[BobL]

“... More wealth leads to more workers — and every worker is a potential threat”

They’re catching on - that’s my Number 1 security threat.

What I always tell people regarding home security is that the less people you require in your home, for any reason, the safer you’ll be. Perhaps that 55 year old plumber who has run his own outfit for 30 years is a safe bet, but what of his 19 assistant? And, sure, the 19 year old may be well-screened (to the extent that’s even possible), but what about his ‘friends’, the people he grew up with?

Bottom line, if you can replace a faucet - best to do it yourself (or have someone personally close to you do it).

[The Duke]

I have several wonderful 19-year-old young men that work for me here at my remote bugout location in rural TN. They grew up poor, but have more integrity in their little fingers than most adults. When they pull out and inspect my food preps I caution them to treat it carefully, as I'm preparing for them as well. And they do bring their friends, and their friends are also obviously trustworthy as well.

And, did I mention strong? These young men are strong as horses. They grew up doing MMA fighting, which they take most seriously, in one-anothers' back yards. I've seen them effortlessly vault over walls that would put a ninja to shame.

I'm old, with poor vision and waning physical skills. I doubt I could defend this property without my small army of powerful young friends and workers. But what I can easily do is put away tons more emergency preps for myself and them.

And don't even get me started about my amazing Mexican-American workers, who have renovated this 100-year-old property from stem to stern over the past year. These also are decent, hard-working people with strong values.

And then there are the wonderful Mennonites, who've done all the concrete work here ...

If there's anyone I would be concerned about it would be the city folks that I left behind after 35 years.