storage

STORAGE
Thanks to the big To-Do over at www.survivalblog.com on commercial storage units, I feel compelled to throw in my unsolicited advice on the subject. Hey, do I put a gun to your head demanding you send me funds to continue publishing ( BTW, Sam, I know you said I shouldn’t mention it, but I got your snail mail donation- I love you man! )? No. You foolishly do that on your own ( cash preferred, but will gladly except canned bacon, 303 Brit brass, silver or books ). So in effect, you are paying me to abuse you. Suckers. On a related note, you can now officially buy my post-apocalypse movie review book through the link at www.bisonpress.com. I took the 120 recommended movies over at Wiki, discarded half as having no real connection to the genre, watched 61 movies and reviewed 38 of them. The one third I didn’t review were either really horrid or had nothing to do with post-apocalypse. Some I reviewed had the same flaw, but were either good to watch or so bad I had to warn you off. “The Happening”, not post-apoc, got reviewed. “Cyborg”, only post-apoc in plot structure but in reality being nothing more than chop-suey set in the future ( and a very improbable future where the ammo had run out but someone had the resources to construct a high tech cyborg for little apparent reason ), was not reviewed. Hey, it’s all subjective. And, no, I didn’t make a list of the good ones. Buy the damn book.
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First, other than the money issue, I never had a problem with a commercial storage unit. The summer I lived in the Hippy Bread Van in the driveway of my stepdaughter, I rented a unit across the street ( literally ). It was the standard 10x5 metal box, but it did have fiberglass batt insulation on the ceiling. It stayed nice and cool in there just with that single layer of insulation held up by chicken wire. At least compared to the outside. The van was 110, the outside was 95. It was actually a relief to go get something out of the storage unit. I put in one pallet and had plenty of room for all my bulk grains plus all the normal household crap such as books ( I never own furniture, it comes with any trailer ). I wouldn’t hesitate to do that again if I had to. Now, granted, being across the street is far better than clear across town or several states away. But even then, I don’t think it is a fatally flawed plan. I don’t think storage units are the first place to get picked clean during a collapse. And even if yours doesn’t come with insulation, you could jerry rig something.
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Forget about needing to relocate problems. You know I don’t think highly of the idea. I worried enough about relocating just 300 miles that I moved to Elko. Cold weather, long commute, living primitive, less pay, all are better than worrying about Barnyard Flu or war in Iran shutting down the ability to travel. Being at your collapse community is peace of mind. So, whether you have commercial storage because you have no room at home or if you are going to attempt to bug out, even if I don’t like the idea, let’s just focus on the storage idea rather than the reason for it. Several prime targets for criminals, mobs and Yuppie Suburban scum are Wal-Mart, Costco, the gun shop or National Guard armory. Eventually they will get around to the feed store. Far down the list is the library ( I think you should prioritize the last two for best results/least danger ). Even farther than that is storage units. Yes, they will eventually be looted, but the most common item in a storage unit is most likely a damaged particle board entertainment unit or sagging ripped couch. Regardless of the actually number of food items or firearms, I think the average member of the Golden Hoard is going to envision rooms full of damaged household furniture.
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As far as being too hot, rent yourself a unit with insulation. Not climate controlled. My God, people, it’s a few years of slightly elevated heat, not a lifetime next to a spewing volcano. How long do you actually think we have before renting a storage unit is going to be as quaint as driving an SUV or ordering on line? Your food won’t be in there that long. If you must, spend $30 and slap up a sheet of rigid insulation held up with silicone. Just don’t ask permission. You’re improving, not destroying, but just bypass rules and regulations and asking pretty please. And don’t let them know what you are storing. Just say books and dishes.
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My point? Commercial storage can be a good place for supplies. No, it’s not 100% safe. Neither is your home. Fire, theft, etc. Half at home and half at a unit might not be a bad idea. Hell, I spend $50 a month for insurance and registration on the truck and trailer, just in case I suddenly need to legally move. Insurance is never really about the true money worth, it’s about the worth of peace of mind.
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