I am at the point of saying okay, enough is enough. I have more food in my home than I have ever had. I have water jugs, medicine, canning supplies, seeds, tools, fuel, books, paper, pencils, games, clothes, shoes, linens , a well built house, communication equipment. I have been thinking about how the people who traveled west in wagon trains. They had less than I do and they made it. A supply chain was available to them from the east. I think that may be a 4 or 5 on the y2k scale. The pilgrams had less than that to live on. No supply chain and nothing but the bare basics. I think that will be like a 8 or 9 on the y2k scale. Even if I don't survive the mess, my children will have the essentials for survival if they have the will and determination. The families that are not prepared for at least a wagon train move will not survive.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), September 24, 1999

Answers

If I remember my history correctly, the original "pilgrims" (Plymouth Rock et al) very nearly died their first year in the new world. Had it not been for the "external supply lines" (and generosity) of the natives, they certainly WOULD have perished.

Something to think about.

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), September 24, 1999.

nice analogy, carol.

i think all of the provisions of the pilgrims and the wagon trains come under the headings of knowledge, tools and food, and the food broke down further to livestock and seeds. if you have enough of the right kinds of these items, you're ready.

the trick is knowing what kinds and how much, but for that info see the thousands of lists elsewhere on the net.

-- Cowardly Lion (cl0001@hotmail.com), September 24, 1999.

I think life expectancy back then was 38years.

How old are all of us??

-- D.B. (dciinc@aol.com), September 24, 1999.

As old as our tongues & a little older than our teeth !!

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), September 24, 1999.

As to the Pilgrims they were saved not only by learning and sharing with the native people but a resupply ship that came the following year. They also had enough land and the ability to communally farm and store food not to mention faith in God.

As to the emigrants they too had supply lines on the other side. Many stayed with family on arrival and again land to make it work. For the record, many survived the first winter on nothing more than boiled wheat- unpleasant in the extreme.

As a specialist in living history living in this fashion you might survive but only for a season and even then there will be high mortality. Faith was always a crucial factor in surviving although skills, tools, family and land were also very important.

What seemed to matter most to them were the precious little bits of beauty they were able to preserve (flowers, heirlooms etc) that connected them with the past and gave them hope for the future)

From How The Irish Saved Civilization "They change their sky but not their soul, they that cross the sea."

EC

-- EC (JHnck1776@aol.com), September 24, 1999.

Actually, it would be a huge mistake to compare yourselves to the Pilgrims. They were narrow minded, blundering fools who were completely out of their environment.....similar to 95% of our general public forced to face a level 8 Y2K.

We have preferred to look to the Indians they encountered, that saved their ragged white butts. The Indians had the ability to live in harmony with *their* surroundings, unlike our original 'Founding Flubbers', and they weren't as dependent upon a 'supply chain'.

(until they were introduced to alcohol so that the White men could begin studying for their realator's exam.) :)

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), September 24, 1999.