In Selco’s Bosnian “worst case civil war,” gold coins were too risky to show, under any circumstances. The local warlords would have heard of it, and they'd come for the rest. (The standard way to find hidden valuables is for home invaders to torture your wife/children in front of you. It usually works.)
But a Bosnia outcome is far from certain. We might see more of an Argentina-style collapse, where gold would be usable in black-market transactions under certain conditions. Of course, small stuff like junk silver and common jewelry might be more useful for small transactions than one ounce Krugerrands, for example. Krugerrands would be like paying with thousand-dollar bills. Word would get around, which would be very dangerous.
But nothing beats gold coins as a store of wealth and a bridge to the other side of a societal conflict and currency collapse.
It's also useful as “flight capital.” You don't always get to stay where you are living, despite your best laid plans. Often these scenarios involve fleeing as a refugee with what you can carry on your back. You can't carry pallets of canned beans when you flee in the night with your bugout bag.
And nothing offers a better chance of meeting a cooperative and helpful official at a border crossing or customs checkpoint like a gold coin exchanged in a handshake. Gold coins are the traditional door-opener in many escape situations.
So I think gold and silver do have a place, along with paper cash at home (not just in a bank), plenty of food, weapons, ammo etc.
Hedge in all directions. You won't know which will be your family's lifesaver until the day of need arrives.
Oh: and buy some body armor or a concealable kevlar vest while you can still get them easily. Going shopping/foraging during an economic collapse will be extremely dangerous. You can get one for a couple hundred bucks, and a vest can be as important as your firearms. Why buy your tenth firearm before you even have purchased body armor? Get one now.
Concur. It's even better to have visited a potential *safe haven* in advanced and stashed at least a minimal amount of at least some gold and local currency there pending your arrival. That avoids having to carry your *on arrival* gold with you, placing too many eggs in one obvious basket.
Oh: and buy some body armor or a concealable kevlar vest while you can still get them easily. Going shopping/foraging during an economic collapse will be extremely dangerous. You can get one for a couple hundred bucks, and a vest can be as important as your firearms. Why buy your tenth firearm before you even have purchased body armor? Get one now.
Again, I concur. I'd add in a pair of flashlights as well, at least one high-output *tactical light* and a slightly smaller inexpensive LED pocket light as a long run time backup that can be given or traded to a pickup ally.
I'm relatively happy with an armor crewman's kevlar vest as my day-to-day *working vest* but I'm under no illusions about its ineffectiveness against rifle fire. Accordingly, the *minimal* vest stays in place, and something a bit heavier goes over it, preferably under a field jacket or equivalkent.
www.bulletproofme.com
I have no business relationship with them other than as a satisfied customer. Their products arrived on time, as advertised, and I was shocked at the quality and condition of the "used" Safariland IIIA vests we got. They looked like brand new.
I have no problem recommending them at all.
L
“Hedge in all directions.”
I don’t think it could have been said better. You talk to anyone who’s lived off the land and that’s pretty much the operating rule. Backup’s to your backup’s backups.
Some good advice. The world may become unstable in places, but other places will be relatively stable and they aren't going to accept pieces of paper in trade for the stuff they've got (oil, manufactured goods, etc). They will want your gold (through some middlemen of course).
You always have great info to share and for folks to ponder. I really appreciate your insights.
I was up late and am just now having coffee.
What you say is true about varying degrees of incivility.
In the end in Road Warrior times. firearms and ammo are the premium. With that power you can obtain your survival needs or force those with those items to cooperate.
I don’t see survival like in the woods with a storehouse and guns but more of a local group effort against outsiders.
a sanctuary...where groups survive rurally against maruaders
sort of like the most devastated parts of the South after Sherman’s march which is about our closest approximation to such things...locals banded together after the main body of Union forces moved on and protected themselves from bandits and deserters and freed slaves with ill intent...most slaves unless they joined the Bluebacks stayed on the farm uncertain in the chaos where it was at least safe and warm and some food they had helped hide.
Other bad case examples in the US history are Indian Wars...obviously...group up.
And urban riots...the most recent.
The lesson from that is be armed well, don’t live near high concentrations of Goblins and be prepared to move.
None of this takes into account conflict with govt forces which is today a ballgame to which at least here on this soil there is no modern parallel.
It would be devastating...possibly dwarf anything that has come before in terms of loss of life and brutality.
It would only be worse if the Chinese now with their billions and billions reverted to Mao-Pol Pot cleansing efforts or civil war.
I fear...in fact I know...one day. We humans will once again prove ourselves capable of unspeakable atrocities and it won’t just be dirt people with machetes or peasants. It will be larger and more dead....and it will be ideological.
good post
“Hedge in all directions.” Profound advice. Thanks, Mr. McGee. (And, how are things aboard the Busted Flush??)
“Hedge in all directions.” Profound advice. Thanks, Mr. McGee. (And, how are things aboard the Busted Flush??)
Bookmarked
where?
Where do you get body armor for civilians at a good price?
Bulletproofme.com. I got a refurbished kevlar cop vest for very, very cheap, and it seems like new to me.
Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken...