If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

If you were leaving the US for 3-5 years, what would you take with you?

You want to travel light, not be noticed, and not have to come back to the US...not even if someone is dying.

What do you take?

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

all the gold i could carry and a pistol and ammo to protect myself ..if i could get it accross the border

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

convert everything to gold. Sell all my Ag for Au.
keep my platinum and palladium.

keep some cash maybe for 3-6 month expenses.
All my saved info on hardrives.
Some important papers.

But I definitely will be traveling very light. nothing extraneous.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

Having left the US over 10 years ago, I can't think of anything in particular. Money and passport, obviously. Buy clothing locally. Depending on the location (France, right?) you'll miss your favorite restaurant. Really, there isn't much to recommend.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

Jessica Alba. :D

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

lol! Damn, beat me to it, I was going to say.. Carmen Electra.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

I would make sure to send as much of my stash.... in adavance as possible to said location and I would set up some many of tring to get firearm ( the next 5 years you DONT want to be without one IMO)

trinkets and particulars are hear and there.


The Gold and the guns and getting preps set up in the new location will be paramount asap ( I would even travel in avance to setup such a network)



T

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

I already did it about 13 years ago! Krug's, cash, passport, notebook computer, some clothes and a few books. Everything in a large dufflelbag and a suitcase.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

It depends a lot on where you're going, how you're traveling and how much time you have to prepare.

• Money can be easily moved by wire, and it's safer than trying to carry it.
• Although I carried my PMs with me, I wouldn't do it again for more than a basic emergency stash (under $10K worth). Better to sell where you are, wire the proceeds to a bank at your destination, and buy again after you arrive. It's not only safer that way, but it also lets you figure out what's popular and easy to buy/sell at your new location.
• A laptop is a must, with backups of important stuff on DVDs.
• All of your identity papers. Not just your passport: birth & marriage certs, proof of ownership of anything you're leaving behind (like property).
• Contact info for anyone you might need to reach after you leave (lawyers, bankers, real estate agents, doctors, dentists, etc)
• Letters of reference from current or past employers. Can be helpful both to get a new job or with immigration.
• Medical and dental history. Ask your docs for a full copy of your records.
  Photos and any other items of strong sentimental value.
• Financial history. If you're planning to come back to the US, you will still need to file tax returns while you're gone.
• Small, high-quality digital camera with a high-capacity card. The card in the camera, or another one stored elsewhere can also be used as a place to stash sensitive (possibly encrypted) files from your PC, if needed.
• Some basic bug-out-bag style supplies, possibly trimmed down if you will be flying.
• Also think about things like phone access and mail forwarding before you go, assuming that you want to maintain some contact with the Home Land while you're away.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

Good list, but it depends on how "found" you want to be. Remember tho, you will be on a list of residents in the US Embassy of the country up end up in. As for carrying money/PM's while traveling, if you do so, dress like a slob. I don't care what people think of me if I'm traveling and I sure as hell won't mention anything I have on me! Odds are, you will never see them again, anyway.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

True. If the goal is to disappear, the approach would need to be different. If you're planning to come back to the US after a few years, though, as the OP said, one could argue that disappearing in the mean time would be a bad idea.

I agree, although I'm actually more concerned with border guards, customs officials and airport security people than I am with the possibility of random mugging.

Along those lines, don't forget that things like the type of watch, glasses, rings, shoes, belt, backpack and even the haircut you have tell more about your wealth than your shirt and pants. If you're going to dress the part, go all the way. Also, don't forget about the things that have to come out of your clothes or carryons as you go through airport security, and which are therefore in full public view.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

As was said above, wire all your money ahead of time to an account you have set up. Switzerland comes to mind.

Then just carry the minimum. Laptop (don't forget difference in the electricity in the US vs EU), I'd double up on back ups of ID documentation. Both a couple of thumb drives AND DVD's. That way you have half a chance of not losing it. Perhaps even ship either the DVD's or thumb drives in advance of your leaving, that way if they don't show up, you can do it again BEFORE you jet out.

Finally, I think I'd get these folks phone number, just in case type of thing. Never hurts to 'be prepared'. From big to small, they could provide you with several options for your transportation needs.

http://www.mortarinvestments.eu/

Good luck, DF. Let us know once you've gotten settled how you like the move and what you would have done differently if you did it again. Never hurts to have that kind of info. It could come in handy for those of us her in the US.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

the ol' lady.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

good call on the USB back up....I'll have to get one of those secure ones.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

Hey, don't forget one of those electric outlet convertors for your hair-dryer. I always see that on the list. Don' want to be overseas with wet hair. :D

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

I'm seeing a notebook computer fall on most folks' lists so far. Why is that?

I'm trying to think of my own situation, and I don't think I can really come up with anything on my computer that I honestly couldn't do without. I could certainly be overlooking something, though, hence the question. :D

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

Buy the elctric converter or plugs, much cheaper in US than europe.
Keep a VOIP number and use it there as a local US number; so u will always b in loope.
Also do freeze ur credit..u can also wire funds into one of those gold cards if u really want to keep ur money in PMS.
good luck!

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

Why do you suggest freezing the credit? I actually think this might be a good idea but would like to hear your logic.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

I could see how many people wouldn't need a laptop. It's not a survival-critical item, but it's definitely nice to have. In my case, I have pretty much my whole life on my PC.

Potential uses include:

-- With Internet access, it provides a source of news and a way to communicate with others
-- Access to historical information: old emails, correspondence, financial records, etc.
-- Contact database and calendar support
-- Local photo archive
-- Blogging and other writing
-- Music and video archives
-- e-books, PDFs and other local reference materials
-- Games and other entertainment for yourself or kids

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

I'm on an actual 2 year plan to leave the U.S. and go back to Croatia. I'll be taking everything, I just need to have a ton of converter boxes from 220 to 110.... I'm not planning on having some damn fire sale... :smokin:

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

Three options:
You leave with a no good credit then u dont no worries
You leave with good credit and someone taps into it
You leave a good credit but put a lock on it so it is there, if u decide to come back.

You dont necessarily have to pay for the freeze...sometimes u can be a victom and with proper reporting u can freeze at no cost (if you knw wat i mean)

i guess dont wanan take risking anything..

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

Bullion?
Hmm...if you are going to Europe, swap your coins for gold philharmonics, swiss 20 francs, or British sovereigns. The philharmonics in particular are popular. For Asia, look into gold pandas primarily (if you can get a good price) or if not, any 24 kt coin.

For south America, I would suggest 50 and 20 peso gold pieces, as the weight in stamped on them in Spanish.

Everything else?
Bring passports and a start-up amount of cash (probably $500-$2000) to last you until you find an ATM/bank etc. Bring basic clothes, a laptop, and electrical converters from America. They are much cheaper. If you have a brokerage account, make sure that trading is legal/allowed in a foreign country. If not, find a broker over there that you like.
Copies of important documents and medical transcripts. Also know where the various potentially useful embassies are (not just US).

Also, have any necessary visas in order and keep an emergency fund that is worth 4 one-way flights to any possible destination.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

The train.

Re: If you were leaving the US, what would you take?
 

Did you mean to leave out "Downloading filthy Russian porn"?