When preparing for the possibility of a collapse of government and society, a family or individual must decide where to place their emergency retreat.

Big cities are pretty much universally out of the question if a collapse were to happen, so that leaves smaller communities and isolation.

Smaller communities may be a good choice for some because becoming truly ready to be self sufficient is a hard task. Many may not have the capability, and others are simply not suited to the isolated lifestyle. On the flip side, some people are perfectly suited for isolation or semi-isolation. Here are a few things to consider when choosing whether you and your family should choose a bunker house in a small town or in isolation.

Small Community:

• Bartering. Smaller communities will have people who will have items. Items and skills will become a big part of the future currency upon collapse. When you run out of something, a small community bartering system could help you out.
• Protection. A group of prepared people with skills in combat, weaponry, and/or military could be a great form of protection for those in need.
• Mixture of Skills. Not all of us are capable of learning all of the skills needed for survival. Old age, chronic pain and disability, access to information, and other reasons can render a person or family unit unable to do some things necessary to survive. In that case, the mixture of skills available in a small community is essential.
• Social Interaction. Interacting with other humans is important, or we would not have been born with the ability to communicate. However, some people are better suited to living through long periods of isolation than others. For reasons of mental and emotional sanity and development, it may be better for some individuals and some children to have consistent access to social interaction.
• Help in Emergencies. In the case of fire, injury, and emergency situations in general, it can be dire to have a community at your back, ready to help.

Self Sufficiency

• Disease. Diseases are far less likely in isolation than they are in a community.
• Attacks and Theft. People looking for supplies are less likely to attack or even find a well hidden and well fortified bunker than a community. There is also less chance of a neighbor stealing your supplies in isolation.
• Food. Feeding less people is always easier than feeding many. Hunting will be easier out in nature than in a city or town. There is more room for gardening in isolation, as well.
• Responsibility. There is less responsibility and expectation to help those in need on a person in isolation than a person living in a community.
• Privacy. In isolation, it is far more easy to do things that are unseemly in public. Test firing weapons, for example, would possibly scare or anger a community, but no one would be around to hear in isolation.

All in all, it is important to make the decision and begin planning based on your own situation. Weigh the pros and cons, and begin planning now.