And I've had a deep appreciation for your posts for years now but all the things you list are simply insurance.
Not investments.
@5:00
"Ever since I got out of school someone gave me 10 reasons why you shouldn't buy stocks. But the world does not belong to the pessimists."
It's all about timing my friend... it has nothing to do with optimism or pessimism.
All markets are in a huge bubble right now and I want very little exposure to risk.
When the fear is high and there is blood in the streets, you should be in. When euphoria and greed have taken over, you should be out. Not quite there yet, but we're close. It's better to be months/years early than 1 second too late.