One cannot prep to survive a total TEOTWAWKI event alone, or for one family. It is necessary to form a group, a community, to work together. One could prepare for solo survival in a small or local emergency - say three days, or even three weeks - but longer than that, one will need “outside” or collective assistance. The larger the disaster, the longer the disruption of normal social and economic relations and activities, the larger the communal cooperation and effort will have to be.
VietVet, You are absolutely right. And you’re exactly the kind of guy I’d want in my survival community. Thanks for a great post with thoughtful commentary. (I’m not dissing OP. He makes some good points. A prepper can’t support every leech that shows up on his doorstep. But prepping is long term thinking and preparedness and your post takes it a step further.)