Warning: This is rather long and rambling about awareness.

Well, I GI as of early Jan. Unfortunately, this was after my husband and I sold our inexpensive house and paid way too much for another one. Now we are stuck with a big mortgage. We live about two miles up the road from a low-income area and about ten miles from downtown. So, what now? We have in-laws in a small town in the midwest with a paid for house. But they are elderly and DGI and won't prepare much although I've sent them the Red Cross info on preparing for a week. I'm probably very typical of the late comer GI in the suburb. Don't think our neighborhood will take Y2K seriously at all. And the news stations are just beginning to address the issue, feebly. So, now what? I'm preparing for a month without water, food or electricity for a family of four. My husband thinks he can leave it all to me and I'll take care of it. I can't get him to read anything even though he listens to what a few of his GI colleagues (who are preparing big time) at work have to say. I feel all alone in my worry. Don't know what to do next. Thank you for this forum, Ed. --Meeko say.

-- meeko (meeeko@hotmail.com), February 08, 1999

Answers

Go to www.y2ksurvive.com and read all the y2k survival information there. It's all free and useful.

-- cody varian (cody@y2ksurvive.com), February 08, 1999.

...and don't forget to give your husband a good swift kick in the rear on Y2K from time-to-time. It sounds like his leaving everything to you is worse than your location.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@anonymous.com), February 08, 1999.

www.mrssurvival.com

among other things, check out the foodstorage FAQs

-- me (justme@aol.com), February 08, 1999.

First of all, try not to be overwhelmed! I feel the same way you do sometimes. But as they say (the experts) the cure for worry is action. Don't think you can or even have to do EVERYTHING. If you buy extra food every grocery trip (make sure you check exp .dates if possible) it will add up to a lot in 3 or 4 months. Also be a little patient with your husband. Gary North said it took him about 2 years to get over the denial stage.

Of course we don't have that long, still its human nature to procrastinate. Mike Hyatt also has masy good articles you can share that will probably use, including one on what to do if your spouse doesn't agree.

Still try to calmly do all you can. This last weekend I got a generator, dutch oven, a product called Stabil to preserve gas for the Generater, brought about $30.00 extra canned and pasta goods, and a few other things and I STILL feel I didn't do enough. SO i guess i"m saying its unlikely many of us will really feel we're "all ready for whatever happens". But don't let that stop you from doing what you can. We all know frustration and anger won't get us anywhere.

If you search for "HYATT"

-- Bob Rohland (narnia4@usa.net), February 08, 1999.

I know how you feel meeko, I am in the suburbs with a DGI husband too. The forums and chats are essential to keep from feeling so alone. And there is plenty of information on the internet so you will be able to learn and prepare.

I would just like to add that my personal hope for us in this situation is that some failures will occur in March and April that are big enough to move the DGI into GI. I also don't think that many people will be moved who do not know much about it. But if you feed him a couple of facts a day in simple sentences such as, oh guess what, I learned this today. And hope that he will put 2 and 2 together when the failures start to hit. We might just open their eyes in time.

I can't see all the people waking up at once. There will be several waves this year. Many simply are unable to leave for health reasons or other reasons and will not leave the city. Many will choose to stay even though they could leave. So let us hope that our families join us soon and once we are working together, many things will be possible that right now seem impossible. You may even be able to sell your house at the last minute.

Good Luck Feel free to email me and we can share notes on our situation. Lora

-- Lora Ereshan (artemis45@hotmail.com), February 08, 1999.

No use crying over spilled milk. Get busy and start gathering enough supplies to survive on. Your husband (mine included), feel overwhelmed by the thought of losing their livelihood, and having to "do something," about it. I have basically done all the food, water and supply gathering. He's been buying the guns and ammo but still doesn't like to think about what it could be like. No matter how much you have prepared, you will always feel like you need to do more. It's hard not to think about it, but do what you can and that's about all you can do. Worry and protect your family first, others come last.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), February 08, 1999.

My husband and I have also decided to stay where we are, downtown in a town of 25K. We are preparing the best we can, but if things get so bad that the only survivors are living on farms and growing their own food, we will die. If all of your friends and relatives are dead, do you want to live in what's left of the miserable world? I don't. (Of course, that's easy to say right now.) There is a limit to how much preparing anyone can do, and I have decided what my limit is. I'm not there yet, but I'm still working on it. Keep visiting this forum for support and camraderie.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), February 08, 1999.

meeko; You seem to have a general idea of what's going on,your doing great! You mentioned that your husband doesn't want to do anything for preperation,and leaving it all up to you. Please inform us as to what his occupation is and then we could apply some thinking to his business or working situation. Or you could go w/ him to get gas next time and have him ask the attendant for a manual hand crank for the gas pumps. If the attendant asks why,have your husband ask,if your power does go out,How will I be able to get to work?? If I can't get gasoline from their pumps? It's something simple to make him see the problem we have,maybe then he will help you get started. Take care, Furie...

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), February 08, 1999.