I make a fair carpenter, using unpowered hand tools, of which I have many types.

There are hundreds of skills needed. This is not an insignificant undertaking.
Just to start:
Gunsmith, Ammunition Manufacturer.
Practical Application of Engineering. (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical/Petrochemical, Nuclear, Architecture, Geology/Mining, ...)
Medical Doctor, Emergency and Surgical Nurse, Pharma Chemist, Dentist, Veterinarian, Anesthesiologist.
Vehicle Repair Mechanic.
Business: Manufacturing, Marketing and Sales, Purchasing, Accountancy, ...
Programmer/Designer/Database Mgt (Software), Computer Repair Technician.
Teachers of Martial Arts, Self Defense, Military "Arts"
Teachers - All Levels - Basic Subjects - Math, Science, Languages, History, Music, Arts, Philosophy, Ethics, ...

idiocracy42 has the right idea on smuggling, too.

Smuggling!

If what seems to be the logical conclusion to these articles comes to pass, it is going to be difficult everywhere. For those of us who won’t go with the program, I’m imagining dependencies on smugglers for essentials that we cannot produce or barter on our own (e.g., insulin).

Brave new world, indeed.

ID2020 - Biometric Update
https://www.biometricupdate.com/20190...

Market Watch – Health Passport
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the...

Mercola – Health Passport Ireland
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...

Well....PIMP is the answer. Permaculture Farms....Permaculture Is My Passion. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAB-...
Go ahead and get lost in the adventure. Billy and family and network are Gulchers in practice.

I'm in startup of a minor version of this as I just finished relocation end of March. In addition I have a fully functional machine shop and 35+ years of mechanical maintenance, design and repair. I've a history of farming and livestock. and like johnrobert2 I've a sailboat and lots of fishing gear to ply the waters of Lake Michigan. My network includes a host of trades where I can exchange my talents directly....no monies.

Your foremost quality is enthusiasm to learn....everything.

I think there are few skills which couldn't prove useful. A real society thrives on a variety of useful occupations. I would start with the basics of infrastructure: power, water, sewer, transportation. Everything else pretty much depends on those. Barring the sudden development of an atmospheric power generator or a zero-point module, you're going to need power - whether that's from hydroelectric, wave motion, wind, solar, nuclear, or fossil fuels. You're also going to need transmission capabilities.
Next you need clean water and sewer. The biggest plagues in history have thrived on insanitary conditions - and that includes infant/maternal mortality after childbirth. That means a lot of pipes and pumps.
Next you need shelter, ie. construction. This doesn't have to be anything fancy - but it could be.

And of course all this depends on food generation. If you don't know how to grow stuff to eat...? Learn. People in today's society look down on farmers but they know an awful lot that people take for granted. (This includes livestock. Chicken refuse is great fertilizer...)

Jack of All trades...and master of "some", at least.
Manufacturing, innovation, practical design and engineering...not theories but real world experiences.

I think the key to a new Gulch would be to NOT just reproduce the structures, mental or physical from which we came. Keep what worked and discard what didn't.

May I offer gardening, canning, dehydrating. Also cooking, baking, working with livestock of various sizes (can't ride a bronc or do expert vet work except for lots of hands on experience with human and critter first aid ). My paintings sell and I can teach others how to do a number of things, though I am not a degreed teacher. I keep thinking of North Dakota...

Yeah...I'm an engineer with decent site development experience so that would help. I also have extensive hvac and plumbing (building design) experience. I think those things would help a little. Would love to help design the infrastructure of the Gulch - and, I've actually got pretty good ideas on that, in terms of bolstering it against needing anything from the outside world....

Me dino a retired state corrections officer would be good at perimeter security. Could write critiques of defense measures with my oo-weee BS Journalism degree and seven years of newspaper work experience that ended when I wouldn't bullSchiff about Reagan.
I can shoot and teach people how to shoot. Me dino threw a hand grenade one whole time on a practice range when in the Marines. Me bad!

Take my Basics of Making class next fall. I have adjusted much of it so that it can be done remotely now. In fact, if you want to learn now, I have an assignment that I can get you started on. If anyone is interested, e-mail me at jbrenner@fit.edu. I have a project funded by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (engineeringunleashed.com) that I can provide more details on. If interested in working on such a project now, I will send you a kit that cost me $30; in value for value exchange, I expect a report on how to improve the instructions for the project. Essentially I am beta testing a remote learning approach to 3D printing and laser cutting. If interested in pursuing this, e-mail me, and buy the Creality 3D Ender3 at

https://www.creality3d.shop/collections/3d-printer/products/creality-ender-3-3d-printer-economic-ender-diy-kits-with-resume-printing-function-v-slot-prusa-i3-220x220x250mm?gclid=CjwKCAjwq_D7BRADEiwAVMDdHpbALfQ7e4R6KxLLpkBqILGR_G_xscAHZh3qwxnkmOhRUfBdNa5o1RoC8AMQAvD_BwE

As much general knowledge as you have an interest in whether it's making or fixing or hunting, etc.

You must pursue your passions and then perfect them ...
...and then be able to abstact and extrapolate.

That's one thing I wondered about particularly in the movie, and I know I'm looking too much into this as Rand herself knew that Galt's Gulch would be a fantasy. But how could they form a completely self-reliant society. Someone needs hospitalization, or in the early days they don't have any plumbers or electricians among them.

Let's see, I worked in marine hydraulics a while back; water filtration based on my knowledge of hydraulics. Learning to make carbon-based batteries, just got my order in of a 500ml container of Working Ink from FWG England. I can sew by hand or by machine. My wife bought me a new Brothers 37 stitch machine for my birthday. I'm also a practitioner of an internal Chinese Martial Art of Empty Force.

This is an interesting discussion. Unfortunately there is no Gulch for us all to flee too, so it may end up being small enclaves of the like minded, or survivors, depending on the situation. It may also depend on if the infrastructure remains intact, and can possibly be tapped into, or if it fails. Some items we take for granted are perishable, such as fuel. It's only stable for so long. A working knowledge of basic, even primitive skills would be a good thing, especially books that contain that knowledge. How do you dehydrate food without that fancy electric thing like I have. I've done it the hard way, and it's called that for a reason. This Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

It's good to think on these things and think on what if situations. I'm currently reading Book 2 of Seasons of Man by S.M. Anderson (a retired spook). In the book a virus, instead of killing less than 1% of those infected, and taken out 97% of the world population. I recommend it for thought.

Three qualities are required.
1. The ability to direct other people.
2. the ability to be directed by others, and
3. The ability to do both 1 and 2 above without whining .