Today, I was visiting my parents in Southern Kansas. My father decided to take my son to the local ALCO store (a small retail chain in the midwest). I went along to make sure that Grandpa didn't indulge the little guy too much. As we walked along the Hardware and Sporting Goods isles there were "R U Y2K Ready?" signs posted on the endcaps above the coleman lanterns and coleman fuel. On the last isle there was a box that was shaped like a foot locker and was called a "Family Escape Kit". It included a large tent, 4-3lb sleeping bags, dishes & untensils, a 2-burner propane stove, a propane lantern, a flashlight, and last but not least a first aid kit. I was just wondering if anyone else had started noticing any of these "kits" at their local retailer? Does your local retailer ask you if you are Y2K ready? My family is as ready as we will ever be, and are hoping for the best, prepared for the worse and ready to see what we get!!!

-- Sheri (sheri@RUY2Kready?.com), November 27, 1999

Answers

Are you ready to be a refugee????

-- Its (All@conspiracy.com), November 27, 1999.

I saw this in a sporting goods store in Orange County, CA this summer. How often do you go to this type of store?

Mikey2k

-- Mikey2k (mikey2k@he.wont.eat.it), November 27, 1999.

The Alco store in my Nebraska town has the same Y2K stuff. Nobody neverminds it...

-- areyouready (areyouready@alco.com), November 27, 1999.

Our OSH (So. Cal.) has had prominent displays toward the front of the store proclaiming Y2k readiness or Y2k emergency center or something like that. Water containers, Coleman fuel, LOTS of batteries and flashlights, a Y2k video, 100 hr. candles, etc. The display has been pushed back now, and is smaller, now that the Christmas goods have come in. But it's still there. Lots of 5 gallon buckets - but not a lid in sight. I don't think they were clear on the "bucket" concept. To their credit, they had kerosene heaters for sale - in July! What's up with that? Tip: in late Dec./early January a lot of DIY stores have bins full of cheap non-hybrid "American Seeds" - usually at about 15 cents a package.

-- 5R2k (fiver2000@yahoo.com), November 27, 1999.