What is your New Normal going to look like?

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
*** @Matrix I'm not sure if this belongs in the Covid-19 forum or here. Move at your discretion.

I've been thinking a lot about what my New Normal is going to look like, going forward. As a senior, I'm in the "vulnerable individual" high risk group. Tennessee's 4 Phase Plan recommends that I continue to shelter at home at least through all 4 phases, which is a DATA driven rather than a Date driven plan. In other words, the metrics, rather than a date on the calendar, will determine whether or not we move to the next phase. The future is looking pretty vague to me right now.

Of course, I don't know where "home" is going to be as I look towards the future, so that adds to the general vagueness. 🤦‍♀️

Separate from that though, I'm still trying to figure out work--when I'm willing to go back, who I'm willing to go back to work for and who I'm not, which of my clients is willing to HAVE me back, potential protocols related to returning (because I'm self-employed those decisions are up to me/clients) and what all of that will look like.

I'm also thinking about family stuff. The kids and I have lots of get togethers. Close friends who we consider family are usually included. We're a touchy/feely family, so there are lots of hugs and pats and arms slung around shoulders etc.....the complete OPPOSITE of social distancing. Ron's kids are included too, though right now I have no idea if they're ever going to speak to me again, so I can't say if I'll need to navigate that aspect or not. But WHEN we'll all start gathering again, and what that will LOOK like...well, my brain wants to explode.

As someone who likes to control stuff 🙃 these vaguenesses are making me a bit crazy. Not just the timing of these things, but also what the rules are going to be when they come about.

Share with me your thoughts please, on what YOUR plans are, how you're navigating these things, what protocols you intend to put in place moving forward. You're a bright bunch of people and I value your thoughts about this, and warn you that I'll steal and make my own whatever appeals to me! 😍🤩
 

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All I plan to do is make informed choices and use commonsense just like I do in every other area of my life.

I'll continue to follow the basic guidelines of staying home as much as possible/practical, wearing a mask, social distancing, washing my hands, etc...

I'm not sure what else we can do or what else can be done for us until a TNT vaccine or treatment is developed.
 
Aunt Bea said:
All I plan to do is make informed choices and use commonsense just like I do in every other area of my life.

I'll continue to follow the basic guidelines of staying home as much as possible/practical, wearing a mask, social distancing, washing my hands, etc...

I'm not sure what else we can do or what else can be done for us until a TNT vaccine or treatment is developed.
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Yeah, following guidelines is essential.

Do you gather with family? (Sorry, I can't remember details of your life.) If so, will you wear a mask then?
 

Ronni said:
Yeah, following guidelines is essential.

Do you gather with family? (Sorry, I can't remember details of your life.) If so, will you wear a mask then?
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I do but not often.

If I went to an event like a wedding, funeral, graduation, etc... I would wear a mask.

I would also limit my exposure by doing those things that were important to me. Perhaps attending a wedding but bowing out of the reception or stopping by early to drop off a graduation present and snap a photo but not stay for the actual party.

I consider doing these things to protect my family as much as I do to protect myself.

We all need to find our own acceptable level of risk.
 
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Aunt Bea said:
We all need to find our own acceptable level of risk.
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This I think it key.

And from personal experience, I don't think its of any benefit to shame or ridicule someone because their risk assessment is different. In my case, it's higher than some. And I HAVE been ridiculed for it, told I'm over-reading, I'm too careful, I'm making a scene, etc. Whatever.

People have different levels. I see it in the grocery store. Some folks will just move past others closely. Some folks wait till the aisle is clear before stepping into it. Some will ignore the signs that mandate 6 feet of distance, some adhere to that closely.

I just think that we should all be respectful of the other person's level of risk whether it agrees with ours or not.
 
I don't think the new normal will be much different than the pre-corona normal.
Two CA counties (San Bernardino & Riverside) have already changed the silly mask requirement from "Required" to "Optional." Others will likely do the same. And (thinking) people will realize that the social distancing, the masks, or staying home have not changed the infection rate - at least according to the reporting we're getting.
 
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If history means anything ... the current predicament will take a long time to play out... years

And personally, I don't feel I have that much time to figure it all out. ...So just listening to what is being reported, and following day to day procedures is all I concern myself with.
No plans.
 
Ronni said:
Tennessee's 4 Phase Plan recommends that I continue to shelter at home at least through all 4 phases, which is a Date driven rather than a Date driven plan
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I think this is a typo. What did you mean to say here?

As for me, I saw all of my kids yesterday. They came over two hours apart and we visited on the front lawn with social distancing, and with one son and daughter-in-law, the four of us were masked. DIL works in the medical profession. All others are working from home and following CA guidelines.

It was so good for my soul to see my children and grands. I've no idea what the next 18 months might bring, but unless situations change dramatically we will arrange these kinds of get-togethers over summer. There are ways to responsibly see one another in person. We'll all just have to pick our way through the mine field.
 
StarSong said:
I think this is a typo. What did you mean to say here?

As for me, I saw all of my kids yesterday. They came over two hours apart and we visited on the front lawn with social distancing, and with one son and daughter-in-law, the four of us were masked. DIL works in the medical profession. All others are working from home and following CA guidelines.

It was so good for my soul to see my children and grands. I've no idea what the next 18 months might bring, but unless situations change dramatically we will arrange these kinds of get-togethers over summer. There are ways to responsibly see one another in person. We'll all just have to pick our way through the mine field.
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Good eye @StarSong! Thank you. I changed it. DATA driven rather than date driven reopening.

Yeah, this is what we've been doing as well. It was one of my boys' birthdays yesterday. His girlfriend, and another of my sons also live there, so I drove to his house and I sat on the opposite ends of his porch from the rest of them, and we visited and chatted for over an hour. I'd previously sent him a gift from Amazon, and his GF had gotten him a couple too, so we all sat together apart while he opened gifts.

I've done similar with my other son who lives across town. My California family have already cancelled their trip to come visit which makes me sad, but I completely understand, wouldn't want it any other way under the circumstances, and I'm glad they're staying safe.

I look forward to when we can all gather the way we used to. I have no idea when that will happen, though I'm holding onto the hope, for the sake of my sanity, that it WILL, at some point.
 
I don't know yet....I do have a Bridal Shower end of June....It was supposed to be in May....The Venue put it up till June....
We are not home yet...probably will go home early June....

In August we have the wedding for my Grandson and his fiance…. I'm wondering if I should wear a mask....
If I do, I will try to find a pretty mask...right now we have blue mask's when we go to the grocery store....

Problem.....We are a very loving family....We hug every time we see our family....I'm beside myself....
When we go home, I need to hug my kids...We haven't seen most since December...My Son and Granddaughter were here in
early February....After they left to get on the plane, this epidemic came out....We keep in touch with everyone....We also do Zoom
to see our family....

Wow is Me.....I know people are having to go to work and wondering if it is going to be safe....

Many Questions...… Be Well, everyone....
 
I am high risk and plan to stay home until a proven safe vaccine or safe proven treatment is found. I am fortunate that my son and daughter in law live on the same 7 acres as I do. Our homes very far apart. My son does my grocery shopping. Places it on my porch, we visit keeping at least 6ft apart.
My other son and daughter in law are coming to visit I've not seen them in 2 years they live in Oregon I'm in TN.
They have already stated they will visit keeping a distance of at least 6ft.
I want to hug them and will. I told them to be prepared to have a sheet thrown over them and get the biggest hug ever. Yep, throwing a clean sheet on son, give big hug, grab different clean sheet throw over dil and give big hug.
This will be May 28th.
My future will be what ever this virus situation dictates, and how much I'm willing to endure. 🌹
 
I think my days of "adventurous" traveling is over. The trip to India for this fall is off, obviously.

We're staying here in Florida for the summer, for the first time in ten years, so other fun things are going to have to be found. I'll probably go to the beach more often.

I know an "attitude adjustment" is on the agenda. I'm not cut out to be a recluse.
 
I think the nation is too traumatized to bounce back into the routines we used to have. I can't see us gathering in huge crowds for along time. We are seniors-the targets to the virus. That's too close to home. Our demographic will not adjust to the new 'normal', I 'm afraid we will become terribly isolated. One good thing about the virus is that while spread was vicious, the spread did prove that we are one world. We aren't big tribes of people insulated by distance, but really one global unity.
 
Financially, we will all have to adjust. With all the free money being printed and handed out, inflation will take a big chunk out of everyone's savings. Prices of basics are soaring with the price increases being attributed to shortages and the emergency. These increases will have enough time to become established so it isn't likely they will drop when the emergency ends.
 
Pretty much the same as it is now. I can see maybe going to into the stores to shop once we're past phase 4 but, I will likely wear my masks into the stores and continue with the handwashing because I am concerned about it's return this fall. As for the isolation...not much will change. Since I work in healthcare, until there comes a day when I don't see anything listed for any current cases where I am...I will likely avoid my parents because I could never forgive myself if I brought this to them and it killed them.
 
Its going to stay the same for me
In our apt building complex,we have to wear masks whenever we walk downstairs/take the elevator to the basement to the mailroom,or into the laundry room.It will be interesting when I sit outside in our community garden either reading or sitting 6 ft away from other residents.I'm so use to wearing masks when I go on my daily walks or into the stores,its part of my routine now.
 
Not much difference for me. I am a homebody anyway, and we had been having groceries delivered for a couple of years before the pandemic. I don't see much change in how we deal with family; I will certainly hug them all.

A lot of uncertainty around economic recovery. At this point we haven't had any change other than our investments taking a hit, but who knows what the future holds.
 

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