I'm going to admit that I have a very bad case of cabin fever. I long to travel anywhere just for a change of scenery. Since it really isn't safe to travel to too many places, I plan to go to hotels in my area just to have a change of scenery from my current hotel.
Has anyone else done anything interesting to alleviate your cabin fever?
I spent the day in my own town yesterday doing what I very likely might have done in a city in Europe this spring or fall: visited the gardens of a country house Filoli Historic House and Garden and had lunch on their outdoor courtyard. It's peak rose season, among other summer displays! And a lovely sculpture exhibit.
Frank II,
I don't know where "Freedonia" is located so don't know what's in the immediate area. Apparently Vegas has reopened so that's one possibility (although Nevada is one of the states that just saw a spike in virus cases).
Some visitors from the U.S. have recently been spotted in Canada due to the "Alaska loophole" - https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/the-canada-u-s-border-is-closed-but-americans-are-still-coming-through-here-s-how-1.4980589 .
Frank, I too long to be able to plan a trip. A few of our national parks reopened 3-4 weeks ago, including Caesarea, originally built about 2000 years ago as a Mediterranean harbor and palace for King Herod, first ravished by nature, subsequently rebuilt and ravished by Byzantines, Muslims, Crusaders, and Turks, maybe a couple more I'm forgetting. I booked in advance (necessary due to limited numbers of visitors due to the "situation") for 8 am on a weekday - it was glorious, for nearly 3 hours I was the lone visitor and walked the length of the site along the Med shore, and only an hour's drive from home. A week later when my favorite hotel on the shore of the Sea of Galilee reopened, I spent 3 nights there, sometimes just relaxing on my balcony overlooking the lake, hiked in one of the nature parks and did some bird-watching, visited a couple wineries. I'm lucky that Israel has opened up quite a bit and there are many places to visit. I'm not comfortable with the idea of going to a pub or restaurant, but outdoor sites are fine, nearly everyone wears masks (it's mandatory), and since most kids are back in school and many adults are back at work, there aren't crowds anywhere. I'm not planning another overnight stay - but not ruling it out - since there are lots of places I can visit on day trips and sleep in my own bed and eat in my own kitchen.
I'm in a hotel and have been here for over 5 months. The walls feel as if they are closing in. Yesterday, they opened the pool and as imagined it got very noisy. They offered to move me to a quieter room but it is exactly the same as mine only mustier.
I have decided to spend a couple of nights occassionally at a different hotel just to give me a change. I was also thinking of leaving here completely and going to another part of the country but it seems most places I wish to go aren't opened or are requiring quarantine. And some place have crazy rules.
As an example, In the county where I am currently located, they have made it mandatory that everyone must wear a face covering. But they also allowed a high school baseball tournament to go on over the weekend. None of the players, or their parents, were wearing masks or cared about social distancing. (One team was staying at my hotel.) The hotel has limited the pool area to ten people and shortened the hours. But I can just see a busy weekend and them trying to tell guests they can't sit by the pool.
I think of the extended stay hotels I have been to in Europe and would much prefer to be at one of them. They are built better, are quiter, and offer more to do.
Oh well, I'm venting. Back to dreaming about travel.
I have booked a one week stay at a rural cabin in the next state. It’s on a lake, there’s pretty good hiking around, and I can drive there. So I’m still getting a trip this summer, even if it’s quite a bit different than my usual.
Outdoors, outdoors, outdoors. I take a walk in my neighborhood almost every day. I walk at a nearby state park once a week. Our stay at home order never required us to stay outdoors. I don't wear a mask in outdoor places-I just avoid being around other people for any length of time-they say that your chances of getting it are dependent on how much of the virus you're exposed to, which is partly dependent on the amount of time you're exposed to it. The Botanical Gardens open next week. No plans to go, but the zoo has reopened with reservations only. Those two places are in Birmingham, where masks are required. We've been fortunate that since February, we have had the most enjoyable weather I can remember-It's 65 in the early mornings right now-in June! It was 65 for a high in February. No big tornadoes! There are also restaurants with outside seating where tables are space 6 ft apart, although this is not something I feel I have to do. We've had friends over in our yard on two occasions-chairs 6 ft apart, everyone brings their own food and drinks.
If you like birds, the Atlanta Audobon does a Facebook Live bird walk every Friday morning at 9 AM EST
Back to work for me (boo). I've been going in a few times per week; its full time starting next week. (does this count as a change of scenery? -- same there as its always been).
I went clothes shopping for the first time. The shopping experience wasn't too bad, all things considered.
Today we are having an outdoor and distanced visit with my sister's family, who live on a lake. My niece is coming from Ottawa too. Unfortunately its much cooler today than it has been.
And, we are considering a hotel stay. I won a voucher for a free stay while at a conference I attended early this year and it expires in August. I didn't think we'd get to use it but we are discussing it. Got to get out and risk it sometime!
The link to the Canadian news article upthread was very helpful. My sister and I have been needing to go to Point Roberts, WA for some time but thought we wouldn’t be allowed over the Canadian Border. Now I know that we should be able to cross the border.
Point Roberts is a small community that is part of the US, but can only be accessed through Canada. It is a day trip that won’t even require stopping or getting out of the car in Canada.
I've taken 2 trips so far. One to the Smokies and one to Cape Lookout. Just got home from the cape on Wed and already planning the next mountain trip
Both were really nice and did me a world of good. I'm finding it easier to plan travel in my own state or neighboring states. Anything beyond that becomes difficult. Also its easier to plan around outdoor activities vs urban areas.
You are at an advantage I assume in that you can travel during the weekday. I think we're pretty lucky to live in such a gorgeous country. This is making me appreciate home a lot more than I did.
Are you in Freedonia, NY? I listen to the Pete and Sebastian (very funny) podcast weekly and Pete lives in Freedonia.
I can commiserate, Frank. Why our 2100 sq foot home feels small now, I can’t imagine!
One of the things we love when traveling is visiting a new-to-us town and exploring the less-explored quarters. Our Pandemic version of that is going to smaller towns nearby (within an hour’s drive) and wandering the neighborhoods, finding a place for coffee (sit outside!), ogling gardens, making observations. It helps...a little.
We will dip our toes into the travel waters with a one week trip to Oregon’s southern coast very soon. Anxious to change the venue and sleep away, not cook for a few days, but avoiding other people with outdoor activities as much as possible.
Agree with Cala, outdoors.
Got in about 45 minutes ago from taking a pre dawn, hike in nearby Griffith Park. Gates open at 5am.
Had a mask as did others I encountered on the 3.1 mile round trip on the Charlie Turner trail.
Now enjoying coffee, a bowl of melon and listening to jazz while reading The Splendid and The Vile on my iPad.
Great way to start the weekend.
We got home Thursday from a 4 night camping trip in our RV. It was like being at home but in a different location. We stayed in Moss Landing, located between Santa Cruz and Monterey. Things are just starting to open up in that area. We took walks on the beach, in Monterey we walked around Cannery Row and Fishermans Wharf, walked around Carmel and then enjoyed a picnic lunch at the beach, and drove to Big Sur. It was so nice to get out of the house. We tried to help the economy in Carmel and Monterey by making a few purchases from local establishments. I was impressed by how many people were wearing masks and adhering to social distancing. I can't say the same in my area. Next month we will do the same in Fort Bragg. I can't wait for that!
We like to hike and play disc golf, and Oregon is great for those activities. It' just starting to warm up now, but the Oregon coast is cool all summer and in Southern Oregon the hotels are open and the beaches not as crowded as Northern Oregon. Portland is a great city but with the pandemic and riots I'd pass for now.
I'd like to spend more time outdoors but it seems to be in the high 80's/low 90's every day. I don't like the heat which is why i spent the last two summers in the UK.
I'm averaging 3-4 books a week, get tired of watching videos on a mini-tablet, am trying to learn two languages, etc. I think I just need to get out more.
I'm planning my next European adventure--actually world andventure--I just don't know the dates.
Sounds like you need a trip to mountains where it's cooler and greener.
Frank II I understand. Heat and the reality I’m an early riser is why I do my hikes pre dawn. Cooler air, less people on the trail and when the majority of the megalopolis of LA is waking up I’m already back home listening to the Jazz Groove, and sipping my coffee.
Oh and I have another London Christmas trip in mind
Will it happen? No crystal ball.
But I enjoy formulating a plan about where to stay and what to do. Was there last Christmas. Stayed out of the city center by choice in Richmond. Great Premier Inn, the Crown pub right next door and had the loveliest of Christmas Day hikes in the vast Richmond Park.
Got time on my hands so Itinerary planning is a simple pleasure!
Just got back from a nice relaxing camping trip. Something I have not done for many many years. Three nights in the Colorado wilderness, just me in a tent. Eating freeze dried camping food. Getting visited by several varieties of wildlife including a mountain lion my second night out. This was on private property belonging to a friend of mine. They have a cabin there, but I decided to just sleep in the tent since the weather was so nice. It was nice to have their WiFi though and bathroom facilities!
I did have to rent a four wheel drive vehicle for this outing due to the cabin being quite a distance from any paved or well maintained roads. I got a nice deal from the rental company. They were super excited to see me. The rental agent told me I was the first customer that neighborhood location had in over a week. He wanted to give me a brand new expensive vehicle, but when I told him where I was going he agreed that wasn't the best option and I ended up in a nice solid pickup. Not something I would like to own, but just what I needed for this outing.
Previous week I went fishing. Just stopping alongside the highways near Glenwood Springs, so no real planning needed. I caught quite a few and released most of them. One fish I am sure I caught at least 3 times. Very nice and fun. No problems with social distancing. Also nice to be able to return to the house after this outing each day and sleep in my own bed.
Frank II, I can't imagine your situation, to be honest....but I feel for you by what little I can imagine. I am an essential worker, so 'the office' has given lots of variety. Sometimes I envy those who have been at home, but also think of the challenges of those who live permanently out of a suitcase....as I recall you do.
You haven't even told us where you are, but I think it isn't North America or Europe...at least Northern Europe. Not being able to be constructive with some sort of tangible hobby would drive me crazy, and one can only do so much reading or tablet stuff.
Do you even drive anymore? Can you rent a car and just drive...anywhere...for a few days? After 5 months, I would be aiming for entirely new territory. Either the coast, or altitude to reduce the temperatures. Of course, it all depends on how your country of habitation is rolling things out.
Getting out for the first hike was amazing, but also felt odd as we had been housebound for so long.
We took the dogs to a lake to go swimming a couple weeks ago. Everyone on the bank was great at keeping to their own little claimed area.
We were due to go backpacking this weekend, but our daughter had a big work deadline to meet and weather isn't great, so net weekend.
We did do a one night stay in a mountain town near us. The hotel took a lot of precautions and took safety/cleaning very seriously. We are headed back to that area in a month and have a cabin booked. Hiking, relaxing on the deck and the hot tub, and grilling will be the perfect trip for us at this time.
Had to cancel our Iceland trip for August, so postponing it until 2021. All the cancellations went well (air is still up in the air, too early to deal with it) and I will get working on our new dates this week. A lot of mixed feelings with it as it was so disappointing to actually do the cancellations, but looking forward (fingers crossed) to next summer.
My husband normally works from home, so this isn't a big change for us. Just the housebound thing. Thankfully we have some trails right smack in our neighborhood, so I can go out our back gate and be on the trail in 2 feet. It is a nice change of pace.
My husband has been doing a lot of woodworking. He just made an Adirondack chair that turned out amazing! I have been working on photos that have been stores in plastic tubs and getting those organized for albums, finally. Also making backpacking pillows since our favorite style is from 20 years ago and they don't make them anymore. The first few have turned out really well and I have been encouraged to start an Etsy shop, so probably will. I am glad we have a large house as I have one bedroom for sewing, another for the photos, and still have two guest rooms. I just shut the doors and that keeps the dogs out lol.
Laurel--A good friend owns a motel in LC and once things settle down a bit, a handful of us from college are going to go there and meet up. Give them some business, and also catch up.
Walks and bike rides around my neighborhood, lots of reading, Netflix and such in the evenings, genealogy research on the internet, reading and posting on this forum (you can see how desperate I've become), occasional Zooms or phone calls with local and far-flung friends. Ice cream after every lunch at home, yet I've lost weight since March. I have a small outboard boat on Puget Sound and weekly outings on that have been wonderful as the weather improves. I'm less stir-crazy than I'd have expected after all this time. It helps to be retired with no economic hardship.
We've cancelled a couple of road trips this spring, I have one planned for the boat in July and one by road in August, but I don't feel sure I'll be ready to be that "out and about."
For Frank II, the only thought I have is to change locations and hotels. Don't know where you are but you know there are always more great places to go, with whatever climate and surroundings appeal right now. If you don't drive then you'll have to take a calculated risk with air or train travel, maybe just a few hours in transit with proper precautions. And you may have to quarantine at your destination, but at least you'll be looking at four different walls and something else out the window! Good luck putting this together.
Carol (Washington),
You may want to do some further checking to confirm whether land travel to Point Roberts is possible at the present time.....
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/19/point-roberts-border/amp/
Frank, you gotta get outside as much as possible. Chances of catching a virus outside unless you're in a crowd that's protesting and spewing droplets is about zero. I don't know what activities you like, but get beyond the four walls. You're a better man than me as I could not handle it.
So we got out of Dodge (Boise) to the beautiful mountain town of McCall at 5,000 ft. elevation, where it was pouring down rain this afternoon and 40 degrees. You can’t win! Still, the change of scene is welcome.
I'd like to spend more time outdoors but it seems to be in the high 80's/low 90's every day. I don't like the heat
I'm in a hotel and have been here for over 5 months.
Aha, Frank II is really Howard Hughes and is in a Las Vegas Penthouse.
Come to Edmonds, its 53 and raining.. continued cool and wet until late in the week .... a scorching 72 is forecast for Friday.
Bring your compass, the moss grows all around the trees here
We are still stuck in limbo - sold the big house, move-to-Italy plans suddenly cancelled, rented a small place that is stuffed with boxes full of too-much-stuff. We're supposed to be settling into our house in Abruzzo, but nope, we're still in Calgary. I started to get a bit of cabin fever, but have started up frequent socially-distanced walks with friends. They have been introducing me to wonderful green spaces I had never visited in 30 years of living in Calgary. Who knew I had so much left to see and do here? That working-raising kids-running a house thing got in the way of fun. We're doing fine, but if we're still here when it's time to put those winter tires on again...I will be very cranky.
Laurel--A good friend owns a motel in LC and once things settle down a bit, a handful of us from college are going to go there and meet up. Give them some business, and also catch up.
You might want to wait awhile. Big outbreak in Lincoln County at a seafood packing plant and it is spreading. Very sad,
Hi There Frank II,
Hang in there! I have no idea where you are now. Consider going to Steamboat Springs, CO or similar. You can rent a 1 bedroom condo.. It will be quiet, not crowded. There are parks in the vicinity for hiking. Some restaurants. I would also consider Ashville NC or Savannah, Ga..
Savannah is great for about 4-5 nights. Lots of restaurants. Historic streets that are close together. Easy to social distance. Restored historic houses to visit. Quiet areas. The heat and humidity may be a bit much. But, you can work around it. (Walk early or in evening; have lunch inside a restaurant; visit an art gallery.)
There's an airport near Savannah. May be possible to get transportation without renting a car. You don't need a car in Savannah. Just good walking shoes.
Lots of walks - of course we have a dog so goes with the territory, but we've been trying some new walking places (mostly trying to find ones not overrun with black flies and mosquitoes) - we have a great portion of the Trans Canada Trail here where we have been walking our dog - but it's so nice and flat I have been thinking that we should bike it - the section I'd love to do is about 15km along Cobequid Bay (and perhaps biking further) - not walking that far with the dog! Downside - we only have one bike - lol. But we have a local place that rents bikes for $20 for a half day (just not right now because of c19 - hopefully soon - we are down to 3 hospitalized cases in all of NS), so hoping some day next month to do that.
Going to visit hubby's cousin on the South Shore tomorrow and am trying to convince hubby that we need to travel around the province for a few nights just to break up the monotony of our existence. Hoping our dog daycare/boarding reopens soon so we could let the dog have a few days of fun while we are having ours!
There is a project I have been putting off for awhile and I think it's time to tackle it. I've wanted to clear out/declutter my storage unit.
It's indoors--they keep the temperature at 78 degrees--and no one is ever there. I can set up a battery operated fan to keep me a little cooler. Goodwill is across the street from the unit and the Habitat for Humanity store is on the way back to my hovel. (I wonder if they are open.) I'm guessing that about 40% of what I have are travel related items most of which I don't use. Some of these items may become collectors items as they are no longer made--The Original Rick Steves Back Door Bag (1988), the Original OPEC bag, and the L.L. Bean Quickload Travel Pack. All in almost brand new condition.
A couple of hours a day should help to break up my day. Channelling Marie Kondo.
I wonder how many of you sitting at home have been thinking about decluttering? It might be a good time.
I wonder how many of you sitting at home have been thinking about
decluttering? It might be a good time.
Yes !!! I spent days and weekends on this. Not only my storage unit, but my finances (including insurance paperwork), my (hard copy files/ desk), my emails, my electronic files (including multiple gigs of digital photos, music, etc), my newspapers, my closet, my kitchen, rest of the condo (it's small, so it's always challenging to keep clean). There is so much evolving "stuff" now (especially with a 24/7 news cycle - and I read multiple sources of news) and things to keep track of. Even with no travel at all, it's hard enough to have time for everything. I have no dependents and am in my 40s, so I don't have a will yet (although I should, including a health care directive)... another item.
One last other thing I would do (if I could just find more time) is to journal/ write more so that I can look back at my experiences during this period someday.
Well, just made a big move in May so decluttered and Marie Kondo’d until my brain fried. DO check to make sure those locations are taking donations. We git very backed up with goods for the donation pike while they were closed. If not, try to organize your storage unit so you’ve got some space at the front for a holding zone. I also recommend giving yourself a 15 minute break per hour so you don’t overdo.
Because of the aforementioned move and the pandemic I, too, needed to get away. I came over to Yellowstone a week ago. I go frequently so I can generally avoid crowds. Disappointingly no one is masked but the employees and me. Yesterday at midday I counted 205 people waiting for an Old Faithful eruption which was 30 minutes away. Only 3 people, including me had on masks. It’s hard to distance on boardwalks or when waiting for popular geysers to go.
Yesterday it was 81 which is too hot for me but this morning it’s 39 after a front blew through so I can work with that, lol!! Layers!
Best of luck to all with alleviating cabin fever!
@Janet in Boise
Saw your post about McCall and it brought back memories from the early 70s. I lived in Elko but visited a girlfriend in McCall. I've heard it has been built up since then but what gorgeous scenery.
Joe32F--We are in Snohomish near Mill Creek, and I laughed at your comment. Yup, a heat wave for Friday! Yesterday was ugly here, torrential downpours.
Laurel--Oh I know! We will wait until our owner friend thinks it is a good time to come.
Yesterday my husband made a comment about doing a road trip and that exploded. I booked a hotel for the first and last night, and the rest will be backpacking in a remote area of OR. Really looking forward to it, as there are so few people that head over there.
"I don't have a will yet (although I should...)" - Agnes, please spell my name correctly when you make out your will (some on this board substitute an 'o' for the second 'e'). I can also recommend a lawyer, if you like, Honest Joe Spittoni in Alexandria. Some of his detractors (crybaby losers in court cases) have tried to label him as a shady character and snidely call him The Major Oak behind his back. Pay no attention to them.
All this talk of Marie Kondo had me scouring the web. I had no idea. Brilliant, my wife's next Christmas present. A question: when you have finished with decluttering, do you throw all her books into the rubbish bin?
Back to the topic at hand. Walk every day. Since this all started, we have popped into Niagara-On-The-Lake a few times for a walk around. Pretty any time of the year, packed in the summer. In early May my wife and I shared the main street with maybe a handful of others and a couple of dogs.
Gunderson, I like dogs, too. What do you put on yours? Chili, onions, ketchup, mustard, slaw? Everything?!!
One more thought on cabin fever: I've been averaging 20,000-30,000 steps a day, or 11-15 miles. I have to move, which is why long flights are torture.
Frank II if you do take some of your travel stash to your local Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity stores, give this thread a location heads up as I have heard several people here like to shop for travel related supplies at thrift stores.
I’ve got a really bad case of cabin fever. Live alone in Massachusetts without a car and I’ve been working from home since mid-March. I’m in my sixties and have an underlying health condition so I’m at higher risk and so have been staying at home almost all the time. Would love to plan a trip - but due to out of state visitor quarantine restrictions (particularly for those visitors from higher risk areas like mine), I haven’t been able to plan a trip like that so far. Would love to fly from Boston to Nantucket (every summer I take a bus to Hyannis & then take a ferry), but I’m uneasy about flying due to the COVID risk (though a bus would be higher risk due to the length of the trip and poor air circulation).
I thought about decluttering my apartment but so far that’s all I’ve done in that regard. Somehow I just can’t get excited about that project. LOL.
I’ll continue to follow this thread for others’ suggestions.
I don't eat dogs, Big Mike, you must have me confused with someone else, unless you are putting too much hot chilli on your food? Besides, my Neopolitan Mastiff, Grumio, might have something to say about it.
Frank, we are so pathetic that we get excited every Tuesday morning when the trash truck comes because then we have an empty bin to fill up and every other week when the Recycling is collected is really a red -letter day! My biggest problem is books because the library will take them for resale, but it's been closed for months.
However, we just cancelled our July 4 beach trip because cases in our state have increased so much. We've rescheduled for a time in August, when hopefully at least some kids will be back in school. I just want to go somewhere!
My husband said that when he was investigating hotels in Panama City, FL that it asked for your state before it would let you book and said that not all states would be allowed to book. I'm sure they would have let us in, since we have a three contiguous state run of governors who have removed way too many (or in the case of GA, all) restrictions.
Frank (OP) why don’t you tell us where you are, and why in a hotel for several months? I’m sure several people would be able to help you plan your daily escape, lots of great suggestions out there.
AND- to address the loop hole to visit Canada, please US citizens, stay away ! For awhile yet anyway. We live next door to the most fabulous mountains, plains and lakes but stay PUT , at home in our province, waiting for the green light to enjoy our national wonders.
The "I'm going to Alaska" lie might work to get into Canada, but what about getting back into the US (other than Alaska)? I'm sure the border agents make some sort of entry into their system that flags you as transiting to Alaska. Or the same if you are coming from Alaska into the lower 48. I would think they might come looking for you if you don't clear the border within a certain amount of time. And returning back across the border where you entered Canada should set off lots of bells and whistles! Not sure what the penalty might be, but I would hope there would be a serious one!
There is a video on Youtube of an Alaskan resident trying to get through British Columbia and then Yukon onward to Alaska. They had a valid reason to get there. BC was fairly nice about it. Yukon stopped them on entry into the province and gave them a time limit to make it, which basically allowed no time for anything other than driving with minimal stops for refueling and bathroom breaks, and told them they would be held for immigration violations if they did not exit into Alaska by the end of the allotted time. They did make it, close enough, but it was a hard push to get there.
Yes to decluttering! Goodwill here has opened recently and I have a box ready. I also have a box full of bags/backpacks ready for our shelter for abused families (sometimes they arrive with belongings in a trash bag). However I have some things no sane person would want - like ancient golf clubs and weights. I am listing 1-2 things a week on Facebook Marketplace for sale (it’s safe here if you are cautious) - mostly for the activity, not the money. I also just got my daughter’s Pimmsleur beginning Hungarian CDs on my computer - now to get them on my phone so I can listen while I walk!
Like another poster, we made a big move less than 3 years ago and totally cleaned everything out then. We had planned on downsizing, but ended up supersizing, so our new house felt really empty. I hate clutter, so that's not an issue. Every closet is organized, and only has what we need/want.
As for the go to Canada on the premise of going to Alaska, I read on another forum that people are doing that. Amazing! I hope when/if they get caught that they are sent back home immediately and not allowed to enter Canada for whatever amount of time.
We would love to go see our family in Alaska this fall, but won't. They invited us last year to join them for the moose hunt, which we did. We would love to go again, but it's not the right time. Maybe next spring or fall.
Gundersen, I wasn't judging! 'round here when we say "dogs" we often mean hot dogs, or when we're emphasizing something then "hot diggity dog."
Now, if you're flying over the Andes to a soccer tournament and heaven forbid your plane crashes and you have to go into survival mode for months, well, all bets are off!
"Gundersen, I wasn't judging!" - Not clear on what you are talking about, Big Mike.
Anyway, glad to hear you are not eating real dogs, I was genuinely concerned for a while. I'll pass on the information to my Grumio, he'll be relieved to know as well. I say 'my Grumio', but we all know who is really in charge.
EXCITING DAY!!!!! EXCITING DAY!!!!!!
I got a haircut. (It had been almost 4 months.)
Afterwards I had to come home and take a nap. Too much excitement for one day.
Congratulations. Nothing feels as good as that feeling immediately after you get up from the barber chair after a haircut.
I actually made it to Starbucks, the mail box, and managed to take out my trash all within an hour right after lunch. Man, what a workout. ;-)
I got a haircut too, Frank, last week, after 3 1/2 months. I was starting to think it was the 1970s again, except a lot less on top. Congratulations!
Frank II,
I can very much understand your elation at getting a haircut, as I felt the same way when I got my first post-pandemic haircut a few weeks ago. I had to wear a mask and wait in a short queue, but that wasn't a huge inconvenience.
Strict rules at the barbers:
1) Appointment only
2) Masks must be worn
3) No waiting room. You wait in your car and they texted me when they were ready.
4) Hand sanitizer everywhere.
They were only two people working in the barbershop which surprised me because each station is separated by a wall. And the two working were from another store of the chain. When I asked why she said most of the people from that store either had no child care availale--still closed--or weren't ready to come back to work.
It's amazing how the littlest things outside the house can be appreciated during these times.
And then there's the newly popular visit to the dentist, where they literally have to let you in the locked door!
Haha Frank - my husband was a few weeks away from having a cut when things closed down. (He prob would've gone early April and was starting to get shaggy then). Hairdressers reopened here June 5. We had seen our hairdresser a week before at a hardware store, and she said she'd call. No calls...June 5 comes, he calls in the morning but no answer (I'm sure she was with a customer). She called back early afternoon and said I'm in between customers if he wants to come now. Hubs was out in the yard and I hollered at him - he left so fast he almost forgot to put his shoes on. Luckily, she is a 2 min drive away.
I, on the other hand, had an appt for Apr 6, and when she called for hubs she rescheduled me for early July! I should call her and tell her to put me on her cancel list. Luckily for me, I don't do anything to my hair, and it's very long anyways, so a few months didn't matter a whole lot, tho it's so long now it seems to be everywhere!
Frank--I went yesterday to the hairdresser. I had not had a cut since January, and color since right when the shutdown happened here is mid March. My hair was beyond awful! The salon experience was similar to what you described. They took out their waiting area, so no chairs for people to wait in etc. Sanitizing everything, masks, yes even while doing color and washing my hair. I purposely wore one that had black elastic incase the color did not come out in the wash, lol. My husband had our son cut his hair once during this time. He is retired military and still keeps it very short, so the growth was driving him up a wall. Our son has been doing his own hair (also short) during this time, and then his gf does the back where he can't see. They are both thrilled to be able to get back to the barber soon.
EXCITING DAY!!!!! EXCITING DAY!!!!!!
I got a haircut. (It had been almost 4 months.)
Me too!
My walking pace has picked up due to reduced aerodynamic drag
Frank II,
It sounds like the rules in your area are very similar to this area (perhaps the barbers are "networking?").
The pandemic has made me really appreciate my barber's skill in keeping "the mop" looking good, so I gave him a $5 tip (about 33%).
Someone above mentioned dentists. I'm due for a checkup but haven't heard a thing from my dentist in months. It's like they've vanished from the face of the earth. I think they're still doing emergency or urgent work as I know someone that had an abscessed tooth treated, but checkups are still on hold. I suspect they're going to face a lot of scrutiny from their professional association, as a number of dentists attended the Pacific Dental Conference in Vancouver at about the time the pandemic started. The conference was found to be a "hot spot" for virus cases, so authorities are being really careful with dentists. A number of the people that attended the conference tested positive, and at least one dentist in the Vancouver area died of the virus.
It's funny to see that no matter where people are we're all doing the same things!
Here in Germany, hiking was always an option, although I ended up avoiding some more popular areas not far from the city because they were so crowded (this was before we knew as much about outside spread being far less likely). But we used that as an excuse to drive a bit, visited the ruin of a monastery we hadn't been to in the Black Forest dating back to the 8th century, went to my favorite village in the Swabian Jura to hike the forests around town, even when everything was still shut down.
But I really miss REAL travel, and Baden-Wuerttemberg's numbers are really good (new daily infections in the low double-digits) so for our anniversary we booked ourselves at a fabulous looking complex that includes a castle ruin, native ram preserve (complete with on-site wild game processing), and hiking over the Lautertal in the Swabian Jura. This particular area I haven't visited before, and a lot of things are open, including breweries, cheesemakers, and other delights. The weather isn't supposed to be great (been very soggy in Southern Germany the last few weeks, which is tough when the safest way to socialize is...outside) but we have a kitchen in our apartment so I can cook if eating out is off the table due to rain. The area is only a little over an hour south of where I live, and I feel kind of silly that I never knew it had so much to do. Unfortunately some things, like mineral spas, are still closed, but since my husband can't take any kind of leave until August at the earliest, that just gives us more places to go if we return for a weekend in July.
Hopefully we'll still be able to do a road trip (possibly more? Greece is calling my name) if we are granted leave later in the summer. My mood has shifted so much just after making the impulse choice to take a weekend away that it's clear I NEED to be always planning a trip to be mentally healthy, lol.
And yes, we've reorganized, and have a giant pile of stuff to take to the Wertstofhof, have created a beautiful home gym, and completely redone our balcony so we have somewhere nice to hang out at home in the summer, and my kitchen is approaching professional levels. I can do planks, I can bake many varieties of bread, and I can actually keep plants alive and maybe grow vegetables? And despite constantly ordering stuff online, we still have more savings? The only thing I haven't done is work on my German or Hebrew, oh well.
Stay safe in the US, hope things get better there real soon and y'all can start to enjoy more of a sense of normalcy like we have in Germany.
Well Western Washington's been pretty tight on travel, and my job's kept me working from home, but it's getting old. Less than 200 miles driven in over 3 months, and I'm thinking I may not have any people skills left.
So far I've managed a complete master bath remodel, new exterior doors on the sun room, new door to the laundry room, 12 new trees and a couple bushes planted, a complete refinish of a 80 year old five section map chest, re-screening all the windows, and of course all the basic day to day stuff. If this goes all summer I'll probably tear up the carpet and put in hardwood floors. Normally by now I'm 30-40 days away from home. Not this year.
Less than 200 miles driven in over 3 months,
I know the feeling. My mileage has gone from miles per gallon to gallons per month. I put a total of 8 gallons of gas in my car since March, and that was all last week when I drove out to go fishing. :-)
All the gasoline discounts I have racked up at my grocery store are going to waste. :-(
