Can't/won't get that any more

[REWahoo]

But before the pandemic, my Plan B was to move into a CCRC or some similar facility if/when I needed additional care.

...given that many other similar facilities have been so badly impacted by COVID-19, I think Plan B has been eliminated entirely from my planning.

I suspect many of your fellow citizens "of a certain age" have revised their thinking along similar lines. I know we were giving some thought to moving to a 'senior living' apartment at some point in the future, a location with the ability to go from independent to assisted living when the need arose.

Now I have no idea what we should do - other than try to hang on where we are as long as possible.

 

[FreeBear]

...


But we also used to go out a lot to plays, concerts, dancing, club events and dinners out with friends at crowded restaurants. Most of our outside the home hobbies were with big groups of people so we're having to rethink that. I see more hiking, picnics, outdoor activities and much smaller get to-gethers in our future. Maybe the outside activities will be cheaper and healthier anyway.

I think I might be done with attending church; still all in on God though. Just finding it more meaningful to simply love my neighbor by volunteering with hospice and doing pet therapy in nursing homes - these turned out to be the people I miss the most while in quarantine. Sunday is now a day of actual rest and reflection. This month, I used our tithe to purchase gift certificates from local businesses which seems (for me now), well, neighborly.

I'll still design and offer contemplative retreats with an interfaith focus. And then see what comes next.

We loved to eat out, especially buffets of all sorts. Indian and Golden Coral (the horrors!) were huge favorites. DW loved the chocolate fountain at GC, where customers dunk whatever then want into the communal fountain. Just imagine what can go wrong... Call me crazy, but I hope to return one day, but I doubt it will be any time soon.



Still, it would really be nice to have dine-in restaurant back. Around here, most of our favorite places are closed, perhaps because they are Chinese owned. Even an amazing doughnut shop, go figure...


Up north, we were very involved with a big megachurch. Services with thousands of people twice a week. Big social events and pot lucks with dozens or even a hundred or more attendees.



Now in our new home in the sunny SW, our church is smaller and our new group of friends is smaller too. It has been nice to take a break.

 

[aaronc879]

I have talked about wanting to go on a cruise for about 10 years. There were a couple years I was down in Florida and could have done it but decided not to. Now I don't think I will ever want to again after what's been happening with cruises the last couple years.

 

[38Chevy454]

Never have gone on a cruise, for sure off the list now. Also was never much a buffet fan, prefer sit down service restaurants. Probably limit buffet to only when no choice, like at a wedding reception or similar.
Probably limit some exposure in large crowds or events. Will still attend. Just try to avoid being so close to many people at a time.
We live out in country, on 2.5 acres. At least 300 ft from any neighbor. Never had plans for moving from here, that was too far in future for me. But given the recent issues at senior living, not just nursing homes, makes me question if that is even in consideration to live in senior living areas.
Financial plans no changes. Still be self directed, and still same AA, with index type funds the majority of holdings.

 

[JP.mpls]

I have to reconsider our reliance on re-use grocery bags. Ours are all from Trader Joe's. Cheap ($0.99) and they last a long time. In the past, all meat, poultry, and produce have gone into store-provided plastic bags before going into our cart and then into these re-use bags. From time to time, I've cleaned them, probably more than most people by the looks of them in the stores, but also probably not enough to disinfect.

We lived in California until late 2018, and we were required to use re-use bags (or no bags) there. No such requirement exists here in central Texas, but there were signs everywhere asking people to use them if they had them. Not sure what the recommendations will be going forward.

Statsman,
I bag my own groceries at the local store, and I plan on continuing to use them, unless they won't let me. I love that I can pack a ton of food into a single bag, and it won't break. Nice strong cloth handles, so I can carry two at once into the house. Worst case, I would wash them more frequently.


A side story:
I watched a stand up comedy show on Netflix (Marc Maron?). He talked about all of the good things his generation (I'm assuming he is a boomer.) has, or is doing, for the world. We mentioned that we use our reusable bags at the grocery store. And then he went quiet, like that was about all he could think of. I thought it was a funny joke.



Take care, JP

 

[aja8888]

Once this CV-19 is put to bed, I have no planned changes. I'll just keep on truckin'!

 

[HarveyS]

I'm with aja8888 - no changes planned. Was never a cruise person, but if I was I could see that being on list of things to stop.

 

[Christine]

Have you tried Zenni if you have a copy of your prescription? It's all on-line. I got prescription sunglasses and was very happy with them.

www.eyebuydirect.com

Thank you - I'll check them both out.

Without glasses??

I might be in for a more creative hairstyle!




Another thing I'll avoid is the cinema. I've always avoided those in the flu season but for now I don't know if I ever go back.

 

[ugeauxgirl]

Once this CV-19 is put to bed, I have no planned changes. I'll just keep on truckin'!

+1

 

[neihn]

No assist living for sure - I will insist to die at home.

 

[Walt34]

But before the pandemic, my Plan B was to move into a CCRC or some similar facility if/when I needed additional care.

.....

In fact, given that many other similar facilities have been so badly impacted by COVID-19, I think Plan B has been eliminated entirely from my planning.

Same here, we've had that discussion. Unless they come up with a pretty much ironclad vaccine for not only COVID-19 but some other stuff as well (which seems unlikely) for now anyway the plan is to stay here. Physical ailments/limitations may dictate otherwise - we've seen that happen to others - but for now that's the plan.

 

[like2]

Since retiring last year, we have enjoyed exploring the LA area on the Metro Rail.

Probably not so much in the near future..

 

[JP.mpls]

Aja8888,
I'm with you and Harvey.

JP

Once this CV-19 is put to bed, I have no planned changes. I'll just keep on truckin'!

 

[Calico]

I'm going to give up shaking hands.

 

[MrLoco]

I have stopped using toilet paper. Who knows where that roll has been or who handled it at the factory/store?

Plus now I am not freaking out about running out of TP like some people!

 

[aaronc879]

I have stopped using toilet paper. Who knows where that roll has been or who handled it at the factory/store?

Plus now I am not freaking out about running out of TP like some people!

Helps keep people 6 feet away from you as well. Haha

 

[Dtail]

I have stopped using toilet paper. Who knows where that roll has been or who handled it at the factory/store?

Plus now I am not freaking out about running out of TP like some people!

So what is your substitute?

 

[mystang52]

I was just thinking today I will never pick up and use that divider stick at the grocery store checkout again. Sorry not sorry.

I haven't touched one of those things in years.

We will think twice about going to open buffet restaurants.

A cruise is off of our bucket list.

We are (were?) avid cruisers, once a year. Definitely not this calendar year, not sure if that'll be permanent. We have always taken extra precautions, previously, when the only concern was "mere" norovirus.

Mt wife and I have always used hand sanitizer liberally at restaurants. After handling the menus. After loading a plate at a buffet. For sure we will continue our practices at all restaurants.

We'll reconsider which restaurants we choose to go back to in light of recent events.

Likewise, I always used hand sanitizer after touching the menu. We tended to frequent the same places, so knowing what we want in advance often meant not even touching it.

I'd like to stay away from shaking hands with others.

I rarely shook hands, but now it's easier to go 100% on that.

One additional thing we will likely be doing: Limiting our vacations, shows, lectures, etc to only April through October.

 

[GravitySucks]

Used to lunch at Chinese buffet once a month. That was getting dicey before this. We haven't been in 3 months anyway.
Might do a cruise next year. One with served meals.
Watching the kids at the make your own taco bar on the Carnival cruise years ago we wouldn't go near it. Drunk parents letting 4 year olds rummage through warm ground meat. YUM!

 

[Retired Expat]

we had already begun trying out grocery pickup prior to this after returning from a long trip and knowing there was nothing in the house. But I see going forward, I prob wont buy enough groceries to ever need a cart walking thru a store. I will curbside pickup.

Problem is I love to cook. I get inspired by walking through the store to see what looks good or what is on sale. Fresh oregano in the produce section may change dinner to Italian or inspire me to make a pot of marinara sauce, which means get fixins for lasagna and/or other dishes.

Clicking through a website doesn’t work that way and invariably I will be missing things.

 

[ncbill]

So what is your substitute?

I have started going directly from the "throne" first thing in the morning to the shower that's right next to it.

Guess it's easier that way for guys?

 

[Dtail]

I have started going directly from the "throne" first thing in the morning to the shower that's right next to it.

Guess it's easier that way for guys?

Sounds like it could be a little risky depending on the makeup of the remnants, but interesting nonetheless.
Would probably go to a bidet first if going that route.

 

[JoeWras]

What did I just read about remnants?

 

[ls99]

I have stopped using toilet paper. Who knows where that roll has been or who handled it at the factory/store?

Plus now I am not freaking out about running out of TP like some people!

Since nobody woants to touch paper money, use $1,10,20, bills.

 

[blueskyk]

Ewwww.

On another topic entirely, I’m considering signing up for mobile pay.