the changing of the guard

[cjsmith]

Are you under a Shelter In Place order?

What bits of normalcy do you miss?

Comments

[dantesspirit]

Not yet, but it's coming.

[mrdreamjeans]

We are not yet, but all restaurants are closed except for take our or delivery after 5pm today. I already miss going out to the movies, which I seldom do, attending live theater (which I do a lot!) and dancing (which I try not to miss). All of my events and trips have been cancelled ... I hope these measures do contain the virus. I have zero faith in whatever information comes out of the White House.

not having to plan outings

[redbird]

Not under such an order yet, but we're getting lots of advice to minimize contact. I miss casually stopping in somewhere for pizza or a cup of tea (which are now takeout-only).

Slightly longer term, I will probably see my partner adrian_turtle less often than we usually do, or want (she lives three miles away, via two buses as the MBTA rolls), and I was looking forward to watching the spring bird migration at Mount Auburn Cemetery, which I can't really do on foot anymore.

[adrian_turtle]

It's not officially "Shelter in Place," but it's remarkably similar. The city closed houses of worship, and suddenly I miss mine even though I don't go every week. The recent Shelter in Place orders have allowed for grocery shopping, caring for family/friends, and individual outdoor exercise, as well as medical care. So it's more relaxed than when the police ordered "Shelter in Place" for them to hunt for the Boston Marathon bomber.

My work and social life is already extremely limited, but what there is of it is all shifting to video conferencing. What bothers me most is that the video conferencing itself is a migraine trigger. I'm terrified that it's going to stay this way, and I'm going to lose tutoring forever, lose my Talmud study group...I don't even know what else, I'm just afraid it will shift online and everyone will say, "yeah, this is good enough, and better for the atmosphere than actually getting together," and I'll never see anybody again except my girlfriend or the dentist.

I can walk to my girlfriend's house, but it's more than 3 miles and across a major road. (Not MUCH more than 3 miles. And there isn't much traffic these days.) So that's an additional strain, but not a complete loss.

[noelfigart]

We are not. However, anyone that CAN work from home MUST work from home at the local hospital.

Peter works for a hospital and trains staff to use the electronic medical record system.

That's a big deal, as people who have been retired, people who were clinical and have current licenses, but work in a different capacity (about 20% of our IT staff) are going to be called back into clinical service and will need to be able to use the EMR tools.

Peter has been scrambling to make sure they can be trained up fast-n-dirty remotely.

My brother is flipping the fuck out at the idea of supply chains breaking and possible civil unrest.

I miss being ignored by my brother, honestly.

[just_cyd]

I guess we're under Shelter in Place; it's called "quarantine" here in Ohio. most immediately, I miss getting to have a "last supper" tonight before surgery, or running out to sit in a fast food joint for a change of scenery. i've been home the better part of four months, which was fine, until the government said i *couldn't* go out ... now I feel caged!

Until I'm through this medical stuff, I don't think I'll realize just how serious and widespread this all is.

[cjsmith]

They'll SLOW the virus and that'll save lives. I too have zero faith in the White House right now.

I hope you find ways to enjoy theater stuff still, even if not attending live performances.

[cjsmith]

I hear ya. I recommend tons and tons of online, maybe video, contact.

Re: not having to plan outings

[cjsmith]

Awww, that's rough, being separated from a partner. (I too am separated from a partner, By Force Of Law. sigh.)

I hope you can bird-watch ... somehow ... virtually??

[cjsmith]

Ooo, you're not supposed to not visit her? That's kind of nifty. (I'm not supposed to visit anyone, By Force Of Law, though otherwise my Shelter In Place is like your current situation: groceries, medical, and individual outdoor time are ok.)

Unless we can build online/virtual connections that REALLY ARE as good as what we had Before, I hope we will fight, After, to rebuild the in-person links.

[cjsmith]

Here, "quarantine" is a medical term meaning you're actually ill. SIP = stay home unless groceries or medical. Isolation = someone you've been in contact with is ill, don't leave home. Quarantine = YOU are ill. Anyway, yeah, it's so much harder once you're told you can't! Same for me!!!

It's all so surreal. ♥

[cjsmith]

Oh dear. "Being ignored by family member" is not exactly at the top of my "I wish I missed THAT" type of list.

Good luck to Peter. Good luck to you as well.

Re: not having to plan outings

[redbird]

We can do at least a little bird-watching more locally--we see locally common birds, seasonal and otherwise, like cardinals and mourning doves. Mt. Auburn Cemetery is a good place for birds (lots of open space, with trees and lawns, and quiet) and we'd been looking forward to exploring it now that it's birding season.

Thanks for the reminder of the various nest-cams.

[redbird]

In theory, they'd rather we not visit. But it's a slightly different shape of risk than taking two buses each way to get there.

Last weekend, I was thinking that yes, seeing Adrian was an acceptable-to-me risk in terms of possible infection, and she agreed. I'm not sure whether/how much that has shifted, and I would want to consult with cattitude before visiting, right now. (Usually it's just confirming that there's no reason he'd mind me not being home a particular Friday, or yes he's happy with Adrian coming to dinner on a given Monday.)

Re: not having to plan outings

[cjsmith]

Stuff like nest-cams is gonna bolster the sanity of quite a few people in the coming weeks, I expect. I’m glad they were already out there.

[mrdreamjeans]

With the president's mishandling of the pandemic, I propose calling Covid-19, the Moronavirus! I also think he should from here forward be called Jabba, the Hut. May be childish of me, but I do see the resemblance.

[dantesspirit]

I'm very much an introvert with extrovert tendencies. So a shelter in place order is my usual day. Heh.

Seriously, I leave the house for martial arts and C.O.B.R.A. classes, grocery shopping, going to the InLaws or a run/walk.

Otherwise, I'm staying home and the rest of you can get off my lawn.}:P

[cjsmith]

Super! Just skip all the classes and the in laws and you've got where we are!

[cjsmith]

I hear ya. *nodding slowly*

[dantesspirit]

Classes are now online, lol.

And yeah, I don't see the InLaws often enough to really miss being able to go over there anyway.

so, technically, *you* are where *I* usually am!

[cjsmith]

There ya go! :-D

Mainly, I'm glad my workplace finally got the memo.

[cjsmith]

Yeah, we're usually pretty casual too (OK if I stay at ___ tonight?) but in my area right now it's pretty clear we are not supposed to do that. So no visits for a while.

[zahraa]

My aerial class, for one, but mostly being able to plan any fucking thing for the future, being able to think about the future with anything other than terror and trepidation.

[cjsmith]

yeah, I hear you. ♥

[tiger_spot]

I miss hosting social events -- I was gonna ask some people over for board games and have a Spring Egg Hunt for the kids' friends.

And I miss the rock climbing gym.

[cjsmith]

Oh yes! Social events are all turning into google hangouts and Zoom rooms, which isn’t the same but it’s something. Rock climbing gyms just do not translate well to videoconference tho.