http://www.wired.com/news/news/email/explode-infobeat/culture/story/21685.html

Party Down While Others Perish by Lindsey Arent

3:00 a.m. 13.Sep.99.PDT Supermarket shelves are empty, the power is out, and looters run rampant through the streets. The sewers are overflowing, the government has fallen, and you can't access your email. But you: You're serene and secure in a South Pacific mansion, happily and safely toasting this thing called Y2K.

You have just entered Y2K Paradise.

A New Zealand entrepreneur is hoping that the threat of Y2K disaster will get the wealthy thinking about where they'd like to be and how they'd like to be living it up if and when the world's computers turn life into hell.

"We're offering a kind of insurance policy against the negative effects of Y2K," said Andre Illemann, founder of Y2K Paradise.

"If it does happen, youve got the peace of mind [of] knowing that all will be cared for. We're aiming for people who just dont like living without their comforts for a long period of time."

Illemann is offering an exclusive, 90-day Y2K getaway package for anyone with a heap of cash, a taste for the finer things in life, and a horror of going without them for too long.

As part of the Y2K Paradise plan, guests will be quartered in luxurious, fully furnished New Zealand mansions staffed 24-hours a day with a chef and housekeeper, luxury vehicles, and access to "all-you-can-eat" gourmet food. Not to mention plenty of fine wine to wash it down.

The package runs from 20 December to 31 March, with an option to extend in the event that Y2K problems persist. "Guests will be far away from any threats of the normal population," Illemann said.

"We're going to have refrigerated containers of food onsite that will provide for a 90-100 day period. Guests are guaranteed water, food supplies, power and storage. We're making the properties suitable and self-sufficient, with alternative power supplies that are not dependent on the town's main supplies of water and sewage."

Priced at a minimum of US$200,000, the package is a serious investment for an unlikely scenario. But Illemann believes it's better to be safe -- and happy -- than sorry.

"I think something is going to happen, and I don't think it'll happen on the stroke of midnight," he said.

His Web site is more explicit, conjuring up images of a world darkened by the ravages of Y2K:

"Just imagine life for a time (days, weeks, or even months?) without power, water, food, sanitation, heating - just the basics of life! Could YOU fit into this picture: a freezing winter; people - lots of them desperate enough to do anything to survive; money tied up in the bank or in stocks, powerless to help you during a time when youre most vulnerable?"

Critics say Illemann's predictions are a bit extreme.

"No situation on the planet is risk-free," said Leon Kappelman, a Y2K expert at the University of North Texas. "Y2K presents some risk. Nobody is going to be immune. Our expectations should be realistic. I'm not sure stockpiling 90 days of supplies is cost-effective."

Although he hasn't secured any takers just yet, Illemann plans to hold a Dutch auction over the Net in the next few weeks to determine the final price of the Y2K packages.

All packages will have a minimum asking price of $200,000, but Illemann is aiming higher, hoping for something in the $350,000-$500,000 range.

"I believe in responsibility with luxury," he said. "I feel that when offering these packages there's got to be some responsibility to help people to ride through the storm."

****

This is the web site:

http://www.y2kparadise.com/

Any wealthy benefactors out there?

-- Lynn Ratcliffe (mcgrew@ntr.net), September 13, 1999

Answers

Wonder what the security is going to be like there? I mean wouldn't one wonder as these folk'll be sitting in the proverbial lap of luxury...What happens when the 'natives get restless' and hungry. Last I heard the natives still practice cannibalism out there...hope they got more than a hurricane fence.

-- Dr. Moreau (where@the wild things. are), September 13, 1999.

Dr Moreau, Don't believe everything you hear :-) I live "out there" I am thankful though that I am living in a country the size of England but with only 3.6 million people

-- matt (matt@nz.somewhere), September 13, 1999.

" I am thankful though that I am living in a country the size of England but with only 3.6 million people "

... and something like 20 million sheep.

Or so it seemed to this tourist, anyway. Is it even possible to starve in a country where the wooly buggers outnumber the people 7 to 1...?

-- pass (the@mint.sauce), September 13, 1999.

pass the mint sauce, LOL yes you are probably right although I think there are more than 20 mill sheep here plus many millions of cattle But we will be the last on the list for imports(which accounts for basicly everything except vegetables,beef and lamb)

-- matt (matt@somewhere.nz), September 13, 1999.

No offence intended to the Gentleman from N.Z. just attempting some poor humor. Save me some mutton-would ewe?

-- Dr. Moreau (where.@the wild things. are), September 13, 1999.

New Zeland 20,000,000 fluffy sheep vs. America's 250,000,000 sheeple!

-- dw (y2k@outhere.com), September 13, 1999.

And we can toast the rich with our choice of cocktail....the molatov

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), September 13, 1999.

Looks like Leo found a backer. We should congratulate him.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), September 13, 1999.

For that kind of money, I know a RE broker who'd be more than happy to sell you a nice estate on the garden island of Kaua'i... (actual ocean frontage somewhat higher).

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 13, 1999.

For $200K you can buy a GREAT sailboat, five years of food, head to some deserted island. If I only had $200K....

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), September 13, 1999.

Right Chuck... was thinking the same thing.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 13, 1999.

Dr Moreau>>

"No offence intended to the Gentleman from N.Z. just attempting some poor humor. Save me some mutton-would ewe?"

None taken...I would be happy to save you some and I imagine many of your countryman will be looking to this part of the world for a possible safe retreat very soon if they haven't already.... Like a friend of mine said when I was suggesting the possible nasty scenarios to him for NZ... "I would much rather be here, you couldn't pay me enough to go to the USA from now on"

-- matt (matt@somewhere.nz), September 14, 1999.

WELL!!! Are THESE people going to be called hoarders by the government? Will their high-priced luxury preps be confiscated? Hardly $3-Bill's description of hunkering in a bunker with their Skoal, is it? And would Y2K Pro like to address his laughter at these rich folk, who hardly could be said to live in trailers, as he described preparers in a recent post?!?!

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), September 14, 1999.