A few of the meals really are detestable in terms of taste. But overall I'd say they range from decent to quite good. I think the idea that military rations taste bad has existed so long it's impossible to shake. I tried to get my mom to taste an MRE meal but she adamantly refused without a real reason.
To be honest, my problem with MRE tastes is that in an effort to please everyone, they all have this shitty tex mex taste. Anything described as "spicy" or "zesty" means that there's a little bit of heat, and then a bunch of sweet, and I hate that sort of tex mex flavor.
MRE's don't necessarily taste good, but they are palatable, some of them can be made to taste ok, but military food has never impressed me, but it's not dogshit either.
edited 27th Feb '13 7:26:19 PM by Barkey
It would probably be easier to buy a couple of shipping containers and mount crap inside of them. As long as you live within a couple of counties* of a decent size port, you can just buy one and bury it.
It shouldn't be terribly difficult to mount the heater on it (you don't need AC since the ground has a near constant temperature slightly below room temperature*) or in it. You'd still need either a heat pump for a walk in cooling unit or a large fridge, you could probably use the waste heat from that to keep it warm.
Let's see, you'd probably want a water filtration system of some kind (I think osmosis filters don't need to be replaced) and use one of those widgets that turns sewage into fertilizer. I'm not sure if you can use highly toxic cleaning agents if you do that though.
Anyway, I recently came across a pump activated flash light. They've apparently improved enough that a few pumps can activated it for several minutes, which is a serious improvement over the last time I saw them and they had an almost one to one charge/use rate.
* Deboss Advice Inc is not responsible for any damages or injuries suffered due to not learning your local topography or weather patterns.
edited 27th Feb '13 8:12:06 PM by Deboss
Fight smart, not fair.I'd want some kind of ventilation just to make sure there is fresh air inside, rather than the more mundane temperature control concern. Humidity could also be a concern depending on what else you are keeping in the bunker with you.
And of course, you have to ask yourself what you are bunkering down from. If you just want a storm cellar or even a bugout shelter in the case of Societal Collapse (hopefully temporary), the requirements are far less strenuous than if you need something to hide out a nuclear winter.
They still have those buried survival shelter things
. Looks like a winner for run of the mill stuff. Not sure I'd like to be in one for anything truly long term.
That said, there's also those super luxury survival condos
...
Yes, to a degree. There are a lot of preppers (not this thread) who seem to be motivated by either A: "Dey won't take mah gunz"-style fear of government or B: "The Commies are coming"-style paranoia. Most people are just doing a little bit of contingency planning. For others, it is a fun academic exercise.
However, being prepared for natural disasters, especially those that might hit your area, is still a wise thing to do. When I was in New York, the family I stayed with had a very detailed anti-Hurricane plan. This paid off for them big-style during Sandy.
edited 28th Feb '13 12:21:13 AM by Achaemenid
Schild und Schwert der ParteiThat's the one thing I regret about leaving the East Coast. with Hurricanes, you can at least see them coming and give yourself a little more leeway preparing specifically for them.
Here on the West Coast, though, you can never be prepared for an Earthquake to wreak havoc. Or the aftermath.
Nuclear war or some other attack? Not so worried about that, even if the Doomsday Clock
is closer to Midnight than it has since the end of the Cold War.
Pfft, and how many earthquakes do we get as opposed to hurricanes on the east coast?
The ones we do get are super localized and not a big deal, I always hear my cali brethren talk up Earthquakes like we regularly have to dive out of the way while on the way to work, lest a fissure open and swallow us up.
Anyway, I want one just because I want it to be the ultimate man-cave. I'll be honest, I just want to be in an underground metal box full of guns, stocked with food, and playing video games on an underground fiber connection.
edited 28th Feb '13 4:50:42 AM by Barkey
Sort of like that scene in Terminator 2 with better lighting.
I've also heard of people who get smaller underground shelters just to store their supplies. That way, in case of emergency, they have a protected stash of food and water even if they couldn't afford a full-on bunker.
I find that prepping for me is one part accidental exercise and one point genuine survival concern. Sometimes, when preparing my next prep, I think of that show Jericho and just say, "Okay, everything they didn't do is what I'm going to do".
Found this link today
, from Allstate. Pretty much everything we've already talked about.
Also this
. Really, the Allstate blog seems like a handy source of info.
edited 3rd Mar '13 1:22:19 AM by AFP
Kendal Mint Cake
: it's traditional. Failing that: any chocolate is pretty darned good. <shrugs>
And, surprise, surprise... even more traditional. Biscuits/ cookies. Or, you know... flapjacks. They're also classics for a reason.
The plus-side to all these options? Keeping your Bug Out Bag within its use-by date won't be all that much of a strain... However, extra gym work may be advised.
edited 15th Apr '13 4:27:07 AM by Euodiachloris
I forgot to mention Halva. Yum... and very good at keeping. Particularly the sesame seedy kind. ^_^ I really should have added biltong
. But, I know most people turn green thinking about it. (It's better than most over-sweetened jerkies, and I'll stick by that.)
edited 15th Apr '13 5:08:31 AM by Euodiachloris
For those interested in Bunkers
Vivos is building these. The first one is going in the ground in California. They strike vibes of Fallout Vault Co Vaults in the attitudes behind the vaults.

There's nothing wrong with an MRE as far as taste. It might just be a little bland to some people. And to that, again, spices! Those tiny little tabasco bottles can go a long way! Though, I hear the newer ones don't have them anymore.
edited 27th Feb '13 1:58:59 PM by DevilTakeMe
Glove and Boots is good for Blog!