>> Tools. Books... Basic Medical Care; Herbal Medicine; Timber harvesting; Masonry construction and pottery; Basic and advanced mathematics; Native food plants; Etc.
Yep. Summary: the underpinnings of “the means of production”. And by the way, the means of production is every bit the inflation hedge that precious metals seems to be among the so-called “investing class”.
Prepare!
The tools idea should include building things such as houses, tables, barns, etc. plus fixing a car, tractor, tire, etc. Many people can’t build, fix, operate, or even sew. A person needs to know how to grow, harvest and store food, how to hunt, fish, run a saw, drill. The list goes on. Age and life experiences build wisdom. If the SHTF. Ignorance and lack of common sense is terminal. IMO