Good post and I couldn't agree more.
The GF puts up with my spending
to an extent. She surely has a lot of questions like "When will you ever need that?" or "What in the world is that for?"
Oh and don't forget all the
rolled eyes 
The main thing I try to tell her is that anything can happen and at anytime. Whether I tell her about theories on the NWO, possible FEMA camps, natural disasters, martial law, anything... It is just better to be prepared rather than trying to scrounge together things when it is too late.
Now for the "disaster holidays". Once again you are spot on!!
It is always a good idea to step back and clear your mind for a bit, all this doom
and gloom can really get a fella down 
I had one of thses last weekend, no news, no ATS, no anything besides the Great Lakes, an apartment room, and hockey. Got to relax and clear the ol' noggin.
