Coronavirus prep
Replies
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snowflake954 wrote: »BarbaraHelen2013 wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »I hate people.
So my doctor suggested that I attend the special early hours at the store this morning because my asthma has been so bad of late (plus other health issues). I took time off of work, got up early, put on my mask, and went. It was horrible. These are all people who should be social distancing the most. The elderly. Those with chronic health conditions. But no. It was like no one knew that social distancing meant! Especially the elderly! They couldn't wait 2 seconds so you could grab an item before they stood right next to you to look at stuff. They would come right at you with carts like a game of chicken. They wouldn't stay to one side of the aisle so you could pass safely. They pushed right past you to get in the store while you were trying to keep distance from those ahead of you.
I am not doing that again. Sunday mornings at opening were WAY better then that.
Everybody was doing that last time I went to the store a week ago, elderly or not. I do recall seeing something on the news about how the elderly population in my state (maybe other states too) are taking this situation the least seriously compared to other age groups, and are going out and about as much or more than always, and often with zero protection. Of course, everywhere they go is a store, church, or visiting friends and relatives - all things considered "essential" here. So you can't stop them, it's like seeing the train wreck about to happen...
I'm going to touch on something here.
It's not all that easy getting old in general. There's more isolation, more cynicism, more wariness, more financial fear, more anxiety for me by far than when I was younger. I'm 66.
I have said more than once over the past month, "I'm ready any time." Meaning, I'm not fighting death. I think at some point in my late fifties I really came to terms with death and the fact that it could happen at any time - and is far more likely now just because of the numbers. For a lot of us life is difficult at this stage. Lack of close relationships due to trust issues, geography and deaths of family. Lots of people have chronic illnesses they are fighting, and there's a lot of mental illness in general that I see in my acquaintance circle. There is a general sense of being tired of the fight, truly.
I'm not saying I purposely look for trouble. I'm wearing a mask, I'm quaratining food, I'm staying away from all people at all times. It does seem futile at times.
The other thing is that we've been going to the grocery store for five plus decades. The grocery store has habits and routines and it has always been a beehive, but a safe one. It's hard for Me to remain 6-feet-vigilent at the store. Old routines and habits kick in, "Get the stuff and get out quickly," is one that comes to mind. I was saying the other day, "If someone was within six feet of me in my parking lot, I'd be wary. It's difficult to make that mental switch at the grocery store, which is a safe place in my mind."
That’s really interesting to read because I came to the same conclusion when I went grocery shopping almost 2 weeks ago (in the U.K.), which is the only time I’ve been since lockdown began.
People were queuing outside quite well at the assigned markings but once inside the sparsely populated store it was quite noticeable that the people struggling most to maintain the 6 feet social distancing were the middle aged to elderly women. I said to my husband when I got home that it looked to me as if, once they got into the shop, a sort of autopilot kicked in because it was an activity they had done so often throughout their lives they were finding it hard to remain aware and were just ‘getting the job done.’
Also, I always go to the same store and I know where everything I need is. Putting me in a new store where I have to wander around and search for stuff makes me crazy.
I couldn’t agree with you more! There was a time I’m not very proud of just after I’d moved house to a completely different part of the country and went grocery shopping and I had what can only be described as a tearful meltdown because the layout of the store was not what I was used to! 😂
New stores always stress me out enormously!7 -
Speaking as an old-ish person (64) whose friend-set includes people up into their 80s, I'm mildly offended by sweeping generalizations about "the elderly".
Among my acquaintences and friends, I'm seeing a range of reactions and behaviors, among both young and old (and yes, I have actual RL friends of all ages - though few under 25, I admit). There are certainly older people (60+) who are being extremely cautious, staying in (more than I am, since I have been out to shop a couple of times, all masked and gloved and distancing). I know multiple people my age and older who are only taking groceries and such via delivery, going out not at all. Not. At. All.
I haven't been to "senior hours," having heard from other older friends that those are kind of mobbed, so I've taken my chances at other times of day, times that also play better with my night-owl tendencies. Doing that, I saw a bundle of people behaving very incautiously, most of them much younger than I - doing the same things people report of "the elderly". (You will've seen me report that a few posts back, before I went off on this rant.
).
At "senior hours", you're concentrating a particular demographic, and watching behavior. If (making up numbers) 60% of the group (which was already selection biased by being those willing to go out to a store!) is behaving badly, this is not "60% of the elderly behaving badly". How much would numbers or proportions (whatever they may be) differ if we had "30s and 40s" or "teens and 20s" shopping hours?
Overall, I'm distressed at what seems like a current cultural trend to generalize negatively about people who are older. ("OK, Boomer", anyone?). Who benefits from cultural divisiveness by age (or other "have no choice" facts of being)? With whom might we make common cause if we paid more attention to what we have in common, rather than arbitrary differences in superficial characteristics?
Perhaps there is statistical trend for people who are older to be more incautious (or more fatalistic, or more habit-driven, or whatever) and behave less appropriately in these circumstances. I don't know, but wouldn't completely reject the hypothesis out of hand. Nonetheless, I'm 100% confident from personal behavior and communication with age-mate friends that this is not a universal. Don't let yourself think it is, based on anecdotes and biased samples.cmriverside wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »I hate people.
So my doctor suggested that I attend the special early hours at the store this morning because my asthma has been so bad of late (plus other health issues). I took time off of work, got up early, put on my mask, and went. It was horrible. These are all people who should be social distancing the most. The elderly. Those with chronic health conditions. But no. It was like no one knew that social distancing meant! Especially the elderly! They couldn't wait 2 seconds so you could grab an item before they stood right next to you to look at stuff. They would come right at you with carts like a game of chicken. They wouldn't stay to one side of the aisle so you could pass safely. They pushed right past you to get in the store while you were trying to keep distance from those ahead of you.
I am not doing that again. Sunday mornings at opening were WAY better then that.
Everybody was doing that last time I went to the store a week ago, elderly or not. I do recall seeing something on the news about how the elderly population in my state (maybe other states too) are taking this situation the least seriously compared to other age groups, and are going out and about as much or more than always, and often with zero protection. Of course, everywhere they go is a store, church, or visiting friends and relatives - all things considered "essential" here. So you can't stop them, it's like seeing the train wreck about to happen...
I'm going to touch on something here.
It's not all that easy getting old in general. There's more isolation, more cynicism, more wariness, more financial fear, more anxiety for me by far than when I was younger. I'm 66.
I have said more than once over the past month, "I'm ready any time." Meaning, I'm not fighting death. I think at some point in my late fifties I really came to terms with death and the fact that it could happen at any time - and is far more likely now just because of the numbers. For a lot of us life is difficult at this stage. Lack of close relationships due to trust issues, geography and deaths of family. Lots of people have chronic illnesses they are fighting, and there's a lot of mental illness in general that I see in my acquaintance circle. There is a general sense of being tired of the fight, truly.
I'm not saying I purposely look for trouble. I'm wearing a mask, I'm quaratining food, I'm staying away from all people at all times. It does seem futile at times.
The other thing is that we've been going to the grocery store for five plus decades. The grocery store has habits and routines and it has always been a beehive, but a safe one. It's hard for Me to remain 6-feet-vigilent at the store. Old routines and habits kick in, "Get the stuff and get out quickly," is one that comes to mind. I was saying the other day, "If someone was within six feet of me in my parking lot, I'd be wary. It's difficult to make that mental switch at the grocery store, which is a safe place in my mind."
I'm sincerely sorry that the bolded is true for you, and I understand that it's true for many others. But this, too, is not universal. Perhaps, as I get older, it will become more true for me - I would expect so, actually, given my entire lack of immediate family/partner especially. Physical decline and eventually assisted living/nursing home is likely to be a drag, frankly.
So far, I'm more isolated than during my career (but to degree that's enjoyable under normal circumstances, and quite tolerable now). I may be more cynical or wary than when young (not sure); certainly, I'm more skeptical, but also pretty optimistic and less mindlessly suspicious or negative than when I was younger. I'm not particularly financially fearful, though my means are modest.
I'm less anxious than when younger, overall: Willing to let what comes, come; wanting to enjoy what I can along the way, and deal with negative events as best I'm able when they arise, rather than anticipating them fearfully.
This may change, and maybe I'm being naive. I'm not tired of the fight; I'm interested in seeing what goes on, and learning more from it, and hope to feel that way for a long time to come.
I'd prefer not to die soon, but if I do . . . there's no point in fussing about it in advance, because that just ruins more of my present. I'll deal with it if it comes. (I watched my husband (atheist, BTW), dying at age 45, do exactly this. I faced my mortality somewhat directly via stage III cancer, a type of cancer that had killed my mother. I believe it's possible to be philosophical about it. Only time will tell if I'm up to it. I can wait. :drinker:)23 -
I agree with Ann. I am 70 & in no hurry to leave.14
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I'm less anxious than when younger, overall: Willing to let what comes, come; wanting to enjoy what I can along the way, and deal with negative events as best I'm able when they arise, rather than anticipating them fearfully.
Your comment reminded me that I'd read about happiness increasing after 40 or so in the past (that was true for me) and that in general older people are happier, so I googled and found this:
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/04/12/do-people-become-happier-after-40
As much of it is behind a paywall, a couple of relevant bits:
"Life satisfaction does not follow this pattern in all countries. Self-reported happiness in former Soviet states declines markedly with a respondent’s age. Among males in India it is an inverted U: happiness rises to middle-age before declining into old age. Generally, Indians are among the gloomiest in the world, their average life satisfaction has fallen by 1.2 points over the past decade. When Indian men reach their 70s they are among the least happy in the world, reporting average life satisfaction of just 3.6 points. In contrast women aged 70 and over in America appear to be the world’s happiest group of people, with life satisfaction of some 7.5 points. The reasons for these differences are not well understood, but the idea of a U shape has been discussed by sociologists for decades."
-and-
"A 2012 study of happiness among Australians, Britons and Germans between 1980 and 2010 found that after controlling for income, relationships, health and the fact that longitudinal panels may be biased, self-reported happiness was flat between the ages of 20 and 55. It then rose through to the age of 75 as people enjoyed a stress-free life before declining sharply as their health deteriorated. Another study published in 2015 used the same data but employed a different methodology and found evidence for a U-bend in life. It posits that happiness is a simple function of vitality and emotional maturity: the latter rises with age, while vitality deteriorates with age, but in concert they combine to minimise happiness at around middle age."10 -
I'm less anxious than when younger, overall: Willing to let what comes, come; wanting to enjoy what I can along the way, and deal with negative events as best I'm able when they arise, rather than anticipating them fearfully.
Your comment reminded me that I'd read about happiness increasing after 40 or so in the past (that was true for me) and that in general older people are happier, so I googled and found this:
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/04/12/do-people-become-happier-after-40
As much of it is behind a paywall, a couple of relevant bits:
"Life satisfaction does not follow this pattern in all countries. Self-reported happiness in former Soviet states declines markedly with a respondent’s age. Among males in India it is an inverted U: happiness rises to middle-age before declining into old age. Generally, Indians are among the gloomiest in the world, their average life satisfaction has fallen by 1.2 points over the past decade. When Indian men reach their 70s they are among the least happy in the world, reporting average life satisfaction of just 3.6 points. In contrast women aged 70 and over in America appear to be the world’s happiest group of people, with life satisfaction of some 7.5 points. The reasons for these differences are not well understood, but the idea of a U shape has been discussed by sociologists for decades."
-and-
"A 2012 study of happiness among Australians, Britons and Germans between 1980 and 2010 found that after controlling for income, relationships, health and the fact that longitudinal panels may be biased, self-reported happiness was flat between the ages of 20 and 55. It then rose through to the age of 75 as people enjoyed a stress-free life before declining sharply as their health deteriorated. Another study published in 2015 used the same data but employed a different methodology and found evidence for a U-bend in life. It posits that happiness is a simple function of vitality and emotional maturity: the latter rises with age, while vitality deteriorates with age, but in concert they combine to minimise happiness at around middle age."
My wife will be absolutely thrilled when I tell her today that I'm finally growing up! I'm 55! 4 -
Forest Service is closing campgrounds, grasslands, national forests due to Covid crowding and higher fire danger.
These are wide open spaces but the risk is real for campsite/group recreation crowding. Parking areas, trailheads, and fishing/rec area crowding. All of this undermines the country's critical efforts to stop the spread.
Closing national parks and forest service lands is safeguarding the health of employees as well as the public. For the love of humanity, stay home. Taking chances with the lives of others is criminal.
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You know these thoughts aren't healthy or normal, even given the current situation. Please seek professional help. Many practices are doing telehealth appointments right now. This isn't something random conversation with strangers in the grocery store can fix.cwolfman13 wrote: »BarbaraHelen2013 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »BarbaraHelen2013 wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »I hate people.
So my doctor suggested that I attend the special early hours at the store this morning because my asthma has been so bad of late (plus other health issues). I took time off of work, got up early, put on my mask, and went. It was horrible. These are all people who should be social distancing the most. The elderly. Those with chronic health conditions. But no. It was like no one knew that social distancing meant! Especially the elderly! They couldn't wait 2 seconds so you could grab an item before they stood right next to you to look at stuff. They would come right at you with carts like a game of chicken. They wouldn't stay to one side of the aisle so you could pass safely. They pushed right past you to get in the store while you were trying to keep distance from those ahead of you.
I am not doing that again. Sunday mornings at opening were WAY better then that.
Everybody was doing that last time I went to the store a week ago, elderly or not. I do recall seeing something on the news about how the elderly population in my state (maybe other states too) are taking this situation the least seriously compared to other age groups, and are going out and about as much or more than always, and often with zero protection. Of course, everywhere they go is a store, church, or visiting friends and relatives - all things considered "essential" here. So you can't stop them, it's like seeing the train wreck about to happen...
I'm going to touch on something here.
It's not all that easy getting old in general. There's more isolation, more cynicism, more wariness, more financial fear, more anxiety for me by far than when I was younger. I'm 66.
I have said more than once over the past month, "I'm ready any time." Meaning, I'm not fighting death. I think at some point in my late fifties I really came to terms with death and the fact that it could happen at any time - and is far more likely now just because of the numbers. For a lot of us life is difficult at this stage. Lack of close relationships due to trust issues, geography and deaths of family. Lots of people have chronic illnesses they are fighting, and there's a lot of mental illness in general that I see in my acquaintance circle. There is a general sense of being tired of the fight, truly.
I'm not saying I purposely look for trouble. I'm wearing a mask, I'm quaratining food, I'm staying away from all people at all times. It does seem futile at times.
The other thing is that we've been going to the grocery store for five plus decades. The grocery store has habits and routines and it has always been a beehive, but a safe one. It's hard for Me to remain 6-feet-vigilent at the store. Old routines and habits kick in, "Get the stuff and get out quickly," is one that comes to mind. I was saying the other day, "If someone was within six feet of me in my parking lot, I'd be wary. It's difficult to make that mental switch at the grocery store, which is a safe place in my mind."
That’s really interesting to read because I came to the same conclusion when I went grocery shopping almost 2 weeks ago (in the U.K.), which is the only time I’ve been since lockdown began.
People were queuing outside quite well at the assigned markings but once inside the sparsely populated store it was quite noticeable that the people struggling most to maintain the 6 feet social distancing were the middle aged to elderly women. I said to my husband when I got home that it looked to me as if, once they got into the shop, a sort of autopilot kicked in because it was an activity they had done so often throughout their lives they were finding it hard to remain aware and were just ‘getting the job done.’
Also, I always go to the same store and I know where everything I need is. Putting me in a new store where I have to wander around and search for stuff makes me crazy.
I couldn’t agree with you more! There was a time I’m not very proud of just after I’d moved house to a completely different part of the country and went grocery shopping and I had what can only be described as a tearful meltdown because the layout of the store was not what I was used to! 😂
New stores always stress me out enormously!
It's funny how different people are. I've been purposely seeking out different stores in other areas of town. At this point, I LOVE that it takes longer. Plus I can ask directions, see what other people have found and ask if there was more on the shelf.....I'm stretching out every possible activity and doing everything I can to maximize interaction with actual living humans and conversations with them these days and new stores have been a good way to do that.
Stop stretching out and maximizing interaction!!!
You are endangering others as well as yourself. Is it worth it is you kill that cashier? Or their mom? How about if it kills you?
Instead call people on phone, write old fashioned letters, video conference friends or family , ect.
I think we all have to get through this the best way we can. You do you, I'll do me.
You are incredibly irresponsible.
Except the Boogey Man hasn't come. I see hospital census reports every afternoon. New hospitalizations, med-surg vs. C-ICU, number of surge teams deployed and their specialties, scattergrams of new case locations--while this is certainly a serious situation, we just haven't seen a lot of craziness. Sure, early action probably flattened the curve and I've complied with every new recommendation and generally exceeded public requirements. However, 24/7 isolation in a 600 sq foot apartment has me one anti-emetic away from an overdose. I spend hours contemplating whether a 9mm or .410 would be more effective and whether backfire on the revolver would cause me to miss and just hurt myself....the list and considerations are endless.It's pretty much the only thing I think about when I'm alone, even on FaceTime, even with Netflix, even with novels, even with journaling, even with walks, even with a workout mat, even with virtual events, even with professional development courses, even with (god help us all) cooking, even with searching out what remaining services exist (try finding two witnesses AND a notary in one place these days), even with work, even with projects, even with chores....it's just impossible to fill the time. I sleep as much as I can, but it hardly helps.
Outside is safer. Even for a little while every couple of days.
Agreed. This is stuff that goes well beyond social interaction wherever it can be found. @COGypsy I appreciate a lot of what you contribute to this community. I really hope that you are able to get some help with this. It's been a difficult time for many people, and we are all dealing with it the best we know how. Please reach out for support services. Does your employer have and EFAP program? Usually, they will have some online/phone counselling that can help. At least it would give you someone new to chat with.12 -
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Diatonic- Shut our parks down SanAntonio Texas same reason morons flocking3
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The state of MD:
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds all anglers that under Governor Larry Hogan’s Stay at Home order, recreational fishing and boating and kayaking are prohibited activities. Limited exceptions exist only for individuals who fish as a matter of sustenance. In all cases, catch-and-release fishing is strictly prohibited anywhere in Maryland.
They are writing tickets left and right. In WV (last I checked) open water was still legal, put the boat in, take the boat out, keep your distance, and move on. We went this weekend and while on the water we watched people gathering at the camp spaces along the river (one spot had 6 or 7 vehicles and were in full cookout/party mode!). Police came through and shooed off the groups bank fishing because there were getting to be too many people in one area (unsure if tickets were involved from our distance away).5 -
Diatonic12 wrote: »
Where and when is this? I thought National Parks closed down weeks ago. New Mexico closed all State Parks for camping or day use and National Forest Service campgrounds on March 13th. You can still hike in the National Forest and you can back country camp or do dispersed camping, but actual campgrounds have been closed for about a month here.7 -
cmriverside wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »I hate people.
So my doctor suggested that I attend the special early hours at the store this morning because my asthma has been so bad of late (plus other health issues). I took time off of work, got up early, put on my mask, and went. It was horrible. These are all people who should be social distancing the most. The elderly. Those with chronic health conditions. But no. It was like no one knew that social distancing meant! Especially the elderly! They couldn't wait 2 seconds so you could grab an item before they stood right next to you to look at stuff. They would come right at you with carts like a game of chicken. They wouldn't stay to one side of the aisle so you could pass safely. They pushed right past you to get in the store while you were trying to keep distance from those ahead of you.
I am not doing that again. Sunday mornings at opening were WAY better then that.
Everybody was doing that last time I went to the store a week ago, elderly or not. I do recall seeing something on the news about how the elderly population in my state (maybe other states too) are taking this situation the least seriously compared to other age groups, and are going out and about as much or more than always, and often with zero protection. Of course, everywhere they go is a store, church, or visiting friends and relatives - all things considered "essential" here. So you can't stop them, it's like seeing the train wreck about to happen...
I'm going to touch on something here.
It's not all that easy getting old in general. There's more isolation, more cynicism, more wariness, more financial fear, more anxiety for me by far than when I was younger. I'm 66.
I have said more than once over the past month, "I'm ready any time." Meaning, I'm not fighting death. I think at some point in my late fifties I really came to terms with death and the fact that it could happen at any time - and is far more likely now just because of the numbers. For a lot of us life is difficult at this stage. Lack of close relationships due to trust issues, geography and deaths of family. Lots of people have chronic illnesses they are fighting, and there's a lot of mental illness in general that I see in my acquaintance circle. There is a general sense of being tired of the fight, truly.
I'm not saying I purposely look for trouble. I'm wearing a mask, I'm quaratining food, I'm staying away from all people at all times. It does seem futile at times.
The other thing is that we've been going to the grocery store for five plus decades. The grocery store has habits and routines and it has always been a beehive, but a safe one. It's hard for Me to remain 6-feet-vigilent at the store. Old routines and habits kick in, "Get the stuff and get out quickly," is one that comes to mind. I was saying the other day, "If someone was within six feet of me in my parking lot, I'd be wary. It's difficult to make that mental switch at the grocery store, which is a safe place in my mind."
The bold is true for me also. I'm single, childfree, no roommates (I prefer it that way), and I moved even further from family last year for work. Before moving, I was close enough to be able to see some family every few months and could make it within a few hours drive if something urgent came up. My dad died years ago, now one grandparent remaining that I don't talk to, and siblings spread throughout the country - all of them 8 hrs. minimum by car on a good day. I don't have friends in the area and almost all of my in-person social life is when I go to races. I was doing 2-3 marathons each month, but now there are none. My point is that I can relate to a lack of close relationships.9 -
moonangel12 wrote: »The state of MD:
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds all anglers that under Governor Larry Hogan’s Stay at Home order, recreational fishing and boating and kayaking are prohibited activities. Limited exceptions exist only for individuals who fish as a matter of sustenance. In all cases, catch-and-release fishing is strictly prohibited anywhere in Maryland.
They are writing tickets left and right. In WV (last I checked) open water was still legal, put the boat in, take the boat out, keep your distance, and move on. We went this weekend and while on the water we watched people gathering at the camp spaces along the river (one spot had 6 or 7 vehicles and were in full cookout/party mode!). Police came through and shooed off the groups bank fishing because there were getting to be too many people in one area (unsure if tickets were involved from our distance away).
Pennsylvania took the opposite tack: they opened up fishing season two weeks early. I think they hoped to get the early season anglers out before the weather got really warm to cut down on crowds. After a while, when the stocked streams have no more fish, the crowds thin out.
I went to Walmart this afternoon to pick up a prescription. Only about 1 in 10 customers were wearing a mask. I had a bandanna and felt like I was suffocating. Almost none of the cashiers were wearing them. I asked one if they were allowed to wear masks and the woman said yes, they could; when I asked why she wasn't she just shrugged. In the pharmacy, they all wore masks, but the cashier who took care of me had hers down a bit so her nose was exposed. Not good. The store was pretty picked over as usual, but I saw my first TP in a month. They were tiny little rolls that will only last a day or two, but I bought some anyway since I have no idea when I'll find more.7 -
Diatonic12 wrote: »
Is this a current photo? Where? Terrible if so.2 -
Nony_Mouse wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »BarbaraHelen2013 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »BarbaraHelen2013 wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »I hate people.
So my doctor suggested that I attend the special early hours at the store this morning because my asthma has been so bad of late (plus other health issues). I took time off of work, got up early, put on my mask, and went. It was horrible. These are all people who should be social distancing the most. The elderly. Those with chronic health conditions. But no. It was like no one knew that social distancing meant! Especially the elderly! They couldn't wait 2 seconds so you could grab an item before they stood right next to you to look at stuff. They would come right at you with carts like a game of chicken. They wouldn't stay to one side of the aisle so you could pass safely. They pushed right past you to get in the store while you were trying to keep distance from those ahead of you.
I am not doing that again. Sunday mornings at opening were WAY better then that.
Everybody was doing that last time I went to the store a week ago, elderly or not. I do recall seeing something on the news about how the elderly population in my state (maybe other states too) are taking this situation the least seriously compared to other age groups, and are going out and about as much or more than always, and often with zero protection. Of course, everywhere they go is a store, church, or visiting friends and relatives - all things considered "essential" here. So you can't stop them, it's like seeing the train wreck about to happen...
I'm going to touch on something here.
It's not all that easy getting old in general. There's more isolation, more cynicism, more wariness, more financial fear, more anxiety for me by far than when I was younger. I'm 66.
I have said more than once over the past month, "I'm ready any time." Meaning, I'm not fighting death. I think at some point in my late fifties I really came to terms with death and the fact that it could happen at any time - and is far more likely now just because of the numbers. For a lot of us life is difficult at this stage. Lack of close relationships due to trust issues, geography and deaths of family. Lots of people have chronic illnesses they are fighting, and there's a lot of mental illness in general that I see in my acquaintance circle. There is a general sense of being tired of the fight, truly.
I'm not saying I purposely look for trouble. I'm wearing a mask, I'm quaratining food, I'm staying away from all people at all times. It does seem futile at times.
The other thing is that we've been going to the grocery store for five plus decades. The grocery store has habits and routines and it has always been a beehive, but a safe one. It's hard for Me to remain 6-feet-vigilent at the store. Old routines and habits kick in, "Get the stuff and get out quickly," is one that comes to mind. I was saying the other day, "If someone was within six feet of me in my parking lot, I'd be wary. It's difficult to make that mental switch at the grocery store, which is a safe place in my mind."
That’s really interesting to read because I came to the same conclusion when I went grocery shopping almost 2 weeks ago (in the U.K.), which is the only time I’ve been since lockdown began.
People were queuing outside quite well at the assigned markings but once inside the sparsely populated store it was quite noticeable that the people struggling most to maintain the 6 feet social distancing were the middle aged to elderly women. I said to my husband when I got home that it looked to me as if, once they got into the shop, a sort of autopilot kicked in because it was an activity they had done so often throughout their lives they were finding it hard to remain aware and were just ‘getting the job done.’
Also, I always go to the same store and I know where everything I need is. Putting me in a new store where I have to wander around and search for stuff makes me crazy.
I couldn’t agree with you more! There was a time I’m not very proud of just after I’d moved house to a completely different part of the country and went grocery shopping and I had what can only be described as a tearful meltdown because the layout of the store was not what I was used to! 😂
New stores always stress me out enormously!
It's funny how different people are. I've been purposely seeking out different stores in other areas of town. At this point, I LOVE that it takes longer. Plus I can ask directions, see what other people have found and ask if there was more on the shelf.....I'm stretching out every possible activity and doing everything I can to maximize interaction with actual living humans and conversations with them these days and new stores have been a good way to do that.
Stop stretching out and maximizing interaction!!!
You are endangering others as well as yourself. Is it worth it is you kill that cashier? Or their mom? How about if it kills you?
Instead call people on phone, write old fashioned letters, video conference friends or family , ect.
I think we all have to get through this the best way we can. You do you, I'll do me.
You are incredibly irresponsible.
Except the Boogey Man hasn't come. I see hospital census reports every afternoon. New hospitalizations, med-surg vs. C-ICU, number of surge teams deployed and their specialties, scattergrams of new case locations--while this is certainly a serious situation, we just haven't seen a lot of craziness. Sure, early action probably flattened the curve and I've complied with every new recommendation and generally exceeded public requirements. However, 24/7 isolation in a 600 sq foot apartment has me one anti-emetic away from an overdose. I spend hours contemplating whether a 9mm or .410 would be more effective and whether backfire on the revolver would cause me to miss and just hurt myself....the list and considerations are endless.It's pretty much the only thing I think about when I'm alone, even on FaceTime, even with Netflix, even with novels, even with journaling, even with walks, even with a workout mat, even with virtual events, even with professional development courses, even with (god help us all) cooking, even with searching out what remaining services exist (try finding two witnesses AND a notary in one place these days), even with work, even with projects, even with chores....it's just impossible to fill the time. I sleep as much as I can, but it hardly helps.
Outside is safer. Even for a little while every couple of days.
Though I don't know you personally, I wanted to let you know that I love you...YOU ARE LOVED (even if it doesn't seem or feel like it) you are sooooo NOT alone. A LOT/most people all around the world (millions upon millions--even billions) are going thru MASS super psychotic-psychopathic/sociopathic/narcissistic/evil trauma based mind-control on an alarming and unheard of massive scale, cognitive dissonance, fear, denial and YUCK and unbelievable mental, physical, spritiual, financial and worse abuse more and more each day. I'm soooo sorry beloved and beautiful COgypsy and again, I love you, empathize AND sympathize with you and feel your pain and please let me know if there is ANYTHING I can do to help! I will definitely from this day forward be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!
{{{{
Love and MEGA HUGS to you and yours }}}}}
This would have been a really nice post, if not for the paranoid conspiracy stuff. Yes, people are going through a collective trauma. It has nothing to do with mind control.
It's utterly amazing/shocking/startling/mystifying how/why people can and do so proudly and easily "dismiss" urgent and important info as "paranoid" conspiracy theory" and yet eat up, go along with and actually cheer on, hook, line and sinker such massive and life destroying abusive media "programming" info so readily. Yet, it also helps one to understand why/how we're in the life altering mess as a country and world today. I'm truly sorry you don't believe it's MASS mind control and while we're yet kinda sorta a "free country and peoples" you have the complete right (as of today) to think/feel and express your thoughts and feelings about it. Hopefully I too have that liberty/option to dare to think outside of the box and for myself without being accused of "paranoid" conspiracy theory and that sort of, ummmmm--dismissal and mockery/scorning of my opinion--but I understand--I truly do.
Thanks for sharing!
3 -
just_Tomek wrote: »Ok am I the only one who is perfectly happy being home alone? Maybe because I have been single for a long time and very very independent that the self isolation is like nothing to me? I know for a fact if I had someone else in here, by now, we would have been separated anyways lol
Nope, I'm right there with you. Aside from not being able to pop to the supermarket at will, and working in my garage instead of my normal workspace, this is pretty much life as usual for me.11 -
just_Tomek wrote: »Ok am I the only one who is perfectly happy being home alone? Maybe because I have been single for a long time and very very independent that the self isolation is like nothing to me? I know for a fact if I had someone else in here, by now, we would have been separated anyways lol
Nope you are not the only one that is okay with being alone. Thankfully the weather is getting nicer and we are now able go outside and work around the yard. I think this will relieve a lot of the pressure that has been building in my house. I am very introverted and my SO is very extroverted, he is having more trouble with this than I am. I am perfectly happy puttering around the house, if anything I have been feeling crowded and not getting enough alone time.7 -
just_Tomek wrote: »Ok am I the only one who is perfectly happy being home alone? Maybe because I have been single for a long time and very very independent that the self isolation is like nothing to me? I know for a fact if I had someone else in here, by now, we would have been separated anyways lol
My son-in-law said “don’t tell anyone I said this, but isn’t this lockdown just life? Nothing in my life has changed much except taking the kids to school and picking them up.” They are 14 & 15.
I thought about it. This is pretty much my life, except for the gym. I do miss runs to 7-11, and I am still putting off an oil change.
10 -
just_Tomek wrote: »Ok am I the only one who is perfectly happy being home alone? Maybe because I have been single for a long time and very very independent that the self isolation is like nothing to me? I know for a fact if I had someone else in here, by now, we would have been separated anyways lol
Of course you're not the only one. I'm quite contented, and I believe I'd said so several times in this thread.12 -
cmriverside wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »I hate people.
So my doctor suggested that I attend the special early hours at the store this morning because my asthma has been so bad of late (plus other health issues). I took time off of work, got up early, put on my mask, and went. It was horrible. These are all people who should be social distancing the most. The elderly. Those with chronic health conditions. But no. It was like no one knew that social distancing meant! Especially the elderly! They couldn't wait 2 seconds so you could grab an item before they stood right next to you to look at stuff. They would come right at you with carts like a game of chicken. They wouldn't stay to one side of the aisle so you could pass safely. They pushed right past you to get in the store while you were trying to keep distance from those ahead of you.
I am not doing that again. Sunday mornings at opening were WAY better then that.
Everybody was doing that last time I went to the store a week ago, elderly or not. I do recall seeing something on the news about how the elderly population in my state (maybe other states too) are taking this situation the least seriously compared to other age groups, and are going out and about as much or more than always, and often with zero protection. Of course, everywhere they go is a store, church, or visiting friends and relatives - all things considered "essential" here. So you can't stop them, it's like seeing the train wreck about to happen...
I'm going to touch on something here.
It's not all that easy getting old in general. There's more isolation, more cynicism, more wariness, more financial fear, more anxiety for me by far than when I was younger. I'm 66.
I have said more than once over the past month, "I'm ready any time." Meaning, I'm not fighting death. I think at some point in my late fifties I really came to terms with death and the fact that it could happen at any time - and is far more likely now just because of the numbers. For a lot of us life is difficult at this stage. Lack of close relationships due to trust issues, geography and deaths of family. Lots of people have chronic illnesses they are fighting, and there's a lot of mental illness in general that I see in my acquaintance circle. There is a general sense of being tired of the fight, truly.
I'm not saying I purposely look for trouble. I'm wearing a mask, I'm quaratining food, I'm staying away from all people at all times. It does seem futile at times.
The other thing is that we've been going to the grocery store for five plus decades. The grocery store has habits and routines and it has always been a beehive, but a safe one. It's hard for Me to remain 6-feet-vigilent at the store. Old routines and habits kick in, "Get the stuff and get out quickly," is one that comes to mind. I was saying the other day, "If someone was within six feet of me in my parking lot, I'd be wary. It's difficult to make that mental switch at the grocery store, which is a safe place in my mind."
I am ready any time it comes but I am going to work to stay healthy and drive to my 110th birthday bash even if it requires a self driving Tesla. That U shape happiness curve is not going to be a problem because every day I am getting trained on curve flatting skills.
11 -
Some has changed for me but not much.I stay home a lot but we used to go out for baby. DT appointment ,playground trip every few weeks ,McDonald’s or Chuckie cheese to play with or beside kids his age group tiny tots even toddler play zones $5 entrance fee then play long as you want. Visited our elderly parents. Occasional blue moon grocery trip or Christmas shopping. But hubby y me took turns taking him out to grocery shopping so I didn’t get out much was planning that now he was turning 3yrs old before this virus to go to zoos to trips now that he could walk with us not be carried so much (40lb dead weight Tots hard to tote for hours). Son definitely lots changed for him he wants grandma y Pawpaw used to sissy visiting by now on her leave asks for McDonald’s to Chuckie cheese cause he wants other kids. He even asked for Walmart lol 😆 desperate to get out of here lol .
Hubby was way more active worked a lot to socialized so it’s getting to him.
Daughter work computer 👩💻 work computer folks brought her food, still same routine at base even tho the virus is there.
6 -
I mainly worry about all the kids I raised .One she became a Doctor that’s a scary frontline job now. She has no kids or hubby to worry about like my bio daughter in the Navy luckily she also is a work y home type. Few others are working in restaurants to grocery so essential frontline workers also. 2 are safest at home no job college sent them home .
I do worry for the 3 with kids ages newborn y up. They have essential jobs have to go out then sure their careful as they return the best they can. Ones a manager all her workers quit so long hours for her.5 -
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Diatonic12 wrote: »
Is this a current photo? Where? Terrible if so.
There is no way this is current. Yellowstone usually doesn’t even open for spring until mid April. I have been there in late May and it still wasn’t this busy. I’m sure this was a stock photo, but it is very deceptive.
18 -
Diatonic12 wrote: »
Is this a current photo? Where? Terrible if so.
There is no way this is current. Yellowstone usually doesn’t even open for spring until mid April. I have been there in late May and it still wasn’t this busy. I’m sure this was a stock photo, but it is very deceptive.
I was there once on Memorial Day weekend (late May) and it was almost that busy then. We don't know when it was taken for sure, but definitely not recently.11 -
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Stay healthy folks,
Em12 -
It's been nice and quiet outside today with everything closed.
People here are probably still going to try and do easter tho.. last weekend almost 40 tickets were given out.. so I can only imagine this weekend4 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »Diatonic12 wrote: »
Is this a current photo? Where? Terrible if so.
There is no way this is current. Yellowstone usually doesn’t even open for spring until mid April. I have been there in late May and it still wasn’t this busy. I’m sure this was a stock photo, but it is very deceptive.
I was there once on Memorial Day weekend (late May) and it was almost that busy then. We don't know when it was taken for sure, but definitely not recently.
I didn't think so, but because I couldn't tell where it was (never been to Yellowstone, ironically my sister and I were going to hit a couple of national parks this year in late spring, but I guess not), wasn't sure. Thanks for clarifying.
Despite everything, parks here have been continuing to be overused so are likely going to all be shut down. Right now they've been trying to be proactive about warning, dispersing, and ticketing people who insist on congregating there, but people still do, whenever the weather is nice, and it's going to get nicer as time goes on, obviously.
I was on a call with my alderman and others this week, and he said he wants the bigger parks in our area shut, given the group sports and such that he saw there on Tuesday (when it was 75 here). I walked over to one of the same parks and definitely saw a lot of people, although I didn't go into the park to see if they were trying to keep separate or not (apparently not). Someone else said she'd actually seen group yoga and aerobics classes taking place there. Sigh. A local cemetery that's a nice place to walk and think (I like old cemeteries) also is now locked because people were using it as a place to substitute for the park and congregate (it is partially a nature preserve, even has deer despite being in the city).6 -
Diatonic12 wrote: »
Is this a current photo? Where? Terrible if so.
I'm pretty sure it's a stock photo from several years ago. I'm not sure what the point was to post it without comment.9 -
People are starting to feel it here. A substantial subset of workers are daily workers who earn per job/project/day of work and are not salaried, so no works means no money. Salaried workers are fine because they're being paid even if they aren't working from home and companies are not allowed to arbitrarily lay off employees.
They're planning to gradually open some sectors, starting with factories. For now, they're only allowing foreign workers who live in factory compounds to work at 40% capacity. Things have been going well so far, but I hope it won't get worse when more sectors start operating and more actively social people start working. Many people don't care to keep a safe distance.
5
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