"Location, location, location" used to mean real estate. Now it means survival. When digital systems fail or become unreliable, physical proximity becomes the ultimate advantage.
The Three-Mile Reality
Research shows that in crisis, people primarily help those within three miles. Beyond that, even family becomes theoretical. Inside that radius, even strangers become allies.
Your three-mile inventory: - Food production or storage - Water access and purification - Medical facilities and practitioners - Repair capabilities - Communication infrastructure - Security resources - Community gathering spaces
Building Proximity Power
Jennifer mapped every resource within walking distance of her apartment: - 3 community gardens - 2 churches with commercial kitchens - 1 water treatment facility - 5 neighbors with medical training - 2 ham radio operators - 1 solar installation company - 12 households with useful tools/equipment
Then she systematically built connections with each. Not aggressively. Not desperately. Just consistently present and helpful.
The Urban vs. Rural Equation
Urban Advantages: - Density of skills and resources - Existing community structures - Multiple redundant systems - Diverse populations
Urban Challenges: - Resource competition - Anonymity and low trust - System dependency - Crowd dynamics
Rural Advantages: - Resource independence - Existing cooperation patterns - Everyone knows everyone - Direct resource access
Rural Challenges: - Limited skill diversity - Sparse resources - Insider/outsider dynamics - Distance between allies
The key isn't choosing urban or rural. It's maximizing your specific proximity advantages while mitigating local challenges.