TWP,
I live in the Chicago Illinois area (not in Chicago now) but still Cook County.
Would I leave here? In a heart beat, but my wife never will.
I prep for many things, don't have a lot of space, and it all has to be out of sight.
My wife believes in the government. A liberal (did not act that way before we were married), worse yet my MIL has moved in with us.
If possible, she is even far beyond my wife. Their statement is, nothing like that can ever happen here!
Will it ever change, not until it is to late.
One saving grace, my youngest son is a Boy Scout. So I can label things for Scouting and justify it that way.
Wildness Survival, Emergency Preparedness two really great merit badges! (Son already has the first, will get the second this year.)
Our Troop camps once a month, a great way to test out camping products.
So like others in the same boat, I do what I can.
Unless something happens it will not change, and then only for that one specific event.
Now Jerry's idea about the 2X4 with my MIL I like.