This has been a fun thread, thanks everyone!

I would really only add that:

1. Home brew kits for beer and wine may be a great trade item and also good for a bit of stress relief, they are not very expensive, very easy to do and the added bonus distilling removes most ( not all) infectious elements.

2. Food Ferments are also extremely easy, these are mostly vegetables and even something as cheap as cabbage (saurkraut) lasts indefinately can do this with almost any vegetable...fermented fruit usually becomes a form of "wine" think peach,pear, wine or hard apple cidre

3. Woolen items like socks, blankets, throws...go to your local thrift store they are super cheap....even hand knitted ones

4. Look to very old fashioned cosmetics,,,they are still around castor oil, vaseline, olive oil, manual razors, hair scissors even think about HIGH quality nail clippers....and GET some makeup so u don't look like a zombie...toad: dollar store has many decent items if you have limited funds or invest in high quality items like boar bristle hair brushes. Lean about alt hygeine like body brushing if water is an issue. Oil and sand is actually an option...leave mud baths to pigs.

5. Learning how to knit and sew...if you can knit a tear in a shirt you can stitch a wound and you may not look like a post apocalyptic freak in rags...

6. Seriously......learn how to cook

7. PRINT everything you may need...grab a tonne of books from thrift shop or library sales...may save your sanity.


Even if the "world" ends REMEMBER even in 1000 BC kings and queens were living like ....kings and queens so princess.....you can have a good life, even THRIVE, get drunk, play great music and laugh as we all die. :)

If we do a little now...and can stay healthy a lot of things will just be there for the taking.........although I am not leaving my place to go steal Gucci wallets.