Prepping for Generations

[rvm45]

Remember how I said that I'd come back to this topic awhile back.

First of all.....

Many of my characters are based on life.

Also, when I'm in the Beginning stages, I like to put myself into the story to imagine what I might do, How I might React, etc.

Well, talking about this Plot, I'm going to bring in some reality--hopefully no one will get confused.

First A Wild Stray Idea:

Imagine a typical Survivalist type protagonist--not a former Green Beret or Navy SEAL--But with very good skills and physical condition.

Now Imagine that he ends up in the middle of the Desert, unarmed, very sketchily equipped, and being relentlessly hunted by several armed, hard core, Homicidal Type Dudes.

You decide why. They're into "Hunting Humans"; He owes them money; he stumbled on a huge drug transaction.....whatever.

After using only a few Clever traps and ruses, and after suffering intensely but rather briefly.....

He accidentally finds a very old, very well equipped Bunker.

That's why I picked the Desert. Weapons stored for a very long time most places, might very well have rusted away.

How Old? Well if they were muzzle-loading firearms, it would be highly unlikely that any Components would still be good--even in the Dry Desert Air.

The Colt Peacemaker was Patented in 1872 or '73.

I think that the .44-40 Winchesters came out about the same time.

Lets say that our Early Preppers may have started scouting for a good cave, Fixing the cave up, and getting organized shortly after the War of Northern Aggression-- about 1865--but they didn't really get serious about Ammo Acquisition until about 1880.

The Smith and Wesson .44 Special came out in 1907 and the S&W New Century Revolver came out in 1908.

Colts were never very common in .44 S&W Special.....Don't know when the first ones were manufactured--but that's no problem. Assume that our Preppers were well financed.

They might have special ordered a fairly large consignment of .44 Special Peacemakers, and the record was subsequently lost.....

Or they might have had them converted after the fact, by a local Gunsmith--who might also have been a member.

I just want some .44 Special Peacemakers in my story.

I think the Broomhandle Mauser was Patented about 1893. Let's say that there are a few stored in the cave--but none of our Preppers were particularly impressed by them.

If they were still active in the 20's--Why are there no neat things like 1911A1 Colt .45 Autos, .38 Supers and 1928 Thompsons stashed in the Cave?

I like 1911A1s and Tommy Guns--but not for this story.

We can imagine a few Old men hanging on into the '30s--but not much later.

What was their Rationale for Prepping? And what was their guiding philosophy?

Were it real--they might very well left enough clues behind for someone to piece it together--but maybe not. We Might not ever know.

Why did the die out?

Once again, when you Write the story, you figure it out.

Here are some topics for research:

What would have been the best state of the art Long-Term Storage techniques in the early 1900s?

How long could the best kept of the old ammo have lasted--and what would have been the best long term storage technique?

How would you store Ivory, Horn, Stag, Bone and Mother of Pearl grips for the long haul? Perhaps in Lanolin?

Cosmoline--or Primitive Equivalent--Might have Rocked for Metal--but what about Wood Stocks?

Our dudes cached plenty of Lanterns and Coil Oil (Actually, its spelled "Coal Oil", but pronounced "Coil Oil". Some folks have only read the term, and may not be aware of that fact.)

Plenty of Candles, Hatchets and Bowie Knives too.

Most foods Spoil--but a few can last almost indefinitely, under ideal circumstances: Honey, Salt, Sugar.....Probably well-sealed Coffee, Pemmican and Jerky-Jerky, Hard Cured Hams, Salted Cod, Salt Pork.....Hardtack Biscuits.

So our Hero takes a wildly unlikely tumble down a very hard to spot "Rabbit Hole".

There is very little chance of being discovered anytime soon--still, depending on how determined your searchers are--and if they keep poking around interminably.....?

So our Dude goes into a the "Rabbit Hole" armed only with an improvised Sling, a sharp shard of flint, and a sharpened stick.

After finding the Lanterns and Coil Oil, he finds Guns--though its up to him to reassemble them, and test out the old ammo.

(Of Course there's a small target range--what kind of "Punch and Judy" Show do you think this is?)

He dines on Hardtack and Honey, along with some Jerky-Jerky, some very old and strong Coffee, and some 100+year old Scotch.

He arms himself with a nice pair of .44 Special Colt Peacemakers with Stag Grips, and backs them up with a Pair of Pearl-Handled, .32 Caliber H&R Topbreaks, straps on a hand forged Confederate Bowie with a 13" Blade, and a Green River Skinning Knife.

He picks up a 1903 .30-06 Springfield Rifle, a compass, and a trio of Metal Canteens.....

And now the tables are turned.

What about After the Fight?

Do you all realize what Mint-Condition Colt Peacemakers, perhaps with their original Colt Shipping Papers might be worth? Genuine Period .44 S&W .44 Special Colt Peacemakers With Period Ivory Grips?

Quite possibly, they might be worth more than Gold, on a pound for pound basis.

How many of you would get a Pick-Up and start hauling out priceless collector's guns by the Ton?

Just might depress the Market. Someone might try to claim your treasures. The Government might confiscate them.....

Besides--a very large, well built, Enlarged and, improved Cave Retreat--particularly a Top-Secret-Cave-Retreat would be a very happy-making thing.

I mean, in that dry Desert Climate, much of the Hand-Built Furniture might still be quite usable.....

Quite possibly it was made by hand, by master craftsmen, working right there in the cave--and maybe their woodworking tools are still there--packed in Cosmoline.

I'd sell off a very few of the Guns--the ones that I could get the best Premiums for.....

And I'd install modern reloading equipment. Case after case of new ammo and components--and a few well-chosen Modern Firearms.

Batteries, generators, grow lights, LED Strips, a few thousand books, a free-standing Computer System, a well equipped Gym.....

Big screen TV--Home Theatre System--Chemistry Lab, Workshop.....

25 Or 30 Year's worth of"Best Quality" Long Term Storage Food--for fifty, or a hundred people.....

I'd try to buy the land the entrance sat on.....

And I might sit around inside, all by myself, for the next five to ten years--just enjoying my Guns, My super-neat retreat, and the solitude.

Couldn't make much of a story about that though.....

No Conflict.

I don't really know the Desert well enough, nor do I know any of the Desert States well enough to set a story there.

So anyone who wants to use this Idea, be my Guest.

Went way long.

I'll come back to the subject of Multi-Generational Retreats tomorrow--or the next day.

.....RVM45

[rvm45]

Let me describe two of my Uncles--You've met their fictional counterparts in some of my stories.

Neither one was Blood kin to me, and neither was the slightest kin to each other. Uncle #1 was a Bricklayer in Kentucky. He had to be pulling down very good money, but I never realized it as a boy. He aways lived on a run-down farm, wore bib overalls and drove an Ancient and Battered Blue Ford Truck--and he was near toothless.

He didn't have any expensive vices. I don't know what Rathole his money went down. He liked to entertain lavishly--in Hillbilly style, and I suspect that he was fairly generous helping out many needy Kin.

Back then, there was a housing boom in the area. People would buy land, then they would build a Concrete Block Walk-in Basement--buried on three sides--and much like today's Underground Houses.

Then they'd wait a Few years--or even a couple or three decades to build a house on the Basement. Still a Clever Idea.

The Point was--Uncle #1 was quite experienced building Basements.

As an aside--since the family was going to live there for awhile--the Basements were a bit elaborate as Basements--Bathroom, Kitchen, ample lighting, interior concrete block walls, dividing the interior into bedrooms and such.....

And the plan was to slap a standard 2 story Wooden Home on top eventually--of a quite respectable number of square feet, bedrooms, etc. even without counting the one's in the Basement.

Given the construction, wonder why none of them had a Sub-Basement?

Uncle #2 was a very gifted, multi-talented individual--and a bit of a Workaholic.

He'd worked his way up to foreman in a good-paying factory, and held the job for many years.

He read "Popular Science" and "Popular Mechanics" religiously. He was a good Amateur Electrician, a very Good Welder, a Good Roughing Carpenter and a fair Cabinet Maker. He could work on Car Engines, Do Body Work, Repair Refrigerators and Freezers.

He never got into Gunsmithing, though I'm sure that he could have. He had a few Guns--though he wasn't "Gunny". I've inherited a couple of them.

He was a very quiet man. He spent most of his waking home hours working in his large, well-equipped Garage Workshop--Though he and my Aunt did spend some quality time together, and were very harmonious.

My Aunt Drove a Big Black 50's style Cadillac. She loved shopping. Her house was filled with 50's and 60's Kitsch, new "innovations" like they tend to sell through Popiel Infomercials nowadays. She was always sampling the latest diet fad, but she had no will power, was somewhat fat, and was a good cook who kept her house sparklingly clean.

She was the first in our family, or in the Neighborhood to get Air Conditioning--and later, Central Air. She was the first to have color television--and so on.

So lets say that in another World, my two gifted Uncles were brothers--instead of being unrelated shirt-tail in-laws.

Lets suppose that they started on an elaborate Fall-Out Shelter just about as early as it is reasonable for the most precocious early bird to have had enough info to realize the need.

'48? '49? No later than '52 or '53.....

They located a fairly unknown cave, and bought the land. They funneled every bit of spare time and spare cash into the the hidden Bunker for 25 to 30 years. Enlarging the cave--via chisel, pick axe and even dynamite in the early stages.

Reinforcing the roof and walls with ton after ton after of Red Clay Brick, Concrete Blocks, Native Lime Stone, Concrete and Cement, Rebar, Construction Cloth.

Uncle #1 tirelessly Scavenges cheap or even free construction materials--and buys much of the rest at Contractor Wholesale.

Though the Native stone and some of the Red Brick columns and walls are visible--Much of the area is bounded by insulated walls, Paneled over with Walnut, Knotty Pine, Glass Block, et.

Some floors are salvaged and reconditioned Polished Hardwood--old oaken barn clapboards, for instance or polished tile, or Brickwork Floors.

The place is very thoroughly wired for 12 Volt Power.

There is a running water system, and a very large cistern.

There are some of Aunt #2's very advanced and well executed "Paint-By-Number" Paintings hanging on the wall.

There is a very large Library and a large well--equipped Workshop.

The interior is anything but Spartan--very Retro--by todays standards--and a very eclectic mixture of 30', 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's Furniture and decorations.

(Even in the 70's there would have been a few Lamps, Coffee-Tables, End Tables, Dinnerware Sets, etc, cluttering up Attics and Garages--and much of it is rescued or salvaged--reconditioned if necessary--and sent to the Cave.)

Guns--There is an ample number of Guns--but not a whole lot of Variety.

Uncle Number one concentrated on 12 and 20 Gauges, heavy on the Double Barrels, with some Pumps and Single-Shots. He likes .30-30 Lever Actions and Springfield .30-06 Bolt Actions. He figures that .38 Special is good enough for the Police--so.....

And Beaucoup .22s of all descriptions.

Uncle #2--Liked the .30 Carbine, The .38 Super, and the .357 Magnum.

Uncle #2 is an accomplished Gunsmith and Reloader.

#1 Likes to lay in plenty of used S&W and Colt .38 Special Revolvers, Marlin and Winchester Lever actions and Bolt Action .30-30s.

#2 Is more into Stockpiling .30 Carbines and .38 Supers.

They both are reluctant to pass up any "Yard-Sale" Bargains--or very cheap inoperable firearms, to hide away as "Parts Guns".

Bring in another Brother or Cousin, or Child or two.....

Contributing a bit more expertise, stock-piling a few of their own favorite Guns/Calibers/books.....

Donating a bit more money, salvaged stuff--and leaving a minor mark on the decor.

Now Everyone who knew about the retreat has passed on thirty years ago, at least.

There are a few Rumors/gossip about the retreat--but no one knows how to get there.

If they remember it at all, its very vague. Most of the family doesn't even believe its really there.

The brothers were crafty enough to charter a company under assumed names, set up an interest-bearing checking account to pay an accountant to keep the Property Taxes for the land payed up from the interest.....

And You (Me) come up with a Secret will, deeding the Bunker to you, showing you how to get there--and making you sole owner.

Really--I don't see this as a disaster story. I'm more interested in exploring what effects having such a very neat, elaborate, secret and very Quaint/Retro Retreat falling into one's lap.....

Also, with all the dead essentials taken care of--what luxuries does a fairly low income fellow choose to stock his personal Retreat with?

TV&DVDS? A thoughtful selection of useful New Books for the library? A computer with lots of programs and games?

A few favorite Guns? Potentially useful Yard Sale/used book sale--whatever?

What if you contrived a way to take a Girlfriend there for a three to five-day weekend--While figuring out some way to prevent her from Figuring out where it actually is.....

How do you think that would go?

Anyway, its a fun concept to play with.

{And you could have had people improving/stocking your Cave right up through the 80's or early 90's--before some rather early Deaths left you the sole inheritor today, in 2012.

But if you do that, you lose much of the Retro Charm of the Place...}

If anyone can use the idea, go for it!

.....RVM45