I am a married guy; 2 children (ages 7 and 12); we're in New Jersey, of all places. We're well enough prepared in terms of food, water, cooking, heat, etc. We ourselves could survive (if left alone by others), but we're surrounded by other folks, most of whom are not, and will not be, prepared. Luckily, (perhaps), we're in a university town, which is normally mostly civilized, and not all that densely populated. I'm a real introvert-type, as is my dear wife. Not big community activists and organizer-types. Mucho conflict, anyway, about revealing our stash. So far, we've kept mostly quiet. I live every day straddling these 2 very different worlds: 1) Business-as-Usual...just another year. and 2) TEOTWAWKI

Very difficult juggling all this. Luckily, or unluckily, I'm an oldtime yogi and a therapist, so I have some tricks to keep my head together. Any others with this sort of dilemna?? Others who are in small towns, but close in to industry and chemical spill potential and roving platoons from nearby areas

-- Jeff Starbuck (vajrastar@earthlink.net), January 23, 1999

Answers

I FEEL YOUR PAIN, CAN I HELP YOU OUT WITH THAT GIRLFRIEND?

-- Bill Clinton (dawhitehouse@dc.net), January 23, 1999.

Hi Jeff & Arc! We're in the same position, minus the kids. We're oldtime Kriya Yogis of Sri Parmahansa Yoganandaji. I've already gone crazy but Ashton is very stable. We're also hermits but felt impelled to start the activist/organizer yarnball going so there would be something for others to catch and run with once they GI. Not many were waking up so we used the "Professional Alerters" on this Forum to give our little yarnball starters a big momentum push. It's working! The more extroverted people-influencer-types are priming to take over and we can't wait to pass the ball to them. Soon we'll be able to retire back into our hospice turtleshell and just watch people helping each other. Thank God!

Realistically, being near "close in to industry and chemical spill potential and roving platoons from nearby areas" isn't so great: relocate further out into rural self-sustainability if possible. We can't yet, but are inching toward accepting that. We're just so exhausted moving all the time! Gotta make the money first. Accepting our probable death by April 2000 has helped us mentally relax and be willing to prepare better. But if we had kids we'd do everything to ensure their survival.

Ashton & Leska in Cascadia

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), January 23, 1999.

Jeff:

I'm in similar circumstances, but no children. My advice is to maintain your low profile, and mention nothing about your preparations to anyone. Don't count on your townsfolk staying civilized with empty, cold bellies. Pick up some long guns - shotguns, preferably. Get three, if you think your 12-year-old could handle one. As far as chemical spills, don't sweat it... if you're really concerned, get some heavy plastic and rolls of duct tape to seal up a room if a cloud comes your way. Sorry if I've just put more rattles in your brain, but in your situation you'll have to decide early on if you're going to make it or not.

-- Why2K? (who@knows.com), January 23, 1999.

Yes, don't tell your plans to anyone you can't trust with your life (mother, father, etc). I grew up North of Atlanta in Cleveland GA (was there last weekend). There is no REAL safe place, unless you have an underground house and fenced in surrounding areas with rotweillers running in the perimeter.

I feel anquish for you ARC. I know Atlanta well and what you are facing. As I mentioned though, there is no REAL safe place. Our home is 1/2 mile off of the main road. We have 10 Acres and our surrounding neighbors (3) have 40+ acres each. This in itself poses a dangerous threat. With the potential of problems facing 911 and police involvement in other areas, our protection is left up to us. We did go through a harrowing night when a neighbor rented the house next to us and went on a shooting spree one night at 1:00 in the morning. I had the kids hiding in the furtherest bedroom closet, and my spouse and I were crawling on the floor with our guns and flashlights like Arnold Swarzenegger (sp.) for almost an hour before the sherriffs got here. There will be no help for us in rural areas. If chaos in the cities reaches even equal proportions to the Rodney King incident, there won't be help in the cities either, for the most part.

Is your job the reason for staying in Atlanta ARC?

-- Mr. Kennedy (y2kPCfixes@MotivatedSeller.com), January 23, 1999.

Yes, I am nervous, but the unknow always makes me nervous. I was only in the panic mode for the first week. My husband is a stoic, who listened when I told him what I'd learned about y2k, then he did some shopping, and went on about his business. I've given our neighbors printouts of articles on y2k and let it go at that.

We are in our sixties, and pretty much on our own. We invited our only child and family to come live here in a rental house we own. But not liking the offered accomodations, they declined. We both recently retired and were looking forward to all those things we've been planning to do; for the time, we've shelved our plans. Maybe we should be more worried?

-- gilda jessie (jess@listbot.com), January 23, 1999.

Arc and Gilda ----

Why can't you initiate and then execute a bug-out plan to be with other GIs after Dec. 15 for at least a month? Sounds like both of you have the flexibility in life-situation to do it?

Gilda: even if your husband isn't ready now, he darn well may be on Dec. 15. Why not put the plan in place now?

Arc: isn't planning and EXECUTING a bug-out plan a no-brainer?

GET OUT OF ATLANTA! GET OUT OF ATLANTA! GET OUT OF ATLANTA! Of course, as Mr. Kennedy points out, t'aint no serious security guarantees everywhere (he sure knows how to pick his neighbors :-), but Atlanta is a sure loser.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), January 23, 1999.

Jeff,

Bunkers dont work in the long run. Individuals need sleep. Its far better to create a community, or, if utterly impossible, move. Try finding a local grass-roots Y2K community action group forming in your area, then push yourself to make contact.

Keep working on whatever works to keep you centered. Remember, the sun shines and flowers grow, Y2K ready or not.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 23, 1999.

Arc Angel, don't go to Tucson! All the snowbirds are planning to flock there for their annual migration anyway. I was born in Tucson and lived there for my first 24 years. It's a hot hot hot desert. Water table depleted. Natural plant life destroyed. Totally artificial dependent life support system. Too many people. NO WATER !! Ya gotta have water, so don't go to Tucson to survive.

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), January 23, 1999.

Hey, Arc --- we LIVE in upstate NY, w/two farms involved. You say you can shoot accurately, hmmm, what else can you do? Seriously, drop me a line off-line about where your family is in NY, etc. We can't leave you in Atlanta, can we?

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), January 23, 1999.

Hiya Jeff, long time no see! My 2 cents. If you haven't revealed your stash, no reason to start now. If you aren't inclined to be publically active, OK, don't sweat it. Diane is right, bunkers don't work, humans are social animals. When the schitzies hit me, I understand that some type of prep work needs to be done, so I do it, even if it is very minor - focused action keeps crazyness at bay better than a formal focused meditation some days, each supports the other. Community. I've long realized that there is _no way_ I'm going to be able to force a community to form thru logic, so now I use the old cell method. Casually mention y2k in very small groups, then later approach those who showed positive response, then nurture the relationships. This is slow, but it seems to result in a stronger bond than calling a community meeting at the Grange, which I can guarantee will degenerate into a "prove it to me". Using the cell method might give you and family a contact that will be usefull in GETting OUT OF THE CITY. Have you picked out a bug out location to prepare for the possibility that you might have to leave in a hurry? Have you worked up your bug out kit? You might want to spend regular time in your bug out locale, making sure that it is all you think it is, and if it is, then stash some supplies, just in case. If there are people around, get to know your neighbors on a friendly basis, attend the local Grange breakfasts, the local church, attend a school play, contribute to the local fire dept. Most important, when this surreal espisode of the Twilight Zone gets too much, don't give in to that hypnotic machine we call American Culture - just mosey on doing your own business. I advocate inner acknowledgement that y2k will probably kill me. It seems to free up a toughness of character, casting y2k prep with a deadly serious yet gallows humor - taking the panic edge off the whole thing.

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), January 23, 1999.