OK Hasbeen, well they drive on the left in Cyprus so it might be quite
practical to buy a nice cheap car there.
Years ago it cost about $1500 to ship a car from the UK to here, but
it might be a bit dearer from Cyprus.
Still it could be a real bargain.

Oh, they are giving the depositors shares in the bank as compensation, hmmm.
Might make nice wall paper in a few years time, like your 1910 Russian
bonds for the rail line from Moscow to Vladivostok.

When you are next in town go to the Library and see if they have a
copy of James Kunstlers World Made by Hand.
It is a novel setting the scene like you suggested. Very interesting.
Libraries can borrow from other libraries if they don't have it.

At the end of the American civil war, southern land holders were able to grow some food, but regularly had it "confiscated" by roving gangs and the displaced.
Those that resisted often forfeited their lives!
Those that had buried a few hundred double eagles, fared a lot better; and, were able to buy all manner of life preserving goods, for a fraction of their former or real value.
Similar stories abound the great depression; albeit, there seemed to be less crime and more work for food, associated with that particular event?
Land is good, as is reliable water!
And indeed, a large enough group to ensure you keep what you want to keep from what you produce.
And it's not just human thieves one needs to worry about, given all manner of pests and parasites could threaten ones survival; if one were ever confronted with circumstances, where survival became the major or only goal, and govts stopped spending money on pest and parasite mitigation measures.
A couple of polycarbonate clad glass houses would therefore, be a good investment in survival strategy!
However, a few dozen gold coins distributed in various known only to you locations, would be good, but particularly; in say post depression/post war circumstances, where paper money became more or less valueless?
And given we humans seem to fail to learn the lessons of history; history tends to repeat itself?
Rhrosty.

Guess I'm lucky, or is it wise, or perhaps stupid Rhrosty? Of my 20 acres 6 are deep black soil, of fair fertility. They are the ones adjacent to the river. I also have a greenhouse, currently covered in white Hypalon, to reflect the heat, making it more suitable for the cars I keep in there.

The green house could be reconverted, I've saved the cover, but it is 300 meters from the river, & about 85 meters above the water level. Even the black soil flats are about 23 meters above the water level, so with out diesel for a pump, you would not grow a great deal, except in a particularly wet year. Black soil takes a hell of a lot of water to do much.

I laugh when I hear talk of us running out of arable land. In my area we have some thousands of acres of river front land. A little is used to grow lucerne for the horse owners & a little grows chop chop, green feed for the feed lots. A bit more is used to grow turf for instant lawns, but most does nothing more useful than just grazes a few horses.

Even the dairy farmers have given up. Doing anything productive with land in Oz today is a recipe for bankruptcy.

You have probably heard the old one about how to make a small fortune out of horse racing, "start with a large one". Well mate that goes for just about any kind of horticulture or agriculture in Oz today. Only masochists do it.

Rhrosty you stated "Ah Hasbeen, never heard of white gold then, which I understand may be an amalgam of platinum and gold? In any event, and given its use as a catalyst, and or, as an inert refractory material, even rarer platinum, is likely to outperform gold, as a hedge against inflation."

Perhaps you really believe this is true, however you may wish to consider that good old Silver is actually more rare than Gold!

Given the US is now openly, through their central bank and the sheep like following of the US main stream media, promoting that gold is 'so over valued' the majority of investors have swallowed the red pill and are beginning to dump both gold and silver holdings.

Notwithstanding this western stance, China, Russia and other smart investors are now buying both gold and silver at what can only be stated as a very good price. China, like any good investor, is buying in the dips and holding.

China is likely to release 'official' gold holdings toward the end of this year or early in 2014, once they do, the price of gold will hit $3-5,000, perhaps higher.

The US, like most of Europe and much of the broader global economy is in the process of debasing currency at the expense of the 99%. Hold faith in Gold and Silver over the next 24 months and you can make a fortune, pay off any debt and exit the 'fractional reserve banking' system.

This is the best advice I can give you given private debt to GDP ratio's in Australia and the growing need by governments to further tax individuals and now a play against 'our ever so safe' superannuation.

The Ponzi scheme is nearly up, you all have some time left but not much.

Be warned.