I'm another one with natural worry-wort tendencies ... must fight that, relax!

watchmelol, I sympathize with your view. But it must be so incredibly hard to know when the 'sweet spot' in containment/reducing the curve is -- start too early, you pi** people off. Start too late, you don't get a second chance and you kill people. Yikes.

I don't know much about horse riding. Once you're mounted and riding, seems like it would be hard to get closer than 6 feet of your human companions! But is there much touching of stuff that occurs before or after? Slowing the spread is not just staying 6 foot away from people, it's also about not touching stuff other people touched for (an uncertain) period of time.

So much unknown.

Virtual visits to national parks:

https://totallythebomb.com/heres-33-national-park-tours-you-can-take-virtually-from-the-comfort-of-your-home?fbclid=IwAR27A-ebq8MqhtateNUCN0pgVeTxndr27I-_Pjslq0zM3i6mq5HGM_v5hfA

I'm going to Verizon park near here. The call center is located 8 miles out of town, it's closed, and there's a 3 mile walk path around the lake. I've been there hundreds of times in nice weather and it's abandoned. I can't imagine anyone there today.....snow flurries.

Rod and reel in hand....just in case I need to fight off others...:)

Horseback riding is not a necessity.Says the woman who has a thread titled empathy.

That is unfair. I can empathize with hardships while at the same time being able to point out that some of the group activities that have been restricted were restricted because they are not necessary and present a risk. I feel there is a difference between child care and riding a horse, one is done to allow people to work, and for us to survive, some people have to work, we cannot do without people to staff hospitals and so on.

I think that maximizing safety and minimizing loss of life is going to demand sacrifice of one kind or another from every single one of us.

So you think young children who can be carriers without symptoms, since they are said to be mildest in kids, should congregate freely together, in closed environments and then infect (your example) their health care worker parents who will then carry the virus to work. They make up a group of 12 plus their caregivers which should be at least 3 adults in the toddler years. However grown adults who practice good hygiene and are not responsible for taking care of the ill are supposed to isolate themselves and not ride horses in the open air in pairs or at most. in groups of 4. Gee that's some kind of logic there. I don't guess you know much about kids or horses. Horses are therapy, horses make us better people, horses keep us strong and healthy, horses teach. Horses need our human interaction. We are part of their herd. They depend on us to feed and care for them. They enjoy routine. They take care of us when we ride them mindfully. They need us to ride them for their own fitness too. These are Arabs BTW. Endurance horses. Thinking horses. Not some pasture ornaments. We and they make up an athletic team. But you go ride your bicycle and tend your fish. But don't you dare tell horsemen that, hey riding a horse doesn't matter all that much. Because it does.

Young children can't be left alone. Someone needs to care for them. And unless we want all of our doctors and nurses to stay home to care for their children instead of sick people, childcare is necessary in some circumstances. Same for firefighters and retail workers and all the other people we depend on to keep us fed and safe and healthy during this outbreak.

The fact is that anyone can argue that their personal interests and hobbies are also necessary, but most of them aren't. It's a real problem if everyone believes themselves to be an exception.

Yeah, Like the moms posting on NextDoor that they need childcare because the kids are stressing them out and this stay at home stuff isn't working out. LOL That exception?

Well, we've seen many examples of people thinking the precautions don't, or shouldn't, apply to them. There is bad behavior everywhere. It doesn't mean we should just throw our hands up and do whatever we want. Hopefully those who are taking it seriously will still be enough to help save the lives of the vulnerable. Because there will always be selfish people in the world, and we shouldn't follow their example.

But you go ride your bicycle and tend your fish. But don't you dare tell horsemen that, hey riding a horse doesn't matter all that much. Because it does.

Watchme, I will be happy to continue this conversation after you finish your tantrum. I have not said anywhere that riding 'doesn't matter that much'. (And I am not currently riding any of my bicycles).

I can empathize with hardships while at the same time being able to point out that some of the group activities that have been restricted were restricted because they are not necessary and present a risk. I feel there is a difference between child care and riding a horse, one is done to allow people to work, and for us to survive, some people have to work, we cannot do without people to staff hospitals and so on.

I think that maximizing safety and minimizing loss of life is going to demand sacrifice of one kind or another from every single one of us.

A meme I saw on a yarn shop post: "Attn: Knitter and Crocheters! Do not fear self quarantine. This is what we've been training for."

I worked a full day yesterday and since my job as administrative assistant to two attorneys and a CPA is not "essential", I am home. I rarely take time off work, or travel, so I am just calling this an unpaid staycation. I am not alone. My husband works from home. But I am totally okay with self isolation. With my six machines (sewing, serger, and embroidery) and hundreds of yards of fabric, I have plenty to keep me occupied.

This is also a test to see if our marriage can survive retirement, LOL.

Please everyone, let's try to be kind to each other. All of us are under a great deal of stress, whether we realize it or not, and now is the time to stick together and support each other, not bicker.

What may not seem like a big deal to some, may be a very big deal to others. We're all dealing with having to stay at home, give up some of our favorite activities, tend to bored/whiny children who would normally be in school, shortages at the stores and the incessant non-stop news coverage of all of this.

The next few weeks are going to be really hard on everyone, so if we can lift each other up it would be really helpful.

Maybe someone should start a Corona Virus venting/ranting thread for the sole purpose of having a place to unload some of our frustrations without anyone telling us we are wrong to feel the way we feel.

Maybe I will go do just that if the consensus is that it's something people would find useful.

:-)

I'd like to vent and rant about the amount of cooking I'm doing! I had just about reached the bare minimum of time in the kitchen, but not now!! Oh well, I don't have a lot else to do.

We're remodeling a bathroom. This house was unfinished and needed repairs on what was completed. This 8' long, double sink countertop is broken. The rim around the sink, unpolished. Weird! :0) The cabinets were removed and leveled. They were installed at an angle, keeping the end drawer from being opened. It hit the door molding. Really amateur, poor workmanship. But...an easy fix! Dh went to work today.

dawn, we'd all like do hope this "new normal" will only be for a few weeks but I'm willing to bet it will last much longer.

elmer, I know, but I'm trying to be optimistic and positive. It's my basic nature to look for the bright side of things (which annoys the snot out of people sometimes) but I can't help it and I'm too old to change at this point in my life, nor do I want to. :-)

Britain has extended self isolation to 12 weeks for older people. It will be extended here. I like to talk and listen to other people so while I can do four weeks 12 weeks/4 months will be interesting. I can talk to my cats but I hate listening to them hissing at each other.

I cannot self isolate. Neither can SO. There is no way I could work from home. My position requires my presence on site. And as he is a truck driver,he surely cannot either. There is a discussion at work about having one shift of people STAY up there and staff the place for 2 weeks straight. As in, no leaving. We are a 24 hour facility. As of right now, I would be the ONLY person in my department willing to do this, if they meet my price and other demands. I would also have an advantage in that my SO has the required credentials to enter the facility so he could bring me stuff,exchange my clothes, and one of my demands would be that he would be allowed to park his 18 wheeler in the facility so that I could sleep in it, rather than on a cot on the dirty floor. I hope it does not come to that. I would assume that they do not either. I dont see the point of isolating one group of people,while allowing the vendors and truck drivers in to load. I guess it doesn't matter if WE get sick,as long as "they" are no where near us? I did have to stay on site for 3 days once. Ice was covering the roads and everyone else in my department claimed that they could not make it in to let me go home. As we never ever shut down and no one else was trained in the position I was compelled to stay. I could not leave anyway, the safety people came and got me from my house and brought me to work for safety reasons. Why they could not do that for the slackers that I work with is still unknown. Anyway, I didnt have my car so I couldn't leave anyway. It was not very pleasant. They brought me a cot and some food,and told me where a shower was. How am I supposed to go way over there to take a shower,when I cannot leave the office unattended, lest someone comes in and needs paperwork? I made it work, my friend from another department came and sat in there and basically made people wait while I ran over there,showered, and ran back with wet hair. And if my SO had not had those credentials and his 18 wheeler, which is safer to drive in such conditions, I would not have had clean clothes to change into for 3 days,or shampoo or conditioner or soap or even a bath towel to dry off from my rushed shower with. There is a whole new group of people who would be in charge of coordinating such things,and I have infinitely more faith in them. Still,I hope it doesn't come to that.

If I had to and could self isolate at home, I would be just fine. I am a simple person. As long as I have my tv,my wifi, my dogs and my SO, I am well entertained. I do not crave the company of other people,though I do not mind it,nor do I like activities which require me to be around crowds of any kind. If we do go somewhere,even for an hour,I am always happy to be back at home. I am a homebody through and through.

Working from home

I'm upbeat and optimistic too but the practical me doesn't let my optimism overrule perceptions of reality.

elmer, I have a very firm grasp on reality.

This thread is about how we are going to occupy ourselves while we are in self isolation. Would you like to share how you are going to spend your time?

Dawn, I liked your comment about sticking together. I think the situation will become more clear (not in a good way, for a while) each week ... but I'm also expecting that social distancing will continue for months, not weeks. Especially for the vulnerable.

I'm worried about my dad in the assisted living facility. He's in the middle stages of Alzheimer's. It's an excellent facility, but they can't do everything for everybody. Between my sisters and me, we'd visit him 2x daily -- stimulating his recall of numbers with a card game, words with a Scrabble variation, dexterity with puzzles and ring toss games, etc. Left alone, he mostly sits in his chair. In three months of no face to face contact, how much will he lose. Well ... we will have to get through it.

Thanks, nickel.

We'll all just have to do the best we can until this is over whenever that might be.

That's a shame about your dad. I can see why you'd be worried about how much cognitive ability he is going to lose during this time. Does the staff at the facility have any suggestions of things you could do for him as alternatives to visiting in person?

It doesn't help you now, but he's lucky to have you and your sisters; so many adult children can't be bothered to spend time with their elderly parents.

Dawn I was referring to myself directly and no one indirectly.

"Would you like to share how you are going to spend your time?"

Sure. We were in the middle of a 2 week visit to our second house in coastal SoCal when the stay put suggestion hit. . So, we'll stay put. I'm not much of a DIYer. The tasks this place needed post-purchase a year ago have mostly been done.

Exercise is limited from what might normally be done so we walk. We're watching a bit more TV than normal. I'm spending a little more time reading digital editions of newspapers and reading books .

The fear of having to forage for food has passed, the stores' supplies seem to be recovering after the first onslaught of hoarders that started last week. There have been bits of rain but it's peanuts compared to even the normal gentleness the Bay Area gets and otherwise lots of sunshine. We've had a number of Skype and WhatApp video sessions with friends around the US and abroad checking in on what's going on here and comparing experiences. No cabin fever yet and my days pass pretty fast by sleeping late and then spending my time annoying people on the internet (just kidding!).

There are many good restaurants we've enjoyed during our many past visits here and it's too bad that has come to a halt. We're both capable cooks and flexible eaters so we'll get by fine, only regretting not being able to more broadly enjoy what's available.

I'm happy to be retired as this hits and to have more flexibility of all kinds than others have to cope with. We're all trying to figure it out as we go. The smiles and good attitudes I've seen from store workers and other customers in stores have been uplifting for me. Best wishes, good luck and good health to all.

Nickel can two people play a card game together if they each have cell phones with the same game, can they be linked?

Dawn I was referring to myself directly and no one indirectly.

Very good. I'm glad to know that you are also in touch with reality.

Thank you for sharing your self isolation plans with us. I hope you enjoy your time in So Cal as much as it is possible to enjoy things under these circumstances.

This is definitely a good time to be retired.

Lucille, I was wondering that myself, but thought that Nickel's father might have difficulty using a cell phone/computer, etc.

Does the facility have a computer for residents or can you get a small reader such as one of those kindle fires and install Skype on it. The stages of dementia vary from doctor to doctor as to what is considered early, middle, and late so middle could be anything,

Just checking back, I appreciate the suggestions. My dad's facility has cancelled the daily in-house activities and exercise programs they used to hold. Residents meals are now served at small, individual tables instead of in groups of 4 or 6. They are televising more things (mostly prayer services and Bible studies, which wouldn't interest my dad) on their in-house channel. Every afternoon they will show a seated exercise session. My dad probably would be able to change his tv to that particular channel, if we call him and prompt him through it. Or he might not. If something's gone wrong with his cable box, remote, or buttons on the tv itself, there's zero chance of him being able to figure it out. So we're depending upon the floor aides to help him and all the residents (about 120 in the whole building) with those technical issues, as well as keeping up with meals, laundry, cleaning, medicines, etc etc. What an huge burden is on their shoulders!

(That's what's scaring me about this virus, all the nations' care-givers have no immunity, no protection from falling ill themselves. So different from the "normal" flu, measles, etc.)

Many of the residents are of sound mind and will be able to use social media to keep in touch, so that's good. The ones already in the memory unit might not even notice any change to their routine. My dad's in between: no short term memory, and other mental capabilities fading away. I talked with him last night, and so far he's not upset at any changes his home is making. But he said understands we all have things we need to do, can't drop everything to see him ... breaks my heart to have my dad thinking we're staying away because we don't care, when we're staying away because we DO care. But his short term memory won't hold that thought. Oh well. Thanks for reading this much too long screed!, and staying feeling positive.

Oh Nickel, that is so hard! I guess all you can do is remind him over and over of the reason why you can't go and see him. God bless all the caregivers who are shouldering such a large burden.

Sign my name to Sjerin's comment. So sad.

nickel...I'm so sorry. Just know......your doing what's best.

Thanks all. We're all in the same boat on some level or other. We will all get through it.

nickel, he may not remember an hour or day later what you say to him, but it's still good for him to hear that you love him and are thinking of him in the moment that you tell him. I'm sorry, that's terribly awkward wording, but I hope the gist of it makes sense.

NY public library offering 300,000 on line books for free:

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/you-can-now-download-over-300-000-books-from-the-nypl-for-free-031820?fbclid=IwAR30gdWueoM4bHYaQJ_E9-7xwIpf8MRG8hncNfRbXLUG2RVyWLe1WMO6tss

The Upside of Self-Isolating (Single Woman Version)

Let your hair air-dry! It doesn't matter now that part of it is wavy and part straight.

Eyebrows looking a little sparse? Who cares?

Hunt up your singleton socks and get some wear out of them. More fun if the colors clash!

Leggings getting a little baggy? Not a problem!

Yes, your hands feel like sandpaper from all this washing. But it remains your secret.

You're saving wear and tear on your car.

And adding lots of steps (maybe) on your Fitbit.

Dried beans . . . rice . . . pasta . . . crackers . . . carbs without guilt!

And finally, you know those people you'd like to avoid? Now you can!

Funny, Alisande. I let my hair air dry today. I figured I'm home alone, not expecting company, not going out - why the heck bother!?!?

I did, however, put on some mascara and blush... *roll eyes*

If you haven't been out much since the early days, when few were contaminated, you brought little home, then or later, and have cleansed almost all of the things that you touch much ... where's the need for frequent handwashing while at home?

I've been retired for years, usually only go out two or three times a week, so see little recent need for change in my routine while here at home.

Plan to do the paper routine when out and haven't yet got gloves or alcohol: have a few wipes.

We decided on Sunday to shut down the church for three weeks.

There was talk of establishing telephone trees, to keep in touch and keep fellowship and connection with one another.

There was talk of varying the sequencing fairly often, to keep interest up. Improving on the usual pattern of A phoning B each morning, who then calls C, who calls D, down through a list of somewhere around a half dozen or up to about ten, with the last person calling the first by, say 10 a.m. or noon. If A doesn't hear from F, the last on that list by noon, they call back down from the last on the sequence till they find who didn't call, to make sure that person is O.K.

It helps keep interest up if A calls B, who then calls F, who calls C, who calls D, then E, who checks back with A, for a given number of days on a predetermined list, with everyone having a copy. After a week or ten days or so, the list shows a new sequence, calling for, say, F to call D, who's to call B, then B calls E, who calls C, who calls A, who calls F to check in that the sequence has been completed for that day.

Maybe we'll be able to put some inspirational material on the website to keep people in touch through the quiet period.

ole joyful

Live stream of baby goats: https://video.nest.com/live/sXP3cXVNK8#embed-stream

" where's the need for frequent handwashing while at home? "

It's because that's what the health authorities are saying should be done.

Most people don't live alone, many have small children in the household and regular hand washing, especially before handling food and before and after eating, is said to be important.

Anyone who thinks they know better than public health officials should ignore any and all advice they disagree with. As in another thread, doing so may get you nominated for a Darwin Award.

I live alone and Im getting really bored. I do have a cat but she is not much of a conversationalist. My middle daughter texted me yesterday to tell me that she and her children were going for a walk and doing a scavenger hunt and they wanted me to take part. It was great fun as we took pictures of what we found and sent them to each other. I cheated and did mine from the car as my knees are pretty painful and didn't think I could do much walking. We looked for and found: flowers blooming, a red car, an animal, a st. pats decoration, a cow and a farm vehicle. They live in the country so had no trouble with the cow etc. I did drive into the nearby countryside and was able to find everything. The animal I found was a goat which was really a beautiful blonde color. It was quite fun. I also received an amazon delivery today and it is a game called Kanoodle (brain teasing game) from the same daughter. My youngest daughter is face timing me each day so that I can see and talk to my little 3 mo old grand daughter. Sorry for rambling. Stay safe.

Skype-Apple FaceTime-Google Hangouts-WhatsApp video call- with friends and family. It's just like an in-person visit. Use a laptop with a camera, a phone, or a tablet.

We're having dinner with another couple Saturday night - they're thousands of miles away, on the East Coast. To work out the timing, it'll be a bit early for us and a bit late for them, but it'll be fun.

People who sew can make masks at home for their local clinics and hospitals that are running short.

https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2020/03/18/coronavirus-deaconess-ask-public-provide-medical-face-masks/2865273001/?fbclid=IwAR28NlzzblB0f8QwL-4rpB1qQLittCrMibHi7C-LthDu4-EHGMw9aI9Qp5c

Or you could make them for yourselves I suppose too. You need 100% cotton fabric and 1/4 wide flat elastic.

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/g31789786/gardens-you-can-virtually-tour/?utm_campaign=socialflowFBTCO&utm_medium=social-media&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0kTp9bfg45UFcqNsetksBGqeppA4fr1F7geQgmGeqrlhAjsGqgsRsqLxI

Virtual garden tours

https://totallythebomb.com/33-historic-tours-you-can-take-virtually-from-the-comfort-of-your-home?fbclid=IwAR1njj6a9NVS1p-DtnlMVBqC3mvW6AcSQsjfC0khwEsaAHapOW8DsXRdtSY

33 historic tours you can take virtually

https://matadornetwork.com/read/best-national-parks-webcams/

Also a lot of the national parks have live webcams you can check out.

Annie, thank you for taking the time to post these links. I hope people take advantage of them.

We burned brush piles today. It's always quiet here, but when outside, we can sometimes hear semis shifting gears while going over the summit and we see the trails made by jets flying overhead from up north (Portland and Seattle and beyond). Today it was eerily quiet. No truck noise and only one jet trail.

When we finished, I did the traditional marshmallow toasting. Usually, I use a stick to thread the marshmallows on, but they were hard as rocks (been in the pantry too long, I guess) so I stuck them on the pitchfork. Worked great!

The need for non-electronic social interaction, is a strong one.

Yesterday was nice so DH and I went for a walk in the yard with our cats. We went over by the property line and saw our neighbor and got to chat with her for awhile at a safe distance. It was really nice.

So today I invited another neighbor over to sit in the sun on our patio this afternoon. He's by himself as his wife is stuck in CA with her family. So I told him just come to the patio, bring your own beverage, and we'll sit and chat at a safe distance. He jumped on it right away.

How about taking a class in positive psychology at yale? It's free!

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a19043019/yale-psychology-and-the-good-life-online-course-laurie-santos/?utm_campaign=socialflowFBTCO&utm_medium=social-media&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2SO1QFqMXa-HoWy7P0l593iMJdvtSovIc67SM-0cz5Ey1_j10XGqRgGbU

When Yale psychology professor Laurie Santos launched "Psychology and the Good Life" on the New Haven campus earlier this year, 1,200 students—about one-fourth university's undergraduate population—enrolled. And now Santos is taking the course to an even wider audience as it's set to launch online this month.