The price of gold topped $4,000 per ounce on Tuesday, October 7th, the second anniversary of the massacres by Hamas in Israel two years ago. A coincidence? You decide.
My wife Risa and I know a local pawnbroker who deals in precious metals and jewelry. We asked him if he would take some of Risa’s inherited gold jewelry and turn it into tiny gold ingots that could easily be hidden.
This may sound crazy to you, but not if you know Holocaust survivors or had family flee Russia and Poland during periods of pogroms (events like October 7th).
We did this several years ago. Gold sold for around $1,200 per ounce and we treated it more as a defense against a recession worse than 2008, or a woke-fomented civil war in America.
Trading unused jewelry for tiny gold ingots was not intended as a bet on the price of gold. I have never speculated on commodities because I know less about soybeans or corn prices than the spread on Bears’ games. It was simply a hedge against calamity. It was part of a getaway bag that included some cash, food, toothpaste, and medicines in the event we had to run because of flood, fire—or insurrection.
I understand that many of the Silicon Valley billionaires have safe homes and bunkers in New Zealand if AI is a bubble or the “smart” robots decide to turn on them, but our tiny gold stash was more about jumping in the car and heading for the Gulf of Mexico.
Today things are more ominous. I saw our friend, the pawnbroker, over the weekend and he said his precious metals business, which used to be a small piece of his small shop, has become a big part of his daily operation.
Some people are playing the gold and silver markets, others need liquidity, and some are in the “what if” category like us.
As I read about the probable future Mayor of New York lauding the October 7th massacre that killed 1,200 people in Israel, I wonder what has happened to my country.
Personally, I have not felt threatened by antisemitism, but we had guards and police at our synagogue over the holidays as a safeguard.
The progressive left has turned against Israel, and much of academia seems to regard Jews who dare speak out for Israel to be heretics, to be shunned.
Jews in Europe are headed to Israel in growing numbers.
Gold coins and ingots saved the lives of so many folks who fled the Nazis in the 1930s. Diamonds, according to our friend, have little value today because of “lab diamonds,” which are almost indistinguishable from mined diamonds.
I know that gold at $4,000 an ounce is mainly an announcement by speculators about fear of inflation in America, but to me it is a signal, still faint, that Risa and I, or our children, might one day have to flee America the Beautiful.
Question: What do you have in your go bag?


10 Comments
I never thought about keeping gold. My go bag is heavy on weapons and ammo and short on medicine.
Medicine and money seem pretty important.
Never know what kind of scrapes you can get hunting animals!
Lloyd – One thing I learned many years ago is that “money’ is a medium of exchange. The most valuable commodity/item in post-WWII Germany was cigarettes. I often kid my friends that this is where we should be putting our money. Throw a few packs into that bag!
Ewww!
Not sure about those cancer sticks!
Military friends serving in the sandbox said a handful of benjamines always worked.
Some simple discreet gold jewelry can work in a pinch
Lloyd, go to Canada, it’s closer and safer!
Yes!
I’ve thought about it already!
Only thing in my Go Bag is a belief in the resurrection.
Proverbs 6:6-8 KJV
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
I have one for each family member and at lease one in each vehicle
When you change clocks – check and change batteries and clothes for the upcoming season.
(no need for bug repellent in January in Vermont)
fine line balancing light fast efficient vs having stuff
would you rather have it and not need it
or NEED it and not have it,,,
just the basics
not counting most general Every Day Carry (EDC)
most stuff should have multiple uses
good backpack
not military looking – don’t attract attention
35-40L (2000 – 2500 cu in)
Defense kit:
Handgun, magazines and ammo
(should be part of EDC keep copy of your CCW licenses for each state)
Otherwise someone else will have your great gear!!!
pepper spray
hiking stick/staff
Bulletproof Backpack Insert
Important stuff:
eye glasses
sun glasses
meds
whiskey 😉
shelter kit:
poncho – sleep on
poncho liner – sleep in
bivy sack – sleep in / shelter
paracord – cordage
lite weight tent pegs
space blanket
one or two bungee cords
sub shelter:
bandana or two – a hundred uses
(in addition to the one in your EDC pocket
A Large trash bag or two (poncho, tent, fill w/ leaves or stuff = mattress, carry all)
clothes in water tight/ziplock
shirt shorts sox etc…
Balaclava
ball cap
gloves
bug spray
sun block
disposable poncho
Fire kit:
Bic in watertight holder
fero rod
tinder tabs – cotton w/ vasoline
candles – 1 to 3
Fresnel lens – read fine print & start fire
blow tube
fire tabs
matches (strike anywhere) & striker
water kit:
sawyer filter kit
mil canteen, cup & base
xtra water bottle
water purification tabs
water bag
coffee filters
shemagh as filter and shelter
Food Kit:
E rations
fishing kit
snare wire
spork
MRE
tea bags & sugar
Gatorade pacs
cup-o-soups
multi vitamins
tinfoil
Trauma Kit:
blowout kit
boo boo kit
meds – benadril, Tylenol, Imodium, Prilosec, Pepcid, tums, stool softner, oxycodone
prescriptions
Navigation Kit:
map
compass
pen / pencil
notepad
pace beads
Tool kit:
headlamp / flashlight (in addition to EDC lite)
batteries ( keep all gear on same size/type battery)
multi-tool – Leather-man
Good fixed blade knife
(in addition to EDC pocket knife)
knife sharpener
wire saw
CIA letter opener
duct tape
sew kit
p-38
other stuff:
whistle
dust mask
zip lok bags
cash
docs/ID/photos/phn#list
critical info on an encrypted thumb-drive
survival card deck
coms kit:
ham radio – baufeng uv5r w/ your ham licence
am/fm/sw crank radio
earbuds – uses less battery power
solar charger
spare batteries
hygiene kit:
tooth brush/paste/floss
TOILET PAPER
unscented baby wipes
baby gold bond
small soap & shampoo
small camp towel