Has Your Life Changed?

[Oxymaroon]

The last few months have been hectically eventful in many ways for many people, while unprecedentedly somnambulant for others.

I'm wondering how many have made a permanent change in their lives because of the pandemic or the economy or the political situation.

Care to share?

[LarsMac]

I will likely forever re-think the kind of relationships I will indulge with family, former co-workers, and even some "friends", because of the changes in the political climate in the country.
I realized that I really did not know some of those people so well, and don't think that I want to, anymore.

[JoeP]

You joined .

Your life will ... be the same.

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Originally Posted by LarsMac

I will likely forever re-think the kind of relationships I will indulge with family, former co-workers, and even some "friends", because of the changes in the political climate in the country.
I realized that I really did not know some of those people so well, and don't think that I want to, anymore.

And after decades of elders doing their best to teach me a sense of civic duty and to listen to experts, it was all horseshit. They’ll Do as they please when it pleases them to the tune of a symphony of excuses and get irritated with my mask wearing/hand sanitizing because what would experts know. It’s common sense, people.

[Kyuss Apollo]

I used to be younger. Like before I started typing this even.

[lisarea]

It's hard to say what's permanent at this point. I mean, I've gone a bit more feral since the pandemic, and I'm thinking I might keep it. I don't think I'm going to get haircuts anymore, and I've blurred the lines between pajamas and outside clothes.

I'd also been amping up my homesteading crap even before everyone else got on board like with sourdough and canning and stuff, but I'm getting better and more productive at it, and I think I'll keep up with that.

I'm slowly gravitating toward an old-timey Eastern European peasant thing. And I'm definitely ready to revolt.

[viscousmemories]

I have fully embraced a socialist politics and for the first time in my 50+ years of life in the US I think that's a genuinely dangerous thing for me to admit.

[ChuckF]

I have simplified many things, thanks mostly to extraordinary privilege. I don't go to stores any more; I do not miss that. I do not go out to eat any more; I miss that a little. I do not travel any more; I am surprised I don't miss that. I do not owe a dime to anyone for anything; I never will again. I still have more things than I would like; it will be physically easier to get rid of them after the pandemic. I will retire the moment we are economically able to do so; I do not understand people who find personal fulfillment in their work. I do not feel the need to be polite to fascists any longer, no, not even if they are family; it is up to me. I no longer have any illusions about the number of stops between what may be a final election in the U.S. and being put in a camp; I have contingencies, but I don't know if they'll work.

[Oxymaroon]

Originally Posted by lisarea

It's hard to say what's permanent at this point.

I know! There is much that i miss and wish back, but on the other hand, I'm very much hoping a lot of the status quo is dead and gone. Be hard to unravel the one from the other.

I don't think I'm going to get haircuts anymore,

I've taken up the hedge-trimmer method. Get up in the morning, look in the mirror and snip off whatever sticks out. Works a treat. ... well, unless you have long hair, of course.

and I've blurred the lines between pajamas and outside clothes.

Yay, longjohns!

And I'm definitely ready to revolt.

Well, aw-right!!

[Corona688]

Computer service in an era where computers arrive glued shut from the factory degrades into a career of social media herding -- a literally fathomless pit of make-work and borderline spam with no success condition.

I've pretty much swapped careers by this point, which mostly suits me. Working at the water plant means I get to build stuff again, learn stuff again, design stuff again, make meaningful decisions again.

[bonny]

I am interested to see people whose lives have not changed at all with the advent of the pandemic. I would be very jealous of them.

Although I did not feel much difference until August. Well, I had to wear a mask, disinfect my hands, stand in line at the store, and visit restaurants until 10. But since September, the situation has changed. The realization of the seriousness of the situation came when every second person around me became ill or now has coronavirus. Now it's getting really scary

[JoeP]

bonny!

Good day. What's happening.

[Oxymaroon]

Seems to me, everything has been really scary the last couple of months. Maybe just a little bit less this week than last. I understand The Superspreader-in-chief is mustering more crowds of enthusiastic community spreaders.

[wei yau]

I guess I've had my eyes have been opened during this decidedly weird time in our lives. I realize that having a job means a lot more to me (beyond an income). I'm kinda wrestling with that, since I don't really like having my identity wrapped around a paycheck. I realize that our lives were already fairly isolated, we don't socialize that much and neither do my kids. Our social lives were rarely "in-person". Either that, or I realize I don't miss that "in-person" thing all that much.

I have no problem being social and am actually pretty outgoing, but I also have no problem being alone and quiet for days/weeks on end. I don't mind having duties and responsibilities to either my employer or my family, I can do them without getting bored. But, I am also fine with just sitting on the couch and letting everything go to hell.

[Oxymaroon]

We're kind of the same way ^^. Work at home and have little or no social contact with people. Our income, too, is quite stable between pensions and modest home business, so we really have not suffered any of that anxiety we hear so mush about.
I miss going out for a meal or entertainment once in a while - and i really chafe now under the bandwidth constraint; have to budget my streaming time as tightly as my beer supply.
But it's very much a "first-world problem"; nobody could take such a complaint seriously.

[Miisa]

Same, I have been able to work from home much of the time, and the company I work for has been doing ok. I love having the people I do have to interact with be even more distant than usual. I am digging the mask stuff, especially now it is colder. My gut problems have been so much less of an issue in the past half a year, probably as I can fart - loudly and freely - all day long most days.

That said, the angst has not bypassed me either, and manifests in ways it might not have normally. Or maybe my behaviour is different because I care less about what someone might think.

[Oxymaroon]

I was aware of the new dress-code - long-johns and work-socks at home, hazmat suit on away missions. But I haven't had to uninhibit carnal noises in years. Must be so liberating for ex-office workers!
Still, it does get lonely and frustrating. Anybody have a screaming closet?

[Miisa]

Originally Posted by Oxymaroon

I was aware of the new dress-code - long-johns and work-socks at home, hazmat suit on away missions. But I haven't had to uninhibit carnal noises in years. Must be so liberating for ex-office workers!
Still, it does get lonely and frustrating. Anybody have a screaming closet?

I can't vouch for anyone else, but for me it isn't just the lack of office presence, it is also the living and being alone all the time these days as my kids are living at their father's.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by Miisa

I can't vouch for anyone else, but for me it isn't just the lack of office presence, it is also the living and being alone all the time these days as my kids are living at their father's.

[Miisa]

But Joe, I'd feel too polite to fart if you were here.

[JoeP]

I noticed the implied sense of freedom. I expect you to fart freely in my presence.

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

[bonny]

This year has changed both my life and my health.
My disease was complicated, I even lay in the hospital for 2 weeks. I was discharged last month, and my life is not the same as it was before the illness. I feel very bad, I find it difficult to breathe, it is difficult for me to move, it is difficult for me even to climb the stairs. I take a lot of pills, but it seems to me that they do not improve my condition much. I left my previous job because I had to work physically there, and I can't do that. And it is difficult to find another job now, because I have little experience. So I'm looking for alternative ways to make money online on various freelance sites. link also helped me a lot, I got good money there.

[JoeP]

That sounds awful bonny.

[Limoncello]

My life changed initially in March with being layed off (laid off?) Once called back, other than wearing a mask and sanitizing everything is the same. We get take out instead of dining in, obviously, but that's no big whoop.

I still do not know a single person that has contracted covid in my immediate circle of family and colleagues. I have heard some stories of distant people I have vaguely heard of being sick but no deaths or anything. People ride it out at home.

We are under a stricter, emergency lock-down at the moment where all unessential travel is frowned upon - but no curfews or martial law type things. My work provided us all with a letter for the glovebox to say we are essential in case we are ever stopped and questioned. The police have no right to stop and question anyone anyway.

Hope you are all doing okay.