Good topic. The wife gets upset with all the "junk" I have in the garage, but if needed, I have lots of stuff to barter with. I agree that the smokes are a must have barter item. I know my next door neighbor loves Winston cigs...so I have a few around..just in case. I would only barter alcohol in small amounts. Wouldn't want the guy I just gave a whole bottle to get tanked up and come back to cause trouble. Still, it will be a commodity for sure.

Other things that would quickly accelerate up the barter list would be common everyday items that the average person can't produce. Fuel of any kind, water purificiation, hygine items like soap, toliet paper. Trust me on this one, I live with a wife and a daughter and when the toliet paper starts running low...it's a red alert.

I would imagine that alot of churchs in smaller communites would begin to be places to gather for trade and conversation..that is if you have the gas or means to get there. Hope everyone has a pedal bike...cheap now, but could be worth it's weight in gold later...or platinum in the case of Chris's horse. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />