Where to move if the world collapsed?
Hey there,
I've been diving deep into some pretty heavy topics in the last few years—climate change, mental health crises, and the general state of our society. If you're anything like me, you're probably not just looking to vent about the 1% or the government's shortcomings. Instead, you're genuinely interested in actionable steps to prepare for what's coming. That's why I started compiling a Google document listing potential places to live, considering various factors that could influence our quality of life in the face of potential collapse. It’s a living document, feel free to change or add things.
Recently, it hit me: rather than just fretting over the negatives, we should focus on finding practical solutions. This is why initiatives like heliogenesis.io and other projects we're working on aim to address these issues proactively. If you're reading this, you're likely seeking guidance on how to navigate these tumultuous times. So let's get into the nitty-gritty of where to live in light of potential collapse.
First, Let's Question the Question
You might be wondering, "What difference does it make to know the best places to be leading up to or during a collapse?" The answer is highly dependent on your personal situation, which comes with its own set of limiting factors.
Imagine you're a goat herder in Somalia during a multi-year drought. You have to sell your goats at rock-bottom prices because everyone else is doing the same. The cost of food skyrockets, and you manage to scrape together $120 after selling nearly everything you own. Now, compare this to a billionaire with a superyacht, helicopter, private plane, and multiple citizenships. The constraints and options available to each are worlds apart.
Most of us fall somewhere between these two extremes. So, if you're asking where to live to maintain the best standard of living or simply survive, the practical question becomes: "What are the best places to be that I can realistically get to and establish myself in, to maintain a good standard of living or increase my survival probability?"
Constrain Your Search Space
It makes no difference if a Somali goat herder knows about a top-secret billionaire bunker in New Zealand; it's irrelevant to his survival strategy. Similarly, it's crucial to constrain your search space to what's realistically achievable for you. Start with your baseline survival probability and work to increase it. Don't let the search for the "best place" stop you from finding a "good enough place" or a "better than where I was" place.
Think of surviving a collapse like outrunning a bear. You don't need to be the fastest; you just need to outrun the slowest person. Working with others can also leverage group synergies, but this requires establishing social cohesion with cooperative people who share similar goals.
Optimizing Location: A Series of Trade-Offs
There is no perfect place; every location has its advantages and disadvantages. Your personal preferences and collapse expectations will dictate what the "best area" is for you. The key is to find a balance between what you can achieve and what you desire.
Hot vs. Cold Some people think moving to Canada or Greenland is optimal, but even under severe climate change scenarios, places like Kansas won't be as hot as Texas is currently. Consider scientifically-based expectations for your area.
Do You Have Children? If you have children, you'll need to account for their future as well. Moving may be unnecessary if you can live out your expected lifespan without things getting too bad.
Wet vs. Dry Wet places usually have more diseases and pests, while dry places make agriculture more challenging but often have fewer pests.
Seasonality of Rainfall Areas with summer rainfall are more likely to experience high wet-bulb temperatures. Mediterranean climates have dry summers but may require irrigation.
Sunny vs. Overcast Vitamin D production is essential, but overexposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer. Choose a climate that suits your biological needs.
Growing Season Long growing seasons mean more heat and potentially more crops, but shorter seasons require more concentrated effort.
Employment Availability Most of us rely on employment to meet our needs. At least for now. Cities generally offer better employment opportunities, even in collapse scenarios.
High vs. Low Wages Low-wage areas can offer a lower cost of living and a culture of cooperation and improvisation.
Education Levels and Sociability Choose an area where you feel culturally accepted and where you can build positive social ties.
Distance from Food Sources Cities can command food from diverse sources. Rural areas may offer self-sufficiency but can be isolated.
Legal Rights and Entitlements Legal enforcement and entitlements can be crucial for survival. Welfare and unemployment benefits can make a significant difference.
Water Sources Water is essential, but access can be restricted by rights and enforcement.
Transportation Network Good transportation allows for better access to resources but also makes an area more accessible to others.
Soil Fertility Newer soils with balanced rainfall are generally more fertile.
Social Ties Don't underestimate the value of positive social environments. Social capital is a critical survival tool.
Proximity to Imperialist Countries Areas rich in resources can become targets for imperialist countries, making them more dangerous.
Fuel Supply Reliable fuel sources are essential for heating and cooking.
Pollution Consider the environmental quality of the area.
Population Density High density can mean better access to services but also more competition for resources.
Personal Thoughts on Relocation
I'm personally thinking about this in two terms: where is a good place to move now and prepare for, and where to move if a collapse actually happens. Ideally, you find a place that fits both criteria. Community plays a major role here. I travel a lot and am constantly looking for people and places that could fit into my criteria. But this is hard, so I'm still searching. Lately, I've been thinking more and more about communities and places in West Africa. While the region doesn't have modern infrastructure yet, it has already experienced what could be considered a "collapse."
For instance, Senegal is enduring massive and violent protests following the jailing of a political opponent. The government has shut down the internet, and there are genuine fights in the streets against the police. Some medium-sized cities are becoming "dead cities," where all activities are blocked.
Niger recently suffered a coup by a military junta. The situation is escalating as France, which has a strong military presence there, is threatening the new leaders. France's embassy has been attacked, and the country is evacuating its citizens. The new leaders have stopped uranium exports to France, which is significant as 15% of France's uranium comes from Niger.
Additionally, Mali and Burkina Faso have warned that they are ready to go to war against any country, specifically France, that interferes with the current events in Niger. The EU has expressed support for the overthrown Niger government and has called for their immediate release. It's also highly suspected that Wagner, a Russian paramilitary organization, had a hand in the Niger coup.
Optimizing your location is a series of subjective and objective trade-offs. The best strategy is to adapt to your local circumstances, taking advantage of the benefits and planning ahead to mitigate the disadvantages. Increase your optionality and hedge your bets to cover the most likely scenarios. Remember, survival and thriving always involve dynamic adaptation.
I hope this gives you a clearer picture and some food for thought as you contemplate your next move. Stay safe and keep adapting!
Best,
Malte
PS: Here is a google doc I created: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UCCjo9NcstGyGUk9VbjL58v2D7y1hp39_4hv7OMovuE/edit?usp=sharing
Feel free to add locations