As with most things, a little worst-case thinking is good, but any excess is bound to be bad for you.


I really like the perspective that having the resources to live "off the grid" for a limited time will give you a healthy buffer against the smaller predicaments that are more likely to occur. (Insert favorite bad-weather episode here, imagine truck drivers going on strike for a week, or power blackouts).


In the same vein, preparing for having to leave your home and most of your possessions behind is good advise. I am hinking along the lines of bug-out bags (or bug-out suitcases with wheels on them) and Blast's survival binder.


I don't buy into the "we need minimum one year supply, atomic bunker in our garden and a retreat in North Dakota" kind of survivalism. That is binding up too much resources into a highly unlikely pet fantasy scenario. I don't mind people having weird hobbies, but at least find a weird hobby that won't make your whole family economy revolve around it, will you?


No one has so far mentioned preparing against burglary, robbery and such - which happens every day, somewhere to someone.