I've been thinking about what you posted for awhile now. I agree with the "If you don't bring something, you can't play" mentality to a point...but there were several individuals that night that couldn't bring much to the "party". (Blind, nonambulatory, etc.) Who tells them they can't "play"? And yes, that would be charity to be helping them.

Your own safety/well-being and your family's come first, but I don't look forward to having to turn away someone in need, especially someone handicapped or injured.

I've been an independent-minded guy for awhile now (as most on this forum are) but I worry that the concept of cooperation with one's neighbors is glossed over, or simply shrugged at.

Ben, I'd urge you to read about a real SHTF situation, that of Sarajevo, a modern city surrounded and besieged. According to some interesting accounts, those who learned quickly to cooperate with their neighbors had a good chance of getting extra food, medicine, etc.