re: Creating a self sufficient life for your family - what all goes into it?

If we are ever truly forced to survive on self sufficiency, all the "I can buy . . .", or "that's what grocery stores are for" remarks will be moot. A lot of people will be desperate and stealing.

I like to raise a garden for the fresh vegetables, and keep two freezers full of duck, deer, squirrels, and fish. No pond, no chickens, or livestock. I will be struggling to be self sufficient if it ever comes down to that. My wife will freak if we're ever forced to live on what I can come up with or produce, but right now it's much more than I would guess 95% of the people I know could manage.

I've heard stories from my grandparents about the great depression, when jobs were scarce and people helped each other out. My great grandfather once went to a house, while running his trap lines, to see the family eating a bowl of broth with one squirrel head in it. That's scratching to survive!

The difference in today's world, if the economy ever does get that bad, is that there are way too many people completely dependent on handouts to survive now, and they will be the first to resort to crime. One of the main ingredients to self sufficiency, supposing you are halfway capable of providing for your family, will be ownership of a home defense system, with plenty of ammo. (Something I think most of the OB has covered).

Sorry for the long boring monologue, but have been contemplating this scenario for a while now.