The Other Side of Isolation
This isolation has been relatively painless for us. I don't think I've left my property since the beginning of March. We live in the country so there's plenty for us to do on nice days. On rainy days, I cook big meals, clean, or watch tv. Every night I read for 2-3 hours.
I've been enjoying a few blogs that have been journaling their isolation. I like to read what other people do with their time. Some are making masks, others are cooking or baking. A few are gardening. (I'm in this group.)
In the US, we're closing in on the peak of the virus, or so they say. That means a few more weeks of down time. I'm bracing myself for all the gripers who'll complain that we either did too little or did too much that inconvenienced them.
In a few months, no doubt most everyone will forget about the long hours grocery clerks, delivery people, and health care workers put in. It's human nature to be ungrateful, or at the very least forgetful.
I hope people remember the good things about isolation.
- Having real conversations with family.
- Checking on all those we didn't see for weeks at a time and really caring about them.
- Not spending gobs of money on stupid splurges.
- Sleeping more.
- Learning where my gaps were that kept me from being more self sufficient.
- Saving money on gas!
- Exploring your neighborhood (or your property) while still social distancing.
I miss garage sales, but other than that there's really not much I needed from the outside world. While we did lose a bit of our retirement fund via the stock market, with time it'll come back to where it was. In the meantime, we're saving a lot of money not zipping out for this or that.
Another thing I've noticed is that we use up everything. Nothing goes to waste. If I'm missing something to complete a project or a meal, I improvise. I imagine it was like this all the time in my grandmother's day, so I feel proud to be just as resilient.
It's an unprecedented opportunity, and not one we'll see again in our lifetime. For a few months you got to learn what you're really made of. That's worth something, at least to me. I've always wondered if I was up to the task of doing without or making do. Now I know.
What do you think? Have you learned anything about yourself?
Let me leave you with an especially epic video from a young family in the UK. That's what I call entertainment!
Comments
The most difficult part for me has been the ongoing concern for the health of family and friends who can't stay home like we can. My husband and I both work from home so things haven't changed a lot for us.
I, too, hope that people learn to appreciate what they have more fully and are thankful for their blessings. Some people will be changed by this experience while others are all too willing to go back to their old ways. We can't force lessons on anyone!
Best wishes with your garden and livestock this season!
The important thing is that you and your family are safe. I think some people lose sight of that, yet it's the only thing that really matters.
Glad to hear Karl is one of the survivors. Has he started his garden yet? We had a hellish storm move through last night. I haven't yet surveyed the property for damage. I hope my garden made it. The trees yesterday were sideways in the wind.
People are people. The same sour apples will complain no matter what, but I hope the more enlightened ones will realize how lucky they were and what an opportunity they were given.
I don't have a lot of extra time, since not only am I cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry more frequently, but I'm also working on more writing projects, crocheting, sewing masks, and taking an online class. I'm worried about my family, but I keep too busy to fret.
Some people though are having a hard time working from home. They're missing deadlines and their production has dropped. The few times I got the chance to work from home, my production nearly doubled, so I have to assume it's the individual, not the situation.
I've also learned that as long as Hubby is busy (working or playing his game), he leaves me alone, so maybe I will survive when he finally retires. :)
It's also getting close to announcing the winners of our middle school writing contest (all the middle schools in the county are eligible- we're up to about 40 schools this year). I have to make up the anthology of winning pieces and get them printed. We can't hold our usual awards ceremony for the 30 winners so I'll need to mail out the prizes, including copies of the anthologies. I'm feeling a bit frazzled.
Re: retirement
We were talking to our financial planner only today and he said the same thing! He says he leaves the house just to give his wife a break.
Loved that video! Thank you for sharing. It gave me a fit full of giggles lol!!
And yes, I have seen a few complaints that the death toll is nowhere near what "doomsday Chicken Littles" were claiming it would be at this point. Like, actually upset there aren't more people dead to make this inconvenience to their worlds more... I don't know, morbidly validated 😳
The other thing I'm noticing is that while they're fixated on Covid numbers, no one says a word about the common flu. In the last summation, 80,000 people died of the flu in the US alone. This year, not a peep about the flu. It didn't just disappear. Are they perhaps mining some of those numbers to pad the Covid cases? Inquiring minds want to know.
I for one am delighted you and D are doing so well. Good job, mom!
As far as the shutdown goes, I was excited about getting a jump on the yard and garden work in early April then winter decided to do an encore performance. At the moment I'm just a bit frustrated. But we're getting by "with a little help from our sons".
Stay safe, my friend.
re: video
Wasn't it great! Talk about talent.
Now, however, the same media are raising the question of how to end it. Hard choices and lose/lose situations.
One thing I do know is that when lockdown does end many will be like those supposedly free range chickens kept in large bars with a small exit allowing them to exercise outside 'it they want'. Some may go out blinking in sunlight. The majority tend to stay in the barn. I suspect 'freedom' will be a bit scary for those accustomed to the new normal. And on that note - keep safe :)