Thank you for the kind reply.   I agree that many people just kind of drift along without ever really thinking about survival or self sufficiency.  Maybe it never happens.  Maybe the zombies never come.  I still find it comforting and frankly intellectually stimulating to think through solutions to problems.   There is something empowering about self reliance, even if it isn't needed regularly.   It's like learning to swim, even if you don't live near the water.