I'll Keep My Gas Guzzler

Back in 1980 I bought one of Buick's new front wheel drives a Skylark with parts in it that were built in the plant where I worked. Quite a downsize from my full size station wagon. I took 3 children on a vacation into New England driving that car. It ran good, got decent gas millage, but you could tell that it was loaded with luggage and all. There wasn't much room left for anything we picked up on the trip.

I have owned many vehicles; most of them Buick....big Buick. With all the EPA mileage requirements the "big" car is pretty well phased out. What use to be mid-size is now a full size. The new hybrids aren't too bad for what they are, but can't carry the payload. I have owned large pickup and small pick up trucks. I love trucks; a man's car.

I now own a 2002 Buick Le Sabre Limited and a 2003 Suburban LT 1500 4X4. The Le Sabre gets 30mpg on the highway average. The Suburban get 18-19 on a level terrain. Travelling I love the Suburban because of the ride and the down the road view above regular cars. It also gives a more secure feeling. I observed on a trip to Florida a Toyota Pirus that I was passing or maybe we were going down hill and he was passing me that when his front bumper was even with my front bumber, his rear bumper was even with the back edge of my front door. All those little beggars disappear under my outside rear view mirror, so I have to be extra careful changing lanes.....especially when I had to pry one out from under my running board once.

I have been playing out a scenario lately as part of my survivalist mentality. Would I in a case of a severe national disaster want to have to evacuate in a Chevy Volt or a Chevy Suburban 4X4? A lot of people might diss me as a fatalist. There is nothing further from the truth; however because of the state of the world and the positions that my government take on world events leads me to believe that when not if a severe national disaster I want to be prepared to take care of my family and to give them the security and comfort by being the strong patriarch to lead them through it.

God has always taken care of me and provided all my needs plus more than my needs; however I have never just stood and waited for him to move. I have always believed that I have to be proactive in everything whether it be moving to provide for my family or setting aside for the twilight years. I don't have the physical stamina of yesteryear, but I do still have the ability to think and prepare. I am hoping to teach others in this aspect of preparedness.

No I didn't get away from the gas guzzler. When the time comes to "escape" and evacuate, I don't want to wait until that time to  prepare. When that time comes it will be too late to look for food and water as that will be what everyone else will be doing. When the federal government is starting to stockpile meals at a hundred fold to what has been the normal; that gives me pause to reflect on why. They know something that they aren't telling us. I can say this in qualification because in the past as a carrier of  a top secret clearance I have been privy to events that the public has never known and I will take to the grave. Those things then are minute to things that are unfolding in the world now. My youngest son will know what I am referring to, because he knows things that he can't even share with me, and I respect his patriotism and character.

So.......do I load up a Volt or a vehicle that stays full of gas and a range of about 600 miles and can carry a big load besides if needed 7 people. Of course a 12 foot trailer behind with all the necessities can not hurt on this trip.

Another item that will help this plan work is that you have to have a plan, a route, a rendezvous point and a preset destination. This has to be without any doubt by anyone as means of communication may be limited or non-existent. Everyone has to know the plan and it has to be rehearsed. Everyone has to know where to rendezvous and those who would need help to do that. I have a means of communications that only rely on 3 AA batteries each. They can be texed to and from without cellular towers or phone systems. They can be directly voice to and from also and have a range of 32 miles.

I lived through the Cold War era and remember the threats of communism that were taught in boot camp and the drills we did in grade school. The bottom line is; if we get hit by a big one most of this preparedness is null, but as a friend use to say often, it is better to have and not need than to need and not have. We can play out every senerio in our thoughts and still miss the one that matters. I can only act with the truth as I precieve it.

Maranatha.