I have seen such a number of threads discussing what we are suppposed to do with ourselves now that we are prepped. Some have worked through anxiety by buying things and now they don't have the same gut feeling, even needing to reread articles to believe again. There are a lot of parallels to this, I'm sure.

The one that comes to me is that of being pregnant. You're all ready . . . and ALL you can do is wait. How to fill the time?

I think of this as the 1920s. Things are really cooking, everybody's having fun. I have dubbed the year 2000 "The Year In-Between" since we can't seem to agree on when the millenium changes. Then comes the 1930s. How can you prepare for a Great Depression? Your answers are no doubt better than mine. Surely we can learn from history and understand our species beyond how to store and fix food, how to not freeze, how to live through an economic downturn. Surely we can not just live, but THRIVE by tapping spiritual reserves.

I had the blessing of speaking with a man last week born in 1908. He was a Methodist pastor until church politics became more than he cared to deal with. Went to DC to drive a bus and train others during WW2. "People were scared and scared people become mean. My job was basically to keep people from going plumb crazy."

What can we learn from this man's words? How can we prepare for the rest of our lives? We've prepped to some level of comfort. What do we do with comfort? Leisure? Why are we here?

Got books?

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 24, 1999

Answers

Three books by Conrad Richter. Third one won a Pulitzer Prize. A family leaves Pennsylvania in the 1700s for the Northwest Territory [Ohio] and lives for years without seeing the sky, the trees are so thick.

The Trees, The Fields, The Town by Conrad Richter

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 24, 1999.

If you've got your preps in place and you're comfortable with what you've done and acquired then just get out and enjoy your life!

Survivalism and preparedness are only a means to an end, not ends in themselves. Anything else is just not sustainable.

Go see some movies and have a good time. You'll be able to do this because you'll know you've got your ducks in a row.

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

The Prudent Food Storage FAQ, v3.5

http://www.providenceco-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@sprintmail.com), November 24, 1999.

I always brace myself for hard times by reading inspirational biographies (e.g. holocaust survivors, Scott of the Antarctic, Titanic etc.) It is good to read how some people never lose their principles no matter what, even under deadly and sometimes fatal peril. It makes me want to be as strong as they are. Even some films have that effect. For example the other Titanic movie - A Night to Remember.

-- citygirl (citygirl@idirect.com), November 24, 1999.

I find myself wondering how on earth I will put up with everyone who will be in my home if y2k is not a 10 but more than a 2. I don't think it will be pleasant at all. I am praying everynight for y2k to be a non-event just for that reason. Am I selfish or what?

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), November 24, 1999.

hi Carol, Some how that was very funny to me LOL. Just was discussing this same issue with my daughter about where to put Gramma if she has to stay with us. Daughter[16] got a little disgusted with me and said geez mom,why don't you just stick gramma in the closet.I love my mom, just don't want to live with her again. Yes you're selfish just like me!!I keep telling myself it will be soooooooo nice to have gram here especially if my sister her hubby and two darling maniac children decide to exit stage left the city. But i really do love them all just don't want them to live in my house .Real nice huh?

-- tress (tress59@aol.com), November 24, 1999.

I wondered how people would do with additional family opacked into the house.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 24, 1999.

Consider doing some additional preps and/or practicing skills:

learning to knit and doing some afgans...

studying for a ham radio license...

building a ham radio...

making soap...

making jerky...

making fishing lures...

making puppets...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), November 24, 1999.

Carol, Tess, et al-- Oh how I identify. Thought I was the only one dreading the influx but seeing the necessity of it. Thinking of spending time in the closet myself. Pam

-- Pamela (jpjgood@penn.com), November 26, 1999.