1) TEOTWAWKI is not a scenario I plan for ;
2) preparing is fun, both gear and skills to learn ;
3) in everyday situations, it's useful/helpfull for me or co-workers or friends, to be prepared.

Mostly in an Urban/Office environment, I can't leave home without a knife and a light ; and it is not difficult to have a few more items along.

At the end of July, I will have a 6 days solo hike in the Vercors (Alps area) : nothing difficult, a few hours walking each day and a good hotel every night.
But I will have enough gear, water and food in my rucksack to be able to spend a night or two outside if anything happens : it's so easy to sprain an ankle ... and not to be able to go on.
(please : I chose the "sprained ankle scenario", it's the least painful but handicaping I thought of, don't give me worst examples of what could go wrong .... <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />)
If I ever have to wait for the rescue teams, I want to wait in comfort !!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />