Spare eyeglasses definitely hit home for me—the idea of fumbling around half-blind in a blackout is unsettling. I’d add pencils and notepads to the list. Folks don’t always realize how useful it can be to write things down, especially when you’re keeping track of supplies or jotting down instructions from an old manual. In all the years at the library, I saw how quickly people resorted to paper when computers went down, even for just a day.
Herbal salves—good call. I’ve started learning more about those, especially plantain and calendula. Actually, what about seeds? People prep food, but I hardly see talk about stashing hardy seeds for quick-growing greens or herbs. Even a small indoor garden can lift spirits and supplement your stash with fresh stuff.
If I had to pick one thing most folks miss, it’d be a proper hand-crank radio. It covers info, light, sometimes even charging a phone. Amazing how easy it is to overlook, considering how much peace of mind you get from just knowing what’s happening