Is anyone else feeling super antsy about a recession and piling into metals?

• •I swear, every morning I wake up and check the news, and it just feels like the walls are closing in.
• •All the talk about interest rate hikes, inflation, and layoffs – it's making me seriously re-evaluate my portfolio.
• •As a jewelry store owner here in Providence, I've seen firsthand how economic swings hit people.

I swear, every morning I wake up and check the news, and it just feels like the walls are closing in. All the talk about interest rate hikes, inflation, and layoffs – it's making me seriously re-evaluate my portfolio. As a jewelry store owner here in Providence, I've seen firsthand how economic swings hit people. When times are good, folks are buying diamonds and fancy watches. When things get tight, it's more about repairs and sentimentality. My own business is a good barometer for the economy around here, and lately, the vibes have been... less than stellar.

I've got a pretty solid chunk of change in my Gold IRA – probably around $75k-ish, mostly gold, which I accumulated over the last few years. But now I'm starting to think about diversifying that precious metal allocation a bit more into silver. Back in '08, when everything went sideways, gold definitely held its own, which was a huge relief. My thought process is that if we're actually heading into a deep recession, silver might have even more upside for certain industrial applications alongside its monetary role. I’ve been messing around with this "Silver vs Stocks" tool at https://silvervsstocks.goldirablueprint.com/?period=10Y, and honestly, seeing how silver has performed against the S&P 500 over the last 10 years is pretty compelling. It's not a slam dunk, but it definitely makes me think harder about increasing my silver holdings.

My traditional investments, like my Vanguard funds, have been taking a hit lately, which is super frustrating. I'm trying not to panic sell, but at the same time, I want to make sure I'm protected if things really go south. I'm 52, so I don't have decades to recover from a massive downturn. It’s making me feel pretty anxious, to be honest. I’ve always been a believer in hard assets, given my profession, but this current climate just amplifies that feeling tenfold.

So, I'm curious – is anyone else here feeling this strong pull to beef up their precious metals specifically for recession proofing? Are you focusing on gold, silver, or a mix? Any thoughts on a good split for someone in my position? I'm open to hearing all perspectives, especially from folks who've navigated a downturn with a significant portion of their wealth in PMs.