Originally Posted by
sgphoto
I live one mile from a county park where baseball fields back up to woodlands. It's a great place to walk my dogs as they get different smells and sights. We usually go three-five times a week during the week but never during ball games (I hate crowds). Only three times in three years have I run across someone else with their dogs. With the big area, we never come within 200-300 yards of each other. My dogs are always on the leash.
But, for the last three weeks, we've not gone to the park. There's probably no one there, but it's the 2 miles in between that concern me. If my car should break down, though not likely as it's a Honda and never failed, I and my dogs would need assistance. That assistance is my concern.
So far, I've had no social contact for 15 days - none - and I plan on keeping it that way as long as I can. I have enough food supplies to easily last 2 months or more, enough dog food for a year, medical supplies (gloves, masks, sanitizer, alcohol, bleach, bandages) that should last for the duration. Amazon brings packages to my garage where they remain untouched for a week before opening with gloves.
I'm fortunate that I have a 3/4 acre naturally landscaped yard that's very private, and live in a suburb off the main roads where I can easily walk my dogs. I have a large 6' fenced-in back yard where the dogs can rip and romp and garden spots for vegetables. We walk around the block on rarely travelled roads twice a day. That's a mile the dogs and I enjoy and never have contact with anyone other than waves and occasional shouts at neighbors.
Not being a crowd person for 45 years, I feel no isolation.
I have a nice woodworking shop, telescopes, enjoy birdwatching, reading, opera, classical music, films, cooking, and other sundry things that do not require others. I stay in touch with friends by phone and texting.
Other than not being able to go to the grocery stores and Home Depot once a week, not a lot has changed for me externally.
I realize how lucky I am, but I also understand that I've worked my entire life to be in this position. Understanding Stoicism and Buddhism (non-religious Buddhism) and practicing those thoughts daily has helped place things in perspective.
While the pandemic has raised some anxiety internally, it's more of working on what I can control and understanding what I don't control.
The best thing I can do now is to avoid becoming sick and not taking any unnecessary chances, no matter how slight the risk may be. I'm certain that many who are now sick and will die have wished they'd stayed home, suffered the perceived privations, and stayed safe. Also, imagine being sick and now knowing that you almost certainly passed the virus to others. That's a double blow.
Everyone who doesn't get sick saves the time, space, and needs that the medical community can use elsewhere.
So for as long as I can I'm staying home.
Bookmarks