Just a reminder, it won't do you any good to get exercised with those who give you grief about your stances on Y2K. Make sure you have a carefully thought out plan that is designed to diffuse conflict. You may still be proven correct about many of your predictions, but now is not the time to fight the battle (IMHO). Eat some crow so that you can save your stashes!

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), January 03, 2000

Answers

I have simply said that if they're keeping their auto and homeowners insurance, then I'm justified in having my disaster insurance.

-- Powder (Powder47keg@aol.com), January 03, 2000.

Dave,

Sounds to me like your "better half" has her apron strings securely around your neck... : )

My preps I made are NOT out of line and I have use for everything I purchased. I have no regrets buying ANY of it. I now have a buffer from calamity, should the rat race puke out my little chunk of reality. I don't think the computer issues are over yet either, by a long shot. This is actually the first day of 2000 for corporate Amerika. Let's just see if everything is as compliant as the spin says it is.

There was a poll on this forum awhile back that asked when you would let your guard down for Y2K in 2000. I said August... I am still there...

My opinion of the way it will go is still reserved... listenin' to the parrots sqwawk...

The Dog

-- The Dog (dogdesert@hotmail.com), January 03, 2000.

Well put Dave.... I smile politely at the jabs. This game is in it's infancy

-- kevin (innxxs@yahoo.com), January 03, 2000.

Dog, Don't ever let your guard down, unless yo expect to start living in utopia. There will always be disasters. The greatest fools are those who prepared for Y2K, instead of preparing for disasters. Don't get rid of good preparations, ever, because I guarantee that someday, some sort of disaster will happen.

-- walt (walt@lcs.k12.ne.us), January 03, 2000.

I agree...now is the time to keep -- or acquire -- a sense of humor. For starters, I am planning a Y2K party, in which I will prpepare all food from freeze-driend suppies -- pudding, soup, drink mix, muffins, oatmeal, etc.) Though we who have prepared may still want to hold onto some (or all) of our supplies for awhile, in my scans of this board this morning, I get a sense that some of us are reaching for SOMETHING... reports of some problems somewhere to validate that we are not all kooks. We aren't kooks (I guess I should only speak for myself) because we prepared. The insurance metaphor is exactly right. And we who had some supplies could have been, and may still be in the event of upcoming problems, sources of much-needed supplies to those in need...at least those of us interested in sharing.

As a Christian, I wonder how many fellow believers out there who would describe themselves as evangelical conservative Christians, will be willing to share some of their stocks with food pantries and the like. Though we may want to eat some of it and keep some in stock "just in case", it would be wonderful if we were generous wih our supplies as we see the threat of problems lessen. (Remember the parable of the guy who stored up for years to come...)

I am in no way intending to start any sort of fight or cantankerous discussion and will not respond to crabby defensive responses, but FOR ME, I have really gone through a spiritual "inventory" of my faith over the last year and a half. Intitially, thanks to Gary North and others, I was really filled with fear and intense self-protection. Over the months, I began to be feel strongly that this obsession with self-protection seems contrary to the heart of the Gospel, the heart of Jesus giving himself away, not holding back or prioritizing personal saftely. So, though I do not regret having prepared, I came to believe that I needed to be willing to be here in the city in the event of problems. I spent the rollover with my exptended family in southern Wisconsin. We had a wonderful time together, though I watched the news carefully, prepared to return to the city (about two hours drive) if things looked like they might get dicey.

Again, I am not implying judgement on other Christians who chose a different path, or trying to use this note as proselytizing to those of you who are not. Many of you may think of me as naive or a complete fool. Perhaps I am, but if so, I am in good company. Throughout history, people have thought of those who followed Jesus as pretty kooky, following paths that seemed completely contrary to sensible self-advancement. As with many dangers, potential and actual, and stresses, Y2K can have some wonderful effects. I have read of people not at all regretful about bailing on the rat race. (I predict a string of books in the coming years by people who did this initially for Y2K and are grateful for their newfound lives.) For me, this has been a spiritual clarifier for which I am grateful.

Happy New Year,

Steven Slaughter, Chicago

-- steven slaughter (shousedesn@aol.com), January 03, 2000.