SURVIVING Y2K

Life is always change. Rise to the challenge. This may or may not be a major crisis. It depends on your point of view. Some folks are predicting a major catastrophe while others are saying it will create some minor problems. Try and approach the situation with balance. It may offer great opportunity for change and be a vehicle that transforms our society for the better. It may also trigger a recession or economic down turn. Old systems and ways may die to be replaced by new ones. The choices we make may free or enslave us. Regardless if you have a plan and are prepared you will be able to face the situation and take it as it comes. Before the year 2000 arrives take some time and be prepared!

• Do not panic.
• Begin by asking questions. Am I reliant on computers? Is my personal computer ready to handle the year 2000? What about the power company that supplies the electricity? How about the gas company that supplies the source of heat in the winter? What about my bank? Are my neighbors aware of potential problems? Why is the new boss of the IRS a computer programmer who quit because he couldn't fix the problem in time? Why is there talk by the IRS to changing the tax system to a postcard? What institutions are year 2000 compliant? If there is a system breakdown how will effect your life?
• Get educated and informed! Talk to the experts. Read books, articles, go to web sites, and ask people in the field what they think. Take the answers to your questions and apply them to your knowledge base. Gather information and do your own investigation. This is a great step in becoming self-reliant. Value your education on this topic so you can make up your own mind. Share your wealth of knowledge with others. Education and awareness will lead to an informed plan of action resulting in preparedness. The popular media is abuzz with y2k information. Your job is to sort it out and think for yourself.
• Create an action plan.
• Make sure your computer is year 2000 compliant. If it isn't make the necessary software changes.
• Become as self-reliant as possible! The year 2000 computer situation is only one event that is pushing people to become more self-reliant. In your goal of achieving self-reliance it may pay off in other areas. Do you have a back-up system for heating your home in case your gas company goes down? Do you have water stored in case your local city or water company has problems due to their computer systems? Do you have some cash to purchase food if your banks checks don't clear the system?
• Create redundant sytems. (Remember that computers are only tools, before computers there were ways of living and doing things.) Such as:
  1) having a computer files backed up by printed copies
  2) checks with some stored cash
  3) gas heating with a stove or fireplace
  4) food at the grocery store with stored food at home or your own garden
  5) water
  6) extra gas and on 12/31/99 fill your gas tanks
  7) sleeping bags & plenty of extra blankets
  8) Medications & first-aid items
  9) Books, games, & other non-electric entertainment
  10) power & hand tools
  11)candles, lantern fuel, flashlight batteries
  12)Soap, toilet paper, Kleenex, detergent, toothpaste
  13) if you have pets, pet food
  14) good walking shoes or boots
  15) radio & batteries
  16) alternate power source
  17) pleny of warm clothes
  18)paper & pencils with notebook to keep a diary
  18)etc.......
  
• Make hard copies of all important documents. This includes all accounts or anything with vital information that is related to a computer driven system such as: contracts, insurance records, bank & stock acounts, etc... Some states such as Nevada have already passed year 2000 laws related to liability. Through the questioning process get written documents to verify what you have been told if is is vital to your particular situation.
• Put your financial house in order. If the whole world of electronic banking comes to a halt or slows how will it effect you? Have you worked your whole life to lose some of your wealth due to a computer malfunction? Are you confident that your bank is year 2000 compliant? Do you have some cash? What about hard assets such as gold and silver? As the business cycle changes from wealth in the stock and equities markets back to commodities and tangible goods the timing of this may provide some great opportunities. Be diversified. You can own stock in a food or mining company, but also buy their food, or gold and store it where you have access to it. Then you have it if you need it and then you may also profit from it as the shift happens.
• Learn to barter. Have goods, things, or skills to barter.
• Encourage your neighbors & friends to prepare.
• Enjoy the ride. Times are changing. This year 2000 computer experience may pass by with little change or problems and it may prepare you for some other experience that life brings your way. At the least you will be prepared.
• For the really concerned these are some extended preparation you can make: 1) water purification system or device 2) electric generator & large fuel tank 3) guns & ammunition 4) cash, food, & medicaitons for a year 5) small gold & silver coins 6) Large tank of gasoline
• If the world wide web does go down or the electrical grid does fail then computer information will not be available so have books for important information. This site offers a lot of information that is public domain but if you have a copy of the book you have it in hard copy form. Make hard copies of important information especially survival knowledge that may be very handy.