I want to stay home and use the money for preperation. My family wants to go on vacation. I need of vote on shall we go and spend money or shall we stay and prep.

-- Missy2k (timeisup@Webtv.net), May 21, 1999

Answers

My Missy and I we are going to Europe for 4 weeks this late summer. Hey do it while ya can ya may be not able to do it for a long time. All preparing and no fun is boooooring :-)

-- Rickjohn (rickjohn1@yahoo.com), May 21, 1999.

Missy-VACATION! All work and no play makes Missy a dull girl (and burned out) Linda

-- newbiebutnodummy (Linda@home.com), May 21, 1999.

One week in the Outer Banks per usual for me.

-- Buddy (.@...), May 21, 1999.

My cousin asked me in January to go with her to China in June, but I wasn't interested. I asked her to go with me to England with me, but she wasn't interested. Now her trip to China is on hold, and I'm going to work on my wild flower garden, vegetable garden and maybe take a trip to one of the state parks that has identification wildflower gardens.

Missy, maybe you can compromise by working in a short vacation or weekend jaunts, and do the preps too.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), May 21, 1999.

Vacation! New word for me. What does it mean?

Z1X4Y7

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), May 21, 1999.

Greetings Missy2k,

As the rest of my family packs up and heads down to Jekyll Island for our annual get-together in June, I've elected to stay here at my parents home and guard the stash. Several reasons have prompted me to do this. I'll save over $1500 by not going as well as getting alot of overtime at work while everyone else takes off. To me, the money can be utilized better on down the road. It does sadden me to miss the family togetherness this year, but I have to prioritize. I'm the only member of the family that's gonna be close to mom and dad come the rollover and I still got projects to complete! Been putting in some 60 and 72 hr. weeks here lately, doesn't leave room to take it easy. However, in July we shut down for a week, my son is flying to Washington state for the summer, to spend with his mom, thought I might pack up my camping gear and fishing rod, take off up in the mountains here in north Ga.

In closing, to each his/her own, everyone has diffferent priorities in their lives. Take care and God bless.

-- SEMPER FI (etl@stc.net), May 21, 1999.

I'll try to get to the mainland to visit family for 5-9 days early in September. If nothing else, I'll try to pick up anything I can't get here (in Hawaii) easily. Other trips this year will probably only be within the Hawaiian Islands. Otherwise, just local stuff...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), May 21, 1999.

already used my vacation up househunting in the midwest...or does that count?

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), May 21, 1999.

We're still doing our usual two week jaunt to New England. Need to get some R&R in or else we'll burn out.

-- libby alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), May 21, 1999.

I'm going to the Bahamas in June for a week and a half. (wife doesn't even know what Y2K means) well, nearly... The way I see it...if it's real bad..which it probably will be...a vacation will help....something nice to remember. Besides..if the infrastructure really discombobulates...none of us are guaranteed safety and security...

-- rick shade (Rickoshade@aol.com), May 21, 1999.

The wonderful wacky wierd warm wild and welcoming Key West will have to carry on without the Deedah's this year. Mrs. D started a new job, no vacation time for her til next year. (Rats!) Oh well, it will be there after Y2K, assuming we avoid thermonuclear warfare.

Besides, it's losing it's charming funky edge, hardly any bums sleep in the alleys anymore, and they are even frowning on public nudity during Fantasy Fest!

Poop.

-- Unc D (unkeed@yahoo.com), May 22, 1999.

Mrs Driver and I are planning our usual weekends of Auto Racing, and a couple at the Lake. Not vacationing this year might be the LARGEST mistake available. Particularly if you have kids (that don't meow and use a litter pan LOL). TRY to maintain as normal a routine as possible. The WARM MEMORIES are worth EVERY CENT and every bag of beans NOT bought.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), May 22, 1999.

I had hoped to celebrate Jubilee at the Vatican, get in some pilgrim activities, stay at the Hotel Columbus, do some antique-ing, and hunt some bargains at the flea market (I love the Roman fea market!); this had been my plan since last fall. Obviously, these plans were quickly cancelled in the light of potential Y2K problems-- even before Yardeni made indications that Italy was going to get hit hard by Y2K problems. Anyway, the money was spent on our Y2K preparations (living smarter).

If Y2K takes a hard turn for the worse, I'll regret that I never lived outside the country-- something I had wanted to do, but never had a reasonable opportunity to make happen. I would have liked to live in Rome for a year or two as well as Paris. In fact, we nearly opened up G.I.Global in Paris a few years back. Almost made a deposit on rent in a very charming neighborhood. I had also entertained the possibility of going to Japan on the JET program and to Africa through Tuskeegee.

I think of all the places that I might have visited and it saddens me that that opportunity may not return (or return for many years). On the other hand, I guess that I am somewhat fortunate to have done a little traveling. I've been to Rome (half a dozen times) and several other European cities (when I was young enough to have adventures and sleep on the benches in train stations). I've seen Jerusalem and washed in the Jordan. I have also paid $50 for coffee-toast in Kyoto.

In my high school years, I made road trips to Montreal and beyond. As an undergraduate, I spent a lot of nights in Tijuana (Revolution Avenue, grin) and Ensenada. I'm glad that I got a chance to see some of this country: I have driven from coast to coast half a dozen times. Didn't get too spend enough time in the South, but did wonder a few times about what it would be like to live in Charleston. But I will regret not stopping in the Midwest every time that I drove through.

If Y2K is just a bump in the road, here and elsewhere, I will be sure not to pass on the opportunities to travel more and live abroad as I have in recent years. One can get stuck in routines and dig deeper and deeper ruts... out of which, any escape becomes ever more difficult. While it's not necessary to travel to live a good and satisfying life, travel and living abroad help to open up the windows of the soul, the gaze of the intellect, and seemingly forgotten chambers of the heart.

I had a cousin (several steps removed) who delayed too long to travel and see the world. I remember very clearly of him telling me of all the places he'd like to see... six months before he would pass away from an untreatable blood clot. It left a strong impression on me at the time. But I'd filed it away for some time, but am re-experiencing now the want to seize the day (carpe diem!) and get out of the rat race that promises much, but hardly ever delivers on those promises.

Perhaps, the affordability and opportunity for travel will open up to us all... if those far off places suffer greatly and can use a couple more Americans (here and there) to help the rebuilding happen faster. Who knows what the future holds, today! It seems that the challenge that we face, remains. That challenge is to hope (whereever you are), despite the overwhelming fears that gives each of us every reason to despair. Yet, the challenge is a familar; one encountered every day.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), May 22, 1999.

Part of my Y2K philosophy is "Eat, drink, and be merry..." That means squeezing in as many vacations as possible. We just got back from Egypt, I plan to visit Los Angeles in July (in the midst of the Nostrdamus prediction of fire from the sky), and Alaska in November. It may be the last trips we get to take for a very long while.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), May 22, 1999.

Here is an idea for those who might feel uneasy taking a vacation but have family who want one. Why not try a roughing it vacation, camping, backpacking etc. You could gain some real valuable skills and maybe even buy some gear that will come in handy!!!!

As for us, we are moving to our new homestead in the Ozarks. Looking forward to some hard work and quality time with my kids. Sheep

-- sheep (sheep@followme.com), May 22, 1999.

Oh my, Stan. Rome is (almost) the last place I'd be on New Years Evil this year. I love Rome but it's gonna be toast.

I'm using my vacations days here and there to work on the homestead. We've had our time to travel; now it's time to hunker down and wait for the storm to pass.

-- David Palm (djpalm64@yahoo.com), May 22, 1999.

Camping. EXCELLENT choice. Good training and it will make the whole family more comfortable with knowing that they can do without "this or that" when Y2K comes; especially kids. You can always point out that you're living like you're camping in your home for awhile. They'll be able to grasp the concept better.

Short weekend vacations spread out every 2 or 3 weeks all summer and early fall seems to be the best for the soul. It gives you a little something to look forward to as time passes instead of being one big trip, and bam, it's over with and nothing else left to do but work.

Make the whole summer a bunch of "little" vacations.

-- Mr.Kennedy (MrK@home.today), May 22, 1999.

Ahh, I'm on vacation and didn't even know it. Should have known by the amount of mosquito bites! The septic system is in and usable even if we're still hauling water to flush it. The pleasure of indoor plumbling (of sorts) should never go unappreciated ! Somehow, making like a bear in the woods hasn't quite the charm it had 20 years ago.

Onward to the garden, electricity, and both electric and hand water pumps. Somehow everything takes longer and costs more than you planned on. May have the phone in and be back on-line by July.Greetings to all from Indiana!

-- Sue (deco100@aol.com), May 22, 1999.

Missy- take a vacation! If you make it relatively cheap (camping, etc) you can have your cake and eat it too.

-- anita (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), May 22, 1999.

Right on Chuck and others V A C A T I O N......my bro in law just bought new condo on Gulf of Mexico, cant go till October, kids will then be in school,,,,YESSSSSSS just hubby and I and the warmth of Florida........Cant wait, and we all DESERVE the break....To the one going to Bahama's, You go Guy, what a FUN place, and Laid back.....Went a few years back to PI Funclub, via apple tours, 4 days 3 nights = $500.00 for ALL, food flight, room, it was fantastic.......go and enjoy....

-- consumer (private@aol.com), May 23, 1999.