There is always this question, "Am I just buying alot of stuff I will never use if Y2K is on the lite side?" Well I have found a use that I never expected for LED flashlights. I travel some and find my self in Hotels and Motels that are all set up a little different. It is nice to be able to leave some light on to find the bathroom if needed. Some do not provide nitelites.

In many cases the solution is to leave the bathroom light on and close the door a bit. However this is a problem in many establishments that REQUIRE that the Noisy Fan run if the bathroom light is on. No PROBLEM.

Pull the LED flashlight out of the briefcase, set it on the counter pointed at the ceiling. Voila! Instant NiteLite. Works great, lasts 50hours or more. More than enough light to ensure that I can find my way around. Will last longer than any trip I want to go on!

Who said that the investment in Y2K stuff would not have benifits in the REAL WORLD.

Q: What Y2K Prep have you found other uses for!

It is a long road we walk.....

-- helium (heliumavid@yahoo.com), July 31, 1999

Answers

My dogs ate a bottle of my husbands prescription heart medication, and poison control told me to induce vomiting using Hydrogen Peroxide. Except, I didn't have any. Oh, wait,..I did,...it was part of basement y2k medical stuff. The dogs still had to spend the night at the vet, but she swears to me it was the quick purging that saved their lives. I would never have had it on hand if not for prepping.

That besides, we're down there at least once a week grabbing something we need, and replacing it next time we shop. Buying in bulk rules!

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), July 31, 1999.

As a talk radio junkie, I find my Baygen radio a godsend. I stacked five cords of firewood last month, all the while listening to the radio powered by the sun.

We eat from our preps almost every day. No more running to the supermarket (10 miles) for one or two items.

I fire up the Aladdin lamp every so often simply because I love the soft glow it produces. Nothing like reading a good Sci-Fi book by the light of that lamp!

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), July 31, 1999.

agree, kritter, I've only bought what I really like, find myself going down to get Y2K stuff, so convenient, stocked favorite comfort foods, no problem rotating, hahahaha. Bulk buying is great!

-- bulking up (for@winter.storms), July 31, 1999.

I bought a good thermos to try that cook-rice-in-a-thermos trick. Now I fill it with ice water or ice tea and take it with me when I go riding or driving. It saves me time and money not to have to stop at a convienience store for a cold drink. Why didn't I do this long ago?

-- biker (y2kbiker@worldnet.att.net), July 31, 1999.

We had a blackout a few weeks ago, or rather I should say the power company had a blackout. We didn't even know about it for about 10 minutes, because our backup power system took over without a flicker of the lights. The only way my wife could even tell there was a problem is that her electric dryer wouldn't start (it's not on the backup system). The outage lasted 2 hours and 15 minutes, and we plugged in some more of those little green flat nightlights to reduce power consumption while on batteries, but that was about it.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), July 31, 1999.

If y2k doesn't hit, my husband and I will be in the best financial position we have ever been in years. For the past year we have been very focused about money and preparations. Bills are being paid off, food is in the house, extra clothes and shoes have been bought and needed doctor visits have been done. If y2k doesn't hit come January, I guess we will sit back and toast to our new found security with some of the Juice from the pantry, listening to our solar radio while cooking with our propane stove. Who Cares if some of the things bought won't be used, the over all preparation has greatly benefited us. I have seen the light and will continue to live my life this way.

-- Mabel Dodge (cynical@me.net), August 01, 1999.

Agreed. Having preparations makes life easier...I don't have to drive 20 minutes into town to buy items (especially on Sunday)...because I have them in storage. We have the ability to immediately help needy friends on a one-to-one basis. No worry about fresh fruit next year...papaya and banana will start bearing by then. We have a couple of new hobbies (soap making, lure making, ham radio, etc.). We save money by buying in bulk when items are on sale. No loss that I can see!

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), August 01, 1999.