I have also felt the looming economic collapse. Living in New jersey there are just too many people here to live off the land.

Also what really scares me is that this isnt going to be like 1929 in one big scary way.
By this I mean we have had a total moral breakdown and decay in our society. There will NOT be your happy HOBO types riding the train around, there WILL be roving gangs of people taking whatever they want by force and taking advantage of the Mayhem as cover for thier own murderous rampages.
I think the best places to be would be warm coastal areas where u can fish for your food. Hunting will be dificult as the Gov will take away guns as the violence will escilate so rapidly they wont allow firearms.
Low populous areas will be the safest. But there will be no safe havens from those who would go great lengths to take what they need or want.

The Gov around the world will get together and people will accept any solution to ease thier suffering leading to a loss of rights and sovernty for all citizens.
For those who know the Biblical book of revalation. It seems easy to imagine this leading to a one world leader.

After reading all of your post, no one ever mentions peak and post oil. What is going on now is nothing compared to what we are going to see in the near future. Oil is a gift from nature for which man has wasted it for the past 150 years. You ain't seen nothing yet!

Sadly, I have to agree.

If, we've passed the peak oil production and we really are in a post part of the curve then energy will just keep getting more expensive.

I do have to admit that I'd love to see the US ramp up wind and solar power as part of the recovery effort.