"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.

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.

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.

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?

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.-)

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.

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?

"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.

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?

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.