CFI, Thanks for the invite to move to the good 'ole U.S. of A.
In all truth however, Australia is not nearly as bad as some make out. Sure, we don't have open carry, and some of the firearms regs appear draconian, but you can still have a more than reasonable arsenal and be in keeping with the law, plus there are also 'ways and means', which I don't need to explain.

On the economic front, Australia will certainly face a number of hardships as the situation deteriorates, but I doubt that we will be as affected as Europe or the U.S. That is, of course, such a downturn isn't accompanied or followed by an invasion by a foreign country.

Dennis, with my luck, I'd probably be picked up by a cop who would want me to explain everything except the ammo, though packing a BOB wouldn't look out of place here: There are backpackers from all over the world, as well as Australia, who are tramping and hitchhiking all over the countryside all the time.

not to mention we do not have cool animals like 25 ft salt water crocs either

Lefty, there'd be a lot fewer of those buggers if they didn't taste so bland!

I figured they tasted like chicken

But I bet one would go a long way to filling a freezer

Sailed with a bunch of coon-ass fellows from the gulf coast.
When they got back to the boat after their time off , they would bring Alligator tails and other cuts.
Wasn't half bad, of course the sauce they made was hot enough to light a cigarette on.
I was wondering if Alligator and Crocs are even close in taste ?

ok folks, don't leave me hanging all alone here...somebody else post pics of their stuff.

Mine's nothing special really - just a kabar, a kukri, a gerber hatchet with saw in the handle, a leatherman, 2 leather pouches (1 with medicinal herbs and teabags, one with random little trinkets like sewing kit and such) and a tiny head lamp on a belt, 1 pair of calf length moccasins, and my pack, which is an off brand camelbak pack with 1 large and 1 small compartment, and 4 rows of molle straps. In the main compartment, I keep my clothes, and my food which consists of a rice, bean and pasta mixture in a bag, and various bits of instant food, like granola bars and such. The smaller compartment carries my leather sewing kit, a set of extra soles for my moccasins, my cell phone (but as soon as I can get one, a little Grundig shortwave set with weather and emergency frequencies and some sort of handheld radio, hopefully shortwave and CB capable... any suggestions?). I sewed on extra straps and keepers for various items, and so on the outside of the pack I have a poncho, bedroll on the bottom, my moccasins when I'm wearing my combat boots, a tarp, a camouflaged hammock, some 550 cord, and room for whatever cold weather gear I'm not wearing (field jacket, gloves, face mask, etc). And in my head I have enough knowledge of local foliage and animal life that I can gather food and live comfortably for quite a while.

In a month or so I'll also be building some ranged weapons - a blowgun, archery gear, a wrist rocket, and various thrown items. Larger items will be attached to the sides of my pack, smaller ones I'll build leg, wrist and hip harnesses for. Guns are a bit too expensive for me, as is ammunition (I'm broke and doubt I'll have any work any time soon), and so I make do with what I can build myself. I also do a bit of work with poisons, and so the weapons I make myself become a lot more effective.

oh and of course my spoon, bent over at the handle so that I can hook it onto my belt or the pen/radiation badge slot on a BDU shirt.

I guess I like to follow the saying "The more you know, the less you have to carry". What I listed here is everything I currently own and have in my possession. Sorry no pics, I don't have access to a camera. I'll get some up later when I can get a camera for a short while, and I'll put a more complete description up with them.

blackbird, why don't you leave CA and move out here to NE nevada? we have plenty of work either at the mines or at businesses supporting them. the mines start unskilled workers off at $18/hr with benefits...

cost of living is reasonable (we pay $500/month for a furnished apartment) and land is cheap (i know of a 60 ac tract selling for $15,000 right now). best of all, the state is shall issue for CCW's, legal for open carry and friendly towards machineguns.

CFI : As I have mentioned on other posts , I plan on bugging in.
So mine is a get home bag. Since I rarely get further that 20 miles from the cabin. I carry a small bag in my work truck.
A couple of MRE's, some snacks, liquids, 5 gals of extra gas and of course Mr. Colt.

Blackbird: I went to High School just over the hill from where you call home. During the mid-60's a lot of "hippy's " were leaving San Francisco and moving up to the Redwoods.
The Rainbow family was years away, but I can still remember the amount of Mendocino County Sheriff car in and out of their farms and rental properties.
All these people wanted to do was grow their gardens, go skinny dipping in the river and smoke a little pot.
There was an incident north of you ,near Garberville. Where an unmarked helo landed in a old widow ladies yard. Her old gray muzzeled black lab. Came out to say "hi guys " and they shot him dead.
Things were prety crazy in those days, doesn't sound like they have change much in all these years if not gotten worse.......

alaskan, mine is a get home bag also. the difference is, the farthest i go from home on a regular basis is about a hundred and fifty miles. that's why my BOB is so large...depending on the scenario i may be having to travel cross-country much of the way and i'll need extra supplies to make it.

one possible scenario i'm considering is pandemic quarrantine. suppose i'm at the far end of my route when the state decides, due to the numerous H5N1 outbreaks locally, to order a quarrantine and shut down travel. there is only the one interstate highway and no smaller roads between many of my delivery points and home. a single roadblock could keep me from driving and if i'm caught i could be forced into a gvmt camp 'for my protection'. in a case like this, cross country travel on foot may be the only way i have to get back to my home and supplies. such a trip would likely take a couple of weeks and therefore i've set my bag up with that length of time in mind.