Going Underground

I probably need to clarify my title to any one that is snooping around online looking for infidels.  When I say going "underground" I don't mean in the subversive kind of way...I am talking about "under the earth" kind of way.  This week I have caves on my mind. Yes.....I realize there is no logical pattern to my thoughts. Anyway...as I was saying....caves are what I am talking about.  Here in the middle of the country we have lots and lots of caves. Missouri has the lion's share of natural caves with around 6300 caves.  Here in Kansas many of the caves are man-made as a result of removing limestone or mining salt.

Right here  in  Kansas City, many of  those underground  spaces  contain businesses.  A huge amount business is housed underground. There are underground warehouses, storage facilities, retailers, and various other businesses that prefer to be subterranean.  More than 10 percent of all the industrial businesses in our area are housed underground.  It's not just limited to industrial and storage, there are also, retailers and the government stores historical materials in the National Historical Archives as well.  I am talking about more than 20 MILLION square feet of space.

company loading dock

some  underground roads are lighter and brighter than others

One of the first caves in Kansas City was developed by A.N. Brunson, founder of Brunson Instrument Company. The complex he started in 1955 and finished in 1960.  This complex is still operating.

Two of the biggest underground complexes in KC are Geospace  and Hunt's Subtropolis in north Kansas City, with the Subtropolis being the largest in the world at 5000+ acres.

Thought Number One:  Shopping Underground

Most of my regular readers are aware of my disdain of shopping. Typically, I don't shop much...unless, I am desperate...as when I am  in dire need of food or any of  life's necessities. (including but not limited to, in no particular order, allergy medicine, toilet paper, Diet Coke, cleaning supplies and tea bags)

As far as my list goes, did you notice the blaring absence of  floral supplies? Yep, botanical supplies or orchids normally wouldn't entice me to go shopping but some friends thought it would be fun to go shopping in the caves.  I admit that part of my reasoning was due to the fact that it has been consistently hotter than the surface of the sun here as of late, so I was a little more inclined to go just for the "cool".  One of the wonderful things about cave shopping is  it hovers around 68 degrees any time of the year.  Doesn't matter what the weather is doing "up top". 

First impressions aren't always an indicator of what lies ahead

So, a group of my gal-pals and I go over to Bird's Botanicals to see the 10,000 or so orchids that David Bird has growing in his shop.  Bonnie Anderson, the company's biologist gave us a tour and told us why orchids thrive in an underground habitat.  Pretty interesting that such gorgeous flowers grow in a place with no sun, no heat and no air conditioning.  There are overhead lights to provide the 12 hours of light and fans to control the humidity. Additionally, the orchids there are dirt cheap.  Considering an orchid takes about 10 years before it blooms the first time, it seems like it should cost more than $14.00-$24.00 (depending on the variety and sizes, of course, they can cost more)

Entrance to Bird's Botanicals

just one of the many orchid varieties

a grow room for orchids...remember this is underground

 Thought Number Two:  Compared to This Guy, I Am an Optimist

What goes around, comes around. 

I had hardly gotten out of the flower-shop-in-a-cave, when I see an article in the Kansas City Star talking about a business that is getting ready to open in one of the cave systems about an hour from here.  A California man, Robert Vicino has purchased a large portion of an old U.S Army storage facility in Atchison, Kansas.   He is creating what he calls the largest private underground survivor shelter utilizing a complex of limestone caves that were dug more than a 100 years ago beneath the rolling hills overlooking the Missouri River. 

According to Robert this would be a perfect place to ride out Armageddon.  BUT, before any global catastrophes or world-wide pandemics strike, you can buy a spot in Vivos Survival Shelter and Resort.
Again according to Robert....you can vacation and learn survival skills while you are waiting around for whatever world-wide doomsday that awaits.

A resort??? 

The Kansas caverns are 100 feet to 150 feet below the surface and have a constant natural temperature in the low 70s. They are supported by thick limestone pillars six times stronger than concrete and will have blast doors built to withstand a one-megaton nuclear explosion as close as 10 miles away, Vicino said.

Other than being surrounded by more than a mile and a half of 6-foot-high chain-link fence topped with sharp rows of barbed wire, the land above ground isn't distinguishable from expanses of hills and trees that surround it. The proposed shelter's entrances — nondescript concrete loading docks tucked discretely into the wooded hillside — are easily defensible against any potential intruders provided there's not a full-scale military attack, Vicino said.

The shelter will have enough space for more than 1,000 RVs and up to about 5,000 people. Members will be charged $1,000 for every lineal foot of their RV to purchase their space, plus $1,500 per person for food. That means a person who plans to park a 30-foot vehicle in the shelter with four people inside will pay $30,000 for the space and $6,000 for food.

According to a  press release there will be a host of amenities such as spas, gyms, kitchens, lounges, hair salons, bakeries, and theaters and a variety of activities such as golfing and rock climbing.

But don't get ahead of yourself, actual sales won't begin until a "critical mass" of reservations are received and processed, Vicino said, which hasn't happened yet at the Kansas shelter.  Vicino  is cautioning people, though..."I've heard people say, `I will just show up at the door,'" he said. "Our response is, `great, where is the door?' At our secret shelters, you don't know where to go, and your cash will be worthless at that time."

So now that you have the scoop on "the resort"...here's the 2nd thought part....

Call me a skeptic. I can't believe this is the way to ride out Armageddon.  I would need to know where the food, I am paying for is going to come from.  I am assuming if everyone at ground level is not able to survive,

better pick out your spot..space is limited

we won't be able to count on them for home delivery.  I remain hopeful that Papa John's is working on his Doomsday Survival Plan.   As for the $1499 package of  survivalist's food you can purchase from Costco, I am not aware of any subterranean Costcos.

Oh...and how does Robert plan on handling dumping stations for those RV's?    I would prefer not to spend my time in a sewer waiting for our little band of survivalists to repopulate the earth.  Which brings up a whole host of other problems...for  me.  As I am not, personally, capable of doing any of the repopulating, does that make me the "bad neighbor" down there.  Perhaps, they won't write me off entirely as I can be the resort's babysitter. 

OOPS...I had an after thought...Does this count as 3 thoughts for Tuesday?  Are there penalties for that?

Speaking of the END...reminded me of the old Tom Lehrer song...We'll All Go Together When We Go...of course, that would be with the exception of the people at the Vivos Resort residents




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