I have a question to ask my fellow Duranies out there. Lately, I’ve seen quite a few people (not necessarily Duranies) who have commented about things they hope to continue in the post-Covid days. Whether it’s mask wearing, the idea of social distancing (meaning keeping that 6 foot circle around you open), staying at home, or not wanting to be in crowds ever again, it seems as though everyone has their own opinion of how life should be after Covid.
As I’ve read some of these descriptions, I have visibly shuddered at times. While I will admit to being prudent when absolutely necessary, I will also openly admit that I hate the masks. I wear them, but that doesn’t mean I also won’t gladly toss them all into a roaring, crackling bonfire when this over. I am someone who has always appreciated a bit of personal space—in fact I’ve always been one to leave room around me while in line, so if anything, I’ll be continuing this as the pandemic comes to a weary end. (Anybody who knows anything about me already knows I hate GA shows for this exact reason!) But not gathering? Never going to sporting events, parades, or fairs? Never traveling? Never seeing friends again in a crowd of more than two or three?
Each time I read someone else proclaim that they’re just not going to go back to the way things were, and that they’ve decided to live differently post-Covid, I wonder a little about myself. When the time comes and the government says we are able, I will be ready to rejoin life! Is that nuts??
My thought in this case is pretty simple. I am fifty. My dad died at sixty-eight. That thought looms in my head, regardless of whether I end up diagnosed at some point with IPF (the genetic lung disease he died from) or not. I can’t lie, there is a countdown going on in my head. I have a lot of life left to live, Covid or not. Time’s a-wasting! Each month that passes, I think about time passing. Concerts missed. Opportunities for travel being scrubbed.
My question is simple: when the time is right, and your country allows things to return to normal – are you going to go to concerts again? Do you think you’ll change the way you do things? What, if any, Covid-19 “habits” will you continue?
-R
For everything that went wrong there was a positive for me and that was job hunting. I could go into a long spiel but basically switched fields in the last few years from something I like that is unstable to something I’m not super crazy about but which there are more jobs than applicants. Anyway, before Covid I had a ton of interviews and during Covid they mostly became online. I want to stick to these because I couldn’t begin to mention all the interviews I had where I spent time and money to get there (parking, gas, whatever else) then didn’t get anyway. Zoom/Skype/Google Meet interviews have saved me time and money.
When this is over one of the things I want to do are attend concerts. I will probably be safer now in general but won’t give those up. Don’t know if I’ll do GA soon again bu can’t wait to attend concerts.
I will absolutely feel comfortable attending large gatherings post-COVID. Here in the UK it seems possible that we will be able to do so from the middle of the summer (so I’m still holding out hope for that DD Hyde Park gig…) and I am REALLY looking forward to attending concerts and taking part in mass running events (the other thing I really miss in life) once all of this is over.
I have however appreciated the slower pace of life during the pandemic and so I hope to be more mindful in future about choosing what I commit to socially – rather than just saying yes to everything due to FOMO and feeling stressed as a result, which was what was happening before!
Well, when this is over I hope to never wear a mask again. I hate it! Others can do what makes them feel safe. I will enthusiastically go to as many Duran concerts as I can afford. Hop to see you all there.