Well, at least get a cheap dual band radio, learn to program it, print out your local repeater frequencies and tones so you can listen. Here is a link to a cheap
HAM radio but without learning to use it, it's just a paperweight. BTW, I've never met a ham operator that didn't think and talk just like a FReeper. As for getting on a list, we're all on it just for posting here. I got on back in the 80's when I got my class III full-auto.
You make good points in all your comments; I especially liked the "ability to drive through roadblocks one"!
The frequencies and PL tones I can get easily enough and have programmed them into my Wouxun. Seems easy enough to contact a repeater with no formal training or license. I won't actually do that except in a dire emergency or societal breakdown but I certainly know how. I do use it to monitor the repeaters up here in the Cascades from time to time. Have an outdoor 2M antenna but don't seem to need it.
The shortwave stuff I receive on the Degen 1103 and one or two backups.