Just out of curiosity, what are your plans for December 31, 1999 at 12:00 midnight? Partying, staying at home, etc?

-- Barb-Douglas (bardou@yahoo.com), July 23, 1998

Answers

I plan to have a good fire going in the my fireplace. My generator will be fueled up ready to go. The kerosene lamps will be filled. My hand-crank radio will at my side. My food supply will be safely stashed away and I'll be praying that it has been all done in vain! Hull

-- hull stetson (stetson.hull@usa.net), July 23, 1998.

I'll have my station wagon packed with 2 weeks worth of food and the pop top camper attached. A large pair of bolt cutters will be sitting on the floorboard. You see there is one thing that's going to be difficult to deal with- nuclear accidents or inadvertant warhead launchings. I fully expect all nuclear warheads removed worldwide, but just in case they aren't and news either confirms problems or goes blank we will be heading to an abandoned rail tunnel that was designated a fallout shelter years ago. Every member will begin taking potassium iodate. Certain provisions like sandbags will already be stashed in the area. I'm not christian, but I believe it may be possible for some to have pierced the time space continuum and made prophetic statements about events that indeed have come and will come to pass. Statements I read in the bible lead me to belive some were "witnessing" nuclear fallout. A cashless society certainly is on the horizon, and that one- along with the biochips to implement it- certainly was prophesied in the bible. If this doesn't come to pass I still will not regret the preparations I've made.

-- skipper clark (skipper@cncnet.com), July 23, 1998.

I plan to make 12/31/98 a dry run for the next year. I plan to have myself as ready as possible by 12/31/98. I currently live in the city and have a secondary remote(somewhat) location I will bug-out to. So, the plan is to be ready to bug myself and family out. This will involve all the necessary packing and such. I think this will give me a very good idea of what I have forgot and what just will not work.

I also plan to do this on 09/09/1998 and 09/09/1999.

Then again I do this twice a year anyhow. Summer vacation in the hills and winter hunting season in the hills. And I do mean in the hills. As far back as the 4x4's will get us.

Practice makes perfect.

j

-- j (yada@yada.com), July 23, 1998.

We prepared for chaos by moving to Southern Idaho and like it very much. See where we live- http://www.magiclink.com/web/infopro for homesites with view in the Snake River Valley in Southern Idaho. Lots are big enough for gardening and fruit trees.

-- John Smith (winners@magiclink.com), July 23, 1998.

My wife and I will be doing our bits as "First Night" volunteers. Hopefully we'll be watching the fireworks over the Suagatuck River at midnight. If the power dies right at the stroke of the millennium, I'll probably be in an intersection with a flashlight, directing traffic. Two things I'm not doing - I'm not going to be in Times Square and I'm not running away to hide. I'm sticking by my community to help out if necessary.

-- Ed Perrault (EdPerrault@Compuserve.com), July 23, 1998.

Amen to that Ed! I'm within shouting distance of several elderly folks who will probably need our help. This running for the hills is bull! There is safety in numbers, especially with ammo!

-- Dave (dave22@concentric.net), July 23, 1998.

Lots of preparation leading up to it - we've purchased land and a basic year's supply of food in the last month. We will continue to use our current home as a "staging area" and then move all of our supplies, portable shelter, etc. to a secure storage area nearer to our land (it's very remote next spring. This fall we will get the well and septic in on the property and finish the rest of the preparations. Next summer (both of us are computer consultants) one of us will take a contract closer to the property and make final arrangements there. New Year's Eve, we will be sitting in our yurt drinking champagne that night - hopefully surrounded by loved ones....and wondering at the odd dichotomy of bringing in the Year 2000 while living in a manner more reminiscent of New Years Eve, 1000...

-- Chana Campos (chana@campos.org), July 23, 1998.

Excellent subject. We cancelled our trip after we became Y2K "aware." We are stuck in an apartment right now but in 3 months we are looking for a long term lease in the country, about 70 miles from the major city we are close to now. We have plenty of supplies (4 mos food now, water and purification kits for over 1000 litres, and several thousand rounds of ammo) so hunkering down will not be a problem. We just want to get settled in immediately so we can begin a crop rotation system just in case it's TEOTWAWKI... Honestly, we'll be home that night. It's always amateur night anyways. And if Der Fureher is still Prez, I'll be paying attention with my finger on the safety...

-- John Galt (jgaltfla@hotmail.com), July 23, 1998.

With my brand new twin babies [then 9 months old]I will have the satisfaction of looking over to my wife and saying: "Let's see what happens from here." Our home in the southern Colorado Rockies is powered by twenty-four Photovoltaic panels channeled into 16 ultra batteries, plus a windmill turning screws into the night for extra energy when the Sun goes down. The Sun also provides all domestic hot water to the home, so diapers will be regularly cleaned.

I am ready & looking forward to it.

koivulaw@mci2000.com

-- John K. (koivulaw@mci2000.com), July 24, 1998.

I'll be in the hills with a glass of expensive champagne. If civilization is going to collapse, I'll see it out in style. If not, well, I'll still enjoy the champagne and come back to work a few weeks later.

-- Mike Gunderloy (MikeG1@mcwtech.com), July 24, 1998.

I will be eagerly anticipating the next couple of days in hopes that all of you will return here with your newest list of anxieties once y2k is exposed for what it is. With it out of the way, I am sure that you can either lament the fact that you are out in the middle of nowhere with a lot of bugs, wildlife and outhouses.....or come aboard here and wait for the giant flying saucer to land and take you to that new home in the sky----you know, where Elvis lives. Hey, there's always SOMETHING to worry about, right?

It is continuous fun to read your North/McIlvaney/Yourdon/conspiratorialist/paranoid/armageddon/y2k glitch inspired ranting and raving...and torpedoing of those with more optimistic viewpoints.

Ramble on.

-- Professor K (PROFESSOR K@prodigy.com), July 25, 1998.

Since it's not my holiday to work (I work at a hospital in a large inner city), I'll be at my home 30 mi. out in the country. I'm planning a New Year's Eve party for my children and their families since my oldest 2 daughters live in the city. I want them out of the city on that night! I will have my woodburning stove heating the house and cooking dinner, too. We will have a year's worth of food and a hand pump for the water. Unfortunately I will be "sick" on Jan. 1 and 2, since I will not drive into the inner city for work that weekend!! I'm not sure if I ever want to go back there to work again after y2k - too many poor, hungry, angry people around there, even now. Guess I'll be looking for a new job out here in the country come Jan. 3!!

-- Mary (Beachyfe@hotmail.com), July 25, 1998.

Professor K's E-mail is false....I guess he really isn't a professor either, other than a professor of drivel. By the way people, I have discontinued my e-mail address of bardou@yahoo.com. This is because many have e-mailed me and have given false e-mails so I cannot answer. So, for now on, just give a false name and a false e-mail address.....works for everyone else.

-- Barb-Douglas (....@....com), July 26, 1998.

HOW CAN ANYONE BE LOOKING FORWARD THIS? AND HOW CAN ANYONE BE TALKING ABOUT SIPPING CHAMPAGNE WHILE ONE OF THE WORST EVNETS IN HISTORY TAKES PLACE? HERE IS A QUESTION. WHERE DO YOU THINK AMERICA WOULD BE IF EVERYONE RAN FOR THE HILLS WHEN PAUL REVERE SAID "THE RED COATS ARE COMING". I SAY IF YOU WANT TO RUN FOR THE HILLS, KEEP GOING UNTIL YOU GET TO TORONTO (NO OFFENSE TO CANADIANS) BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT WANTED HERE IN AMERICA! WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FROM ANYWAY? ARE TERRORIST GOING TO JUST START FALLING FROM THE SKY THAT JANUARY 1ST? NO DOUBT OUR SITUATION IS VERY BAD. BUT BAD ENOUGH TO TURN YOUR BACKS ON AMERICA? WELL HERE IS A TIP FOR YOU NONBELIEVERS. ALTHOUGH THE AFFECTS OF THE Y2K WILL BE DEVASTATING IN THE BEGINNING,IN THE END AMERICA WILL PREVAIL AND IT WILL BE NO THANKS TO THE HILL BILLIES. I MAYBE NO SCHOLAR AND I DONT HAVE A PHD, BUT I KNOW WHO I AM AND WHERE I COME FROM. MAYBE YOU PEOPLE SHOULD STOP AND REMEMBER THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY THE GREAT NATION IT IS. I DONT THINK THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WOULD HAVE MADE THE SAME DISICION IF THEY KNEW THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS DOWN THE ROAD PEOPLE WOULD BE SO WILLING TO GIVE UP WHAT THEY FOUGHT SO HARD FOR. HELP AMERICA DONT FIGHT IT.

-- duane peterson (danddp@ite.net), July 26, 1998.

DUANE, HEY DUANE, RELAX!

Take a deeep breath, that's it, in and out. Not too fast, now, I can't give you a paper bag over the net. Good, feel better? Now, listen, Duane.

The people who advocate relocation and preparation are not traitors, Duane. They love their country and fellow Americans immensely. It is simply a fact that if terrible times descend upon us, one must survive the initial panic and chaos as the first order of business.

Y2K isn't Omaha Beach, Duane. We can't help each other by all staying huddled in the cities hoping the lights stay on and the toilets still flush. If you had known the Federal building in Oklahoma City was going to blow up, would you have stayed inside? If you didn't believe it, would you have gotten angry that others suggested leaving? Who would have dug out the survivors if all were trapped?

You said the results of Y2K will be devastating in the beginning but "America" will prevail no thanks to those who leave the cities and prepare. You are sadly deluded, old chum. The people that prepare ARE THE ONES THAT WILL PUT THIS COUNTRY BACK TOGETHER, YOU @#$% ( I promised my wife I would be nicer, I don't know...)

Remember, the brave men and women that have died for this country, DIDN'T DO IT FOR THE GOVERNMENT. They did it for their families because they recognized a great threat. We are preparing in the same spirit, kid.

Paloma O'Reilly and the Cassandra Project advocate preparation in community. Others see greater opportunity away from large urban centers, either way, if this event triggers a sea change in our society, it will be the ones preparing now that make the difference. Focus your obvious passions and join us! Remember, remediation and preparation are the only two viable options to all who want to play.

Valium is good when you get these spells...

Will

-- Will Huett (willhuett@usa.net), July 26, 1998.

The Nutty Perfessor said >...and torpedoing of those with more optimistic viewpoints.

Ramble on. <

Dear Mr. Potassium,

Have you ever read the Grasshopper and the Ant? Tell me, are you one of the big, slow, fat green ones, or the little, fast, brown ones with the extra long back legs that make that loud pop when you step on them?

Either way, you'll wind up on the windshield.

-- Will Huett (Willhuett@usa.net), July 26, 1998.

first i would like to apologize for using the term hill billy. part of what makes this country great is being able to make up ones own mind. i realize that i overreacted, but how should i react? i just cant believe that there are people out there that truly want this to happen. how should i react when i read about programmers giving up and and going into hiding in the woods. there is nothing wrong with being prepared, but being prepared and running away are two different things. i have done alot of reading on this subject. i by no means consider myself an expert. it just seems that the biggest y2k problem is not with nukes or utilities, but with this little camping trip you all are planning. read around alittle more maybe you will see what i see. if not write me and call me names. again to all those that were offended by my previous statement please accept my apologies. please do not take me for a heckler. i am aware of the problem that lies ahead, and i realize the problem isnt just going to go away.

-- duane peterson (danddp@ite.net), July 26, 1998.

Duane,

No one, absolutely no one, wants this to happen. OK, there are probably some way to one side on a bell curve that are gleeful at the prospect, but they don't count anyway. Just because a few people are choosing to relocate outside of urban America doesn't mean they are deserting. We are still here. Rural America counts, Duane. They need programmers too. You ask how should you react when you hear of programmers leaving. Well, perhaps you should consider the possibility that they have concluded that it can't be fixed. What is left after that conclusion is to survive and rebuild. You cannot call them cowards for that, Duane. They have the right to choose.

If you know something for a fact, you are not obligated to ignore that reality because others don't appreciate hearing it and don't want to face the conclusion you have come to.

As I have posted here previously, if it is a small problem, the programmers that are leaving don't matter, so don't get upset. If it is a big problem, maybe you should consider following their lead.

The systems are broken and they can't all be fixed in time. We will be forced to pick up the pieces. Don't panic. None of us can control what is going to happen in our world. Have faith and prepare for you and yours.

Will

-- Will Huett (willhuett@usa.net), July 26, 1998.

And now that everyone has leapt to the wrong conclusions, let me just point out that I spend NY eve in the hills with a glass of champagne EVERY year that I can. I just happen to LIKE the hills and champagne.

-- Mike Gunderloy (MikeG1@mcwtech.com), July 26, 1998.

"The Hills" as Duane calls them are just as much a part of America as NYC. We are not leaving our country, just the urban assault centers. We can help our cities by not becoming part of the problem and taxing the infastructure of the cities with our consuming of valuable resources. Maybe in the country we can grow some resources that later we can take to those in need, or go back and help out, but I'm concerned about the CHILDREN who can't fend for themselves in the city if rioting and looting occur and their daddy gets shot because someone was mad that the grocery store lines were too long. There are problems in the country too, but the odds are better. Especially if you grew up there. I say people are just going back to their ROOTS. Paul Revere didn't live in a metropolis with uzi toting 13 year olds, after all.

-- BillyJoBob (BillyJoBob@boondock.com), July 27, 1998.

In defence of Duane, I must admit that I sometimes do get a bit of a "looking forward to it" attitude. I'm well prepared for a scenario of y2k shortages and brownouts, and I've got a contingency plan for total infrastructure collapse. I have a wind generator, organic garden (with non-hybrid seeds), rural location, fresh water, etc. But I realize that in our preparations, we all show our naivete, and even those who are y2k intelligent are preparing with very shallow plans.

If you think that y2k will just be an inconvenience, then buy stocks of companies that will profit from it. If you think well be without power for a week, then buy candles and blankets. But if you foresee the collapse of societal systems that undergird our civilization, then for Heavens sake, do your homework.

Read and learn how people survived in Berlin during the last days of WW2. Or how the Mennonite communities exist without electricity or petroleum. But most of all, realize that a societal disaster will be very different nowadays, than the Great Depression of the 30's. We are now an urban society, and three days after the backup generators quit, the cities will become horrific places. People will not have food; they will not have water; they will not have police or medical care, or emergency rations. What they will have is guns and hungry children. What would YOU be capable of, before you watched your children die of starvation?

My point is just this, you cannot buy enough granola. You cannot buy enough guns and ammo. You cannot buy a quiet enough generator, or do anything else that will protect you from a refugee population form a major city. You simply must be isolated or invisible. A friend has a small farm with a pond within walking distance of a town of 50,000. He is buying AR 15's and cases of ammo. I just had to ask how many starving children can you shoot out of your corn patch before the emotional strain tells you to put the muzzle in your own mouth?

Only you can decide how much of the y2k story to believe. Only you can decide how it will affect you or haw you should of should not prepare for it. I honestly do not know if our society will melt down. But, I honestly dont know that it wont. Its a gamble I did not ask for, and I realize the stakes may be the lives of my family. Dont die for our country, survive for it.

-- Lon Franck (lgal@exp.net), July 29, 1998.

Finally I can say that things are moving here. We've got a 2 weeks supply of food ( started yesterday) and 1 month of rice. I'll be all riced out! Walmart had a sale on toothpaste 0.60$ so we bought 6 and some grooming stuff. We have no land yet but we are praying to find something soon. I'm looking into renting or rent to own land but I need more info. I don't want to be kicked off. I wasn't able to buy seeds because it's over now. I'm also dehydrating foods. Oh yeah and trying to convince my family of what there gonna do if it's not fixed by 2000. tk

-- tk (emily@cyberbeach.net), August 02, 1998.