January 25 - Photo by Ting-Li Wang, Millennium Picture Group

Since September 1 of last year, Nils, a former statistician with a high- paying, high-stress job, and his family have been living in an old school bus on a 64 acre plot in rural Virginia. "We feel really blessed that we've been led this way, " said Anne, Nils' wife. "We feel really safe from the threats of Y2K." Nils cites the possible turmoil surrounding the Year 2000 problem as just one reason to escape the rat race and become self-reliant. "We like being surrounded by nature," Nils says. "I stop trusting in man and start trusting in God and things have become better."

January 26 - Photo by Ting-Li Wang, Millennium Picture Group

Anne picks out a dress to wear for her daughter, Grace, who is having a hard time waking up from a nap. The woodstove keeps the bus warm. Looking to simplify their lives escape the pressures of the modern world, the family has been living in the bus since September 1 of last year on a 64 acre plot in rural Virginia, while they build a new solar-powered house.

January 27 - Photo by Ting-Li Wang, Millennium Picture Group

Calling it a "happy coincidence" that his family will be prepared for the possible consequences of the Year 2000 bug, Nils has stored some rice and hard wheat berries to be prepared for emergencies. Although they are not sure what will happen on Jan. 1, 2000, Nils and Anne think there will be artificial shortages caused by panic in July or September of this year. For thse who want to prepare, they advise people to find an alternative for cooking and a clean water supply, and they discourage spending much money on dehydrated foods, claiming they aren't worth it. "When the chips are down, eat beans and rice!" Anne says.

January 28 - Photo by Ting-Li Wang, Millennium Picture Group

Nils and Anne's family eats and plays after sundown in their bus. Looking to simplify their lives escape the pressures of the modern world, the family has been living in the bus since September 1 of last year on a 64 acre plot in rural Virginia, while they build a new solar-powered house.

January 29 - Photo by Ting-Li Wang, Millennium Picture Group

Nils pumps water for his family on his tract of land in Virginia. Looking to simplify their lives and escape some of the pressures of the modern world, Nils and his family have been living in a bus since September 1 of last year on a 64 acre plot in rural Virginia, while they build a new solar-powered house. He says he faced a two-month wait to get his pump because of backorders from people worried about shortages as a result of the Year 2000 crisis.

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If you have questions or inquiries about this section on Everything 2000, contact John Locher.

About The Millennium Picture Group
The Millennium Picture Group is nationwide partnership of photojournalists who are documenting how people and institutions are preparing for the turn of the Millennium. If you have picture ideas about Millennium-related events or preparations, or are interested in shooting for the MPG in your part of the country, please email Chris Hondros for more information.