The year 2000 for me started out great. For last half of 1999 I had been telling everybody I talk with that there wasn't anything serious going to happen to computers when the century changed from the 1900's to 2000. Politicians and the media was saying the Y2K bug that was going to: stop generators from making electricity, stop all telephone service, stop microprocessors from starting your car, and your micro wave to go up in smoke. I maintained that 99% of the micro processors applications never used the date at all and the Y2K bug was nonsense. The worst that would happen is that you might chuckle if your telephone bill or even bank statement said something like, "January 17, 1900"; but nobody is so dumb that they couldn't figure out what it should be. As far as I can tell from my experience not even that happened. It is great to be vindicated.

In late October 1999 I got a new Ford Econoline 250 van. In less than 2 months I managed to clip a light pole on the right side. Banged up the side doors, but $2200 put it all back where you would never know it happened.

From 29 January till March 10th I took the van Car Camping in Arizona and New Mexico. Most of the time I was in the southern part of these states, avoiding higher elevations where it might be cold and snow. Even so I spent a couple nights at, or near, 8000 feet and it was cold but no snow. I successfully missed all the rain in San Jose, and found everything green and nice when I returned.

I was most impressed with New Mexico. I spent an entire day at White Sands National Monument. The white drifts are clean and go for miles. The sand is warm soft and friendly and everyone is tempted to roll or tumble down the drifts. It was the best bare foot hiking I have ever done. But the sand gets in your shoes, pockets and everywhere. It would be a great place for a nudist outing.

There is a great Space Museum in Alamogordo. For anyone interested in the history of rockets it is well worth a days' visit. North and west of there about 150 miles is a National Radio Astronomy Observatory that is worth a visit.

On my way back I drove up to Theodore Roosevelt Lake in Arizona, and camped there for three nights. It is probably the largest lake in Arizona, 23 miles long. The water was too cold for anything but a quick splash. Unfortunately, the U.S. Forest Service is in change of the camping there and they have spent 44 million dollars of tax payers money to put in expensive campsites where nobody wants to camp. They are doing their best to make the lake unaccessible unless you pay an excessive day use fee. It is a good example of the worst of Government involvement.

In May (19th through June 5th) I went boat camping on Lake Mead. Most of you have heard about my using a Solar panel to charge batteries, and an electric trolling motor for power. I love the area and that time of the year the water is nice. I plan to do another such trip this coming spring.

I spent another month (August and early September) camping at the old farm house in Utah. I say camping because there is no furnace in the house, and it is too much trouble to get all the plumbing drained so it won't freeze when I leave. The lights and refrigerator and stove all work fine, so it is not quite camping; but not having running water makes you feel like it. I really enjoyed being there; more than I have since dad died.

And I have made two trips to Mexico for a week each. The first was September 16 through 23rd, in Acapulco and the second was a SCUBA diving trip to Cozumel 12 of November through 20th. Both were a great change of pace and the weather was so great that I haven't felt warm since I got back. There is a lot I could say about Mexico and the trips; but I will save it for another time.

When I wasn't away I spent a lot of time volunteering at a local Computer History Museum. That is a lot of fun for older people like myself reminiscing about the good old days.

Now I am looking forward to using the Van to get out of the cold here in San Jose. Our nights are getting down into the low 50's and low 60's for a high in the day. That means a jacket or stay inside. I keep thinking about: Mexico, Hawaii, or Australia; someplace that is warmer this time of the year.