"I have to ask about the food and water: how have you determined that it is three months supplies? Is it a simple case of "that looks about right" or have you planned out three months of meals, taking into account larger portions for the extra exertions that survival usually entails?

For the water, does this include washing, cleaning cooking utensils, manually flushing toilets and emergency fluids for things like first aid?"

"Heirloom seeds are original varieties of plants that were bred back in the "good 'ol days". They're usually nicer or more productive than normally commercially available seeds, but most importantly, they're also viable seed *producers*. A lot of commercially available seed these days yields "mules" that can't reproduce, which means no seeds for next season.

As for what plants to grow, that depends on where you are, so I'll leave that to more local assitance. What I do suggest is looking up "no dig" gardening techniques, and getting the kids involved in growing food. They'll usually enjoy it. Can you keep chickens where you are? Do you have a way of collecting rainwater?

As for fuel, there's really no hard and fast answers on storage, but with stabilisers, you should be able to stock it for 6 months to a year, and be able to *rely* on it.

As you're planning to bug in, what about heating and cooling your house if the power and/or gas stops flowing?"

"Welcome aboard.

Congrats on a great start. Better than most and what is most important is you're trying and asking.

Guns. A Mosin-Nagant M91/30 Russian bolt action 5 round fixed magazine rifle. It is chambered in 7.62x54R(rimmed). Which is close to the 30-06 (7.62x63) & 308Win (7.62x51) in ballistics.You can find them for around $100-150 and surplus ammo for $6 box 20rds or close to $90 for a bulk tin of 440rds. The surplus ammo is corrosive so the gun needs cleaned after every time it's shot.
You can get stripper clips to reload 5rds quickly.

It's a decent shooter and you can put a recoil pad on it to help tame it more. It really don't kuck, it more like pushes you. My 12yr boy can shoot mine.

Since you only have a 22LR and 12ga shotgun for long guns, another to arm you or dad with wouldn't hurt.

I would stock twice the drinking water for personal useage since you live in the desert region of California. Also check and see what it takes to hand wash clothes/bath. You can reuse bath water to wash clothes in too.
Check on sand dish washing. It can save you lots of water. Also if you can get environmental safe soaps with a crude sand filter you can use your wash water to help with watering the garden.
If you have pets plan on their needs too.

Test your food stuffs to see what it takes to feed everyone a meal.
Then add 10% extra as a safety net.

Don't forget toothpaste and other items you regularly use.
Learn how to preserve what you grow, hunt/fish, and gather.

Google search everything and YouTube has lots of educational videos too.

Again welcome aboard and good luck.

"

"it's not too "way out" as long as you have a viable plan on how to get there. That is probably going to be your biggest hurdle since I am guessing it will be a pretty long trip. You need to nail down the details such as routes that would keep you away from heavily populated areas. Places to possibly scavenge for fuel and supplies along the way such as backwoods gas stations that may have not seen much activity and may still have a little fuel and food left.

Also, think about how much of your supplies you would be able to carry with the 5 people that would be with you. I have a full size pickup but 5 people would greatly decrease my ability to carry supplies. What kind of vehicle would you be taking the trip in?"