Shooter at parallax adjustment has posted an exercise described as, "tell why someone should let you into their survival retreat. Be sure to list any and all applicable skill sets, equipment carried (100 pounds or less), and any injury, allergy, illness, etc. that would make you a liability to the camp."

I have never considered myself as being especially skilled in such matters.  But this is something I've been thinking about since I read his post a few days ago, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

Like Shooter, I am an amateur radio operator so I have some skills in that area.  My license is of the old (now deleted) Advanced Class.  So I have knowledge of Morse Code as well, and though it is somewhat rusty right now I'm confident that it would come back very quickly if I started using it again.  I think that Code skill would be important.  When conditions are poor, code communications can get through when voice can't.  There are some other more sophisticated digital communications that can also get through during poor conditions, but they are mostly computer-based and computers require additional electricity and maintenance.  I can also build serviceable wire antennas from scratch, and I know how to scrounge up a makeshift code key if required.  I have equipment that would allow me to get on the air in several different modes, and of course I already have a code key.

Hunting/fishing.  Yep.  I also have bow hunting equipment although I have never used it for anything other than targets.  I used to be a very good tracker, although that's another thing I haven't had to do in a long time so I might be a little rusty.  I also know a thing or two about trapping.

Shooter says, "Give me a blade and I can sharpen it."  I guess it betrays some of my naiveté in that I thought this was something everyone can do, but maybe not.  I do vaguely remember my dad teaching me how to sharpen a knife, but I was so young that I don't remember exactly when.

I have some basic knowledge of electronics and am quite handy with a soldering tool.

I've also been wondering if people who could teach something, or people who just know a lot about something, would be worthwhile.  Will people eventually want anything beyond basic survival, or is this going too far?  I know that I could teach basic music theory including composition in four-part harmony.  Like I said, I know this isn't necessary for survival, and am just wondering if it's something that might still be considered valuable anyway.  You know, "for the children."

Would there be anyone who might want to hold worship services?  I have many old gospel hymns memorized, or nearly so, and I know that I could reconstruct the harmony on paper for numerous old songs if I needed to.

Besides, I think I could find room in my stash for at least one hymnal.

By the way, I've been wanting to write up some posts of the subject of hymns and hymnals, but so far all I've been doing is try to figure out how to start on it.  I'm sure that most readers of this blog wouldn't really be all that interested in it, anyway.