All the information is interesting, but what can we do on a personal level?

Metals are a tough deal right now. You can buy gold and silver ETFs or mining stocks but the prices are being heavily manipulated. You can purchase physical metals but the US government has outlawed private ownership of these before (under FDR). If the Mad Max scenario hits expect them to do it again. If this occurs and you don’t turn in your metals, how will you use them to purchase anything? You will become a criminal and you’ll be dealing with criminals who can find out where you live (and keep your gold!), so how will you keep yourself safe? What will you tell the police after someone robs your illegal stash of gold? As you can see, there are many thorny problems here.

Honestly the only suggestions I can think of are:

A) Move it overseas into a foreign bank, especially if you have relatives or friends in that country that would assist you should you need to flee the hordes of looters, Blackwater goons, Marxist rebels, or whatever sort of nasties will be roaming our streets should the worst come to pass.

B) Purchase a home in the country with some land, access to water, sunshine, good soil, and in a place where it is neither too hot nor too cold to grow food. Learn the mysteries of chickens and goats and tomato plants and growing your own herbs and vegetables. Buy a shotgun or two to keep the nasties at bay. Get to know your neighbors and maybe bake them a pie and invite them to dinner.

C) Buy a sailboat, learn to sail and be ready to hightail it out of here at the first signs that the Thunderdome scenario is about to come to pass. Seriously, in San Diego this is a good option, especially when combined with A) If it’s a nice one, you can even live on it although it is a bit like living in a trailer park.

I wish I had better suggestions. Every investment I have made with my down payment money has been a loser so maybe I’m not the best person to ask. I don’t feel like such a genius for selling my house in 2005 anymore 🙁