By the Concord Y2K Study Committee. Please contact them if you are interested in participating. COMPUTER SKILLS ARE NOT REQUIRED! This is a new installment of a monthly feature (last one here).
With just a little less than a year to go, a lot of people feel they have plenty of time to think about and prepare for any possible disruptions involving Y2K.
We feel this is NOT a recommended approach. If a great number of people wait until the fall or early winter to start getting ready, then panic and shortages are sure to follow. Instead, preparations involving both thought and deed can and should start right now.
Things to Think About
Take a look at what you need and use during the next month. It is winter and a great rehearsal for next year. What is most important? What can you do without? Really STUDY your life and set priorities....and then act on them! Forethought means you can prepare in a more considered, wise, and efficient manner.
Do you think there will be a disruption of some basic services for a while? What would you do if there were? What type of preparation do you think you need to make for food, water, heat, light, sanitation? We so take for granted all of these things that most of us lack the information and skills to respond adequately (see column at right).
To some extent, the specifics of this are going to be particular to YOUR life. For example: do you take some medication which is vital to your wellbeing? Will your pharmacy's computer be able to find your prescription when you want to renew? Is manufacture and supply of this drug going to go on uninterrupted? Should you discuss with your physician having a supply on hand? That's for YOU to decide, but you need to start examining this and other similar topics NOW.
Take Simple Actions....Starting Now!
If you think you want to store food and supplies (and this includes cash), please do it starting NOW. DON'T wait. Do a little every week starting this week. This is for several reasons:
It is easier on the pocketbook to buy a little at a time, should this be
a concern for you.It may be easier on the economy. Think about it: a small and gradual
rise in demand for products acts as a stimulant to trade. Everyone
wanting a whole bunch of everything in December of 1999 isn't a stimulant:
it's a back breaker. Please consider the outcome of your approach to
stocking up.Gradual buying will help fight panic; large scale buying all at once by
a lot of people next fall and early winter will increase panic. What you do CAN make a difference.
Community Outreach
Talk to others in our community. Find out what is on their minds. What are they doing to prepare? Working together to meet our potential needs seems like a logical, efficient, and appropriate thing to do. So much of the Y2K preparedness info available focuses on individual preparedness. But we are human beings and we live in community with one another: it's important we take this challenge together to rise to the occasion.
Check Out Your Computer NOW
There are a variety of tests you can do with your computer to find out how will it fare in 2000. Many manufacturers of hardware and software have information about this issue on their websites. Check recent issues of computer magazines; they often have helpful information as well.
Additionally, many software makers have free patches for their products, though older versions may not be fixable. Why not start this process sooner than later? If you are like many people, you use several different types of software and each may need to be checked for Y2K compatibility. Giving yourself a little time, if you find you are using software which is not upgradable, you can make decisions based on this information.
Plan On Hard Copy
Think about what types of hard copy records you will need to have on hand should your personal computer, your business' computers, or public institutions' computers have problems. Among these are banking and checkbook records, investment records, customer lists, accounts payable/receivable, etc. Make a plan and set yourself a schedule for its execution. (see right for a helpful link)
Voluntary Simplicity
Think about choosing to do with less NOW. Why not try on what it could be like should you HAVE to do with less for a period of time later? You might even find you LIKE a more simple life. The Voluntary Simplicity movement was created because people found their lives too complicated, fast-paced, and over-full. They have a lot of ideas toward this type of living which you might find helpful (see column at right for links).
See your message here! More info
Preparations can and should start right NOW.
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Another Thought, Plus Related Links
Folks who live in simpler societies than ours know more about taking care of themselves on a basic level than we, who have for a long time depended upon technology.
Right here in our own community we have a plentiful source of such knowledgeable: older folks. The type of practical knowledge they have -- while currently rather unfashionable -- may be invaluable should we need or choose to live more simply. |
Text: ©1999 The Concord, MA Homepage.
Art: Set City.
