Thought it might be interesting to find out, so put in your two cents if you want.

I have found that I spend less time than when I first "Got it", and was on an almost full-time quest for Y2K knowledge. For a long time since then, I typically spend most of my Y2K online time here on the forum, and checking out a few sites like CBN, Sangerreview, worldnetdaily, etc. I have found that if something related to Y2K is available, it shows up here quickly in most cases, which cuts down on the surfing.

My M.O. is to pop in and out for a few minutes during the day, and in the late evening sit down to chat, although sometimes I am able to chat a bit during the day too. My Y2K time offline is less than it used to be for preparation, and about the same for raising awareness in my Church and community. I still end up spending some time each week for both. Preparation never ends. Probably most of my Y2K time is still spent on thinking about the subject. I can't turn it off, only push it back, for a while. Anyway, that's it for me. How about you?

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@com.net), April 16, 1999

Answers

I can't turn it off, only push it back, for a while.

Me too, Rob.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), April 16, 1999.

More interested in thinking about > 2000 and what I/we've learned from this than in trying to figure out what will happen (satisfied with the concept, "bad to awful"). Take 20 years of leading-edge IT experience and classics/theology training to wrap together in some new way (hey, Critt, we'll nail this when I'm down in NC) .....

Short-term (next six months), I'm more worried about WWIII (not necessarily nuclear, BTW, tho possible) than about Y2K. But that's because we're already prepared for Y2K. Otherwise, I'd probably be frantic about basic preps.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), April 16, 1999.

I started preparing about Nov 1 last year. It amazes me that I am still working so hard at it after 6 months. But yet there is a lot I worry about that hasn't been done and I try to spend my free time working towards getting my family's life in order in all aspects, and getting as prepared as possible. It seems I keep thinking of things that need to be done that haven't been. I am somewhat in burnout which I find a bit amusing becuase I have read on here about so many other people who have gotten to the burnout position.

So what I specifically am doing right now is getting more dog food and items needed for canning, constructing informal book shelving and canned food shelving in the basement, and planting an orchard on the land out behind our house.

I appreciate all the great information I get on this web site each day.

Sincerely, Apple

-- Apple (villarta@itsnet.com), April 16, 1999.

Wow, Rob, you sound like me. I would only add that I do spend much time now thinking about all the things that we take for granted each day -- like water from the taps. But, more to the point, now more than ever I savor each moment I spend with my family, especially my kids. I'd say that because of Y2K I have developed a fuller appreciation of ever little blessing in my life.

-- Codejockey (codejockey@geek.com), April 16, 1999.

BigDog: TBOTWAWBI II ?

codejockey: LOL. Based on your post, you may find a previous thread worth a look, called "Reflections in the Mirror". Here is the link:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000XZl

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@com.net), April 16, 1999.

Funny you mention that, Rob. I've been thinking of putting together a small paper (10-15 pages) on things along that line and passing around to some of the regulars off-line, at least those who have valid addresses. And I do intend to brainstorm big-time with Critt between April 24-27 (hey, Old Git and Puddintame, any chance you can wing it down to Wilmington for an afternoon or evening)?

I'll actually be there on behalf of my online golf business (yes, life pre-TEOTWAWKI putters forward, pun intended).

Short answer? A second TBOTWAWKI thread might be in order, especially since we have quite a few new participants on forum since then ..... count me in.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), April 16, 1999.

It's about the same for me Rob. I spend a lot of time haere, and I'm still preparing as hard as I was in the beginning of my preps.

-- Crono (Crono@timesend.com), April 16, 1999.

Don't think I'm going to be able to get to Wilmington, BD. We have a new real estate agent, very enthusiastic (about time!) and I daren't risk missing a prospect. Getting about too late to sell. But if you find time to stop for a spot of lunch here, would be happy to at least touch base with you.

My forum schedule is about like yours, but I have more time, especially on rainy days! Once we sell the house/take it off the market, I won't have much time at all. Hope we can sell and find a more Y2K-aware neighborhood.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 16, 1999.

Rob,I was thinking the same thing only this morning...I check in to this Forum in the am,after the boys are in school,and about midnight,to catch up...it has cut my computer search time like you wouldn't believe,everyone here knows so much about so many topics... Plus,I really like the discussions of each post,much more useful than reading an article and judging it by my perspective only...this Forum,and its participants,have brought me to such an awareness of the world...I can't help thinking,where has my mind BEEN for the past 45 years?? Cynthia

-- Cynthia Yanicko (yanicko@infonline.net), April 16, 1999.

One post on another BBS pointed out that us GI's have already transitioned y2k. That is true for me. I rarely find time to take in a movie. It is as if I'm in some sort of wierd sci-fi movie like the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", where a few folks know of the situation, and most blissfully dismiss it. I still have areas of unfinished preps that I agonize over, unsolved problems. I'm almost acting as if rollover had alreadly occurred, leaving behind my old life. I basically opted out of the workplace to spend full time on this. I'm also finishing out a house!

And I simply do not know how to cope with folks like one of my cousins who e-mailed me "I cannot imagine anything that would keep food out of the grocery stores." She was literally speaking the truth, she is unable to imagine.

And I worry about telling even the GI's my fears of a Russian first strike come rollover. And I fear for the folks who will become GI's at that last terrible minute, who will stare at the walls in the dark and cold, wondering when they will be rescued.

-- Les Holladay (holladayl@aol.com), April 16, 1999.

Been working more in my garden these days then surfing the net. Feel like I'm accomplishing more that way. But as luck would have it..rainy today.

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), April 16, 1999.

Les: That was one heck of a post. Practically every line deserves it's own thread to explore. Actually, many of your remarks/concerns have been explored in detail here on this Forum.

It is interesting to think of GIs as having gone through the rollover already, at least from an emotional and psychological standpoint to some extent. " Invasion of the Body Snatchers" indeed! There have been threads in the past that discussed how we GIs seem to be living a different life than most "normal" folks - who don't realize that "normal" may be temporarily suspended. Wish I had a link or two for you.

As far as unfinished preps, note my remark in the original post about preparation never ending - I wasn't kidding - One thing that helps is to realize that you are not alone. Another is that you are preparing and should be more 'ready' than the great majority of unthinking, anesthetized, sleeping others.

You mention leaving behind your 'old life'. I think you would find the "Reflections in the Mirror" thread that I suggested to codejockey above worth a look. That is the whole topic of the thread. Check it out.

Regarding your cousin, this is a common reaction - human nature - it is mind-blowing to accept that our comfortable little lives could potentially be over and replaced with we don't even know what - it forces us to think, which in and of itself may be a unique and uncomfortable experience for some - it forces us to prepare, and do things we never contemplated before - it is hard work - it is out of the box - for these and other reasons it is hard to imagine - people do not want to hear anything that contradicts their convictions and beliefs - All of this combines to make it darn near impossible for so many people to get over the Y2K wall of emotional denial. People want to be entertained, not sit there and contemplate TEOTWAWKI. So the first step to coping with this is to understand what I have just wrote - the 'why' behind the reaction. Then, accept it, and keep trying, gently, and they will come around hopefully.

As for 'that last terrible minute' - yeah, this is something that I can't get out of my head either - picturing people in absolute shock at what has happened, and waiting for help not realizing we have potentially entered upon a most unusual time - a time of taking responsibility for ourselves and helping each other. What a concept, huh? What a change for so many, to enter a period of consequences, perhaps suddenly, perhaps irrevocably.

Sorry for rambling on but your post really got to me and I felt it deserved this kind of response, even if nobody agrees with a word of it.

Cynthia: I can relate to your statement about "where has my mind BEEN for the past 45 years??", and know that this is true for so many, regardless of what the year count actually is.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@com.net), April 16, 1999.

I didnt "GI" until February...since that time I've read everything I could, watched and learned from this forum and Hyatt forum--which is more practical for action steps...just about done now with the major actions;generator,gold,guns,investment protection,alternate heating, communication devices,food,first aid,other supplies etc.

Now I'm winding down and spending less time reading or action taking and kind of waiting for the "big bang theory" I guess...hoping it doesnt come...to which I wont regret as I've learned much about my own philosophy on govt, corporations, banks, etc---from that day in feb. and on I am embarking on a life quest of being prepared for whatever may come down the pike and not taking as gospel any longer what those forementioned institutions tell me is so...

thanks for asking...great forum, but gets a little esoteric for my tastes at times, but than again its been nice to balance the Hyatt approach (a bit too practical and religous like) with those at times esoteric and wild Diedrick like postings found here once in a while

-- billyboy (billyboy@nowhere.com), April 16, 1999.

Great thread, Rob. I can relate to all that has been said. We bought our "country retreat" about 14 mos ago and spent a very frantic year preparing. Still have a "city place" and jobs, so time is of the essence with us. I have noticed that I am less frantic and more busy in the past several mos. We are in the "y2k mode" at the retreat and spend the weekends there working. It's lots of work - the physical, I'm exhausted at the end of the day, kind! I spend less time on the net, but check this and CBN regularly. Too busy to post much. All I can say is I'm thankful I had the time to get psychologically and physically ready for this...er....IF I'm ready. Who knows????

I'd like to thank all the regulars here. Don't know if I'd be where I am without you guys. I am real glad to see zog back!

-- ben (benalurker@usa.net), April 17, 1999.

Cynthia,

As I recall, you're married to a doctor. What's his take on all of this?

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), April 17, 1999.

To FM: Whats Dans take on this whole y2k thing? Confused/and or complacent till last night,actually,funny you should ask me that today! My whole family has considered me nuts for the past several weeks,they are gradually starting to listen,or at least,read the stuff I push under their noses... Dan is one of those extremely dedicated,24 hour on call guys,and literally never has time to do much else,frankly..he's been asking questions,and listening basically...he asked me to pull up everything I could find from this Forum,concerning embedded chips,mainframes,computer languages,all that,so I did...after actually sitting down and reading thru it all,he has a few conclusions..remember he's basically a scientist,and wants proof for everything,but he still realizes the chances are always there for variables and complete unknowns: He realizes the enormous scope of this problem...and that while SOME of it may be corrected and enable the system to work properly,there is simply not enough time to fix everything. Each expert has his own,very convincing arguments/reasons for WHY things will not work,or on the other hand why they WILL work,and bottom line has to be,NObody knows what the hell is going to work or not,so... as in his surgery,you prepare for as many problems as you can..if your patient is older,but is in relatively good health,you get tests done and consult medical people anyway before anesthesia,just to make sure something isn't missed...you get blood ready if its a lengthy procedure,just in case you need it,so yu're not scrambling around trying to find the lab for a STAT match...you try to cover as many things as you can,all the while realizing you may (1)never need any of the backup you provided 2)may need some of it(3)may need all of it,and then maybe something more. He's a very logical person,and in light of the fact that so MANY experts are just as confused as the rest of us on this issue,he says the only sensible thing to do is prepare...he doesn't bother with levels(is he a 5? 7? 9?),he's getting basic things done first,like you would in any emergency room triage effort... Water-Food-Heat/Shelter-Medical supplies--anything else you feel you need for your family to get thru this as best you can,obviously different people have different needs. He has learned how interconnected we are globally,how much we actually import in this country,to sustain our very comfortable lifestyle...we both think that while shortages of goods and services will hurt some businesses and people,and yes,even cause death,from lack of aid or supplies,that a major part of this change will not just be physical,but psychological... This generation in particular is so used to instant gratification,on so many levels(we're guilty,too),where you never,ever,have need to think of alternative solutions. The problem for a lot of people may not be in accepting there simply is no more food on the shelves,therefore,I could be hungry and better find some way to eat....it could be,theres no food on the shelves,how could this be possible,and when is someone going to fix this for me? We're preparing,as fast as we can,being as time is NOT on our side,and there is so much still to do... After having viewed all possibilities,it's the only sensible thing to do...Cynthia

-- Cynthia Yanicko (yanicko@infonline.net), April 17, 1999.

Cynthia: Your response to FM reminded me of how people, regardless of what they do for a living, share so many similarities with respect to their overall Y2K understanding, concrens, and preparation activities. I was recently told a story by a friend who works for a large company as an IT consultant. He said that most of the programmers in his group are Don't Get Its, and was amazed that when a building maintenance person stopped by to fix something in his office, they somehow got on the subject of Y2K and this guy was a GI and preparing etc. BTW, this friend is still spending most of his Y2K time in preparation, though he has the basics covered already.

Thanks for a good post, Rob.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@com.net), April 17, 1999.

It's been five months since I Got It (GI). One of my co-workers, a guy w/ wife and three kids, was thinking about having his paycheck direct deposited. I told him he may want to wait until the middle of 2000 to do that, in case computerized banking has problems. He asked me to give him y2k information. I put a packet of intro stuff together. Next day I went into his office and he was sitting there filling out the ap for direct deposit! I am glad I warned him once. But I do not have the energy to debate the matter with him!

I have warned *everyone* I care about at least once. Very little progress. I worry for them. But I barely have enough time, alertness, cash, and energy to do my own preparations. I still forward articles via email occasionally but have had to "detach" from the angst of not knowing what will happen to those who DWGI.

My co-workers say I look worried all the time. If they only knew! It feels as though everyone possibly has a serious illness, (maybe terminal), but I am the only one who knows about it. I don't enjoy shooting the bull as much as I used to. I am less scared for myself, b/c I am prayerfully taking steps to prepare. I am MORE scared for the ones I have warned that won't listen. Ignorance is bliss, but ignorance might come with a steep price tag, too. I am stressed. I am tired. I am cranky. But I am thankful to GI.

-- Wallflower (shy@telling.you), April 17, 1999.