Is it Wise to Keep Prepping?

I suspect that up to this point, Y2K has been a bit of a mental "let down" for some of us. Not that we wanted the world to end or anything mind you, but after the months or years of preparing, leading to a build up to a fateful December 31, and nownow, we are left with this empty feelinga loss of momentum Do you ever find yourself thinking, "Gee, a little 3-day nationwide power outage wouldn't have hurt anything, right?" (Attention Polly Trolls: this is tongue-in-cheek!)

The stores are still loaded with merchandise, we have received additional paychecks (hopefully) and have the ability to buy additional supplies. If Y2K throws us a curve ball, or if some other situation arises, won't we be in a better position if we were wise enough to keep prepping? OK, on to my question: Is anyone else in the "prepping" mode; i.e., continuing to refine or add to their preps., or are most of us in the "start using them up" mode?

To anyone still "prepping," I am curious what are you buying, and why? Is there any use to continue, or should we rest on our laurels, kick back, and smell the coffee?

Live Long and Prosper!

-- No Polly (nopolly@hotmail.com), January 27, 2000

Answers

Personally, I'll just "cycle" my preps. I plan on keeping this nifty new lifestyle. Whenever bad weather/whatever threatens, I just go grab a beer, make a fresh pizza and kick back.

Three day storm? Panic shopping? What's THAT?

;^)

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), January 27, 2000.

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=002QkX

-- This Settles (th@question.com), January 27, 2000.

The past few months have been "the end of the world" as I knew it. My awareness of the world around me has increased exponentially. I can say on looking back that ignorance truly was bliss. Prepping is no longer an emergency operation. It is now a way of life. I feel much more secure knowing that I can feed my famiy and keep them warm regardless of what's happening outside our little corner of the world. I feel that this seeming BITR has given me the chance to make a plan and proceed a little more leisurely. This forum has taught me so much. I've mostly been a lurker, but have come to view you all with affection. Thank you Ed Yourdan and others who did what they knew was the right thing. My family is safer from many things because of the knowledge you provided and the further learning it prompted me towards. Keep prepping? My answer is a resounding YES!

-- grannyclampett (don'thave@clue.com), January 27, 2000.

Prepping? maybe maybe not. Certainly cycling through and replacing used preps would simply be prudent. Decreasing the quantity of stuff on the shelves in the pantry (basement) MIGHT be a good idea if you have enough for a decade.

For those of us who haven't seen enoiugh of the fat lady to know whether she has sung yet or not, maintaining a specific level of preps might be a very good thing. Not to mention going back through the preps and replacing the accidentaly bought 20 pounds of pitted prunes for something a bit less, how to say-- productive, might be a good idea (Raisins, dates or dried apples for instance).

["Hin, aren't these pitted dates a BIT on the wrong color side??" perplexed husband.

"You dummy, read the label! Pitted PRUNES!!" exasperated wife.

"oh"]

Chuck

Apocryphal but there ARE some things that will get cycled through the trash can and replaced in MY basement.

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), January 27, 2000.

In my humble opinion it would be wise to "stay" prepped over the course of the next 10 years. We are going to see some difficulties, y2k related or not. Lets use y2k as a "wake-up call" to greater independance and self-reliance.

-- JoseMiami (caris@prodigy.net), January 27, 2000.

I'm staying prepped, but my prepping was done all wrong, in that I left food for my friends in NY and prepped for me and my sister here in FL. When I go back in March, I'll prep more to my personal preferences and also begin to add in more consumer items such as light bulbs, office supplies, and so on.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), January 27, 2000.

I get paid monthly. My paycheck on Jan. 4th was dated Dec. 30th. I'm still waiting for my first 2000 paycheck on Feb.1st. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'm optimistic, yes, but still waiting for that other shoe to drop.

What am I still buying? OTC meds, for one. Cheap imported goods for another. Like extra tennies etc. Coffee. Keeping the car gas tank in the top half. All these because of the oil situation. Still buying the NiMh batteries now that I have the nifty solar recharger; once I get them into everything we own I won't need any for a looooong time.

We have used some of our preps. Only a few meals' worth. Enough to be getting into the ability to just sort of poke around and come up with a nice meal, even when there's "nothing to eat". So, what I am still buying are the things that we have actually enjoyed out of that. Stuff for easy casseroles. Olive oil which makes everything taste better. I am getting pickier now that I don't feel like I have to be in a survival mode.

We sure have gone through the light bulbs this month. Replaced at least half the bulbs in the house.

I am still looking at that Big Berkey...

and I am very thankful this is the night of the State of the Union address and not the State of the Empire address...

-- mommacarestx (nospam@thanks.com), January 27, 2000.

After all the provided info on this forum have me "aware" of. I am still being educated and, as a result, I am still preparing.

Always on the look-out for a bargain, after all, nobody in my family did a thing.

I guess I can't have too much. I (and my family) will use it all eventually, problems or not.

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), January 27, 2000.

I am staying prepped as I have been since 1981. In the past, I have consistently maintained a 14 day supply. Now, that level will be maintained at 60 days, after backing off a little post rollover.

This is a most uncertain world we live in. The current President is the most dangerous since FDR. There are crazy people with nukes and crazy dictators who await the opportunity to hurt this nation. Our economic future is uncertain at best. Currently, it is looking more and more like we are heading for a substantial Energy crisis, which could ultimately lead to a war against the Arabs to seize the oil, rather than be bled to death through the wallet.

Stay prepped. You just might stay alive.

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), January 27, 2000.

We will continue to rotate our preps as always. Will be adding an outhouse this summer to help when kids and their families are all home for visits. (13 people and counting put the old septic system into overdrive.)

We're putting down a new hand-pump for fresh water....well away from outhouse! Will (hopefully) have the $$$ for putting up windmill for pumping water, but if money isn't available will at least have hand- pump to use.

-- justme (justme@myhouse.com), January 27, 2000.

Yes I am still prepping. We are using the preps now making great soaps. It is great to rotate the items . What helped us was we had to wait till January to get money from our 401K to pay off our Credit Cards. One rate flew up from 9.9% last Januaray to 27% by September. The other went from 9.9% and flew to 21% this January. I was worried we would not be able to get the money out if there was y2k problems this month. Happy I got rid of those losers- Fleet and USA Bank..

-- Cassandra Bello (american_storm@usa.net), January 27, 2000.

Ask anyone in NC, where grocery stores are running or have run out of food items (bread, meat, milk, eggs, and produce, for starters) due to the huge snow storm--with another storm on the horizon for the weekend! One store had to call the police tonight because customers didn't want to leave when the store closed early.

-- Up (to-our@knees-in.snow), January 27, 2000.

I've got 350lbs potatoes, 50lbs onions, 80lbs yams, 60lbs apples, 50lbs carrots, 140 quarts of canned goods. These will be eaten; I assume there will be a harvest. I'' also use and replace the 150 gallons of gas for the genny.

-- John (LITTMANNJ@AOL.COM), January 27, 2000.

momacares: Seriously consider the system at www.pwgazette.com. You can navigate the site or go to http://www.pwgazette.com/gravity.htm directly. Do read their research as they have a sense of humor!

My only connection to them is that I spent a hundred bucks, got 2 candles, 2 carbon filters and one siphon system. these are exactly what the big Berkey uses it's just not quite as sexy nor as convenient. the WATER is just as pure.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), January 27, 2000.

Just today welded up the frame for the second array of solar panels. Have to get these up with array number one and on to the last two panels. Expecting the price of electicity, as a reflection of its link to other energy, start to rise.

Just planted seeds for early spring salads. Probability of trucking problems and resulting delivery issues due to fuel.
Drawing up plans to build a methane digester (gotta get rid of the big dog contribution to the landscaping and figured, eh? Make my own methane just when propane is gonna skyrocket due to serious brine shortage which is due to global maximum salt production failing to meet current industrial demand.
Starting to acquire some of the materials for a new chicken house.

Still 'prepping'? No, too damn busy with all this other crap. Should be done sometime around June and then I can get back to the preps. Need to get another 10 panels at least 90 watt. Need another 2 dozen batteries. L-16s. Course those are heavy at 150 pounds. And I need to weld up support racks for them. Then there are the new fruit trees to get. And the additional canning jars. And of course need to get a couple of small wind gennys. Which brings up the need for a new diesel tank. Course have to wait for diesel to drop in price. Or maybe figure out a bio diesel alternative. Peanuts? Reminds me. Snack time.

bona fortuna.

-- pliney the younger (pliney@puget.sound.cold.damp), January 27, 2000.

Have used some preps, rotated others. Will continue to by during sales. I truly enjoy this preparation lifestyle. Feel as though I`m always one step ahead. Keep on Preppin`-- rough economic times are a comin`.

-- NoJo (RSKeiper@aol.com), January 27, 2000.

'Keep prepping'? You better! BigDog says "chaos by June 2000".

Get those preps done, Faithful.

-- 90 day (return@policy.coming up), January 28, 2000.

What are L-16s? What brand, model 90 watt panel? I thought BP was best, but saw only 75s and 60s for them (so far).

-- zorba (zorba@the.great), January 28, 2000.

10 panels and you're only getting 90 watts?

Hmmn.....group called EPV (NJ) has 40 watt amorphous Si panels available at 3.00 per watt. Shipping adds a bit to that price.....these are available in either 17volt (OC) or 60 volt (OC, 45 volt MPPT). Course, if you use the high volt panels, you can use smaller wiring from the panels to the controller, but you do need a charge controller to go from panels to battery. Email me, I'm interested in your experience.

---...---...---

Otherwise, I'm also busy continuing with life, maintaining (and refilling) prep's against these '3-in-a-row, 3-day winter storms" .... that seem to keep coming up.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), January 28, 2000.

Am still in boonies, and still prepping. Additionally, Y2K got my family off any bullseyes, and into a healthier (mind/body) lifestyle.

www.y2ksafeminnesota.com

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), January 28, 2000.