Howdy all,

I'm a mid-40's engineer with a small tribe of kids living in urban Texas.  I became more interested in the topic of survival after economic collapse after reading some information on the fall of Rome and looking around at our current situation, the one appearing to have a lot of relevance with the other.

Anyway, i'm here to learn.

Pete:  "the decline and fall of the roman empire".  Sobering stuff.  Also, Thucydides had significant insight for me, especially the line "each mans morals fell to the level of his circumstances"

Floridian:  years ago I discovered that various combinations of my name were always taken.  I got tired of my username being "ftard345679" or somesuch.

Marblesonac:  me too, but I guess it matters whether I know anything someone else hasn't already said.  But, I'll try this as a starter… "Get a hobby."  Meaning, figure out something to do that is useful but works for free time activity that may (boy am I going out on a limb) have barterability after a collapse.  Examples:  all men think they can fix cars, most are wrong.  Those who can FIX, rather than swap parts, are useful.  Woodworking:  I do a lot of purely handtool furniture and decorative box building.  When power is intermittent or reallly expensive, I can fix your door after some thug has kicked it in.  My neigbhor can't do anything that doesn't have a power cord attached to it.  All my neighbors know that when a table leg cracks or a chair breaks, I'm the go to guy.  My mother in law can really, really sew.  That'll be useful when you can't buy new socks.  Until then, the nieces and neigbhors always have something special under the Christmas tree. 

Thanks for the warm welcome all!