So many people on FB (and other places,) are planning to crowd the CB and HAM radio channels after society falls apart, that I'm wondering if alternative communication methods may be in my best interest.

This is entirely beside the fact that I seem to be related to a whole LOT of people who believe that being done with high school or college excuses them from ever firing up a brain cell again.

So, when talking hieroglyphs and petroglyphs with the (relatively) small one, we got on the topic of glyphs originating in small emblems that somewhat represented actual things. The problem is, while it works ok for keeping track of how many of what variety of livestock you are trading for how many bushels of grain from Farmer Ed down the road, it's not much of a method for relaying that life-changing philosophical epiphany that might make you the successful, studly, post-apocalyptic, land baron you wish to become.

Smoke signals, while also very limited, could also be handy. A quick way to say "market day open at the crossroads!" Sadly, that would quickly get around to "hey bandits, productive people and lots of goods this way!" Not so hot. So two or three simple codes one can send up quickly, then kill the fire and skedaddle, may be the way to go with this one.

Discussed bullroarers with him a while back, also a thing suitable for two or three simple codes. The fun part with this one, is that the sound you can produce with one is nearly as unnerving as bagpipes and war drums! If not more so, to the less informed.

Then there's the more modern version of petroglyphs and hieroglyphs, the hobo-marks. Similar limitations, no replacement for common written language. The small one would like it though, it tends to be more descriptive than early glyphs. And with a few additions, he should be able to keep up his routine of butt jokes.