We already have emergency food, gold, silver, water filters, fuels, etc., but just realized one other option to consider. Historically one commodity that can be bartered in hard times is wine. I live in Oregon, which has a huge number of really great wineries. My wife and I are going to spend a couple to a few thousand dollars on cases for a wine cellar. This process will involve several overnight trips and wine tasting expeditions. Other options for use of our retirement time will just have to wait, but first things first.
I find it incredible that otherwise rational people are willing to trade things of substance for numbers that run through my credit card and onto a bank statement to be refreshed by other numbers electronically transferred to the other side of the statement.
read about one other thing that is always tradeable and in short supply: pepper
cant remember where i read that, i think it was a sci fi novel recomended here on freeps