The months leading up to 2020 have been anything but ordinary. Forest fires in South America, Brexit in the United Kingdom, protests in Hong Kong, and an escalating global trade war. You might think that you’re hedged from catastrophe with bitcoin. But are you sufficiently prepared? Let’s find out.

This article covers basic necessities to assist in case of sustained power outages or any other disaster.

If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher’s stone. - Benjamin Franklin

1. Stay hydrated

Water makes up 60% of the body, so that’s why water is #1 on our list. Depending on the emergency, water may or may not be a concern. The best we can do is hope water won’t be a concern and be prepared. To stay fully hydrated, each human requires approximately 1.5L per day. We recommend stocking a dozen bottles of Fiji Natural Artesian Water for every member of your household (and don’t forget your pets!). Fiji water tastes great and doesn’t have fluoride or any other additives.

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2. Secure the Bag

The Camelbak Cloud Walker is a relaxed hiking bag with a removable water reservoir, it’s perfect for burning man next year. Camelbak makes them in all shapes and sizes.

Buy Camelbak Bag

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3. Pack the Bag

A bag is only as useful as its contents. Here are a few things to get started to add to your bag. With these goodies, you are good to go on an adventure.

Buy LifeStraw

$17.47 on Amazon

$13.45 on Purse

Buy Mountain Man Beef with Noodles 2-Pack

$34.66 on Amazon

$26.69 on Purse

Buy Surviveware First Aid Kit

$36.95 on Amazon

$28.45 on Purse

27% recommended discount rate

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4. Analog Gold

If a solar flare hits, bitcoin will be worthless. Hedging against disasters like solar flares could be a good reason to buy gold. And it only makes sense to buy the kind you can bite into. Analog gold comes in several shapes and sizes. We like the 1/10 oz and 1/2 oz Gold Maple Leaf as the lower denominations are more suitable for barter.

Buy 1979 CA -Present Canada 1/10oz Gold Maple Leaf

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10% recommended discount rate. Price fluctuates with gold spot price.

5. What not to get

Solar Chargers are a gimmick

During our research for this article, we’ve purchased items that did not meet our expectations. When we ran across a solar battery charger made by ADDTOP with great reviews, we thought it could be a great fit for this list. As it turns out, the battery does not charge at all even in direct sunlight. You’re better off getting a regular battery bank without the weight of the ineffective solar charger.

Buy a non-solar Anker 20100mAH power bank

$49.99 on Amazon

$38.49 on Purse

27% recommended discount rate

Why Now?

Published in 1996, The Sovereign Individual describes a transition to the information age that shares startling similarities to present conditions. The authors predict many events that have occurred including the rise of Twitter “the very glut of information now available puts a premium on brevity” and Bitcoin “unique, anonymous, and verifiable, this money will accommodate the largest transactions.” Discover their other predictions.

Albert Wenger, a managing parter at Union Square Ventures, is currently working on a book titled World After Capital redefining the transition from the Industrial Age of scarce capital to the Knowledge Age of scarce attention. The book is free and open to contributors on Gitbook.

Getting this right is critical for humanity, as the two previous transitions were marked by massive turmoil and upheaval — including two World Wars to get from the Agrarian Age to the Industrial Age. Already, we are seeing signs of increasing conflict within societies and among belief systems across the world.

Ray Dalio, one of the most successful hedge fund managers of our time, published Principles for Navigating Big Debt Crises. In a recent interview, he described what to look for in the near future.

I believe that there are three big forces to watch: 1) the end of the short- and long-term debt cycles when there is an economic downturn and monetary policy cannot ease because interest rates can’t be cut and central bank financial asset buying (QE) is no longer effective, 2) internal conflicts between the haves and have nots that become extreme, and 3) external conflicts between a rising power (China) that challenges an existing world power (the U.S.).

The world is at an inflection point: are you prepared?

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