I don't know about everyone else on this forum, but ... we're STILL preparing.

In spite of the world not ending Jan 1, I know deep down that a lot of the worlds computer systems were NOT fixed. And while neither I - nor anyone else probably - will know *for sure* that all the problems we're hearing and reading about are y2k related, its quite clear to us that something big will be happening in the near future. The recent problems we've seen posted on this forum, and other places, is just tooo much for me (do people REALLY believe its all just coincidence!?)

Therefore, our family has opted to continue with our preps. Tightening our belts, keeping our assets close to 'home', etc. Growing food on our land (along with some chickens and other small animals) is just one of the ways we can try to protect ourselves against the dependencies most of us have too much of.

I know that we'll *always* be dependent on other human beings for lots of things. We're not running off to the hills to hide from humanity and be total survivalists. But - the less dependent one can be - in termns of water, energy, food, etc - the better off you are.

People who make comments on this forum that they don't see any increases in food prices when they go shopping .. I wonder if they're really thinking straight or not. Price increases don't happen overnight. When Maine farmers cant get their potatoes to market because truck drives wont drive up there due to non-reimbursable diesel fuel costs ... how long do you think it will take before TSHTF?

While we hope and pray things hold together for a lot longer - it just dont seem that way, and it's STILL PRUDENT to prepare. Y2k wasn't the only risk.

-- lou (lanny1@ix.netcom.com), February 10, 2000

Answers

Kudos to you.

I too would be still preparing but my bunker is congested.

>"<

-- Squirrel Hunter (nuts@upina.cellrelaytower), February 10, 2000.

Dittos to the kudos. Kook Manor is bulging at the seams with beans.

Has bean Kook

-- Y2Kook (Y2Kook@usa.net), February 10, 2000.

Absolutely still prepping here too. Y2K is pretty much playing out as I expected; fuel issues and their effects, business problems and failures, saber rattling by various countrys and now these hacker attacks. It remains condition yellow here and I see no reason to lessen our preparedness posture until at least next year (at which point it might be extended or even ratched up though I hope not).

This is a period of "refining" and making minor additions to our preps and there are some great deals to be had.

-- Don Kulha (dkulha@vom.com), February 10, 2000.

Lou, Don, Kook, All,

I was beginning to think I was the only one "still" prepping. Actually, it is like Don said, minor tweaking, shopping for bargains, etc. Maybe I'm a prep addict... just today I did some Valentines Day shopping, and Longs Drugs had canned soup and tamales on sale, so, I came home with a bunch. Yesterday, a supermarket had TP for 59 cents for the 4-pack, so I couldn't resist.

"Y2K wasn't the only risk" -Amen

-- No Polly (nopolly@hotmail.com), February 10, 2000.

Can we every be too careful when it comes to helping our families to survive hard times...my children will be provided the knowledge as well as the stocks to survive... I had this friend...he still is...but we don't talk anymore..sad...but we don't talk because his mind is on eat...drink,,,and be happy... and y2k is hysteria... hype and for fools to believe could even remotely happen... all I know for sure is nothing is so secure that it cannot be undermined...speaking in the physical realm not spiritual... Being prudent to foresee what may lay ahead is wise... I've learned how to set a pace in things I do...not to waste and not to depend on things that may not be dependable tomorrow... that means I have to creatively grow what vegetables I can...set up the best alternatives for power and heating... it actually means I have to work and discipling myself like those whom founded this country... it neat to be a pilgrim...its even better to know I'm a justa passin thru. Bryan

-- SB Ryan G III (sbrg3@juno.com), February 10, 2000.

Not intentionally adding to preps...but we're not using them up yet either..."code yellow" probably is a good description of the current scene. So much seems to be "on the edge" at this time. (Yeah, I know, the "wise-guys" say it's been like that since the 80's).

The longest US economic boom in history is wonderful, except what has followed every single such boom? When the current bubble.com bursts could we experience the longest or worst economic bust in history? Or has the economic cycle been repealed somehow? D'ya really think this time is different? What's the evidence for that? Is is the same kind of evidence that was offered to keep nearly all the suckers in the market in mid 1929?

-- Concerned (WatchOut@Below.com), February 10, 2000.

Prep addict? LOL

You guys should see my brocholli!!! I'm about to harvest.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), February 10, 2000.

Good for you! Stay prepped. It is the only sensible way to go. In this uneasy and uncertain world we live in, we have to take steps to be certain that we have a better chance at getting through a crisis.

I have my stash leveled off at about 60 days supply and plan to maintain that level TFN.

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), February 10, 2000.

I'm keeping all my preps uptodate -rotation, etc.

I'm getting a bit tired of topping off my car gas every two - three days. But better safe than sorry.

-- (hope@is.eternal), February 10, 2000.

Lou,
Same here.
Growing .5 acre garden, more goats, more chickens, more rabbits.


-- Possible Impact (posim@hotmail.com), February 10, 2000.

Oh man -I thought that old -"gotta go to Sam's" urge was nearly a thing of the past and then I read this thread....

-- April (Alwzapril@home.com), February 10, 2000.

Right now we're checking out [inexpensive] greenhouses and floating row covers to help with growing up here in northern NY state.

Two books I've read - Solar Gardening and Four-Season Harvest have absolutely invaluable suggestions for doing this, by growers who have successfully grown 15 - 20 different vegetables during the winter in zone 5.

We hope to be 'manufacturing' our own soil with the use of a chicken 'tractor' come spring (a portable hen-house that's moved around a garden). By moving it daily and laying some hay mulch on top of their manure, the best soil in the world can be had for almost no money. The chickens will also eliminate slugs and other pests, AND give great eggs! Live and learn I guess.

Its good to hear so many other people are still in a 'yellow light' status. If there was ever a time to be cautious it's now.

-- lou (lanny1@ix.netcom.com), February 10, 2000.

Really enjoyed this thread!!! 99% of our sneakers come from China....I already had a years worth for everybody but just got a few more years for my youngest who is hard to fit( real wide feet). Went through the great clearance racks at KMart and Walmart and got several years of clothes for her to grow into at 70% off. A beautiful, too big now, winter coat for 10 bucks. One of those survival companies had a 70% off sale and we got 2 months of those #10 cans that will last for many years...the food was as cheap as present store prices. We are anticipating a severe depression, and bad inflation one of these days. I thought I was the only kook left until I read this thread, ha!

-- carolyn (carolyn@luvmyhub.com), February 10, 2000.

Being the prudent prepper that I envision myself, I still haunt the thrift stores around here every week. It is unbelievable what people give away! Found a great stainless steel double boiler, Lodge cooking pots and pans, candles (not that I don't have over 100 now, hehehe), and the garden stuff being given away to these stores for resale is something else, tools, burlap rolls, terra cotta and plastic pots for seeds/seedlings (almost free about 49 cents or less). The list is incredible and I can add to preps on a budget. I am mostly looking for long term items. Also, found that some of the survival sites have changed and now call themselves discount sites, some decent prices on longterm foods.

Thanks for the great thread, I guess I'm not as crazy as I thought ;-)

-- Sammie (sammiex0@yahoo.com), February 10, 2000.

Add me to the list of those still preparing...using but replacing everything as I go. Still learning new (old) ways to do things. Have a winter garden and looking forward to spring planting. Benefit is great...lots of money saved and what is better than that!

-- Old Gramma (gotitincalif@webtv.net), February 10, 2000.

Ditto,ditto, ditto. We'll never stop preping. I agree with Infomagic that it would have been a good thing if there had been some Y2K problems to slow the bubble.com down. I'm now far more worried about the market's than I ever was about Y2K (Y2K - 8+, markets - 10).

TOdd

-- Todd Detzel (detzel@jps.net), February 10, 2000.

We still face many threats to our fragile, JIT, way of life. The growing oil crisis is just one. The new ruler of Russia seems to very much want to have more power and territory. Tiawan and Beijing are still rattling sabers. If the PLO declares independence later this month, the fur will fly. It seems to me to be an increasingly dangerous planet, with more and more nations becoming nuclear-capable. But to me, the fact that we are quite certainly right now at the peak of world oil production is the most important. As production declines from here on out, the reserves in the Persian gulf will loom more and more critical. The era of cheap energy is about to disappear, with very substantial effects on all of us.

-- Les (holladayl@aol.com), February 10, 2000.

Add me to the list. None of us are crazy just prudent. The prudent man shall prevail during trying times while the feeble minded faulter. The poor pollies are doomed.

-- NoJo (RSKeiper@aol.com), February 10, 2000.

Aahhhh ... just like old times!

Us too, bitten by the prep bug ;^)

-- Let's do the time warp again :-) (allaha@earthlink.net), February 11, 2000.

Don't forget the preps forum, still active:

Timebomb 2000 Preparation Forum

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), February 11, 2000.

Lou- If you are south of, say the North Bank of the Mohawk Valley (draw a line East-West through Utica) You should be ok with the row covers starting in about LATE March to Mid-April. Farther north you will want to be using true greenhouse structures, Bottle-growing techniques, etc.

If you are as far north as St. Lawrence County then you will want the greenhouse structures.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), February 11, 2000.

Yep, the spin has slowed to rotate here too. Only 324 days until the new millenium. Hope I get everything (else) done in time. (:}`

Thanks for the tip on the zone 5 gardening books lou.

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), February 11, 2000.

You guys are still on the right track. We have been preparing since 1989, and so far have in storage 155 tons of supplies. These are intended for use here in the US. when the time comes, and by the looks of things, it won't be far off. The pictures of starving children in Africa can become American children within 90 days or less. Don't let your guard down. Please read what the Prophets have to say about the dark days ahead, and if that doesn't wake you up try the book of Revelations!. We are accepting donations if you decide to discard any supplies. You will recieve a tax deduction in return. Best of luck to all, sincerely Rev. Walter Bright (Cross & Crescent Relief Agency, 81 Tyndall Lane, Maysville NC. 28555

-- The Happy Hoarder (relief@coastalnet.com), June 23, 2000.