Greetings!

Over the past six months, prepping has become a way of life. Everytime I go to a supermarket, even for a quart of milk, I wander down the canned food isles. Today, for example, they had canned veggies 4/$1.00. I couldn't pass this up, and came home with a case of stuff.

I miss my trips to Wal-Mart for spam and lamp oil, getting the sacks of rice at Costco, the adventure of finding propane bottles and gas cans...

I know, you pollys will say "get a life," and maybe it's true, I've gone off the deep end.

Anyone else feel this way?

-- No Polly (nopolly@hotmail.com), January 11, 2000

Answers

While I've managed to restrain myself from additional major prepping, I still will be maintaing my preparation level. That will mean continuing to purchase replacements for what we eat...and whatever is on sale. I also intend to purchase those items which we could not buy before rollover due to resource (e.g., $) restrictions. While Y2K is behind us, the hurricane season starts in a mere 4.5 months! Earthquakes, layoffs, tsunamis, and similar disasters could happen any time...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), January 11, 2000.

Yes...Yes...Yes I do know how you feel! The hunt and chase for a great prep bargain. The exhilaration when you snagged that last case of propain. Countless quiet nights spent with a loved one in the basement, organizing preps.

Memories.....

-- Mabel Dodge (cynical@me.now), January 11, 2000.

OK, so we went off the deep end. Keep your head above water like the rest of us, and you'll do fine.

Someone is bound to start a Prep Nostalgia Forum, I just know it...

Maybe Mabel???

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), January 11, 2000.

No, wait. That's the potential evolution of THIS forum, isn't it, BigDog?

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), January 11, 2000.

The first thing I do each morning is to scan the newspaper for adds. I got all excited when I found tuna (I have a year's supply) priced 3/$1. I keep checking out the canned goods and tp when I go to store for a loaf of bread and a head of lettuce. We need a 12 step program for preppers. I'm out of control!

-- Homeschooling Grandma (mlaymon@glenn-co.k12.ca.us), January 11, 2000.

hey do not worry I am looking at the http://www.primenet.com/~yeagerp/html/Fgrav.html climate change fall out keep doing it you are in right path.

-- Nasseri (ibmcc@colba.net), January 11, 2000.

Hey, my grocery store had two carts in the back, full of markdown stuff from Christmas. I loaded up on cranberry applesauce, sweet black cherries, and spiced peaches, all at 25g per.

I say, a bargain's a bargain.

-- mommacarestx (nospam@thanks.net), January 11, 2000.

I am replacing all my preps that we use with sale items only. I am in no big rush to stock up now so if it takes a while to find a sale on certain items then thats okay. I am just reveling in the fact that I am not spending any money grocery shopping every week. I have just read the book "The Coming Global Superstorm" and learned a lot of interesting facts. The weather patterns are sure crazy enough to get everyone's attention.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), January 12, 2000.

Yup, what a wake up call y2k was although the year 19100 didn't affect anything severely at all. I started my prep rather late but manage to get everything done on time. Before, I realized how little I have in preparation if any emergency would have occur be it y2k, earth changes, nuclear war or anything. One thing I learn that's valuable to me is to always prepare. From now on no more JIT shopping. Good thing the roll over is ok as they are limiting each person to only 2 gallons of propane just before the roll over day. So whatever is on sale is a good choice to stock up from now on.

-- Glenn (glenny@chickmail.com), January 12, 2000.

It just feels right to keep prepping, the world we live in is not a stable place, and y2k isn't over by a long shot.

-- Zeda (rickster@n-jcenter.com), January 12, 2000.

Not me!

I am using my preps - have not been shopping since the new year, except for bananas and milk. I am slowly clearing my home of the accumulation of preps. It is hard to get out of the mind set, but I am determined to do it. I will always have at least a 3 months supply of food and water around though, just from what I have learned here. The final step will be to stop lurking on the Time Bomb 2000 forum.

-- citygirl (citygirl@idirect.com), January 12, 2000.

Mabel describes "Countless quiet nights spent with a loved one in the basement, organizing preps."

LOL! I love it! So I'm not the only one with this particular fetish. I hugely enjoy this new tradition/kink we have, and hope to keep it in my life.

Plus it's fun to 'go shopping in the basement'.

-- silver ion (ag3@interlog.com), January 12, 2000.

**Plus it's fun to 'go shopping in the basement'.

Your grandparents and great grandparents are proud of you!

-- Lady Buckeye (ladybuckeye_59@yahoo.com), January 12, 2000.

While it's still hard for me to stop going overboard on great deals, I basically subscribe to Mad Monk's prep level. We too have hurricanes to worry about here in Florida, and like James Stevens says, "Don't Get Caught With Your Pantry Down".

-- Lurkess (Lurkess@Lurking.Net), January 12, 2000.

Thank you, all, for your input and support. It helps me feel like I'm not alone, or at least I'm not the only "crazy" in the world.

I'm still not sure how "Y2K" will turn out, but if it is less than a BITR, I have come to believe it is still a good idea to have preps on hand for any eventuality. Now, they're talking drought in California, so that translates to higher prices. Having a supply cushion and always keeping an eye out for a bargain, and buying at a low cost before the item is needed always made sense, I suppose.

Thanks again.

-- No Polly (nopolly@hotmail.com), January 12, 2000.

I didn't get my new roof on or my hand pump down in the well before rollover. I feel like I have been given a reprieve--will continue to prep because there is something not right with the whole picture. Everyone has to agree with that---something is amiss.

-- Curly~Q (Curly@Q.com), January 12, 2000.

Seems this is the "confession" thread, so I suppose I should unburden myself along with the rest of you....

While I haven't gone shopping since *IT*, I have to admit I'm struggling with a lil....errr....fetish...too.

I am dying of curiosity to know how my home canned meats, bread, butter etc. taste, but I simply cannot bring myself to OPEN any of them!! They just look soooooooo comforting all lined up and standing at attention on my storage shelves!

-- Sheila (sross@bconnex.net), January 12, 2000.

Everytime I walk by the multitude rolls of TP, I swear that I won't buy another roll until the last roll is used. I still go to the store, but only for fresh meat and veggies for salads. I can't bring myself to buy another can of anything. It's a good feeling to not lay out money for anything that I have on hand. Being on my toes for 2-years and all the hard work, I'm going to relax now.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), January 12, 2000.

This is nothing new. In my family, this is called:

CHAMPIONSHIP SHOPPING

-- (formerly@nowhere.zzz), January 13, 2000.