What Preparations do you have remaining...or are you done?

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Sometimes it helps to put where we are in our preps to help us focus. Sometimes we feel alone in preparing. Take a moment and share where you are with ca. 80 days to go. I'll jump first:

If I had to rate my preps 1-10, I would say I am about an 8. I have plenty for us until the summer, that is, food, water, and heat.

I still need a lot more canned goods. I am waiting for the candy sale after halloween to buy a lot of chocolate and candy for the children in y2k. I need more Bibles and Songbooks.

I also want to look into getting a trailer and filling it with grains etc. to help others. That would really make me feel good to do that.

I am also working on a closer walk with God. I am walking in a lot more peace and less anxiety about the future than ever.

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), October 10, 1999

Answers

The last time this question went around I said I was finished!! Yesterday I spent over $500 between Sams Club and Wally World. I think I have become an obsessive buyer!! But I had been waiting for a couple of things to come on sale at WalMart and yesterday they did. So 4 cases of that item. But I keep saying I am not buying one more roll of TP or one more can of veggies or fruit. I am still awaiting some sign that the "last minute to shop safely" is upon us. At that time I will buy lots of mayonaise and butter and some meat. We will be able to keep our freezer up and running and that really helps. I am getting to the point that I am starting to worry "what if y2k doesn't stop JIT and I don't need all of this food??? Oh well, I only have bought those things that we eat anyway and you know the price isn't going to go down. But sure would be nice to have the guest bedroom back. There is a path to the bed through the stacked up buckets, cases, etc. I have thought of taking the bed down, but someone may need it.

My biggest concern is our safety. Chubby Hubby will probably be working no matter how serious it gets, and that leaves me on the land by myself. This does concern me. We are trying to talk friends from Alaska into coming back here for the roll over. They have gone to Az for the winter. If they don't come back, I may snatch some couple off the street and put them into our travel trailer out back. If it gets bad, there will be some decent people come along, some that I am sure we will already know and trust. At this point I just want it to get on with it and lets see what we REALLY have to deal with instead of this nebulous mist that we deal in each day. I am sooooo tired of not knowing for sure. I was sure that we would all know, one way or another, by this time. Now I am beginning to suspect that we will not really know Jan 1, but will have to watch it play out over the year. I 'is' weary of it all!!

Taz

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), October 10, 1999.


Will call propane company Monday to fill 1000 gal tank.

Will buy new battery for tractor and generator both are old.

Pick up 55 gal drum of k1 kerosene.

More canned fruit.

I like the Bibles and Songbooks idea, here's a link to get them at a good price. Li nk to American Bible Society

-- LM (latemarch@usa.net), October 10, 1999.


I'm about done. I concentrated initially on things that would eventually be hard to obtain or things that take a goodly amount of time to assemble. Proper buckets, mylar, O2 absorbers, #10 cans and sealer, ect. My final work is in terms of canned goods, more cooking oil, dried mik and things that are more date sensitive. They are all things, however, that are very available in every store....for now.

-- about done (Iam@aboutdone.com), October 10, 1999.

I never seem to have enough water. I have a great filter, but there are not that many sources here in AZ. Trying to figure out how to haul with my motorcycle. I have two nice 15 gal containers for transporting. I may try some sort of saddlebag arrangement with them. The motorcycle gets 70-80 miles per gal. My friends well is about 10 miles roundtrip, and there are several small lakes within the same radius.

We have shelter, heat, food, ammo, medical, seeds, etc... for about a year. You can never buy too much toilet paper and don't forget the baby wipes to use between showers.

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), October 10, 1999.


Preparations? How about Preparation H.

-- @@@@.@ (@@@.@@@), October 10, 1999.


@, witch hazel does about the same thing, for exterior problems, anyway, and it's much heaper. You just dab it on the inflamed part(s) with a cotton ball. (It's the major ingredient in Tucks.)

Still need to get wood and a few other things. Intend to be finished by end of October, end of November for frou-frou stuff, late as possible for short-shelf-life items.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 10, 1999.


Putting better insulation in the cold room, pick up squash etc. at local farmers market, another load of wood, cleanup and top dress garden, more canned food, finish storing dried preps, make up last few batches of strawberry, rasberry and grape jam---oh god---I am SICK AND TIRED OF DOING THIS ALONE!!!!!

-- John Q (alwaysmore@neverdone.com), October 10, 1999.

Thanks @ for reminding me..... I need to stock up on my fast actin Tinactin. Any ideas on primitive solutions to jock itch? I mean what did they use in the Greek Olympics?

@ - Just make sure if you follow Old Gits reco to use witch hazel, you don't confuse it with alcohol. LOL

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), October 10, 1999.


We're calling ourselves done. But we are still adding some can goods on every trip to gr store. Got about 300 gal of water and a well bucket that can get 2 gals per pull out of our well, only catch is we will have to yank the pump to use if. Our plan is to replinish the stock when we have power. If we use the 300 gal without any power avilable, the pump will not matter. Got several lake within a mile, so we are not planning on using stashed except for potable use. Got dry food and been canning a bunch from the garden. Enough to get us well into next years growing season. Got to build our greenhouse. Lots of seeds. Got 150 gal tank of K1, just topped of. Fireplace insert w/7-8 cords. Bought small gas range and converted to propane, will likely get another 100lbs or so. No generator or large stash of gas, maybe 40-50 gals for tiller, etc. We got ourselves comfortable from a spiritual perspective very early in the awareness, so the comfort level is high. For the PrepH, investigate what can be done with 'White Oak' bark, a natural alternative. The wife has been into edible and medicinal plants for a couple of years now. We will likely increase the TP stash. Set on hunting ammo, but likely cannot fight a war. Been working with a bow and am stashing arrows. Got chickens and rabbits, neighbors have cattle. We are in the suburbs, but plan to stay put as long as possible, got some destinations in mind if we bug, but you really can't count on them at this point. Planning on our family of 4, all inlaws and possible a few others. My parent kinda GI and have a small stash, wifes parents are neither GI or DGI, no action on their part, but no ridicule either. We quit the 'spreading the word' stuff about 6 months ago and have been trying to become invisible. My work is 30 miles away, so I don't expect that to last when gas prices go up. Cash to cover secured debt for 6-9 months.

It seems lots of people are prepping in an attempt to maintain current lifestyles in terms of comfort and other stuff, we have been 'downsizing' for several years and have prep'd for a new downsized liefstyle. Not knowing is tough, and the patience in waiting is about the hardest part for us. There are times we hope things will not be bad and other times when we wish to see grass growing up through the pavement, guess this is to be considered normal (at least to us anyway).

Some are going to an extreme with gas masks, KI, etc. We believe that these things are beyond what is reasonable for us, for these types of things we will rely on the Big Guy to care for us and instruct us. Everything is part of His plan, and we are not supposed to know (or even try to figure this out). We go a day at the time and plan on continuing keeping this apporach to life. As BB said, we are walking in a lot more peace and less anxiety about the future (and the present) than ever before.......

-- BH (silentvoice@pobox.com), October 10, 1999.


The Greeks didn't have jock itch because they did all their athletics in the nude. (lovely custom)

However, to answer your question, there are many anti-fungal herbs.

Sage, Tea Tree, Golden Seal and Usnea to name a few

-- R (riversoma@aol.com), October 10, 1999.



All the food, water, weapons, etc. will mean nothing if you are not ready in your mind. Deciding that you and yours WILL survive come, Hell or high water (for those of you in NC), is the most important preparation you can make. Beyond physical and mental preparations there is only luck.

-- michael frazier (mfrazier@pacific.net), October 10, 1999.

I cant be finished, Visa-Mastercard-Sears-Homedepot-Cosco-Sams-Shell- Bankoverdraft- and more keep telling me I have not reached my credit limit yet...---...

-- Les (yoyo@tolate.com), October 10, 1999.

At least we can plan for disruption in supplies (and or higher costs) of STUFF you know all the little doo-dads you need to keep thigs repaired and working. Even at a 2-3 what if you can't get the stuff to repair toilets, sinks etc. Sooo- Nove is finishing off 1 years food for all critters and possibly security stuff Dec- window repair stuf; plexiglass, glazers points glazing compound etc. Definitely all kinds of plumbing stuff for toilet and sink.

Stuff to keep wood stove clean and in repair, fencing supplies for critters etc. Nails, screws, 2X4 and misc scrap lumber etc.

We can live circa 1850 or so but would rather not if society mostly holds together.

EC

-- EC (JHnck1776@aol.com), October 10, 1999.


Mmmm nude athletes huh? I never thought of myself as an old fashion girl....but that's one tradition I'd like to see return.

-- Mabel Dodge (cynical@me.net), October 10, 1999.

Need to get more firewood. Living in the desert, we have very few trees to cut down, and the tumbleweeds burn too damn fast. Also more TP, can't have too much of that I guess, and vodka for medicinal and barter purposes. No doctors within 50 miles, so medical supplies are important, need some more of that stuff. Also want to get more vitamins to try and keep immune system strong.

-- Bill (bill@tinfoil.com), October 10, 1999.


Canned fruits and veggies, lime, spade, shovel, sweat pants and shirts, sterno, cat food and litter, extra can openers, bathing suit (yes, I need a new one), baby wipes, incidental pharmaceuiticals, buckets and stuff. Will have about five months worth of food, longer if we have to stretch. By then either we'll have some limited, accessible food or there won't be any population... Big country, small, very small, crowds.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), October 10, 1999.

Air Gun pellets...If you live within 5 miles of a 7-11 you probably have an almost inexhaustible supply of PIGEONS!

Need pigeon recipies!

On a more serious note, Jews believe that at the beginning of the Jewish New Year (5760) that we go on trial for our lives, since only The Holy One can permit us to live 'till the next Rosh Hashanah. NEVER have I felt more resigned to my fate. I just pray that my dear wife and children survive if I don't.



-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), October 10, 1999.


Nearly finished. Still need feed for the critturs. If you are storing in buckets don't forget a BUCKET LID OPENER. I tried to open a couple of my Wal-Mart buckets the other day and couldn't get them open, even with a screwdriver. I got my opener yesterday at Mennards, over by the drywall knives. It works slicker'n snot on a glass doorknob.

-- Sam Mcgee (weissacre@gwtc.net), October 10, 1999.

From today's Raleigh News & Observer, odd coincidence:

Editorial: The divine(r's) witch hazel

Ever walk through the woods on a cool fall day and been stung by a flying bean? Look around for an autumn-flowering shrub bearing lopsided leaves; it can forcibly spit seeds across 10 feet. That's witch hazel, with an irritating way of getting your attention. The culprit, common to the Carolinas, has other values besides a bruising sense of humor. Early Americans discovered that liquid infused from its leaves and bark offers relief from mosquito bites and, being high in tannin, possesses healing and astringent properties. Its merits as an effective antiseptic make it still popular today. Even discounting its notoriety for spitting seeds and its recognized medicinal worth, witch hazel retains an unusual claim to fame. Early in the 18th century a then-obscure Swedish botanist, Carl von Linne, started the scientific world on its present course of classification with his efforts to establish order out of chaos. Today we recognize Linnaeus, as he's known, as the father of modern taxonomy. Having heard folk tales of water- and mineral-locating specialists, Linne began calling upon those professing divining skills to prove their proficiency. He buried a bag of gold beside a bush, and then challenged the diviners to prove themselves. A mad rush ensued, with scores of diviners scouring the area, tearing up the landscape without success. But the bush he had used for locating the bag of coin was also gone! As the story goes, while Linne was philosophizing on the failures and mourning the loss of coin, an old man approached, insisting that he could, using a fork of Hamamelis virginiana -- witch hazel -- find the treasure easily. To the doubting scientist's surprise, the old man circled the field, homing in on the buried gold. Linne remained skeptical -- but he was forced to admit that there might be something worth knowing about witch hazel.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 10, 1999.


hmmmm- am swapping our small propane tanks for a large one, so need to dig the trench for the new one. Need to stack/split and cover our cordwood. Still need stuff like yeast, flour, milk for when goats are dry, animal grain, pet food and chocolate...(never enough chocolate). Can always use more food- canned stuff, pasta, etc- buy when the price is right and I have the $$. Still shopping for another gun and more ammo- always handy up here...

will never be ready in actuality-

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), October 10, 1999.


We have taken care of all the basic food, water, shelter, heat and protection issues. We've been target shooting all summer, just in case, and I found I am an good shot with the Rugar mini 14 ranch, and the 38 pistol, despite my MS; I'm a better shot than my husband!! Never underestimate someone with disability; they may shock you with their determination and persistance and the capabilities they have to counter their disability!!

In addition to the Ruger, we have a shotgun and a second pistol as well as walkie talkies. With the help of trustworthy neighbors, we are prepared to do blockwatch in a meaningful way if their is civil unrest.

We're continuing to buy ammunition, cooking oil (olive oil has a better shelf life) and the little extras like candy, spices, crackers, nutrition bars. We're now concentrating on our bug out bags which we've discovered is difficult emotionally. The thought of having to leave our little house is difficult. I found 20 oz. water filter bottles that last some 700 fill ups at Fred Meyer. Good addition to our bug out bags.

I'm still stockpiling the 23 medications I currently take. I've cut back my medications last fall, got extra prescriptions,and have enough now to make almost a year. Of course that is enough for my MS now. It changes every 6 months. But, that is something over which I have no control and can not predict how to prepare for. I am spiritually prepared for the fact I may not survive long.

We've also been focusing on what we could hand to the neighbor that might come knocking. We have canned evaporated milk and candy for those with kids, a box of crackers, a can of tuna, a nutrition bar, a quart container of beans, grains, non-hybrid seeds, etc.

I also believe that it is impossible to have too much TP. Great barter item.

-- Leslie (***@***.net), October 10, 1999.


Everything that I am doing now and until 1/1/2000 is pretty much "icing on the cake". Mainly just work around the property, and buying additional prep items (e.g., TP, ammo, diesel fuel).

82 days.

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.~net), October 10, 1999.

I'm going to purchase this week (I hope) the poor man's generator that has just come out the World Net Daily reported. I rescue animals when I can and have the room and it appears I'm going to enter Y2K with 3 dogs and 10 cats, and I must say being able to plug in the electric can opener for all those cans of critter food into the poor man's generator is mighty tempting.

I need to purchase a new calendar for the year 2000.

I'd like to add four cans of cooked whole chickens to my stash.

I need to download a kitten liquid formula recipe and have that on hand plus any ingredients I don't already have in my stash. ( I suspect I have all the ingredients.)

I need to get the 7 in 1 shot for one of the dogs, and I need to clear the two litters of kittens that were brought to my doorstep of feline leukemia. Anyone who has feline leukemia will sadly have to be put down before Y2K.

I need to make a will. I know it'd be lame but it would at least give family an idea of what trivial item I'd like to give to whom. "And so to my young niece I leave this swell collector doll." "And to my other niece about to enter college I leave my car and my iMac." It won't be the most thrilling "reading of the will" in their lives. When Bob Barker pulls those curtains displaying that big win, on that stage is a 1986 Nissan Sentra with sun worn seats and a cracked dash board covered with bird poop and soot. And it won't be money showering down from the sky to their upturned and excited faces but a literal rain of cats and dogs.

Someone posted about grabbing a couple from the streets and helping them. I've gone over and over how I could realistically help another without harming myself in this or them. I think the choices will be very limited for a number of reasons, one of which it is possible they could be with one for a chronic long time. Arrangements that are made before the event have departure dates. The nation could be thrown into such an economic depression that the change of normalcy might not be noted, and people don't leave because it's harsh and a struggle to survive as the new long term societal norm. They'd wait for a return to the past "good times" instead of going forth to adjust and make their lives within it.

3-4 months is the official disaster but after that comes the new normalcy. Our nation, our economics, and our societal norm is then defined, as gritty as it may look and be. Large Hoovervilles, chronic hunger, and ghastly lines for very little that can be purchased may be the "normal." Each cat has his or her own fate and if that is the fate of a couple walking down the street than it isn't for ourselves to deprive them of their own destiny, natural consequences of choices, and the future they may make for themselves in the long run by plunging right into it.

Sometimes "help" kills people as we know from the US Embassies and the Vietnam War. The Embassies tried to "save" some of the natives, the natives did not go on the march with the hoards of refugees, and ended up having to walk that missed march with the Viet Cong right on their tails and alone as sitting ducks.

Shelters close. They don't take care of or babysit people until the "good times" come swinging on in. If you take in someone you also have to have the strength to politely kick someone out into a nasty scenario. That is easier said then done especially if the person becomes hysterical because he or she has absolutely nowhere to go or any resources. The person by then has missed any opportunities that we're being offered, missed where he or she should have gone on to, and did not go through the toughening the others had.

Someone warned me what we face are masses of orphans and abandoned children. Why don't you all wait and simply adopt a new family of children as the help?



-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), October 10, 1999.


Still the same things needed, for which I'll need a miracle, since yesterday I totaled up the number of paydays until year's end, and considering that there are maintenance bills to pay, plus maintenance items to purchase as usual, if I deduct the November and December mortgage/condo payments, that leaves just four paychecks with which to do this other, PLUS my final preps. Humanly speaking, it cannot be done, so I am putting in a lot of prayer!

Still to do (having only bought Ed's book and GI-ing on May 1st!): good water filter (found American-made for $30 under Big Berkey), kerosene, prescriptions (gulp!) for 6 mos. (wish for a year, but can't do), antibiotics, eye exam & extra glasses (2-1/2 yrs. since had one), beans and other bulk foods only found via mail, mylar bags, diatomaceous earth, oxygen absorbers, warm clothes to complete, including warm winter jacket, shotgun lessons, and final finish-up foods. Whew! And yes, I had planned on ABS Bibles too...already have been saving up inspirational "Christian Reader," "Guideposts," and "Angels on Earth" on a table near my door, to hand out with rice and beans and water, IF I can safely do that. All of this and the little-but-they-add-up items still on the list. As I said, main item needed: a miracle!!! [And then there's wanting to help my daughter and her triplets.....]

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), October 10, 1999.


Living in the Northwest, water in forms of rain, rivers, lakes are abundant.(A good filter is recommended) Need more wood, but though green wood is not recommended to burn, there are still plenty of trees in the suburbia area.(I am a surburbian) Temps are moderate in the winter--mostly 30-40 degrees with a few cold snaps here and there. I have enough food to probably last my family for 4 months. (though have stocked up more on products that are made overseas like coffee,tea,chocolate, and sugar) I am really hoping that things don't go that bad. (Can't afford it) I can only prepare the best I can and put my faith in Jesus. Maybe it won't be that bad.......I can hope. In the meantime prepare, prepare, prepare.

-- bb (b@bb.net), October 10, 1999.

* * * 19991010 Sunday

No such thing as being prepped enough for Y2K!

Regards, Bob Mangus

"Being right too soon is socially unacceptable" -- Robert Heinlein

* * *

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus1@yahoo.com), October 10, 1999.


Still looking around for a good water filter...still looking for canned food bargains though I'm pretty well prepped foodwise. I am on the fence about whether or not I should arm myself with more than pepper spray. If I do, it will likely be a 12 gauge and I'll have to get a friend to teach me how to use it.

-- coprolith (coprolith@rocketship.com), October 10, 1999.

Hi, Have you got info where I can find out about the poor mans generator? Havent seen anything about that, dont think the budget will stretch to include one....

-- LauraA (Laadedah@aol.com), October 10, 1999.

Waiting to buy canned milk (cheaper to buy during the holidays, doesn't have a very long shelf life). Just buying for my kids now for Xmas. Use to give them money but now they are getting Y2K supplies just in case they can't make it here. Purchased two sleepings bags @ 25% off at the army surplus store today. Owner of the business said things were beginning to pick up again. If you have a Safeway near you, Starkist tuna 25 cents a can, S&W caned fruit 12/$6.00, canned vegetables 24/$6.00, refried beans 12/$6.00. Stocked up on some of that today but will give to the kids for their storage. I'm ready as I will ever be, still storing water, that will never end as long as I have access to it.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 10, 1999.

From a personal standpoint, I'm all done. Have been for quite a few weeks. Keep rotating new food to replace that which we eat. I may or may not get a solar pump; they are so darn spendy.

From a community perspective, though, I, along with seven other nearby relatives/friends/neighbors, are still awaiting the CERT training. The trainers (from Josephine Community Preparedness Project), have been incognito ever since they signed us up. Supposed to be a seven week training session starting sometime the first part of this month, but they aren't returning calls, email, etc. Maybe y2k struck early here.

Old Git! I'm astounded--you have always seemed so "on top of it". Yet you haven't gotten your wood in yet? Shame on you. Now you won't have well seasoned wood. Neither will you, Bill, nor you, Farmer, nor you, BB.

Oh well, keep a close watch on your flue; it will get worse creosote than it would have if you'd seasoned your wood properly.

BB, about jock itch; I have found a lot of relief by using cornstarch topically. Lately, I've found that using different brands of soap can have differing effects on it, too. Something about the pH, I'm told.

Paula, (and everyone else who may not realize this), I advise you to investigate a "living trust". You will save your heirs a lot of time and money (a side benefit is that you will piss off a lawyer or two) if you put everything of value into the living trust instead of leaving it in a will. If you have LOTS of money, you'll save them LOTS of inheritance taxes. Whether you have lots of money or not, though, you'll be eliminating the need for probate, a ridiculous expense and time consuming hassle. If you're REALLY poor, though, probate won't be necessary. I don't remember what the break off is for whether the estate has to go to probate; besides, it's likely different in each state (and who knows about other countries), but currently, I believe that inheritance tax starts on anything over $600,000, with talk of raising the limit to a million.

" No such thing as being prepped enough for Y2K!

Regards, Bob Mangus"

Bob, I suppose you are right, in a way; but don't you think you could reach a point where further prep would be kind of overkill?

Paula, what in the world is a "Poor man's generator"?

Al

-- Al K. Lloyd (all@ready.now), October 10, 1999.


Elaine and coprolith::

The SAME FILTERS as in the Berkey (only the 9 inch version as opposed to the 7 inch in Berkey and the other one, are available at PWGAZETTE (www.pwgazzette.com with perhaps one less "z"). They are CHEAPER than even DOULTON'S website, and DOULTON makes them for both companies.

chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), October 10, 1999.


BB:

Do you remember the late Keith Green?

I've been debating whether I should buy his CDs.

David Wilkerson once wrote a tract, defending the use of rock music as a ministry tool, which Last Days Ministries published and distributed; but later Pastor Wilkerson regretted that tract and boldly denounced rock music as under the control of the devil.

During one rock concert David Wilkerson saw in the spiritual dimension where demons were attaching themselves to listeners as the band played. Creepy.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), October 10, 1999.


Is Keith Green any relation to the Rev. Al Green? Now there's a CD I would like to have. Sweet soul music....

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), October 11, 1999.

Much thanks, Chuck, for the filter advice!! Will order that and prescriptions on 10/22 when I get next paycheck!

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), October 11, 1999.

Left to do:

1. Install solar system with backup batteries (within the month)

2. Buy tuna fish now that I have found someone who can supply 1.2 oz. mayonnaise packets (by end of this week).

3. Buy remainder of camping gear for bugout (this week).

4. Take bulk supplies and MREs to bugout location (end of month).

5. Fill 200 gallon water bag (T-day). Fill remaining empty soda bottles (end of month).

6. Install gas dryer and new electric pump and washing machine (November).

7. Buy additional wood for fireplace (next week).

8. Call to order dehydrated food (eggs, cheese, soup), just in case it gets really bad.

Yes, there's still a LOT to do, but I think it's all doable as long as there isn't too much panic. I may buy some more diapers and wipes and TP, but I feel pretty good about how much food I have.

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), October 11, 1999.


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