It's gratifying to see so many people who plan to continue their preparedness programs even though it appears that Y2K (this far, at least) has been pretty much a non-event.

Oh, some of the polly trolls really cranked themselves up in the various web site forums and newsgroups but their attention spans are short and they are mostly beginning to fade now. Saw some fair weather survivalists unloading their perishables and gear but that was to be expected. Still quite a few folks who are new to the idea of preparedness who are going to stay with it.

Glad to see you and hope y'all will be staying for a while. Preparedness is a process of steady evolution and I'm sure your personal programs will look pretty different in ten years or even five but you'll never regret having started. I can tell you that after twenty years my program now does not remotely look like what I started with back in 1980. Whatever the next great preparedness wave ultimately turns out to be, you are the ones who'll be the old hands to help the newcomers along in their turn.

If Y2K has taught us any lesson at all, I believe that lesson is we should not allow ourselves to become wedded to the idea of "the next disaster." Whether you call yourself a survivalist or just someone who wants to be prepared the idea is that each individual should be generally prepared for whatever may come your way. Virtually all survival scenarios you can come up with will share most of the same necessary preparations in common. Strive to cover those and any that are specific to a particular scenario can be dealt with when you percieve the need.

As we've seen from the behavior of some already, becoming too caught up in the idea of one particular diaster that may occur can lead to a sense of bitterness and disillusionment when that disaster fails to happen. This may well cause the whole idea of preparedness to be abandoned as a waste of time.

If you're really new to the idea of preparedness, come on down to the Cooperative web site. There's a number of Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) files there on a variety of preparedness topics that are free for the taking that can help you get off to a good start. I add more occasionally when I find something worthwhile.

Looking forward to sharing with everyone in the coming years.

............Alan.

The Providence Cooperative - A great source of preparedness information

http://www.providenceco-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), January 21, 2000

Answers

Alan,

The Cooperative FAQs are terrific. Thanks!

Question: in general terms, would you be willing to describe the path along which your prep system has evolved?

yours from an appreciative preps newbie,

-- silver ion (ag3@interlog.com), January 21, 2000.

Alan,

I think that you will find most of the people which still are on the prep forum that Big Dog has set up for us, are the people that have made life-style changes. I know that I have. I hope to never have to run to the store at least weekly.

While I have been using my preps, I am in constant restore mode. I have continued to add to my preps, and actually see no reason to stop. I am grateful that Y2K gave me a reason to get back to my "roots" if you will. My family always was well stocked, but that is something that I have gotten away from in the years that I have been away from them. I am grateful that I have now resumed a life- sytle that my family has always enjoyed.

Also, I would like to add that my family has been eating much healthier meals in the past few months. I always thought we ate healthy, but now I am sure of that we are.

Donna

-- (Sheeple@Greener.Pastures), January 21, 2000.

Alan,

We used your preparedness info constantly. Thank you.

-- helen (sstaten@fullnet.net), January 22, 2000.

Many people will take advantage of the state of preparedness they are in and maintain that level - for a variety of reasons- some of which include; It is more convenient, a full pantry means less trips to stores, saves time, money, fuel. If there is any situation, ice storm, snow, tornado, winds, - anything - a person can still keep self and family warm, well fed, well entertained, safe, healthy - the responsible thing to do. It saves the others from having shortages as fast at stores as persons stock up for a storm.

It is easier on suppliers and economy to smooth out purchases over longer periods of time, and provides for you and yours waht may not be available the next day(s).

Some persons are still unsure about future stability in a number of areas.

A person does not have to commit to a narrow scenario to keep supplies in a wise fashion or save money in bulk purchases.

-- Living in (the@real.world), January 23, 2000.

Question: in general terms, would you be willing to describe the path along which your prep system has evolved?

-- silver ion (ag3@interlog.com), January 21, 2000.

Probably much like everyone elses that has been doing this for many years. I've made about 4/5ths of all the mistakes one can make, learned from them all and tried never to make the same error twice.

I've gradually evolved from my primary concerns of nuclear war/hurricanes/civil breakdown to just being generally prepared. Nearly every scenario you can imagine will share many of the same preparedness requirements as all of the rest so now I don't plan for any one specific disaster. I eventually realized that the solo-survivalist concept would be a hard road to travel and have very slowly cultivated a number of individuals that also has at least some interest in preparedness so that we now form a loose knit group (the Cooperative). The people have changed over the years but the general idea goes on. We're also slowly getting over into a more community survival orientation because it will improve everyones chances of making it.

As most of us will do when we first discover a new interest I used to spend considerable time and energy on it and gradually came to the realization that method of approach is not sustainable over long periods of time. We now take a hobbyist's approach to acquiring new skills and equipment. Took a long time to understand that survivalism is only a means to an end (living a fulfilled life) and not an end in itself. Once I did, though, I relaxed considerably about the whole thing while still getting the necessary jobs done.

No mistake about it though, it does impact your lifestyle and outlook on life. Every time we move we get just a little bit further out of town. Every year that goes by we learn to be just a little bit more self-reliant. We pick up just a little bit more gear to improve our preparedness. The Internet has been a real boon to the entire effort. You can now find information in a year what it used to take many years to learn before though you still have to have real time for that information to digest and reveal its true value.

............Alan.

The Providence Cooperative - A great source of preparedness information

http://www.providenceco-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), January 24, 2000.

Alan, thanks. I'm w/ you for sure on 'moving a little further out of town every time'. Still an urban dweller, but I'm terribly impressed w/ myelf because I now understand (and practice!) the mechanics that would underpin, say, a few months spent on a plot of rural/remote land. When you factor in the disaster preparedness aspect (thanks for pointing out the need to stay relaxed about it), this is a wonderful deal here.

Best,

-- silver ion (ag3@interlog.com), January 24, 2000.