Everyone, I was leaving for work this morning when I got a knock at my door. It was a nighbor who lives behind me. I know for a fact that they are discounting Y2K and have little or no preparations (or do they?) We are friends, sure as most neighbors are, but this card sort of freaked me out and gave me a real sense of things to come perhaps. The card says: " The Torrez Family, Have a nice Christmas and a prosperous new year. Hope you're ready for the coming Millenium. Remember us in times of Darkness. Share your Generator. Thanks for having you as our neighbors. Love, Mark, Lisa Lee, John, Tommy and Lucas." It felt sort of Bizarre!!! I gues they are just reaching out. I have given them many things we didn't need in the past (they aren't poor, but not as well off as us.) And, of course, if things were really terrible, I would open my house to them. They are Christian people and good people. Just wanted to pass it along to you guys to see what your thoughts were.... Jim

-- Jim Torrez (jimtorrez21@hotmail.com), December 22, 1999

Answers

Hello Ant Family, we're the Grasshoppers.

-- we just know you'll give us (all@your.stuff), December 22, 1999.

Tell them you're not sure about the genny, but are willing to share a few rounds of buckshot with them.

-- (@ .), December 22, 1999.

The other welfare families across the street will be over afterthe six people behind you. And their friends and then your good friends on the next block......

-- Country Bumpkin (gotout@city.toast), December 22, 1999.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot....My mother called me today. Her and my dad are big time DGI/mockers of the whole issue. My parents have not made any preparations (even as I hounded them) because they have decided if this "stupid" thing is real....they can just come stay with me. I got a real case of the ass with her and said ..."You're more than welcome as long as you stop at the store and bring your own food." SHe didn't like that. Sheesh....my two month food supply just turned into a weeks worth. Better run to the store. Later... P.S. did you guys catch the gorgeous full moon??? Last one of the Century....absolutely wonderful.

-- Jim Torrez (Jimtorrez21@hotmail.com), December 22, 1999.

Hi, Jim.

Your neighbors, the Sponge Clan, will be sopping up your preps soon enough. Pray to God that He will provide for them. You have your hands full with your own family's needs. Amen.

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), December 22, 1999.

Jim, I think they were letting you know ahead of time that they will be coming to your home for the rollover and if things get nasty, they are thanking you ahead of time for use of your generator. At least they were upfront with you about their intentions and they expect you to take care of them. If you have no problem with this and you would open your home to them, then perhaps you should plan to lay aside some extra goods for them too. That's six extra people and I hope you haven't finished shopping yet. Oh, and don't forget the water issue too.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), December 22, 1999.

Hello again, Jim.

About that full moon: Here in northwestern Ohio, a dense cloud cover has once again obscured one of the many lunar wonders of a lifetime. Oh well, at least I could see the dim glimmer of the orb through the overcast skies. Hope the werewolves don't go crazy. Maybe the pagans are disturbed. No wait, they ARE disturbed. ;)

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), December 22, 1999.

P.S. That was another reason why I do not have a generator, it draws attention to you and your preparations. Are you prepared to let them walk off with your generator and how do you plan to stop them if they try to, or anyone else for that matter?

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), December 22, 1999.

Hey, bardou:

Once again, I agree with you. Why not? You embody common sense, which is lacking amongst so many others. I have no generators. I see no true reason to possess one in my neighborhood in Pollyannapolis. No one around here is preparing except me, the doomer idiot. They are mostly concerned about Christmas light decorations.

Having a generator would produce a wondrous noise in a neighborhood devoid of electricity. Do I really want EVERY STUPID DGI TO VISIT? No, I do not. I can provide only for my family and friends and closest neighbors.

How do I politely tell the DGI idiots to go to Haydes? What if they have guns and brandish their displeasure?

I tell you right now, I sincerely hope for that damn bump in the road!

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), December 22, 1999.

Jim...my hair would have stood on end. That is frightening to me. I would send one back to them..saying "merry christmas..best of luck in the new year...sorry I wasnt able to help you out..."

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), December 22, 1999.

bardou:

Please feel free to E-mail me privately. Confidentiality guaranteed.

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), December 22, 1999.

Deliver your generator to them now. Tell them you have changed your mind and now think Y2K is a farce and a fraud and if they are really worried about it they can keep the generator during the rollover.

Let the neighborhood pay them a visit if things are bad!

(Generators are _not_ a part of our preps, and you are about to find out why....)

-- cgbg jr (cgbgjr@webtv.net), December 22, 1999.

Thanks for the LOL at Pollyannapolis! and ain't the moon great. PS, it's not the last one of the century, just of the year. No generator for me either. Have a nice warmish in ground basement and lots of candles, lanterns & flashlights. I'll miss my computer, though. Seasons greeting to everyone!

-- nanook911 (rocki3@juno.com), December 22, 1999.

I have a generator. Plan on using it to run a freezer a few hours a day. Neighbors are welcome to store their food in it, of course! (Snicker)

Actually, I'll be using it this summer to make ice for all my DGI neighbors...who manage to still be alive by then.

-- GoldReal (GoldReal@aol.com), December 22, 1999.

you can take 2 ways on this the right way and the wrong way, my way is to love thy neighbor, but make em help plant the garden

-- sandy (rstyree@overland.net), December 22, 1999.

As one of the few resident Mexicans here I urge you: Never trust anyone who spells Torres as Torrez. we call them, "Chicanos falsos"

Bill in south Carolina

-- Bill Solorzano (notaclue@webtv.net), December 22, 1999.

I didn't buy a generator until I realized how much easier it would make washing clothes! Yes, I have a scrub board but I certainly don't want to use that! I can also charge the batteries in my laptop and maybe check the news on TV. Since all the close neighbors have generators hopefully the noise won't attract undesirables. I'll only run it during daylight hours so the lights won't show. During noisy rainstorms would be best!

-- ds (ds@deepsouth.com), December 22, 1999.

Yeah, it's a false addy.

Jedenfalls, DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS?

I've got one named Nathan, twentyish. He sometimes throws parties. Several weeks ago he had a beer blast, and he yelled through the screen doors, "Hi, my name's Nathan, and I'm an alcoholic!" His buddies laughed. I cringed.

Nathan is not prepared. My other neighbors are not soused, but they are complacent like pollywogs floating happily in a summer pond. They truly don't believe any bad things will happen. :(

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), December 22, 1999.

Hey, I just stepped outside in the freezing climate and saw the moon all sparkling and winking with delight! Kewl!

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), December 22, 1999.

Send them a card which says, "wer'e the Lecher family. Merry Christmas. Share your Wife."

-- Forrest Covington (theforrest@mindspring.com), December 22, 1999.

If you live in the 'burbs or even within "loud music distance" of your neighbors generators will be a total disaster!

I can think of no better way, except maybe a megaphone repeating an endless "come and get it!" message, of letting the WHOLE neighborhood know that YOU have prepared,YOU have stores of gas and who knows what else... it is only a matter of time(short) before they come to see just what you have...

-- matt (matt@somewhere.nz), December 22, 1999.

''if they know you have a generator,then their friends know and their friends and believe me it doesnt stop there. If you help one that is exponential: 1x1=2,2x2=4,4x4=16 & so on.... until you are looking for someone to help you, or someone decides 'who are you?We dont need you here anyway!'

-- feather jacobs (fjayco2@aol.com), December 23, 1999.

I've gotten several X-mas letters w/mentions of Y2K in them (though none quite as direct as yours).

Love the suggestion about using the genny to run your freezer, Goldbug (that's what I intend to do), but I really loved the storage availability for neighbors (think I'll offer it that way too).

-- Phread (lurking@y2k.com), December 23, 1999.

Jim,

I think what you have is someone reaching out with an invitation to begin a conversation. You mentioned that this family lives "behind" you which may be a very, very good resource for you if you need to get out of your house, etc. Tell them exactly what your position is. Don't sugar coat anything and let them know what THEY need to do NOW to get ready. There IS strength in numbers. Unless you talk you have no idea what this family has to offer. This is an opportunity that shouldn't be treated lightly or with fear, etc. Just MHO.

Mike

================================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), December 23, 1999.

I would like to know whose going to stand watch 24 hours a day to assure the generator and fuel do not get stolen? Can you troubleshoot and repair the generator if it breaks down? Do you have spare parts? People do get hungry and I don't think your neighbors are going to like it when your sitting in front of your TV chowing down a steak and your generator is humming right along. The least amount of attention you bring to yourself and family, the better chance you will have to survive. And just because someone is a friendly nice neighbor does not mean that's the way they will be in times of adversity. The thief comes in the night and the desperate does not give a rats ass about you or your loved ones.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), December 23, 1999.

You've got a real problem. But surely you expected this. When I started my Y2K preps, the first question I asked myself was whether I was willing to shoot neighbors who demanded food for their starving children, knowing that if I didn't, my own family would starve. The answer was "no". So I spent 9 months of prep time finding and securing an isolated rural property.

Good luck, -Jake

-- Jake (feels4u@gladimoved.com), December 23, 1999.

I think a whole lot more people are preparing than we might suspect.

A few months ago I noticed some construction at a house halfway down the block. They were at it for quite some time and now that the leaves are off the trees I can see what they were doing. The garage, which is in a hillside, was completely gutted and rebuilt. For all intents and purposes it looks like a bunker complete with a flagpole flying both the American flag and Vietnam POW flag. You know those big block-like wire cages filled with rocks that they use next to highways? They've got those surrounding the garage and a few blocks streetside about 20 feet in front of the garage door. Not your typical suburban garage I can assure you.

Also, just yesterday I saw another house on the other side of the street drilling a well (the truck with the drill had "Plumping, Heating, Well Pumps and Well Drilling" on the side). This is a narrow, but very long piece of property (maybe 3 acres) with two small houses, a barn (no livestock as far as I can tell), a greenhouse, a shed and all the way in the back bee hives. Nobody drills a well this time of year unless they truly GI.

Now I don't know these folks and doubt I will before rollover but I'd bet dollars to donuts that they are prepped/prepping. I *do* know that at least two other families on this block are prepping. Not to the extent I have, but enough that they won't be knocking on my door for at least 3-4 weeks.

So, if these other 'unknown' folks really are prepping, that makes 5 families (myself included) that are prepped on my block alone! And that's just the ones I know/can see visible signs of. How many others are filling the pantries that I don't know about?? I'm starting to worry less and less about using my generator...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), December 23, 1999.

i feel more sorry for Nathan that I do your neighbors. i think that card is pretty "ballsy". if you help them, you will have to help everyone they know too right? sounds like they have "boundary" problems and so they might not imagine you have any boundaries either and would offer to share your things with others.

actually i might go and see them this afternoon and tell them you were concerned about what they said in their card and want to make sure that they were kidding and are preparing because you only had enough money to prepare for your family. then give them a list of what they should buy. they have time in the next few days to do something. i told this to someone who used to joke that they would come to my house and it caused them to prepare when they realized i was NOT preparing for them and i meant what i said.

-- tt (cuddluppy@nowhere.com), December 23, 1999.

Is there any chance at all that they were joking? Being ironic? Dare I say, mocking? Remember, we are way, way out there with the Kennedy conspiracy theorists, alien abductees (and chemtrailers) as far as JQP is concerned.

Mind you, I've got a wierd card as well, from a programmer that I haven't talked to for years. It was a cartoon of a bunch of monks praying around a pile of computer equipment, with an abbot sticking his head through the door and asking how the Y2K remediation was going.

Said friend works for the Department of Defence in the UK, and he has no idea that I GI. Why did he choose that card? Make of that what you will.

-- Servant (public_service@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.

TECH 32:

You should mosey on over to those neighbors and introduce yourself BEFORE the rollover. GI neighbors may be your greatest asset if TSHTF. We did a little (rural) neighborhood awareness thing earlier this year, and were pleasently surprised at the number who were GI/prepping. A bit of community with good neighbors is the first step in providing for the 'common defense.'

Godspe

-- Pinkrock (aphotonboy@aol.com), December 23, 1999.

People, be prepared to share, especially if you're not hidden out in the woods.

If TSHTF, we are going to have to pull together to survive. I am planning on stringing cable off my generator to the houses surrounding mine, otherwise I may have people living in my house. If it gets that bad (hopefully not) The bottom line is, if TSHTF, we will be sharing what we have. Good luck and Happy Holidays.

-- Come on in (LaLa@LALALAND.com), December 23, 1999.

Everyone, Thanks for your many responses. First, I want to thank the gentlemen who attacked the way my family spells our name. I appreciate your "good" use of the forum and our time. Secondly, I plan on protecting the generator by use of chaining it to a wall with a heavy chain and a case hardened lock. TO cut off the lock, an individual will have to go through my two 90 pound doberman pinschers and my wife and I with our 12 gauge Mossberg riot shotguns (snub barrel and pistol grip). My fuel supply is in a 500 gallon tank that is in a Heavily secure Barn a few feet from my bedroom door. (We live kinda in the boonies) I am hoping that they weren't serious about "sharing my generator" I will not be sharing any generator with anyone. They are welcome, however, to come and stay (children included) as long as they like. I have made preparations for extra people. That's just the way I am.

-- Jim Torrez (jimtorrez21@hotmail.com), December 23, 1999.

That was no gentlemen Mr. Torrez, and I should suppose he would spell Sanchez as Sanches and so on...He's been nowhere south of the border and I can guarantee that... lurker 13

-- lurker 13 (lurker13@nowhere.here), December 23, 1999.

Thank you Jim.

-- Robert A Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), December 23, 1999.

A long thread! OK, I live in the 'burbs and one of my preps is a genny. Will run it part time to charge the inverter batteries, keep the food cold and cook some food. I've thought about neighbors (many have genny's too because of frequent summer power failures).

If an immediate neighbor inquires about borrowing some power, I will offer to let them string an extension cord to their house. I will ask them to share any gasoline they have, even in their vehicles. I will not go into my other preps. but will advise them of water in their water heater, pipes, toilet tanks, etc. I consider sharing to be ESSENTIAL if things are tough. But my .40 S&W will be in my pocket full time anyway...

-- Gary S. (garys_2k@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.

That was SO a gentleman, that was THE Bill Solorzano. Just don't ask me why he cares about spelling.

-- number six (!@!.com), December 23, 1999.

Well, it looks like you will need to go over there and have a frank discussion with the head of that household. I would suggest that you hand him $200 and tell him to go buy food and gasoline with it. He can use the genset if he has a long, large extension cord and gives you the gas. After the gas he has supplied is run through he's on his own. Tell him that every man is responsible for providing for his OWN family and if he doesn't do that the Bible says he is worse than a non-believer...and to get hopping down to the store ASAP.

If the man just stares at you then I'd say you have a serious attitudinal problem living behind you and that the sugar coating veneer of his 'faith' may well melt away if you do not 'give' him what he wants to take from you. Slice it however you like, but it doesn;t sound so good to me that these folks 'invited themselves to use your generator' in Christmas card. If they can not have an open discussion with you and try to use Christmas to lay a guilt trip on your head, then I'd say there's deeper problems there than what appear.

This brings up a problem which needs to be thought through: what do you say to those who laughed off preparing when they come to your door? They are still responsible for their own lives even after they find out they were wrong. My suggestion is that they pay for anything they get from you either with cash or labor. The fact is you are not a welfare agency or a charity. You do not have boundless resources. You do not know how long the problems will last and you are responsible to take care of your family FIRST. Possibly if these folks are relatives it would be sensible to take a loan out and buy supplies for them in advance. They can pay you back when they come to your door. Tell them that you knew they would want to pull their own weight and not be freeloaders.

This is not an issue of people who are knocked off their feet though no fault of their own. In that case give what you can. But freeloaders are not healthy people and in the cause of a greater love for these folks (namely supporting them in taking on their own responsibilities) it behooves to require that they pay for what they get.

-- ..- (dit@dot.dash), December 23, 1999.