PRACTICE DAY #2: Weekend Warriors for Y2K or, Getting in Touch with Your Inner Pioneer

The first Practice Day I was on top of everything...dishes washed, clothes clean, showered, menu planned, just waltzed through, the perfect y2k hostess.

This one happened in the end of Lent, vegan diet for 5 weeks, protein starved, disorganized, forgot dishes, clothes, shower, etc. There is a vast difference in doing unfamiliar things when stressed, whether nutritionally, mentally, spiritually, or hygienically. Guess Im not going to be the Martha Stewart of y2k.

The first day wasnt too bad, but we decided to continue for two more days because it seemed like a good chance to run out the discomfort and really learn some things. We were right about that!

We got mighty tired of carrying water. Never realized how heavy water is. We learned an enormous amount.....doing a whole load of laundry took 1 and 1/2 hours, 6 and 1/2 gallons of water. That left 4 gallons of rinse water to carry for toilet flushing, and my right wrist sore from wringing. Also, clothes that have not been spin dried take a lot longer to dry, even on a good day. I practically leaped for joy when Fred Beeler subsequently suggested using a mop bucket with a wringer or water squeezer for laundry!

We found out that Dietz lanterns are great for outside, but smelly inside (had to air out the house, glad it wasnt too cold.) One of the Aladdins ran out of fuel, burning the wick down, and when my husband grabbed it to blow it out, spilled fuel from the burner collar all over his hand and the rug. (More water to carry.) That is another good reason not to carry an Aladdin. Got to watch the fuel levels in those lamps.

I suffered from not reading the newspaper or mail...didnt realize how much they were part of my routine. And yes, I cheated by reading some e-mail, lets not even think about that addiction!

It was also interesting how sore one can get from a lot of unfamiliar physical activity. A couple of big bottles of pain relievers are on my list now.

There were, of course, some good moments; having time to candy some violets, taking a ride on my 3-wheeled bike with Alan on his in-line skates, and walking the dogs with Dietz lanterns and having great conversations with some neighbors........ The following week we went to two big y2k meetings, both with many local and regional y2k organizers. At neither one had more than one or two others done this Practice Day.

Why? There were three main reasons given; one, that people did not want to be made uncomfortable before they had to be, two, that they were just too busy, and three, that people disagreed with the scenario in Practice Day (no lights, no water), and so felt no need to practice it.

OK, I can sympathize with all three reasons. What bothers me is that is that SOME KINDS OF BREAKDOWNS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, even if we dont know what particular scenario will play out.

Unfortunately, most people prepare for y2k by just going shopping!

If you believe that a change of consciousness is going to be the big outcome in terms of society, you better be sure you can talk to other people in a loving and rational manner when protein starved, in unfamiliar circumstances, under stress. If your scenario calls for infrastructure breakdowns, then practice that.

When I was an emergency medical technician in the fire department, we practiced scenarios once a week. I dont remember a scenario we practiced happening in the exact same way, but we sure used the same skills on a lot of other calls. It is necessary to practice things like CPR or starting an IV over and over and over again, preferably with all kinds of noise and distraction, just like it really happens in the field. Each time we used CPR or other medical skill was unique, and surprised us, but at least we could fall back on training, practice, trust in our team and equipment.

I dont know of any kind of job, hobby, skill, or sport where you dont have to practice, physically and mentally, to do it well; especially ones that involve stress or feelings of deprivation.

One last thing we decided to do for y2k practice: Take one area and practice it for a week; like water, or lights, or washing, so that we can get really familiar with the subject. Whatever you are giving up doesnt really start to bite until the second or third day.

It doesnt really matter exactly how you practice, but it does matter that you learn to adapt, to perform under adverse conditions. No matter what Senator Bennett says, we are not just practicing for a three day snowstorm.

Donna Jones

-- donna Jones (seraphima@aol.com), April 05, 1999