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But one's attitude and ability to cope, face the new reality, and adapt will be the most important characteristic of the survivors.

Having grown up in a small town (400 people) means I grew up with lots of extended family within shouting distance. Most important was seeing my great grandmother every day. She taught me to garden smart, never expect, and most of all, how to endure. This is a woman who managed to hold her farm and 5 kids together after her husband disappeared during the depression.

When I look at my cousins who grew up in Ann Arbor, Minneapolis, and Kalamazoo I realize that they missed out on a lot having grown up separate from great granny and our little town. These are people who think they're in the deep wilderness of the grass is more than ankle deep. They go looking for an emergency room if they find a tick crawling on them.

My sisters and I had the true Mayberry experience. Free range kids roaming the woods and fields around town. Walking down the railroad bed to go fishing with friends at 9 or 10 years old. I fell off my bike way out on the railroad bed and broke my wrist at 9 years old. Sure I cried but I never thought about someone coming to the rescue. I picked up my bike and pushed it the mile and a half back to town.

I had the same growing up experiences. Learned everything I needed to know from my grandparents. Their other grandkids grew up not having a clue about anything. When it hits the fan, they’ll be that Katrina woman who whined about the bottled water not being chilled down enough. I’d be surprised if they lasted a week.

Me, I staying put. There’s no place like home.

"My sisters and I had the true Mayberry experience. Free range kids roaming the woods and fields around town. Walking down the railroad bed to go fishing with friends at 9 or 10 years old. I fell off my bike way out on the railroad bed and broke my wrist at 9 years old. Sure I cried but I never thought about someone coming to the rescue. I picked up my bike and pushed it the mile and a half back to town. "

Yup.

Sounds like my childhood. You forgot about eating the wild berries and other fruit and swimming in the ice cold creek, etc.