i spent many years studying wacky fringe science and esoterica.

i've never thought that there should be anything special about the 2012 date of the mayans.

basically it just seemed to be the same as any calender..ie: it has to end at some point (just like our calenders end at december 31).

if there is an ice age coming...it will take a while to make itself known....but building a shelter in a spot that you think will freeze over is useless....your friend (and the rest of us) would be better off moving nearer to the equator if this happens.

this could also be a reason for the sudden emergence of the early civilisations in the northern hemisphere...ie: egypt, sumeria, harappa/mohenjo-daro, sian.

if there had been an extended "hot spell", people would have moved north and south away from the equator.
later when things cooled down they would have moved back towards the equator and set up new civilisations...which they would have had plenty of time to prepare for..hence the sudden blossoming of fully organised cities.

note that all the above city states/civilisations were built around 30dg north...a spot that's just right temperature-wise.