What do we do now?

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I was looking over the front page of the N.Y. Times the other day at a story about the impeachment trial in the senate. The motion for dismissal had just been submitted. It was then that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who is presiding over the trial, turned to someone close to him and asked softly "What do we do now?" Five little words. You know how sometimes a phrase just strikes you? Well, this question had that affect on me. Not because of the trial. Because of Y2K. Instantly I thought of person after person with this same question on their lips, all asking it at the same time, everywhere. "What do we do now?" When confronted with something new or without precedent, this is a logical question to ask.

What will cause people to ask this? Many things, including a Y2K failure. One that affects them personally. Maybe the juice is still off, or the phone does not work, or there are lines in front of the banks, or martial law is declared. Think of your own examples. We continually discuss these possibilities. By preparing as best we can now, we are to some degree answering the question of "What do we do now" ahead of time for various scenarios. It occurs to me that despite this, we too may not think of everything and will ask ourselves this same question, for we cannot anticipate everything. However, the Forget Its, Don't Wanna Get Its, and Don't Get Its will ask this question too late, having thought of none of this before. They will need answers too, and quickly. So it seems likely to me that this is going to be a very popular question. Perhaps one without an answer, for those who have given Y2K the amount of "thought" limited to a sound bite on the tube.

Don't be one of them. For each Y2K problem you can envision, ask the question "What do we do now" as if it has really just happened to you. Do this now. Prepare accordingly. Beat the last minute rush. There is still time, but it is later than you may think. This is not a matter of doom and gloom. It is not a matter of optimism vs. pessimism - it is a matter of prudence. Visualize the specific problem, then ask yourself the question: What do we do now? Most importantly, answer this now, while you can think rationally and there isn't pressure to 'do something'. By acting this out, you may not have to ask it later. You will have some idea what to do because you have thought about it ahead of time. It is your choice: now or later.

What do we do now? Five little words. It's your move.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), January 31, 1999

Answers

Rob: I posted this earlier and thought it relevant here...
Y2K - The Ball Is In Your Court Now


-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), January 31, 1999.

Rob,

re: the Forget it's, DGIs and DWGIs

the thing is to be in the position to help at least some of them without allowing yourself to be taken down by the thrashing of the rest - sorta like trying to safely rescue *some* folks in a pool full of drowning people.

just a thought. Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), January 31, 1999.


-- Arlin H. Adams commented:

"the thing is to be in the position to help at least some of them without allowing yourself to be taken down by the thrashing of the rest - sorta like trying to safely rescue *some* folks in a pool full of drowning people. "

Excellent thought !! I think ones salvation will reside with their willingness to help others within their limits.

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), January 31, 1999.


Rob: great post. The other night I was driving home, it was 8 degrees, and I left my car heat off "to see what it's like." Halfway home I could picture my kids, cold, asking me when they can get warm again. Sobering thought, that. Solution: wood stove. Envision the problem, then solve it. There's still time.

-- Spidey (senses@tingling.com), January 31, 1999.

To Rob and Arlin,

Very apropos. Thank you.

I became aware of the apparent seriousness of Y2K at the beginning of this year. I have been using this forum and site with its numerous links along with other sources to try and figure this thing out the best way I can.

I have found this forum very helpful. It is obvious to me that there are a lot of intelligent and insightful people that know far more about this than I do that post resources, dissected dialogue of articles, and many times helpful advice.

To those of you with the wealth of information, the insight, and the know-how try not to let yourselves get too derailed from your mission. I have a feeling that there are newbies visiting this site all the time and they unfortunately do not have time on their side. They need all the help you can give them.

Thank you all for helping me wind my way through this maze.

-- Carol (usa-uk@email.msn.com), January 31, 1999.



Carol: We can give you information and advice, but I wonder how many newbies who have visited this website have felt intimidated or overwhelmed by the whole thought process of Y2K? It's a tough thing to take at the beginning, but you have very little time to sit and contemplate your navel. There's very little time left to prepare. I am expecting food shortages and shortages of other goods relevant to survival to begin quickly as word and panic start to spread like wild fire. And, I am seeing it in our community now. Went to WalMart today and still no wicks for oil lamps, 2 bottles of oil, no Diamond wooden matches, 10 cans of camp stove fuel, low supply of batteries. Then I went down the canned food isle and noted that SPAM, Dinty Moore Beef Stew, chili were low in stock. I asked the stock person if they've been experiencing more people buying this type of stuff and he said everytime there's a church Y2K meeting, they get bombarded with people coming in emptying the shelves and it takes a couple weeks to get new stock in. It's time for all newbies to act and act now.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), January 31, 1999.

Good one Rob,

Just get ready for anything. You'll be prepared for natural, manmade or personal lifestyle disasters. That's valuable assurance and insurance.

You'll feel great too.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 31, 1999.


Rob, a little off topic, but this reminded me of you. :-)

http://www.seattletimes.com/news/business/html98/fisc_013099.html

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), January 31, 1999.


Rob,

I am excited to hear you say that! I am reminded of the contemporary Christian song that goes...

"Thank you for giving to the Lord, ...I am a life that was saved. Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am so glad you gave."

I hope that when I get to heaven, someone will say that to me.

May God bless.

Me

-- me (justme@aol.com), February 01, 1999.


Arnie: That was one heck of a post, and I can see why it has relevance. Thanks for the link. FWIW, I also have over 20 years computer experience and have some thoughts that are similar, if not identical, to ones you expressed.

Arlin: I have felt for some time that the best way to help folks is to get them to help themselves. The more folks that can get their own life preserver for that pool you mentioned, the less will drown.

Spidey: Exactly. Visualize the problem ahead of time and you have a much better chance of solving it if and when it comes up later. BTW, if you do get a wood stove, you may want to get a copy of the book American Wood Heat Cookery" by Margaret Byrd Adams.

Carol: You are probably right about the newbies visiting this site. Every once in a while someone comes out of lurking and posts for that 'first time', but we never know how many are still just reading and not posting. Anyway, there are a lot of folks on the forum that are really trying to help. I try in my own way and hope to continue to help. Y2K is overwhelming. It requires thought, preparation, a change to how we may live our lives, money, and just plain old hard work. These are some reasons that despite all of the evidence, some people still do not get it. They may have the information but cannot deal with the potentialities on an emotional basis. Always remember that even though others may laugh at you, that you are not alone, nor are you wrong to be concerned and prepare. What you really are, compared to the Forget its, Don't wanna get it's and Don't get its, is EARLY. Listen to bardou and Diane about acting now, and insurance/assurance. First step: determine your Y2K survival priorities: shelter/location, water, and food are good things to start with. Hope this helps. Hang in there.

Gayla: You, off-topic? LOL! Remember poor Grandmama's check and where that led? :-)

me: Uh, well, Hmmmm?!?! I am sure a 'thank you' is in order, but I don't know what I said that you became excited about! LOL. Blessing accepted with open arms.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), February 01, 1999.



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