Skills can help, big time!
If you can manufacture alcoholic beverages you have a bater item. The ability to repair simple machines would come in handy. You can repair in trade for other items. Like alcoholic beverages!
I was looking at a list of stuff to learn the other day. The thing I was most interested in was a course on gunsmithing.
Now I don’t even own a gun, and have no idea how to even clean one. Still seems like it would be a good skill to have.
I inherited my Grandma’s treadle sewing machine. I learned to sew on that machine. This reminded me I need to get it out of the storage room and see what to do to make it work again. I haven’t done any sewing in so long, I’m not sure I can figure out how to thread it or any other machine I have.
Lots of interesting food for thought.