Thank you for your great comments on how you are coping (or not) with trying to be back out doing the things you enjoy while still staying protected from Covid infection.
I spent last week pushing my comfort level with selected social activities and learned the following.
- Library public events feel very safe. Plenty of space and masking is expected.
- Attending another club's event did not feel safe. Despite the county & state mask mandates plus most attendees having age as a risk factor plus probably others, only my friends and I put our masks on after eating. We we were sitting together and although we felt fine driving over in a car together unmasked because we know we all are vaccinated and boosted and wear masks out and about, we did not feel especially safe at this gathering.
- The ophthamologist's waiting room was too full for comfort but at least everyone was masked correctly.
- Our club book group met at a member's home for brunch and I was somewhat comfortable again because I know everyone is vaccinated and careful. I won’t do something like that again though until we see what Omicron is going to do here.
By Friday I had exceeded my limit of exposure to others tolerance for the week and skipped another library event and just had a close friend over for coffee instead.
Starting Saturday, we are only going out as absolutely necessary to have 12 days of very limited exposure before visiting our son and his family. They are all vaccinated as much as possible including the 5 year old so I'm not concerned about them exposing me but since I have been out so much I don't want to expose them.
That means I turned down an invitation to have Christmas dinner with friends and have no plans to do anything with others before we leave to visit our family.
Going forward I expect I am going to skip gatherings with food/drink service unless I know for sure everyone is vaccinated. Even then I may not attend for the next few months if the Omicron variant does turn out to be “as contagious as measles” as one article I read quoted. Measles are one of the most contagious viruses out there.
I’ll be looking for more library activities and invite one or two of our local family or our closest friends at a time to our home until it is warm enough to sit outside at a restaurant again. I will consider going to a couple of local art galleries and to the local live theater that requires proof of vaccination once this Covid wave subsides.
Otherwise it will be walks, take out restaurant dinners, scenic drives, etc. that will be possible given my risk tolerance right now.
Are you seeing a clear path forward for yourself for the couple of months after the holidays?
We mostly stay outdoors. We did go to a dinner party the other night with 6 people, all vaccinated, and felt reasonably comfortable. But we're supposed to go to a wedding later in December, and that one has us a little rattled. It's just hard to know what to do these days. But it sounds like you're handling it all pretty well. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteGood to know you are being careful. We do not go out that often and when we do we wear our masks. Crazy days and crazy world. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you are being careful. I find that by the time I have done my shopping for the day I have reached the end of my comfort zone being around people.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I think you're juggling socializing well. It really is more difficult at this time of year, when we just naturally want to get together with friends and family. We learned of several acquaintances who tested positive last week, and that was a wake-up call for us to try to stay vigilant. Our daughter (fully vaccinated and boosted) is due to deliver her baby in just a few weeks, and I'm hoping and praying she can remain healthy. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Juhli! Stay well!!
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