Gang: This post is just my latest in the series for Newbies. Please feel free to put in your two cents.

Upon understanding just how ubiquitous Y2K is, we can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the feeling of having to 'do something' - and do it now, too. This can lead to frantic and possibly desperate feelings of having to learn everything that you reasonably can related to Y2K in as short a time as possible. This is a road that many of us, who have been Y2K aware for a while already, know can have some potholes. One of these potholes on the Y2K road is overdoing it - just too much Y2K.

For some, perhaps many, there comes a point of Y2K saturation. Sometimes moderation is easier said than done, especially with a subject where so much is unknown and unknowable, yet has the potential for life-changing events which we feel must be seriously prepared for. The quest for knowledge, proof, certainty, and validation, always elusive, is a powerful force that combined with the ticking of the clock can drive us to the Y2K Wall - into overload.

A Y2K break is one way of dealing with this saturation temporarily. Some of us have included this approach in trying to get away from Y2K. Going offline works to a larger degree than anything else I have tried, since Y2K "lives" mainly on the net. You can go days, or longer, without even hearing or seeing much, if anything, about Y2K in the mainstream press for example.

Nothing erases knowledge though, whatever we think our knowledge is, and it can be very difficult to willfully push a subject out of our mind. We can't turn Y2K thoughts off like a faucet, yet we can try and push it to the back of our thoughts with varying degrees of success. Keeping busy with non-Y2K related things, staying away from the net for a while, and taking some time to appreciate all of those things we no longer may be taking for granted are all things that can be of help.

So keep in mind that while you may feel compelled to go as fast as you can along this road, there are potholes. Go a bit slower and see them ahead of time. Remember the saying: "The hurrieder you go, the behinder you'll be". Take prudent action in a thoughtful and reasoned way, not only out of a desire to "do something now". Ironically, by going a bit slower to avoid the potholes, you may find you get where you want to more quickly, and in better condition.

-- Rob Michaels (sonfodust@com.net), April 08, 1999

Answers

Amen Rob

"Throw the cow over the fence some hay."

-- Carol (smelltheroses@enjoy.com), April 08, 1999.

Preparing and living consciously..and do I ever have too much Y2k? Every damn day.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), April 08, 1999.

Rob, Very well put. It is easy to be overwhelmed initially. With all the gloom and doom one could easily be led down the T.E.O.T.W.A.W.K.I. trail. My advice to any "newbie" is to read as much information as you can at a a pace thats not too frantic- and make sure it comes from as divergent a pool of sources as possible. Use all your best critical thinking skills. BE SUSPICIOUS!! Most of all, decide for yourself the best course of action to take for you and yours. No one knows for sure what is going to happen. Anyone who says they do is certainly a charlatan. Remember, your life may depend on it ( but thats for you to decide!!). See Ya, Charlie P.

-- Charlie P. (nospamforme@maybelater.com), April 09, 1999.

Rob,I know exactly how you feel,but after taking the advice from some of the fine folks at this forum I decided to take a break and made plans to go fishing in FLA.Just the thought of getting away for awhile has calmed me down,I too was feeling overwhelmed and had the sensation that I couldn't do enough quick enough.When I return from my little jaunt I will again pursue my preparation to the Nth degree and when I am finished it will be time to go fishin' again.Thanks to all for such good advice.Capnfun.

-- capnfun (capnfun@notfunatall.com), April 09, 1999.

I decided that I needed a day of shopping, lunch with friend, etc. So my friend, who is also a GI, and I headed for Wally World where we were going to buy some new shorts and Tee shirts. We live in Fl. Well.................we ended up in the grocery section looking for sales and filling our baskets with dry milk, canned goods etc. Never even got over to the shorts and Tees dept. I really don't need to buy any more preparation stuff. We are set for at least a year and have 40kw generator, 1500 gals of diesel etc. Habits are hard to break and I am now into the y2k habit. I feel guiltty when I use the oven rather than the "Bush Box" or the solar oven, when I throw away a zip lock bag rather than washing and using again, etc. SIGH........................... Got up this morning thinking I need to make some more hobo stoves for those who will be in need of them; thinking maybe I should get some more Praire Gold wheat berries and some more oat meal. (have 150#). Figure if someone is truly hungry a bowl of oat meal will taste good. But then, I have always lived where one had to get "ready" for "freeze up" and always bought in case lots and canned summers garden etc. So guess I just have squirrel instincts and y2k has given me permission to do this in Fl too. Its in the genes!!

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), April 09, 1999.

Sure can relate! Breaks from Y2k are really important. And, like Taz, I have trouble taking them!! After working all day, when my partner had the day off, what did I want to do? Eat supper out and then go to Price Club!! Hard to break this stocking up habit!

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), April 09, 1999.