Right now the thing I fear most is that I am becoming lax about the entire Y2K thing. I have been confused about it since August, 1998, when I started preparing. I was very diligent at first, then started to feel stupid and decided the whole thing was over blown. Then I started reading the NERC info on Rick's sight and got worried again and prepared some more.

Now, I'm becoming jaded. The preponderance of the spin is SO HEAVILY weighted in the direction of the pollies that sometimes I feel they can't ALL BE WRONG. Then I see a lot of questions that are just not answerable or "not answered" and I swing the other way.

On Rick's site, many people working in the industry see no problems and have experienced no hard fixes, etc.

Are others out there as confused as I am....How do you keep yourself motivated to keep preparing and getting psychologically ready for the rollover and after?

-- LindaO. (lindao@hotmail.com), September 01, 1999

Answers

Hi Linda

I feel just as you do. Sometimes it all feels so surreal. Sometimes I feel totally confused about it. I prepare anyway because I read (somewhere on this board I think) the saying "Don't think of the odds, think of the stakes". However it is gotten so that everyday I wistfully look at someone or something and wonder about "this time next year". I go into a mall and imagine it dark and guarded (or looted). It's like a little ghost sitting on my shoulder all the time.

Also, I have had to curtail talking about it all the time as I'm driving my family crazy. They are all preparing for a BITR. Neighbours not preparing at all! So I'm preparing for everyone in the immediate family and a few neighbouring families. My charge cards are up and I KNOW that's wrong. Trying to curtail my shopping and use of them.

Now my favourite season is upon us and I am going to try to enjoy it to the fullest (and still prepare quietly some more!) God bless - I know exactly how you are feeling.

-- citygirl (citygirl@idirect.com), September 01, 1999.

Most of us have experinced at least some of what you describe.

It comes down to making a reasoned decision and following it through to the best of your ability. Like college, getting married, a new career --- times of uncertainty, doubt, or second guessing may come, but that doesn't change the value of your original decision.

And in this case, you'll only have a few months (if not even weeks or days) to see how you fared.

There was a time when I read the "Pollys" occasionally, now I don't bother --- they won't help you at all (even if it were to be "a bump").

Nows a good time to develope the skill of not being swayed by every opinion or media blitz that comes along.

I can honestly say I'll be happy with my preps if Y2K is a bump, will wish I had done more if > 5 or 6 (but basically prepared). So theres not much to loose by being ready.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), September 01, 1999.

Thinking that the pollies might be right is just like thinking that Y2k might be no problem. It's possibly true, but the risks of being wrong are enormous. OTOH, thinking that Y2k might be bad, and that pollies are wrong, leads to preps, and (unless you impoverish yourself by prepping) that has no downside.

Getting your head around Y2k is the toughest thing I've ever seen people do. It took me minutes to "get it" and months to get ahold of it. Every now and then your brain says "are you really sure about this? Because everyone around you disagrees." We are social animals, we evolved in tribes, we evolved to reach consensus and to think alike. It's very stressful to think differently.

Don't try to do it all at once. Don't try to do it all alone. If your family/friends won't listen, don't get it, talk to others via this forum. Don't beat yourself up when you get jaded - take a break. It's not a failure on your part when you get tired - it's normal.

It's not proof that pollies are right, it's just your old tribal brain telling you you're kind of far from the group and wouldn't it be nice to go back where the others are now? And your intellect has to tell your instincts "wait, wait, we have some stuff to get done first", and then go on and do it.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 01, 1999.

Linda, you're experiencing the "lonely at the top" phenomenon. Leadership at any level (in your and my case, the family level) requires making difficult and uncertain choices. Even though it's unsettling, you must have the grit to take the action that you feel is wise.

I can tell you with absolute certainty that next year at this time, you will feel that you either prepared too much or too little. You're not going to get it just right. You will get it wrong. That's just a fact of life and it should not make you feel bad.

The only thing I think is wrong and immoral is to wait until December to prepare, especially waiting until then to take out large sums of case.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), September 01, 1999.

Case should read "cash". But, hey, don't make a run on the breweries either.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), September 01, 1999.

Linda, I so know the feeling! I slowly started preparing a year ago, but now with just 3 good months of supplies on hand for a family of four, I've slowed up a lot. If its a BITR I could still feel exceptionally smart for having prepared. It's going past that 3 month mark that has me confused. I wrestle with all the y2k news. I've even cried over not knowing what to do. I keep buying an item here or there, especially water, but now I am trying not to let myself know I'm doing it. "Don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing?" It's almost laughable. We have a list of comfort foods to buy in October,..I know I'll have no problem with that at least :-) It's very hard and confusing, I know.

My favorite line is "I can picture it happening, but I can't imagine it happening." I think it helps to keep an eye on the news on the net EVERY DAY, because being an informed reader will make you more sensitive to the news that helps you know your doing the right thing. Also have a contingency plan of your own...for example.."If we run out of supplies, we can hunt deer in the pines and fish and crab off the pier. We can get water from the lake and purify it" Just give yourself at least an idea of what you "could" do in worst case scenario for survival. Helps to make you feel a little bit better.

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), September 01, 1999.

Hi Linda! We don't know HOW this is all going to turn out. Hopefully, all of the "pollys" are right! However, I will use all of my preps either way, so how have I made any mistakes? Instead of putting my money into savings, I have put it into goods. It's not like we will ever quit needing toilet paper, toothpaste, etc. If nothing much happens next year, I will have a lot of money left over from each paycheck that I didn't have to spend on life's daily necessities.

A friend of mine lost his job last month. (Downsizing) He and his wife had been preparing for almost a year. Guess what is sustaining them during this difficult period? Yep! They have dipped into their preps. They are VERY thankful they had lots of extra on hand. To me, it's just prudent to be prepared for ANY possibility. The sad thing is, I never gave it much thought before last year. Whatever happens, I'm thankful for what I've learned, and I'll never go back to the way I was before.

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 01, 1999.

Gayla,

None of us who prepped (and are prepping) for Y2k will ever look at food and other supplies in the same way again. Look at people who went through the depression, and feel uneasy now if they don't have a full pantry. We haven't even BEEN through the bad part, yet, and already it has changed us.

"Once you stack, you don't go back"

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 01, 1999.

No more "Honey, we're out of..."

A quick trip to the supply shelf and presto, we've got that in stock.

No more going to Publix for a can of cream of mushroom soup for the recipe, we've got that in stock.

No more buying items at full price cause we're running low. When it goes on sale get a few months worth of it, screw the idiots who stare at you and your overloaded cart. "Gangway folks, I savin' money here."

Y2K preps, it's a good thing.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 01, 1999.

Three cheers for uncle deedah!!!!!!

hip-hip-hoorah.............

-- Dave Butts (dciinc@aol.com), September 01, 1999.

What makes it so incredibly difficult for me is that as of 9/1/99, I'm pretty much *ready* (not to be confused with compliant) with my preps. So now there's the sit and wait -- that's the hardest part.

I can totally relate to everything Linda said. For me, I have to take a break from this forum...only reading it every other day or so. I read North's site every weekday morning, but my weekends are for non-y2k thoughts only.

Most people have difficulty not only making decisions but with following through to their conclusion and accepting responsibility for the end result. To maintain your sanity regarding Y2K, you MUST do all of the above. Acceptance will give you the serenity to keep moving forward.

Good Luck!

-- I'm (with@titude.now), September 01, 1999.

The thought of a saving beautiful college coeds in distress keepings me going.

-- CS Mam (csm@smoke.com), September 01, 1999.

Thanks you guys for all the wonderful comments. I'm going to print them out and keep them by my computer. It's nice to know I'm not alone in my fear and frustration.

But you are all right... It's a much better feeling to be prepared and confused, than NOT prepared and confused. LOL!

Our paper, The Austin American Statesman, devoted the food section to y2k preparations a few weeks ago, and I was SURE that would lead to bare shelves at the grocery. Absolutely nothing seemed to change. It appears no one has stocked up. I walked around the store and thought....Am I nuts??? Do I have a panic disorder???

It's a phenomenon (Lack of public interest) that I will never understand, so I will take your advice and stay the course in spite of my up and down feelings....

Best of luck to you all!

-- LindaO. (lindao@hotmail.com), September 01, 1999.

Because the polly crowd and their media cohorts are saying BITR or less is EXACTLY why I am prepared for three to four months. I would vastly prefer to have it and not need it, than to need and not have. ***side-note to "citygirl"...to hell with your neighbors! Worry about you and yours first and last. This community nonsense is going to be a source of great difficulty. I have the same feeling about feeding my neighbors that I do about Russia and China...let the so and so's STARVE...

Regards,

Irving

-- Irving (Irving@privacy.net), September 01, 1999.

LindaO--I have been preparing for a very long time now. I had the same feelings as you, it's a normal reaction. It's stressful to purchase food and store water because it's a reminder of the good, the bad and the ugly. I stopped buying food and storing water for 3-months. I disconnected from the internet and took a break to get my head together. Though I was never confused about what could happen ITSHTF, I was more concerned if I had enough to sustain my family for a long length of time. Is what keeps me motivated is the thought that starvation and thirst will be painful. I know deep down that I have done my best and that I will be a heroine for preparing. While food prices are still low I never pass up a bargain and I say to myself, if it goes beyond what I have prepared for, this will come in handy. And if it is just a BITR, and I have lots of food left over, it will not go to waste. It's a big Psyche game, and we're all playing it. Good luck!

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), September 01, 1999.

Linda,

I tell myself the same thing about prepping, that I tell myself about going to the dentist: If I don't do this now, I'm really going to hate myself, in the future.

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), September 01, 1999.

Irving--How can you say "TO HELL WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS?" Watch it--your going to get blasted for saying that! Not only BLASTED, but flamed! I've been saying that from day 1 here and the whining, touchy-feelies tell me I'm a terrible person, stingy, and selfish! Thanks Irving for being another sensible person on this forum!

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), September 01, 1999.

Hi Uncle Deedah,

You are so correct. Switzerland which has a very low crime rate, hasn't played in a war for over 400 years, is armed to the teeth and prepared to protect 95% of its population from bio, chemi and nuke attacks. We idiots are told by our coaches: "Prepare like you would for a three-day summer breeze. Get a case of beer, a case of colored sugar water, a couple of bags of low-fat cellulose chips and watch the roll-over on tele." And we do exactly that.

-- Not Again! (seenit@ww2.com), September 01, 1999.

Several good quotes, above, summarized here:
"Don't think of the odds, think of the stakes".
"It took me minutes to 'get it' and months to get ahold of it."
"... you're experiencing the 'lonely at the top' phenomenon. Leadership at any level ... requires making difficult and uncertain choices. Even though it's unsettling, you must have the grit to take the action that you feel is wise.
"It's a much better feeling to be prepared and confused, than NOT prepared and confused."
"The thought of a saving beautiful college coeds in distress keepings me going."
"I can picture it happening, but I can't imagine it happening."

You know me, I also say forget the neigbors, at least until after the dust settles a bit.
A book I recently found and started reading addresses catastrophes in general -- "The Complete Book of Survival -- How to Protect Yourself Against Revolution, Riots, Hurricanes, Famine and Other Natural and Man-Made Disasters" by Rainer Stahlberg (could be a pen-name, translates from German to 'Steel Mountain').
A few things he mentions:
Do not discuss personal or family business with anyone not directly involved.
Do not trust a politician or bureaucrat's word or promise.
Only after TSHTF do you endeavor to form cooperatives and mutual protection groups (from the survivors.)

-- A (A@AisA.com), September 01, 1999.

Linda,

I've have many years experience at this leadership thing, which requires being able to envision, plan, execute and evaluate decisions. Even the BEST leaders'are right on around 80% of the time. With all the confusing, conflicting information swirling about, I'm just hoping my decisions are 60% right on. I firmly believe those who have had the courage and vision to prepare will be the leaders that get us through this thing. Your feelings truly about "lonely at the top" leadership. I salute your courage to continue preparing based on your decision, inspite of your doubts.

There will be a need for leaders the otherside of Y2K. That means you!

-- Leslie (***@***.net), September 01, 1999.

"This community nonsense is going to be a source of great difficulty."

Thank god somebody finally said it.

This is not the 1890s or the 1950s. Altruism is misplaced today in more ways than one. Has anyone failed to note the sheer malevolence of mankind in the 1990s? How much of it do we want to feed before we die?

So Irving.....bardou....there are three of us.

-- Solange (birlady@hotmail.com), September 01, 1999.

Linda (the other Linda - g - ).. I most recently felt those feelings reading the thread about the upcoming NYC Community Conversations, with the excellent notes on the Lousiana "conversation". Everything from the officials/authorities inc. the CZAR hisself is don'tworrybehappy... so how can stupid little ol' me continue to worry. But then I remind myself of the HUGE number of times we have seen discrepencies between the PR and reality, and remind myself of the interconnectedness of the whole global economy, and remind myself that there is no downside to preparing (and it saves a ton of money if you buy stuff on sald), and remind myself that sooooo few are preparing this early... and then I go out and buy a bunch more. -vbg-

For example.. tuna is currently on sale 4 for $1.00. Reg. price is $.85. Save $.60 on one can. Good, but 60 cents is not too impressive. But if I figure I could use 2 cans a week, and there are 17 weeks left of this year, that would be 34 cans. And if there are "glitches" come 1/1/00 I might up it to 4 cans a week, and might plan to do that for 3 months (min.).. that's another 52 cans. Goal - 86 cans. Make it 88, 'cause I can get 8 at a time... will take me 11 trips and cost me a whopping $22.00 - total. But remember I will save 60 cents per can over the regular price.. times 88 cans, for a total savings of $52.80. Pretty good return on my *investment* me thinks. That's like getting 62 of those 88 cans FREE. Where's the downside? Keep stocking up Linda. As long as you are buying stuff you would use anyway, and aren't going into debt to do it, you are doing a good thing.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), September 01, 1999.

Irving and Bardou,

If you don't want to help people, because you think it's too sissyfied, to be a nice person, then let me give you a whole 'nother thing to think about. A lot of people on this forum talk as if only G.I.s are armed.
Hah!
I just found out last night that my D.G.I. as hell neighbor across the road is armed to the freakin teeth. Two pump actions, a double barrel, a 44 magnum and a few other various and unspecified pistols. Plus he's got two sons that are older teens, so he wouldn't have to worry about having to hold all the guns by himself. I'm just praying that he doesn't have the prescence of mind to have lots of ammo on hand, come 1/1/00.

You may not want to play the neighborhood "goodguy", but if I were you, I'd set aside a few bags of beans marked as "protection money" in case a group of pollys show up at your door, with bigger cannons than you have.

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), September 01, 1999.

Linda -

The little thing that keeps me from straying too far off the path is that little saying:

"Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it"

Everything I have bought is something I can or will use if it is a BITR. Imagine what you have read and then imagine not having the preps you have gotten. You are not having a panic attack, you are being prudent. All will not go perfectly because humans are fixing the problem and THEY are not perfect (no matter what some of them say!)

Go have a glass of wine and relax for a week. And .... SMILE...

-- Valkyrie (anon@please.net), September 01, 1999.

Bokonon-I don't have beans set aside for my neighbors, just big ass bullets! You underestimate who and what I am.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), September 01, 1999.

We idiots are told by our coaches: "Prepare like you would for a three-day summer breeze. Get a case of beer, a case of colored sugar water, a couple of bags of low-fat cellulose chips and watch the roll- over on tele." And we do exactly that.

-- Not Again! (seenit@ww2.com), September 01, 1999.

What do you mean we, paleface?

Tonto

-- This Injun's (gottaheapofshit@home.stockedup), September 01, 1999.

Hi Linda and everyone else. Great thread!

I too go round and round with myself 24 hours a day about this but I always come back to one thought and that is this... Have you ever had the feeling that you knew something pretty sure, say like the answer to a trivia question but then your trivial pursuit partner talked you out of it? And you were right all along and you said "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!" Right now I feel like I want to head for the hills but I'm not going to...I will keep preparing but I within reason. I just hope that come February I don't hear myself say "I knew it! I knew it! I knew

-- Steverino (steve.kuhn@turner.com), September 01, 1999.

Put your head down and keep preparing. This is about risk tolerance and management. You are one of the few being given a lifejacket on the CyberTitanic. It might (or might not) sink, but it is certainly sailing full speed into the night on a dangerous ocean. The Captain and crew are mostly oblivious or reckless. Only a few of your fellow passengers have some serious sailing knowledge and they are demonstrably very nervous.

-- RDH (drherr@erols.com), September 01, 1999.

Poster for the New Millennium...Patience Hell, I'm gonna FIX something!

.. d:^}`X~~

PS Probably seen best with candlelight!

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), September 01, 1999.

City Girl: Prepare for 14 Days without Electricity

Am farm boy in Canada, local major Farm supply, Grain handler held phone conference call Monday and told employees to prepare for 14 days with NO ELECTRIC POWER....You need to remember the popular opinion in Canada is "Everythings A-OK, don't worry." That's what the flyer in my last electric utility bill says...... Anyway there were some people who thought I was a little nutty for the last six months, who were a little "green around the gills" about what had to be done. The last thing on their mind was Company Business...bacause there won't be any without power in a grain elevator-storage complex! Told my wife and she said well lets go out and stock up on some more canned goods, can opener, propane stove, paper plates and easy to prepare stuff. Cool chick. City Girl better find yourself a country friend. Independent thinking and moving against the popular opinion and point of view is the hardest, most threatening to the popular psychie you will ever do. You life will be: me, myself and I.. I learnt this as a teenager not doing alcohol and drugs in 60-70's as my classmates and lifelong friends killed themselves off... very, very, sad. Also a harbinger of things to come. Started Y2K search Nov/98 and was in shock, denial etc for 3 months minimum before coming to grips with action slowly, back and forth to denial and hope. Still preparing thought a little every day or week as time permits but time is becoming of "the essence".

-- Charles Park (chaspark@ccinet.ab.ca), September 01, 1999.

Bardou....there's at least four of us on this thread with an 'attitude' problem (including me). I have two sets of neighbors I'm planning that will join me and mine. The rest.....well, you get the picture.

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), September 02, 1999.

Lobo--your two sets of neighbors must be GIs, and I am sure they will be bringing something to the party. The one and only neighbor that I thought were real GIs told me last week that they didn't believe anything was going to happen. This was after their nephew from Omaha paid them a visit. He's a computer tech with a phone company and he swore up and down that it was all hype. Oh well, easy come easy go.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), September 02, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr near Monterey, California

Better to be the nasty person saying and/or thinking "Told you so!" than the nice person, dead.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage.neener.autospammers--regrets.greenspun), September 02, 1999.

Charles

Thanks for the advice. I am very much prepared to survive for more than a month without electricity and to help several families around me for that long as well. However, I don't know anyone in the country, let alone someone that I could ask to live with. No - I have to tough it out here. I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't very scared. I am frozen with anxiety. But there is nothing I can do more than I have done, except keep buying rice and beans.

I have older relatives to care for that cannot live in a tent in winter, so here I stay. My worst fear is being cut off from my daughter and her family who live about 20 minutes away. They don't get it. Daughter preparing for BITR only. She just can't believe anything is going to happen. I am weary trying to convince people. I'm weary of this whole thing! Oh well - maybe she'll come to me - I am prepared to care for all the family and a few neighbours. Sorry for the rant.

-- citygirl (citygirl@idirect.com), September 02, 1999.

Lobo, if you can trust your neighbors, that's great, but keep in mind that people who seem great now could be trouble when the chips are down. At the very least, make sure you are always at an advantage. Otherwise, you and your family could end up dead.

-- (its@coming.soon), September 02, 1999.

right on bardou,when you and yours life is on the line it's no time to be whinning about wanting to feed the world.That's not our job,and it's not our responsibility,it's why we pay fucking taxes!

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), September 02, 1999.

citygirl: You are lucky to have your daughter just 20 minutes away, my kids are 2-1/2 hours away and in the city. I can just see it now, a mass exit from the city, bumper-to-bumper and moving nowhere. Impatient people will go ballastic and start shooting a few people just because they are there and in the way. You won't have to worry about your daughter coming to see you, she'll be the first on your door step.

Its and zoobie: Well stated. If your neighbors act like you don't exist now, then you really don't know them well enough to be taking care of them which is my case. Besides, I'm not the government and the welfare department, the best I can do is direct them to the big white bus when it pulls up.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), September 02, 1999.

And one more thought, I think about all the months, days, hours, and money I have spent preparing. I think about what Linda and many others on this board have gone through not only in their preparations, but the sleepless nights worrying and wondering what the new year will bring. With every sack of beans I store and every can I box away, I think about what life will be like if I hadn't of done this and we will become like everyone else who did not prepare. My neighbors are going about their business without a worry in the world and no thought for tomorrow because, afterall, they told me "nothing was going to happen." Some of you may have a different situation than mine, but I suspect you have neighbors too that don't give a damn. I offered them the life raft but they refused to get in and I can't offer them anything more.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), September 02, 1999.

Y2K is with me all the time now. I am constantly thinking about or working on my preparations. I check out every newspaper for ads to see what is on sale that we could use. I thought I could stop when I reached the 6 months stage. No way. I will continue prepping till the last minute. Today I picked up 2 more kiddie swimming pools in an end of summer sale at $5.99 for pools that hold 269 gal. each. I plan to fill them up at the end of Dec. and cover with black plastic to keep alge(sp?) from growing in them. Every time I look at our little girls, I worry. How much is enough? If I only have 6 months worth and things are bad for 8 months, how could I bear to see them hungry? I have decided that I just can't feed my neighbors. They have two of the cutest little boys, but anything I give to them might mean less for my girls. It has been a hard decision to make, but my family must come first.

-- Homeschooling Grandma (mlaymon@glenn-co.k12.ca.us), September 03, 1999.

I believe you might be better off covering your pools with green plastic.Green light gives the plants no useable spectrum with which to photosysthesize.(of course black should work fine too,hmmm I think I'm wasting everyone's time,sorry)

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), September 03, 1999.

Every time I look at our little girls, I worry. How much is enough?

You can never really have enough. I'm constantly amazed when I see people saying that they've "got enough" now and that they're done preparing. How can one be done?? Saying that one is done implies that one knows how long it will last, and nobody knows that. If you got the money and the means to get to where the supplies are (and there are still supplies!), there's really no reason you should stop preparing. Anyone who thinks they're "done" is in almost as much denial as the Pollys.

-- (its@coming.soon), September 03, 1999.