It seems like preparation is never going to end .I have been at it (and lurking) since this spring. Each week, I always read something new that turns on another light bulb in the dark corners of my Y2K pre-occupied brain.This results in my thinking about something that was not previously considered. Have you also said to yourself "I never thought of that". Does it ever end, or is preparation a mindset... a way of life. This is my first post. Please forgive me if this question has been discussed before.

-- R. Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), November 10, 1998

Answers

I think it's like packing for camping; there's always something that you remember at the last minute, or have to pick up on the road at a slightly higher price.

I think being prepared for emergencies (one of which just happens to be Y2K) can become a way of life; it's sort of a greater awareness of what's going on around you rather than just muddling through.

-- Karen Cook (browsercat@hotmail.com), November 10, 1998.

Greetings R.,

Sort'a seems like everything else pales by comparison, huh? I suspect we are all going to savor the upcoming holiday season this year!

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 10, 1998.

We go tent-camping every summer. Every single time we find that we have brought some stuff we didn't use, and left behind something that we could have used.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), November 10, 1998.

Once you're in a preparation mindset, you can never look at a grocery store or hardware store the same way again...

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), November 11, 1998.

Thanks for the responses. It looks like there will never be a time when many of us feel 100% ready. Camping is a good analogy... in fact any trip away from home results in forgetting something and bringing things that turn out not to have been needed. I guess we can reach a state where we can say to ourselves 'I'm as prepared as I think I need to be'. Since no one knows exactly what will happen, that appears to be about all any of us can do. Robert

-- R. Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), November 11, 1998.

Preparation plans change according to how bad you think it might get. I found the basics (some food, wood, water, cash) are quick and easy. The "Amish" alternative is much harder. Growing your own food, raising rabbits/chickens, water source?, etc... Electricity is the key to it all. If we have power, we can make it through. If we don't, sharpen your plows.

-- Bill (bill@microsoft.com), November 11, 1998.

Bill, Speaking of the Amish, I took my family out to Lancaster Pa. last month for vacation, and also got to see first-hand how the Amish live (very happily) without electricity. The are very big believers in being as self sufficient as possible. That's why they have the life style that they do. The trip was not only fun but instructive as well. They will be the least affected of any other group in the U.S. from what I can see... and yes, they use horses to draw the plows. You are right that they work very hard, even the children pitch in. I also agree that the Y2k key is electricity. My attitude now is that I am not expecting to have it for a while, and will be happily surprised and very thankful if I do. Robert

-- R. Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), November 11, 1998.

Regarding the Amish in Lancaster, I worry about the fact they are 50 miles from a few million inner city people who will be totally broadsided by Y2K. However, everyone "knows' there is lots of food for everyone in Lancaster. I wonder if the Amish have any rules against hiring mercenaries? In the TEOTWAWKI scenarios, they will need them.

-- R. D..Herring (drherr@erols.com), November 11, 1998.

From what I learned while visiting the Amish, they take their religion very seriously. I don't know what this means in terms of thier views on guns/protecting themselves. They pretty much stick together and help each other also... strongest communities I have ever seen. They won't need to hire mercenaries, after all, they (and we) have the National Guard... assuming the guardsman show up for work rather than stay home and protect their own families. Fat chance?

Robert

-- R. Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), November 11, 1998.

From this FAQ on the Amish way of life--

Ask the Amish:

Q. "I understand your belief in nonresistance and pacifism. Does this principal extend to personal situations where you are confronted with imminent evil -- say a known murderer confronting you and your family in your home? Can you use force to preserve your life in this situation? To what extent? What is the Biblical basis for your position?"

A. "Both Amish and Mennonites are committed to a lifestyle of peace and non-violence. Yes, this pervades every aspect of life. However, no one can predict with certainty how anyone would really react to an absolutely unprecedented crisis such as described above. Emotions as well as thoughts are involved and the situation is personalized. Having said this, we would hope that as people who have practiced a lifestyle of peace, we would not resort to force and violence in a crisis situation such as the one described.

"We must briefly make several points: 1.There is no assurance that use of force would save my life or the life of my family if confronted by an attacker.

2. We could recall many accounts of unhoped for deliverances, whether by mediation, nature, or divine Providence, when Christians refused to use force when confronted by an attacker.

3. If the result is death at the hands of the attacker, so be it; death is not threatening to us as Christians. Hopefully the attacker will have at least had a glimpse of the love of Christ in our nonviolent response.

4. The Christian does not choose a nonviolent approach to conflict because of assurance it will always work; rather the Christian chooses this approach because of his/her commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), November 11, 1998.

Tom,

-- R. Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), November 12, 1998.

Sorry about the above... don't know what key I hit. Anyway, just wanted to say to TOM that your answer is on the money and is consistent with what I would have thought re: how the Amish may or may not react. The key here really is that their goal (and ours) , to a large extent IMHO is self-suffiency. I'm not kidding myself thinking that after living in the burbs all of my life, I will magically be able to accomplish this... but I'm learning, am building a library, and will be about 14 months ahead of the don't get it's.... It will be really important to have these type of skills to help everyone who never got it and even those that did. The government cannot confiscate them either. New skills (which will be needed ) may be the most valuable thing that keeps people alive.

Robert

-- R. Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), November 12, 1998.