Send us Fan Mail The July 4th weekend has a funny way of revealing what we actually depend on. When it’s 100-plus degrees, everyone’s traveling, and the grid is working hard, it’s a good moment to ask a simple question: how much of your safety and comfort is yours, and how much is outsourced? We dig into the roots of practical prepping by looking at early American life, when preparedness wasn’t optional. No grocery stores, no 911, no next-day delivery, no reliable utilities. If a family didn...