Well, as of late I've been sitting around feeling like one of the charachters from "Waiting for Godot" here in New England. As of late I have been reading quite a number of postings on the continued level of preparededness slowly creeping into the day-to-day lives of the midwest and other areas. Stories of propane cans and rice and pallets of 'preps flying out the doors in Sams, BJ's and Costcos abound just about nationwide. It seems that Almost Everywhere the nation has slowly been awakening to the potential impact of the rollover.

Notice I said almost everywhere? This is just a small report from the Northernmost States. I live within a 100 mile radius of the center of Boston. Close enough to be nervous, far enough away to know I could escape. I have multiple routes and E&E plans in place to my various cache points. My problem is that I have not seen one bloosdy thing being done to wake up Joe Sixpack and his crew here in the Greater Northeast. Conneticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, parts of New Hampshire seem to be in some sort of Y2K Coma. No ads. No real statements from the State Governments. Only Vermont and Maine seem to have even noticed it, and thats because they are used to this kind of issue year round. (Primitive living in parts of those states!) It really blows my mind. Hopefully 'they' are right, and nothing will happen. But if 'they' are wrong...sheesh. It'll get real ugly quick. The latest and only news broadcast was of the Y2K bunker in Framingham, (posted earlier) and how the officials are going to be upset because "we missed the party of the century!" Anyone else notice this? Or is it just the insular area that I currently reside in? Even at work, in the IT dept the people are like "Y2K?...uh...oh yeah...that thing is fixed..." Any other Nor'East Folk seeing what I'm seeing?

-- Billy Boy (Rakkasan101st@aol.com), December 14, 1999

Answers

Vladimir: "That passed the time." Estragon: "It would have passed in any case." Vladimir: "Yes, but not so rapidly." (Waiting for Godot, act I)

-- Spidey (free@last.Amen), December 14, 1999.

I suspect the gay community in the Boston area is aware and prepared. I had spoken to one heavily involved in the AID's issue, over the net, some time back and pointed out that the meal delivery system to some of the ill being disrupted would kill. (Stuff like that.) I hope the message reached between his ears because he is part of a vast network.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), December 14, 1999.

Billy Boy,

I live in Connecticut, home of the sport ute driving, Klinton loving, yuppie soccer mom. I haven't noticed anyone buying quantities out of the ordinary. Our local Big Y (supermarket) has a Preparedness display with blankets, batteries, coolers and toilet paper. But it hasn't been touched. Big Y and Stop and Shop have had some excellent sales and you'd thing folks would take the opportunity to stock up. Buy one can of soup and get two free. Buy one Rice-a- Roni and get one free. Heck, with sales like that I am in there buying up to the limit quantity allowed every day. I've accumulated 51 boxes of Rice-a-Roni as of yesterday. (Love the Mexican flavored one) I haven't noticed others buying to the limited allowed on any products and the shelves are always full. Of course that is harldy conclusive that people aren't prepping. I'm not an IT person but I have some IT friends in Fortune 500 companies. All of them believe Y2K will be a non-event. My brother and girlfriend GI and I've been pressuring my parents. Been dropping off articles with them. Mom sorta GI. Dad is a DWGI. "This is a capitalist society, they'll fix it", he says. I work in a small- medium company (200 employees), my co-workers think it's all hype and that includes the IT people. Although our IT staff says we're ready. I don't know any other GI's.

-- Scottsworth (NewEnglander@Ct.com), December 14, 1999.

I've also taken advantage of Rice A Roni sells though my collection is in the teens not the fifties. I did to have more variety and for no other reason.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), December 14, 1999.

Well Billy,

I live north of Boston, but only until 12/23. I'm heading back home to Vermont. You bet that I am a bit schizophrenic about telling too many of my friends down here how to contact me. I might just limit it to phone number and email-no address. I wish I could put them up, but Mom and I are already expecting my sister and her family to appear on her doorstep if TSHTF as well as close neighbors and my relatives in town. A lot of my Massachusetts friends and others I work with are DGI's. It is so sad when we have a Y2K meeting and out of all of Massachusetts only a handful of folks show up. Sad. I really hated to just quit, but I must do what My Lord Jesus would do in my place. My Mom lives alone and is not in the best of health at 72 so... its God, family, and then everything else. We will be O.K.-especially in Vermont.

JJ

-- Jeremiah Jetson (laterthan@uthink.y2k), December 14, 1999.

Billy boy you should realize that people in the Boston area are very hush hush. People I know in the Boston area are quietly preparing. Outside of Boston, in Lowell Ma, they have a Y2K center

-- Otis (Otis@sprynet.com), December 14, 1999.

Don't feel pregnant because you don't see any prepping. Here on the North Coast I feel like a lone wolf. I THINK there are a total of 8 families prepping around here, because I have not met ANY one. I have been to the last 3 survival/reliance shows and, yes there were buyers there but...... NO apparent real hard core prepping.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 14, 1999.

people are not "prepping?" it's because people live paycheck to paycheck. the government takes all yer money. so, you think yer making ten bux an hour? after taxes, its about 6.90 an hour.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), December 14, 1999.

My friend in Lynn, Mass. is prepping although her family is laughing at her. I just don't know how much she has.

My friend in NYC said to me today, "You'll be proud of us..." She and her husband bought over 100 gallons of water and some canned food and oatmeal--about two weeks worth. They also will be able to cook.

I found out my other friend in NYC has food for three months--thank goodness!!!

My friend in Japan will have water for one month plus some food, plus be able to cook. I advised him to buy a good filter since he lives near the river, but he didn't answer that one. Still, at least he has a shot at survival.

My agent in NY and his girlfriend are finally prepping--somewhat...

I have nagged other people, to the extent that they let me, and I hope that it has helped.

Here in Vero Beach I have not seen anyone prepping at all!

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 14, 1999.