As a person who's lived in the country most of my life, physical hard work is no stranger to me. However, I wonder about the people living in the cities planning to bug out to the stix to fend for themselves... will they be physically prepared to accomplish every-day tasks, such as gathering fuel to stoke the stove, gathering water, hunting, defending the perimeter, mending fences, hauling stuff, etc.?

This just came to mind, for an out-of-shape friend of mine decided to take up jogging. To make a story short, he over-exerted himself and ended up having to visit the doctor. Apparently, he "over-did it", and had chest pains and some sore muscles as a result...the doctor told him to lay off for a couple of days before continuing his routine.

Unfortunately, when it comes to survival concerning a Y2K meltdown scenario, one may not have the time to "take a few days off" to mend, let alone consult a doctor. Although I live in the country, I do come in to town from time to time...and when I visit the superstores, I see lots of overweight people who appear to be out of shape...especially the children.

In essence, those not used to strenuous work may have a hard time adjusting. I wonder how many people are going to keel over from heart-attacks due to sudden overexertion or suffer injuries from lack of experience doing hard manual labor (especially during the winter months, when hypothermia is an issue)...any comments on this? Perhaps I'm over-reacting about this, and it is a trivial concern...lemme know.

I don't know what the extend of Y2K's effect will be here in Michigan, but I'm doing the best I can with what I have, just in case...staying healthy and keeping fit is just another thing on the list of things to do...

-- Tim Pixley (pixmo@pixelquest.com), August 30, 1998

Answers

Personally, I think anyone prone to a heart attack is going to have already had it due to fear and panic!!

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), August 30, 1998.

If things get bad enough for the bugging out to occur in force, then there won't be any sticks left to cut down.

-- Buddy Y. (buddy@bellatlantic.net), August 31, 1998.

Yes, the physical demands that may be required are a serious concern. We purchased our farm 2 years ago and I am still trying to get in shape (not successfully since I still work as a computer consultant and sit too many hours a day). We are attempting to do as much as possible now so we are used to it.

Don't forget milking the goats/cows! You have no idea how sore your hands and arms get for the first few weeks.

I think everyone definitely needs to put getting in shape on their preparedness list.

-- beckie (sunshine_horse@yahoo.com), August 31, 1998.

Your question is well posed. We really are an out of shape people, and hard times requiring extra ordinary stress will certainly takes its toll on each of us that are overweight and out of shape. May I also take another tack that is the concern of my business. That is how well we be able to handle the stress of survival if we don't have anything to eat. Even those who enter the year 2000 in good condition, won't be if they have to go without food for very long.

My Perma Pak business is focused on helping people get some food stored before they face Y2K. We feel there are going to be disruptions in this country the likes of which we have never seen. Inevitably, a lack of food will be one of the first areas of stress. If this is not one of the areas you have been considering, both for you and your family, I strongly urge you to do so now.

Take a look at our Website. If it interest you in any way, or you will to call and talk to me, or e-mail me, I shall be happy to talk with you. (801) 756-8853 Or (801) 756-2488.

Website address: http://www.itsnet.com/~skelling/permapak.htm

Thanks for listening.

Vern Holland

-- Vern Holland (vernholland@writeme.com), September 03, 1998.

out of shape you have to be kidding. City people are in way better shape.We go to health centers jog watch what we eat and our weight. just came back from upstate.never seen so many out of shape people in one place.must be meat and overeating. ,

-- Steve M (ltyw90a@prodigy.com), September 06, 1998.

I agree Steve. There are overweight, out of shape people no matter where you go. Despite the stereotype, most farmers don't milk cows, gather the eggs, and chop wood everyday. There are a lot of farmers who sit in an air conditioned tractor everyday.

-- none (none@none.com), September 06, 1998.

As far as City people being "In Shape", they are only in shape as far as the demands of an ARTIFICIAL (Read Gymnasium) environment go. The real world of rural and wilderness living requires far more than the ability to run a few miles on a treadmill, or hoisting some pig iron on a weight machine. Those "Fat Farmers" That you dismiss may be somewhat porcine, but are pound for overweight pound, some of the most powerful folk that you'd never want to tangle with. I grew up and still live in a now semi rural suburb of Sacramento. I know some of these "Overweight Farmer" types. These men can buck hay all day, wrestle cranky dairy stock into submission and do other intensely physical work that would leave us more "Citified" types groveling in the barnyard dust. One fellow I knew, who went by the nickname"Buddha", was also a fireman who would sometimes obviate the use of the "Jaws of Life" by manually tearing off car doors and peeling back roofs. Yes, I've seen him do it. As far as surviving in the stix, a positive mental outlook and common sense far outstrip a gym bod and an abdominal six-pack. Remember- in the worst case scenario, those who wear some additional calories do tend to do better than those with low bodyfat content. So think before you "Fun" our Country Cousins.

-- Damian Solorzano (oggy1@webtv.net), September 06, 1998.

I didn't mean to imply that all farmers are fat and lazy. However let's face it, farming does not require the physical labor that it did in the first part of this century. Dairy farmers do not milk cows by hand - they use milking machines. Grain farmers do not plant and harvest by hand or use horses - they use machines. If all the farmers eventually have to go back to the old way of farming, there will be many sore bodies. They will survive. They won't all die of heart failure, but it will not be an easy life.

-- none (none@none.com), September 06, 1998.