I don’t know how long it’s been for you folks, but here at Casa Baer we’ve going into our seventh week of self-isolation. According to our Governor and our Mayor, it looks like we’ve got at least two more to go before “we re-evaluate.” I’m hoping that by the second week of May we’ll be able to enter Phase I and start to see some movement toward “normal,” around here. What that means for my business remains to be seen, but I’m hopeful I’ll be able to welcome guests again in the near future. I’m hoping for June, but only time will tell. Right now I’m an innkeeper with nothing to keep.
These past six weeks have been interesting to say the least. I have been out a few times, probably about once a week, usually to go to the grocery store, hardware store, or post office. A couple of times my husband went out to pick up food from a restaurant. And once we just went for a drive. Basically, we’ve been staying put as recommended.
Being home doesn’t bother me that much because I’m used to doing that. What’s strange is being in this great big house all by myself day after day with no people around. I mean my husband is here, but I’m used to having guests around at least part of the day. I don’t think I’ve even been upstairs in the past three weeks. Maybe someone’s been camped out up there and I haven’t even noticed. I probably should venture up there and take a look around hmm?
I have made some observations during these past few weeks though, based on my limited conversations with folks while I’ve been out, from telephone calls with friends, or from social media. There have been some positive changes that I hope continue once we’ve been freed from our isolation.
- People are eating more home cooked meals.
- People are actually sitting down – together – with their families – for a meal or to watch television or to play games. We need more of that in the world.
- People are reading more. That’s really good news for authors but it also broadens the readers’ world. I like that people are turning to books, even if they’re audio books. Books provide an escape from reality and lots of people need that right now.
- People are learning – some by necessity – how to use new and different technology. Programs like Skype and Zoom have seen a huge influx of new users so people can stay connected whether they have to or just want to.
- People are getting more sleep. Lots of folks no longer need to set an alarm in the morning. More and more people are taking naps. Our bodies are designed to need rest. I think everyone will see increased productivity when they return to their normal routines because they’re rested.
- People are learning to appreciate the freedoms we are afforded in this great country. Lots of folks are realizing how important it is to be able to go and do now that our wings have been clipped and we can’t just go and do like we used to. That my friends is called “freedom.” I think some people are understanding and appreciating that concept right now. We don’t have the freedoms we did 6 weeks ago. Or the appreciation for the little things. Like toilet paper. Or flour.
- People are discovering new talents. Lots of folks I know are learning how to cook new things and bake new goodies. People are resorting to baking their own bread because of the hoarders at the grocery stores. Lots of people are learning how to sew medical masks. Some are making soap or antibacterial hand sanitizer. Small business owners are discovering new ways to provide goods and service in order to stay afloat with no income stream. Parents have become teachers and are discovering news ways to keep their kids engaged and educated.
- People are catching up on all of those home improvement projects they’ve been meaning to do but haven’t “had the time” to do. Guess what? You’ve got nothing but time now. Closets are getting decluttered. Garages are getting cleaned out. Cars are getting washed and vacuumed. Heck, we even cleaned our oven.
- People are just plain ole relaxing more. Maybe not relaxing in the sense of being relieved from stress, but physically relaxing. Sitting and doing nothing. In the long run, that is a terrible habit to get into because we need to get up and move around, but for right now, I think the relaxation will do us all some good. We’re slowly turning into couch potatoes, but that’ll change soon. I hope. It better anyway.
- There has been a tremendous reduction in energy, oil, and water consumption, especially from big businesses like amusement parks, entertainment venues, shopping centers, restaurants, and the travel industry (airlines, taxies, Uber, busses, passenger trains). Don’t believe me, check the price of gasoline in your neighborhood.
- There has been a reduction in pollution: air, water, noise, and light. (As a direct result of the item listed above.)
- And – my personal favorite – there are absolutely no telemarketer or robocalls right now.
So, there you have it, my list of benefits from suffering through the sheltering-in-place edicts from the powers that be. It may not be super fun right now, but if you look for the good, I’m sure you’ll come up with something beneficial from this unique moment in time.
What are some unlikely benefits you’ve noticed while staying home? Have you discovered a hidden talent or gotten reacquainted with a hobby that you let drop off along the way somewhere? I’d love to know how you’re spending your days.
Word of the Day: Interpolation
Fun fact about me: I didn’t realize there were so many Disney movies I had not seen. Another benefit of quarantine – catching up on my Disney.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, April 2020. Images by Google Images and Pexels.
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I’ve probably been affected less than anyone else you know. The biggest change in my routine is that I can’t go out to breakfast four days a week like I usually do, and I can’t go to Sunday School. Other than that, my life goes on pretty much as always.
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I’m sure you must have to go out for groceries or perhaps the hardware store on occasion though right? It seems to me everyone has to leave the house at least once in awhile. And do you never go to a bookstore?
I’m glad that there is at least one person who have not been affected by this massive disruption. Perhaps that can be your claim to fame.
As always, thanks for visiting and sharing your thought. I hope you’ll be back eating breakfast at your favorite restaurant real soon.
Patricia
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There are Disney movies you haven’t seen??
The only benefit to me personally that I can come up with is that I haven’t had to go to Ohio for work – though that will come soon once travel restrictions ease up. And that will be fine, because I’d like to see my parents. But otherwise – the only change for me is going out to pick up food, rather than dine out once or twice a week. We already cook at home most of the time, and I am (thankfully) still employed, which was already remote. I guess just knowing we shouldn’t go out more than necessary has given me even more appreciation of our beautiful land with its woods and trails, so that’s something.
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I tend to agree Jennette, that it’s the IDEA of not being able to go out that has had the biggest effect. It’s not like I’m out every day shopping or doing stuff anyway, but now I feel “stuck.” The psychology of this pandemic is interesting for sure.
And, yes, there are LOTS of Disney movies I haven’ts seen.
Thanks for visiting. Stay safe.
Patricia
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I think you have summed up the positives of this very well, Patricia. I have a feeling that some families who were sequestered together for this time will look back fondly in years to come and say “this was our finest hour.”
As for me, any talents I might have are so well hidden the Federal Witness Protection Program calls me for advice.
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Unfortunately, Al, I do think that some families have had a particularly difficult time being thrown together for such a long period of time. Families with an abusive spouse or parent situation are certainly feeling the brunt of this pandemic in a completely different way. I believe we’ll also see an increase in alcohol and drug abuse when this is all over.
But, I don’t like to dwell on the negative things, so I mentioned the positive. I’m hoping most folks are looking for silver linings. If they’re not, they should be.
As always, thanks for visiting. Have a great rest of the week.
Patricia
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I’m still working, but we’ve cut our hours to part time and I’m determined not to waste the unexpected free time. For the first time in a long time, I’m feeling more balanced because I don’t have to pack everything I need to do in a single weekend and then being frustrated because I can’t get it all done. I’m catching up on my weeding and gardening (so many seedlings coming up!), catching up on webinars I’ve wanted to watch and learning some new marketing strategies. I feel for all of the people who are out or work right now and struggling, but for me, this isolation business has been a blessing that I intend to appreciate to the fullest.
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I agree with you about getting things done. My husband has been plugging away at little projects around the house that never seemed to have gotten done in the past. It’s the perfect time for us to do these projects too because we have no guests. The downside is that we also have no money so fixing things becomes a lesson in ingenuity and frugality.
But one must do, what one must do. I’m glad people are being adaptable. I just wish more people would keep their stupid opinions to themselves on social media. There’s a huge new pandemic of lunacy arising in cyber world. I for one can’t wait til people go back to work and get off the social media sites.
As always, thanks for contributing to the conversation. Happy gardening!
Patricia
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Great post. I am enjoying dinner at home and watching the birds among the other blessings that slowing down allows me to do. I was walking in the woods this weekend and could hear a woodpecker pounding away. It rained yesterday afternoon well into the night and I could hear the rain on the roof. Sometimes life gets so loud you can’t hear a thing. I am able to teach from where I am – I don’t like teaching remotely, but I am reaching students. Yesterday in one of my ZOOM conferences a student thanked me for the directions in my lessons. he let me know it was helpful and that he’s learning. It was news to my ears. I hope when we return to what we had before, we continue doing some of what we are doing now. It’s adding peace back in to my life. Stay well, safe, and healthy. Peace to you and Corey.
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Thanks Clay and I’m with you. I believe we should continue with some of these positive things. Spending time with family is so important. I hope that when folks go back to work and school they don’t lose sight of that. And the sense of peace that has settled over the Earth is comforting. It’s like the Earth is heaving a great big sigh.
And, so wonderful to know that your efforts as a teacher are being felt. I know you reach your students. I just wish more of them thanked you for your efforts.
Enjoy the rest of the week.
Patricia
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