If you buy a claironet, you own a claironet ....

You don't necessarily know how to play it.  Al Fin looks at rich people's "Survival Houses", and waxes skeptical:

The problem with many of the country club survivalists is that they are not likely to have the level of common sense and practical skills which allow them to compensate for their expensive technology -- when it inevitably breaks down.

Once the design engineers and construction contractors are gone, it is up to the owner to keep all those expensive gadgets from breaking down and leaving him vulnerable to the elements and the unfriendlies. Gold, food, and practical trade goods might attract competent helpers, of course. But the smart survivalist will try to make his survival plans in conjunction with a competent community of widely skilled, practical minded persons -- and not try to go it alone, no matter how much money he can put into the project.

This applies to gun owners too, natch.

And how is it that I haven't had a TEOTWAWKI tag until now?