A Little on Bartering

Bartering.  There's tons to be said... more than I'm going to say here and now, but I'm always considering bartering.  It's been around for a jillion years.  I think it's "the thing" for hard times.  I think most of us have considered bartering.  We learn what items are the best to have in store for post SHTF just for the purpose of bartering.  That's great! but...

Who will you be bartering with?  Do you have a network?  Do you have any idea who will have what you need, and whether or not you'll have something they want in trade?  

Bartering is true free market economy, but it will be useless if you can't get what you need or if you haven't got the right trade goods.  It might not be easy to access goods or people who want to barter.  There may not be a big marketplace.  This is where tribes, groups, clans come in.

NOW is the time to find prep groups, to establish relationships with neighbors, and to build tribes, or clans, with close friends.  Make NEEDFUL contacts and build on them NOW before the balloon goes up.

If you're one of these "lone wolf" types, sorry... you're not prepping, you're hoping, and you will lose.  Don't come around my place being G.I. Wanabe and think you're going to get my stuff.  You are officially the first bad citizen of the new normal, and you're not welcome.

SO-- prep and be ready, but don't leave contacts and groups out of your plans.  You'll need them, and they'll need you.

On that note; Have skill sets that are helpful to a group, keep (and learn to make/produce) items that will be valuable for barter.  Have something to bring to the table.