What have you found to be the strangest change to your life?
The idea that stores and other public spaces might now be dangerous places to be, at least for now.
Have you found the changes and experience stressful/anxious/worrying?
More so at the beginning of the pandemic when we didn’t know if we had been exposed to the virus. After the first couple of weeks and we were all healthy, we’ve had no real stress or worry.
How have the closures affected your local community?
Sweet Tomatoes, my favorite restaurant, closed forever! A few other stores are announcing permanent closures. In terms of health, I’ve heard my zipcode has had only 13 cases of the virus, so we have been incredibly fortunate. The toughest part of all this, though, is that so many are out of work.
Have in-person meetings been replaced with virtual meetings via Zoom, Skype etc?
My local genealogy society has gone to virtual meetings and I’ve been thrilled. A couple of years ago, they moved the physical meeting location to the other side of Tucson, almost an hour from my house each way. Even though I loved the meetings, I stopped attending because of the travel time. I haven’t missed a virtual meeting yet and hope they continue the format.
Do you enjoy the virtual meeting format?
Absolutely!
Are you working from home instead of in your usual place of work?
No, being retired, my only “job” is my blog and house chores.
Have your habits changed over the past months?
Not really, except for online shopping. I’ve always kept the house supplies well stocked and that will continue in the future.
Have you had to cancel travel plans for pleasure or family?
We had a couple of short trips scheduled in July and August that we’ve cancelled.
Do you think you’ll be able to travel in 2020?
No, and as much as I love cruise ships, I won’t be on any of those for a very long time!
Have you/others been wearing masks when out and about in your area?
Yes, along with gloves.
Will you change your lifestyle after this experience?
Day to day, not too much, aside from the total online shopping. I will be more comfortable in social gatherings if and when there is a vaccine available. If none is created, we don’t be socializing much. I’m very glad that we have been fortunate to see as much of the world as we have because travel is now and will continue to be much more complicated.
Thank you, Pauleen and Randy, for a fun meme during our pandemic.
Bonus for you to have virtual genealogy meetings now that you can attend.
That is one huge advantage to virtual meetings. The ones I’ve been attending have people from a much wider area.
Thanks Linda. Like you I’m so grateful to have already done a lot of travel so that if it is seriously curtailed well into the future I have lots of happy memories. My favourite restaurant locally has also closed down 🙁
I feel for those who’ve lost jobs, or working hours and for those who’ve been isolated on their own without company.