In the last month, my wife and I finally got our wood stove installed and the three truckloads of firewood delivered. Don't know about you, but there is so much comfort in that warmth.

Our Berkely(sp?) water purifier also came in this week. Bought a Bissell carpet sweeper. Strange the stuff you think of at the end, I guess.

Jackie and I have made our last list of things to do: we continue to buy $200 of food/stuff per week. Still need to get the cloth diapers for our baby, but are finding that it's hard to find - who does cloth any more? We're all Pampered...

But all in all, I think we're relatively ready.I have no idea what will come about. Though I'm a programmer who's worked two Y2K projects now and still consult to a state government agency, I honestly think it could go either way and anywhere in between. I've learned in the last year that humans are lousy predictors of the future, so I'm not banking in any camp of thought. Only if it's a 10 do I shudder at our preps. How do you prepare for that? I've never lived like that. Heck, I had a hard enough time cutting the vent to put the wood stove's heat from the loving room to the boys' room upstairs. But I own my little Ortho guide and Carla's book. I'll just keep readin' and doin'.

I wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped us learn wisdom in our preps: from Milne to Big Dog, Patrick Shannon to Old Git. You've helped my family a great deal.

The Flying Karamazov Brothers said this: "It doesn't matter how you get there, when you don't know where you're going." I've come to know that I like living in the country, having been a city slicker before all of this, and that no TV is good TV. My family and I spend far more time together, doing constructive things on land we love.

For the rampant pollies who trot out failed predictions and try to entice those of us who prepared, I say this: there's a better way, and even if Y2K turns out BITR, no problem. I know where I'm going, and it involves vegetables and sheep and root cellars and quiet evenings spent holding my wife's hand as we watch our five children play in the pond catching frogs and laughing. I'm grateful that Gary North and CSIS and Ed Yourdon and everyone else kept bringing me back to this forum.

God bless all of you... remember love in all of this next year.

-- Brett (savvydad@netins.net), December 12, 1999

Answers

Sir Brett, you are too right!

I'd like to ask if "loving room" was a Freudian slip or merely a typo...!

I grew up in the country, but have lived in the city for some time now. We're now finishing preparing our acreage a few miles out of town. Here's something to laugh about: Just last weekend I noticed that 3/4 of the wood supply I've cut is too long (18in for a stove that takes 16in lengths...)

Remember that this winter and laugh my friend!

God bless and here's to your future!

-- (Kurt.Borzel@gems8.gov.bc.ca), December 12, 1999.

A fantastic perspecive...ready yet hopeful. Thank you for posting and for your refreshing attitude. Best wishes to you and yours!

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), December 13, 1999.

>> The Flying Karamazov Brothers said this: "It doesn't matter how you get there, when you don't know where you're going." <<

My favorite variant: "If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), December 13, 1999.

*Still need to get the cloth diapers for our baby, but are finding that it's hard to find - who does cloth any more?

Try any "Baby Superstores." We have a "Babies R Us" here, and I've also seen cloth diapers in the baby section at the Burlington Coat Factory. Try your local yellow pages. Cloth diapers are hard to find, but they do exist because not *every* baby tolerates the toss away type.

Failing that, hit the fabric store and buy a few yards of good quality cotton.

-- (ladybuckeye_59@yahoo.com), December 13, 1999.

My favorite variant: "No amount of speed will make up for a lack of direction." I use this on my husband when he's late, runs out of the house, pulls the car out of the driveway going the wrong direction, forgets where he's supposed to be going, but attempts to go there at speed limits not embraced by the law! Katy

-- katy raymond (katy@ngenius.com), December 13, 1999.

a great picture !

compliments and good luck!

-- andrea raffaello marco besso (besso.ch@bluewin.ch), December 13, 1999.

Best wishes to you and yours!!!!

-- mutualfeelings ;-) (karlacalif@aol.com), December 13, 1999.

Brett, Another tip re baby nappies if you cannot get any ready made.The Brits use terry towelling rather than cotton.Can make a bulkier nappy but may absorb more than cotton??? Don't forget also the plastic pants to go over the nappy & learn the right way to pin the nappy up.In my day there was one way for little girls & another way for baby boys.

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), December 13, 1999.