Living alone during the pandemic and dealing with the isolation.

Until there is a viable vaccine, we need to stay home most of the time. Otherwise we and/or others will die because of us. Or as mentioned here have a lot of negative long term effect. That's it, flat out. We need common sense here. It seems to be a dead or dying commodity. We need to follow the science. Today on the news I learned that teachers in Arizona are doing a sickout because they do not feel safe going back to school and teaching. I give them kudos for this.
I totally agree! Before we "OPENED UP", we were having like 125 new cases a day, then it went to over 2000 a day, can't people see the effect that their being irresponsible has? They have to wait until one of their loved ones dies or suffers. Kids back to school is crazy!
 

Thinking positive on a daily basis: deliberately being grateful, playing inspiring music everyday, doing hobbies you love, finding something to laugh about on a regular bases... reading and watching favorite programs can certainly help. We just have to "keep on keeping on" till we get the vaccine. Hopefully, next year it will be in our "rear view mirror".

We can do it! Thank heavens for this forum, too, folks!
 
pip48,
I live in SC as well and share your feelings about the pathetic response to the virus that we see in this state. The willingness to ignore science and believe BS is appalling. You will find a lot of kindred spirits on this forum. Welcome Aboard.
These kids going back to school is crazy!!!
 
Vote the bum out.
I wish we could!! This state is not going to do that, I am afraid, that is why there are so many people running around unmasked. They treat everything just like it is not happening. I had one restaurant owner tell me that they weren't required to wear masks so they don't, she trusts in God to keep her healthy. I am not kidding that was the answer she gave me when I asked why she and her employees were not wearing masks. I told he I would never be back through her drive through again.
 
@pip48
I had some BAD experiences in South Carolina, and a very traumatic one in Walterboro. This was, umm, let me count backwards......55 years ago. So, nothing has changed. I don't know how people like Pecos and you can bear living with, being surrounded by, and outnumbered by these yahoos. I couldn't do it. I wouldn't do it.
 
@pip48
I had some BAD experiences in South Carolina, and a very traumatic one in Walterboro. This was, umm, let me count backwards......55 years ago. So, nothing has changed. I don't know how people like Pecos and you can bear living with, being surrounded by, and outnumbered by these yahoos. I couldn't do it. I wouldn't do it.
We are planning to move to Washington State as soon as we can. Some times I feel like I am trapped behind enemy lines and it is getting worse.
 
We are planning to move to Washington State as soon as we can. Some times I feel like I am trapped behind enemy lines and it is getting worse.
Well say hi to mother for me. 😂. All my family live there. It rains a lot, snails the size of SUVs according to my SIL; and my brother has become a hoarder apparently. The virus, the protesters, the looters, and my family. Everything you never wanted, all in one place. 🤪
 
I wish we could!! This state is not going to do that, I am afraid, that is why there are so many people running around unmasked. They treat everything just like it is not happening. I had one restaurant owner tell me that they weren't required to wear masks so they don't, she trusts in God to keep her healthy. I am not kidding that was the answer she gave me when I asked why she and her employees were not wearing masks. I told he I would never be back through her drive through again.
I am so alarmed by people who really think God will keep them healthy...which means she doesn't care about anyone else. As "God's" kid it's a requirement to care. What a sack of.... She must be one of my religious relatives. Even here where we are required masks, everyone doesn't when they are protesting in the streets or partying in large numbers.
 
Well say hi to mother for me. 😂. All my family live there. It rains a lot, snails the size of SUVs according to my SIL; and my brother has become a hoarder apparently. The virus, the protesters, the looters, and my family. Everything you never wanted, all in one place. 🤪
Washington is getting dryer by the minute, like every state out west is. I would love to have that rain. I'm in the Oregon Coast Range and it used to rain here a lot. These days we are down about 20 inches a year from where it used to be. That means all of us are on the edge of burning up.
 
I am so alarmed by people who really think God will keep them healthy...which means she doesn't care about anyone else. As "God's" kid it's a requirement to care. What a sack of.... She must be one of my religious relatives. Even here where we are required masks, everyone doesn't when they are protesting in the streets or partying in large numbers.
Belief in God does not mean anyone has to care about someone else. Nor does it mean anyone does not care about other people. Belief that God will keep you healthy-a religion called Jehovah’s witness is based on this belief.

You seem to be alarmed by a lot of things. Do you think that is because you are isolating too much?
 
Belief in God does not mean anyone has to care about someone else. Nor does it mean anyone does not care about other people. Belief that God will keep you healthy-a religion called Jehovah’s witness is based on this belief.

You seem to be alarmed by a lot of things. Do you think that is because you are isolating too much?
This is one of those things we should not talk about. If I share my views and your share yours, complete with examples, we could have a big conflict, which would accomplish nothing. The old timers said for good reason, do not talk religion and politics. I am not in isolation. I'm living the way I always have.

Be well. Namaste - when you are in your highest place and I am in mine, we are one.
 
This is one of those things we should not talk about. If I share my views and your share yours, complete with examples, we could have a big conflict, which would accomplish nothing. The old timers said for good reason, do not talk religion and politics. I am not in isolation. I'm living the way I always have.

Be well. Namaste - when you are in your highest place and I am in mine, we are one.
I am not talking about religion
 
Well say hi to mother for me. 😂. All my family live there. It rains a lot, snails the size of SUVs according to my SIL; and my brother has become a hoarder apparently. The virus, the protesters, the looters, and my family. Everything you never wanted, all in one place. 🤪
Aneeda, sometimes you just tickle me right down to the core. I loved your post.

I have lived there back in the 1960's, and it does rain more than South Carolina but it isn't the "trash moving gully washers" that we get here when it decided to pour. Snails don't bother me nearly as much as poisonous snakes and the gigantic cockroaches that call South Carolina home. (Not as big as Hawaiian cockroaches).

LOL Hopefully you brother will not be packing his stuff into my home, and I will be in a small town without the looters.

LOL, I will, however, say hello to your family if I happen to encounter them. Maybe I will introduce them to some of the oddball members of my family who live in that general area. I see a possible cancellation effect and a net benefit to both of us.
 
Maryland is a blue state with a pretty good Republican governor, Larry Hogan. He's done a good job of somewhat containing the virus so far, not so good with the mail-in ballot issue. But that's probably too political to discuss here.
 
I wish that I had your faith in the idea that, " it will all end!". I can't see an end to it. Where I live, there are a lot of people out without masks, and it makes it harder for me to go out comfortably. Our Governor won't do a mask order! He has done it for certain places. Because there insn't a state mandated order, places like; grocery stores, Walmart, Target, who have mandated masks won't enforce them. So frustrating!
My faith waivers about it ending but I'm trying to keep hope alive. I'm not going to go to places that don't enforce the mask mandate in my state I have decided. I'm not going to be a sitting duck. Going to start going to a different grocery store that seems to enforce the mask law here. On the door they have a red stop sign and it says "no mask-no entry" The only thing is that this grocery store has much higher prices. I'll just buy less.
 
@pip48 "What is the point?"
Well, if there is no point, why not actually see, touch, and hold your family? Why not be a bit bolder and try to live as normally as possible while still wearing your mask and being socially distant with strangers, not the people you love. What are you protecting if there is no point?

I think she means that since there is little to no in-person social interaction these days, she sometimes sees little point in getting dressed up for doing not very much. I didn't get the impression she meant no point in being alive. There is a huge difference.

I have days where I agree there seems "no point," but by that I mean that since I live alone and don't go out much anymore there doesn't seem any point in getting "presentable" some days. I get dressed, though, for my own sanity.

As to seeing, touching/ holding her family, we are all advised not to do that unless we are under the same roof. I, for one, wouldn't want to put those I love in the position of touching/feeling/holding if they did not feel safe doing that. And perhaps those loved ones are refraining from doing so through a fear of infecting her.
 
You are so appreciative of all that you have, what a great attitude! I try everyday to talk myself into exactly what you are saying, but can not always get there.
I also find myself angry, not about the virus itself, but about the awful way that our government and people are handling it. Then there is all the social unrest going on as well. And the politics are just dark and ugly. I think those things affect me too.
I do need to get some physical exercise though, that might really help. The weather is not always cooperative for walks, but exercise and the floor is always available.
I read a lot, which isn't moving the body.

Unfortunately for me, if I got down on the floor I'd have a hell of a time getting up again and since I live alone, too, that would be a big problem. I do have a treadmill, though, and try to use it regularly.

I strongly agree with you that the world (and the news) is a very grim place now and all that does contribute to a general feeling of gloom.

My state still has many restrictions (and enforces them), which is a good thing. But I do miss the social interaction with others at things I used to do, like classes, lectures, shopping with my sister when she felt like it, church, etc. Nothing special, but still social interaction.

If this awful heat ever abates, I'm going to go back to walking my dog more and longer, and that always helps a bit, but not in near 100 degree temperatures.
 
Pip, another thing I've been doing, which I forgot to mention is writing postcards for our Democratic club, which I belong to. I live in a retirement community of over 8,000 people, so we are a force to be reckoned with. Not much else I can do at the moment, but at least the postcards are reaching people and reminding them how important it is to vote, and vote early.

Yes, there is lots of social unrest, and lots of ugly politics. I can't argue with that. But look ahead, things will probably change in November.

About the weather, I usually manage to get out and walk even in the rain, with an umbrella. I've found that morning is the best time for getting out. It isn't usually too hot yet then, and our daily tropical rainstorms usually start in the late afternoon. Sometimes in the morning, I meet up with a group of neighbors sitting out on the patio, 6 feet apart with masks, chatting.

And I write for our local paper, which is a lot of fun for me.

Try to think positive, it will cost you nothing and might help! Maybe I'm being a pollyanna, but there are worse things to be. :)

Lewkat, it's not a fairly mild virus. Read my other post in the Coronavirus Disease thread, about people who are "long haul" survivors; they are alive, but have lingering serious health problems. Probably not most survivors, but enough to matter.

I should call and ask about the postcard thing --- that's something I could do.
 
Hello @pip48, welcome to the forum! Sorry to hear you've been so isolated, but I understand your not wanting to be around other people right now. I'm lucky because I don't live alone, still have my husband with me, and I get out to the park and walk every day, so that helps with mood and health. Just follow your own sense, and don't do anything you're not comfortable with. Wishing you the best, hope things get easier soon.

full
 
I'm currently at my mother's house, taking care of her. She was at another sister's house, spending the summer but got sick and i had to bring her back to her home.

Turns out they were treating her for the wrong thing and after a CT scan last week, we now know she has a huge tumor on her kidney. Biopsy coming up on Thursday will tell if it's benign or the big C.

Where to go from there..... she's 95.

She lives in a big tourist area. Everyone is on vacation and literally no one is wearing a mask. No one. Large crowds and barely a mask to be seen.

She can't go out. I barely leave the house except to go to the beach late in the evening to swim every 3 days or so.

No TV, no internet except for my phone. Scintillating conversation, mostly about her health. We take trips to the doctor and the hospital and the lab..... I can't really go anywhere either as I can't take a chance of bringing something home to her
I am going for another covid test tomorrow.

I've been here two weeks. Depending on what happens, it could be weeks more. The Spousal Equivalent is holding down the home fires.

Thanks for listening. It helps to moan and groan.
 
It helps if you can learn to be your own best friend. And welcome, Pip. Always good to have another opinion.
 
I'm currently at my mother's house, taking care of her. She was at another sister's house, spending the summer but got sick and i had to bring her back to her home.

Turns out they were treating her for the wrong thing and after a CT scan last week, we now know she has a huge tumor on her kidney. Biopsy coming up on Thursday will tell if it's benign or the big C.

Where to go from there..... she's 95.

She lives in a big tourist area. Everyone is on vacation and literally no one is wearing a mask. No one. Large crowds and barely a mask to be seen.

She can't go out. I barely leave the house except to go to the beach late in the evening to swim every 3 days or so.

No TV, no internet except for my phone. Scintillating conversation, mostly about her health. We take trips to the doctor and the hospital and the lab..... I can't really go anywhere either as I can't take a chance of bringing something home to her
I am going for another covid test tomorrow.

I've been here two weeks. Depending on what happens, it could be weeks more. The Spousal Equivalent is holding down the home fires.

Thanks for listening. It helps to moan and groan.
How lucky you are to have your mother alive, this woman who loved you unconditionally, this being who could sacrifice herself for you without hesitation.
what luck...
I pray that she is well, I pray that you spend the most beautiful moments with her. in this life nothing is certain and no one is eternal.
 


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