In 1996 during the last shutdown, I was working at Channel Islands National Park and afflicted by the shenanigans. Mostly it was frustrating because I had projects, plans,and research underway on which I could not work. Many of these affected others outside the government who could not plan for projects either.

A good many of us turned to temp jobs, savings, or worked free lance (I worked on a book - I still have the manuscript). Also caught up on yard work and projects around the house. A fellow worker learned HTML and, upon returning to the job, improved the park's nascent web site.

Most of the real losses were incurred by small businesses in our area who were dependent upon visitors and their spending. That lost business was gone forever.

As this set of "crises" looms, again I, now "retired," have some research plans afoot,and mostly it is a problem for my colleagues who are trying to make travel plans. it will go down to Hq and touch base before the coach turns into a pumpkin at midnight tonight.

It was much like the hit we took during the 1994 Northridge quake. Power was out, the computers and most telephones were out.

The lesson in all of this is to have contingency plans, savings, and resources available against glitches, congressionally mandated or otherwise. It can happen to anyone, anywhere.

BTW, congress in its infinite wisdom, approved back pay for those workers who were furloughed (they were voters, after all) and it all boiled down to an enforced vacation.

I don't think this will be the end of the world.