You're a working fella syncretic. Let's say you had to place your bets on what would be a safer retirement strategy between relying on social security or relying on a 401k, which would you choose? Assuming you can't pick both. I try to not think about "SS" as if it will be there when I retire and view it more as a "bonus" if it is. I'm not sure what else one can do other than to have some faith in the market? Gold? -That seems crazy. Land? Cash under the mattress? How to securely invest for your retirement is a tricky one.
gold has very little intrinsic value. What about investing in water purification plants or something of the like?
Gold has been used for centuries as a currency because those with wealth and power like to decorate themselves in shiny things. It will never become worthless, and I suspect even in a post-collapse society, gold bars and coins will be valuable in trade, if there is any sort of society left at all.