Several months ago I posted a thread entitled "schitzophrenic life" regarding problems with reconcilling my physical and emotional preps for Y2K within the normalcy of my daily life. The responses were very interesting and helpful for me. One person correctly pointed out that schitzophrenia involves delusions and loss of connection with reality--so that my discomfort with the dichotomy of prepping in a non-preparing world did not qualify. Well, I'm beginning to feel like I qualify now! I wonder if anyone else feels like I do...

It seems like the closer the rollover gets, the more the media, the corporations, and the general population seem to regard this as a non-event. Even some long-time "doomers" are moderating in their position and TB2000 board is crawling with polly-trolls. All of this is leading me to wonder about my sanity in continuing to feel strongly that Y2K is going to be a watershed event. Am I delusional when I believe Gordon's posts regarding the upcoming disruption of oil supplies?

I know that some of what I am experiencing is Y2K fatigue, but wonder about my mental health when I am not reassured by the rosy reports put out by everyone from my bank, electric supplier, media, and government. I can't believe that EVERYONE is lying; that there is not one whistleblower or journalist of integrity out there. Why can't I believe them? Is anyone else questioning their sanity these days?

-- Cath (fin@llyGI.now), November 06, 1999

Answers

Cath,

Not everyone is lying. Some have made misleading statements. Others have been misquoted. Then, there are those who really don't know. There has been at least one whistleblower and that would be the person(s) who provided Naval documents to Jim Lord. In the regional newspapers, some reasonably balanced stories about Y2K have been published. Of course, there have been Y2K problems that were reported on. The conditions are such that it remains prudent to prepare for Y2K.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (faryna@groupmail.com), November 06, 1999.

Hi Cath

I am questioning my sanity too. And why not? We have to continue our everyday lives, look after our families, go to work, prepare for the holidays and prepare for possible catatastrophe as well. All this while no else seems the least concerned expect the people on these boards. It's enough to drive anyone crazy. I alternate my thinking on the severity of the problem almost weekly. Right now I'm in my very worried mode. All this oil information is very depressing. I have run myself into a financial hole over it, but I am pretty much ready to give it my best shot. You are not alone. This is bizarre. I feel guilty if I waste the tiniest drop of water or food. Yet I'm dying to go out and by Chanel # 5 on credit. Probably will too as a comfort for next year, but I know I shouldn't.

By the way, I am trying not to drive my family crazy, but at least they are all preparing! Now working on overseas family who live in Malta. Especially worried about water there.

I think I'll go and pick up some more rice and perfume!

-- citygirl (citygirl@idirect.com), November 06, 1999.

Hi Cath,

When I heard about y2k in the fall of 1998,I gathered more info and prepped like a warrior for battle.I still have some things to finish up on and that is hard for me to do now.I can't explain it,I know the time is short and realize the importance of finishing what needs to be done.

This morning I was going to go to Wal-Mart and didn't.I have a fear of going out of my comfort zone ( a slight touch of agraphobia )so that is part of the problem.I still need to call a man again to remind him of bringing me wood.I feel in limbo land in regards to not being able to move forward.

When most others are going about their lives without a thought of the what is coming down the road,I feel sometimes that mabe I am over reacting.Then I read DD1st light post and feel the fear again.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), November 06, 1999.

You are definitely not alone. I have been feeling this way for some time. My husband and I are not able to even talk about it, he cannot tolerate me mentioning y2k. I recently purchased my first weapon and I cannot even mention this to people I know, as they would be shocked and think I have gone around the bend. Even the one person I know who is prepping thinks I have gone around the bend and makes fun of me! And I haven't done anything extreme (although I have spent a lot of $$). I don't know if I will be more relieved or disappointed if my preps turn out to be unnecessary. At times I look forward to being to get on with my life (what there is of it) and at times I look forward to seeing this incredibly artificial, greedy, consumerist culture come crashing back down to reality. I am known to my friends as someone who always looks on the dark side, and I think people like us are much more likely to perceive the truth about situations than are "normal" people. But then, I would think that. Write me (real email) if you want to talk.

-- judy (wednesdayschild@hotmail.com), November 06, 1999.

In reference to doomers moderating their position, consider this. I have dreaded the upcoming new year for nearly a year and a half now, and now that my preps, modest as they are, are about as good as they are going to get, it is much easier for me to deal with my growing anxiety if I allow myself to pretend things will probably be OK. Deep down inside I know better, but it's just easier if I tell myself I've been a fool to prepare. Maybe others have moderated their positions for the same reason I (tell myself that) I have.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), November 06, 1999.

Cath,

I don't think everyone is lying, BUT, they are skillfully weaving the truth to appear to be much better than it really is. TPTB are afraid of a consumer panic. Remember Kosky's statement: imagine what would happen if 250 million people buy an extra pound of beans!

These guys really feel that the economy can't handle everyone prepping. They simply don't understand freedom, or a free enterprise economy. (at least, KINDA free enterprise). They throw in statements which confirm that there will be problems: No systemic outages, but local power outages, some severe. Local, to them, indicates one STATE, regional means a group of states. We simply have to understand what the words mean, and they aren't volunteering the information.

Remember that we are being subjected to a massive PR campaign. These propagandists are good at what they do. By next Fall, we will actually believe that algore invented the internet. They are that good.

When you hear the rosy reports, keep telling yourself, "It alldepends on what the meaning of 'is' is."

keep hangin on

gene

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), November 06, 1999.

Cath--

Hang in, keep the faith. Soon we will know. I hope the pollies are right but I think they are playing with their lives and the lives of their families by not doing some preps. Good luck.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), November 06, 1999.

Interesting that this should become an issue again here. It certainly is for me. Earlier today I said to myself, I don't know how long I can continue this split-life and period of indecision. Trying to face the expectations of holidays when family emergancies on top of y2k purchases have sunk my budget---working with the poor, making plans with and for them as though nothing is going to happen--this week sittiing through a y2k presentation at work where it (y2k) was presented as a SUBSET area of planning as "is usual for our office and as essential personel" (been there 9 years and this is the FIRST meeting on any form of disaster planning.) There was a 1 minute explaination of y2k---bla-bla-bla---then went over expectations of workers (be there){communications--(phone tree--) and depending on the type of disaster bring exta food, water and clothing and be prepared to be relocated to other offices---the staff of close to 70 people had NOTHING TO SAY-except to ask whether they could take leave (yes) and if so sick or annual (either)---I asked if there was any coordination between our agency and city and was given a pecularly circumspect answer(I know they aren't, just wanted to tweek them a little) and THAT WAS IT---we were excused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I am totally dumbfounded---its like someone has slipped stupid pills in the water or something--I was not about to "out" myself any more than I have so kept silent--but boy did I have a long imaginary lecture going on in my head. I can only hope that the rest of the staff is "keeping silent because of descretion"---I honestly would NEVER have predicted this level of non-responce. We are a SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY that simply refuses to even have a conversation about what impact this could have on the people we serve, on our jobs-- and how we will deliver services, (we are totally computorized for gods sake---one typewriter for 70 employees--and that one is ELECTRIC) and how we will plan for our families. OK---now I get it---we've slipped into an alternate universe where normal is defined by deaf, blind and stupid. Can you just believe this? I think really what is happening is a well titrated application of sophisticated population management techniques--probebly using focus groups to test where and when to apply just the right propeganda---ever see a good sheep dog work the herd? That's what I mean---just can't for the life of me figure the reason or expected end result. Maybe I am being too positive to think that anyone has the brains to actually manipulate a whole world. Maybe instead we have the 3 stooges stumbling around forging an unknown reality for the hell of it? THanks for letting me vent.

-- catherine plamondon (Worried@home.com), November 06, 1999.

hmmmmm--deleted again--wonder what it was this time?

-- catherine plamondon (worried@home.com), November 06, 1999.

Hi Cath, et all...

I understand how you feel...I've been taking a ribbing from friends for some time now over my preps of the past year and a half. After having spent $7-8K and a lot of time and effort on this on behalf of my son and myself I sometimes wonder (briefly) if I'm not over reacting. Then I think of my 10 year old son and the insurance I'm buying for his continued well being and relax.

Based on everything I've heard from folks I know in the oil industry fuel will definitly be a problem. My friend who works at a Chevron refinery knows they will have problems but doesn't consider it a big deal...they can run the refinery manually if need be. He estimated the output in that mode at 50-60% of normal capacity. Sounds like a BIG problem to me. Filled up and stashed my last drum of gasoline (with Stabil) today giving me 200 gallons. Expect gas will get quite pricey next year...this may save me a lot of bucks even if fuel is easily available (which I seriously doubt come February).

-- Don Kulha (dkulha@vom.com), November 06, 1999.

I agree with everything that each of you have expressed! It feels crazy right now! And I've noticed that I'm beginning to have lots of dreams..indicating to me that my subconscious is working to sort it all out. And it seems, from what I have been dreaming, that I am telling myself that what I have done is correct. Dreams such as looking in the freezer and discovering that it is hot, yet all the food that I had stored in there is still frozen, and in good condition. And then I look further and find chocolate...lots of chocolate! I would interpret this to be Y2k, as the "hot" topic (the freezer), and looking into it, and finding my preparations to be all in order, everything OK, and then finding the treats...the sweets...the lighter side, also in good order.

I'm not a dream expert, but this seemed to make sense.

I've lost a couple of really good friends over this issue. People who I thought would be the first to see the potential for upcoming problems. My elderly parents have decided to remain at their house in the country for Christmas, instead of going into the city to spend the holidays with all my brothers and sisters, and now (because I've mentioned y2k to them in the past months) I'm being blamed for ruining this year's Christmas celebration!

Isn't it funny...I think this will be a winter that gets talked about for years to come..."The Winter of 99"...

One other thing: as I've mentioned elsewhere, my husband and I have a Bed and Breakfast, and we're beginning to get reservations from people for late January, March, etc. People in Europe and Canada, and the US are already planning their spring vacations, buying airline tickets, sending deposits to various hotels, b & b's, etc. I can't believe it! These people must be shelling out thousands of dollars for these trips, and not giving a second thought to anything else.

Yes, "The Winter of 99"....

Margo

-- Margo (margos@bigisland.com), November 06, 1999.

Yeah, that's it--they all took STUPID pills. I knew there was an explanation. I can't bear the mention of anything that will happen next year if it doesn't include the fact that we're going down the tubes... Please, stop this playacting. My sister and her boyfriend GI mildly, but my sister is always saying, "But what if it's not that bad..." I say, "Don't worry. It will be." Yes, I hope not. I can't stand the potential suffering, but the idea of oil being the link that broke civilization's back is striking.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 06, 1999.

I also know what you are feeling. I'm making at least two or three levels of plans, depending on how things are in January. Worst case (10 plans), recession/depression plans (including some possible travel), and resumption of normal life plans (including travel). But I know we'll have food, fresh eggs, fresh fruit, etc., no matter what!

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), November 08, 1999.

Cath- In the country of the blind, the one eyed person is often labled as the crazy one. Two quotes I found on the www:

KOYAANISQATSI ko.yaa.nis.qatsi (from the Hopi Language) n. 1. crazy life. 2. life in turmoil. 3. life out of balance. 4. life disintegrating. 5. a state of life that calls for another way of living.

and, to paraphrase Neils Bohr,

"Sometimes it's not a matter of whether an idea is crazy but rather if it is crazy enough!"

The way I look at Y2K is that if nothing happens, I'll eat the food next year, at this year's prices.

Oh, and another quote to use on people who put you down for your preperations - just say to them:

"I'm prepared to be wrong about Y2K. Are you?"

-- Dennis Law (PaulLaw@aol.com), November 09, 1999.

In reference to KOYAANISQUATSI, I recently saw a documentary-type movie by that name, and I highly recommend it! Very interesting, and gives the viewer lots to think about. Possibly your public library would have a copy of it.

Margo

-- Margo (margos@bigisland.com), November 09, 1999.