So, seeing as it's getting close to 12/21/2012, I finally got around to reading this thread.
Lots of great info.
I've sorta dedicated my free time for nearly a decade to figgering out what I need and need to do to survive a civilization ending event. This is why I chose a Land Cruiser. This is why I'd prefer to have diesel and manual.
In my mid 20s, I was homeless for 3 1/2 years. I drank alot, but rarely ate enough. I survived that. Everything I needed for living on the streets in Boston fit in my NATO pack or on my person. I could make do with things others discarded, including food.
Then I got a second chance and got a job at a surplus store. When I'm not at work, I wear Altama (supplier to US armed forces) jungle boots with the civilian sole. They breathe. They're durable. I get about 2 years out of a pair. And if they get wet, they dry very quickly.
I wear milspec wool blend socks year round. They breathe. And if they get wet, they're still body temperature. And they wear well.
I wear cotton ripstop BDUs in summer, blend BDUs in the winter. (I wear 100% cotton T-shirts year round, but have many things to wear over/instead of them.)
I wear baseball caps, but also have a boonie hat and a milspec acrylic watchcap. Not quite as warm as wool, but hasn't ever been a problem.
I'm a big fan of vests. Keep your core warm and you can re-warm your extremities. Bulky sleeves can be a liability. But, it never gets too cold here in the desert. And if the sun gets blotted out and it gets really cold, there's always animal pelts.
I used to try and get all the things I thought I'd need to survive the Big One.
Nowadays, I'm all about minimalism. And improvisation.
I can only think of a couple of disasters that I wouldn't have some kind of warning of. Earthquake, industrial accident, terrorist attack. (If anyone can think of any others, please chime in.)
When I get that warning, I'm GTFO the city. Last place I want to be is surrounded by 3 million panicking urbanites. I'd guess they'd be more of a danger to me than the precipitating event.
I have a few spots picked out. Depending on what the event is. All are high ground and easily defended from individuals. I'd be fubar'd in a frontal assault, though.
So here's my kit:
Mag Lites. I use em at work, so I always have bulbs and batteries. Almost always have one on my hip. Couple in the truck.
Folding straight blade. Almost always on my hip, unless I'm gonna be frisked at a club or something. Have a 2nd one in the glovebox.
Gerber Multi Plier. Has a straight blade, serrated blade, abrasive blade, scissors, screwdrivers, bottle opener, can opener and a file. Almost always on my hip.
I'm a big fan of the Springfield 1911 in .45ACP. I keep 2 full mags with it. But it's a weapon of last resort. I'd much rather have the time to fashion a nearly silent weapon like an atlatl. If I've got to take a man down, I'd rather not reveal my position to his friends.
50' of paracord.
Shop 1st aid kit. It's fairly big. I'll be adding a s***load of butterfly closures. Those things are awesome.
18" Himilayan Imports WWII Kukri. It's tougher than a Cruiser. Can be used as an axe, prybar, shovel, hammer, knife, and, if need be, can cleave the average man's arm off at the shoulder. Plus, it comes with a steel and utility knife.
Changes of clothes for different weather conditions including an N3-B extreme cold weather parka (it compresses nicely and is rated to -50°F, IIRC) and a GI poncho. (Need to get a liner for it.)
Seeds. You heard me. If society is really dead cos of Yellowstone, or an asteroid or something, I'm gonna want to start planting the second the sun comes back out.
What will be added ASAP:
Potable water tank in the 80 with pneumatic spigot.
Pair of NATO water cans, in case I need to leave the truck, or refill the tank, or whatever, really.
I routinely fast 2 - 4 times/year. I go a week with nothing more than the following 3x/day: juice of 2 lemons, TBSP grade B maple syrup and 16oz water. Well, and enough filtered water to keep me sufficiently hydrated the rest of the day. I don't take time off work while I do this. I'm a construction equipment mechanic. I need to be able to do heavy work. And problem solve. And I can. Usually until the last day or so. I won't be needing food in my survival kit. Just electrolyte/vitamin C powder. I like Emergen C.
Anything else I need, I can probably find. Our public lands are littered with trash. Broken glass makes a single use spear/arrowhead. Empty beer cans can be used as a tinder box to start a fire. wiring from appliances dumped out there can be used as cordage for binding elements of a shelter.
Worst case, you could start tearing your truck apart for things. Airbags make excellent patch material. I keep rolls of dental floss as thread. You can fashion a sewing needle out of a piece of bone.
If you've got sufficient water to keep you going 1 full day, clothing appropriate to your climate and the basics to cobble up a shelter, everything else is secondary. There are bugs everywhere on earth, pretty much. And you will eventually be hungry enough that they'll taste pretty damned good.
And the last thing I'd want with me is a likeminded individual or 2. Survival is alot easier if you have someone to share the work. And if it's a prolonged situation, you just need someone other than a volleyball to talk to to keep from going insane.
Our species thrived for 100,000s of years with nothing more advanced than bone and stone tools and animal pelts. I'm pretty sure we could do it again if the need arose.
