevation, that my kid doesn't want, and by the time TSHTF I'll be so old I won't want it either.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
davebygolly on March 10, 2007 - 6:39pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

My take on relocation: stay put and try to put down roots. Or move back to some place where you already have roots. I think in the times to come community will have ever greater value. To think only of optimizing conditions as opposed to building community is, I think, a mistake.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
The Chimp Who Can Drive on March 10, 2007 - 9:13pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Community will be VERY important.

But if your city is nuked, right in the path of fallout, or likely to be overrun by economic/climate refugees community will mean jack squat.

See New Orleans, Baghdad, Detroit circa 2007 for cities that have fallen prey to "the long emergency" or Hiroshima circa 1947. Geography is the #1 determinant of how this will play out for you.

After geography, then community.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Black B. Gorilla on March 12, 2007 - 1:01pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Hi Westexas,

In the course of reading yours and Robert's thoughtful 'A Debate on the Substance and Timing of the Peak of Oil Production and Consumption' noticed in one of his current posts he mentioned that he was 'preparing for P.O.' and now here you have mentioned preparations for P.O. I think this is a subject many are interested in.

Do you think it might be time for some lead article to reflect that issue, unless it's been done to death already?

There is a wide spectrum here, not just basic survival items but the financial transition strategies involved. Especially in the event of an 'economic crash' style transition. You know financial info like "How to Turn Paper Money into Toilet Rolls"

I would like to know what everyone else plans and am more than willing to reciprocate.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.