topic Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic? in Community Chat

What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

Goldengate8361 — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 14:28:07 GMT

To be clear, the pandemic was horrendous--causing much pain and suffering with many lives forever changed. Many changes were made over the year out of necessity--and not all of them are bad....some are good! Are there any changes that you hope will be permanent? What do you think might be "better" after the pandemic becuase of changes made this year? .......For me, I would say some of the good changes are.....working from home; less in-store shopping - more online deliveries; ...and I love it that folks on TV are all broadcasting from their homes instead of a studio. What do YOU think?

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

Kachina624 — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 14:35:30 GMT

The flu season was non-existant.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

Luvitorleaveit1 — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 14:55:00 GMT

This has been the most challenging period at least in my lifetime. What I think is better is definitely working from home which does have it's own challenges, online deliveries and my neighbors being so supportive and helping each other more now then ever.

Working from home also has helped me clean out my house and coordinate my donation pickups.

What flu season, thanks to wearing masks no one has even mentioned it.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

Lucky Charm — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 14:57:17 GMT

I'm not wild about the all the *remotes* and think it's better when vendors are in the studio, jmo.

I like shopping for my own groceries and not someone else, although I do appreciate the service.

I has been so stress relieving to easily decline the invites this past year for holidays, a wedding, and a baby shower with my in laws.

That is a huge plus for me.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

SilleeMee — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 14:59:33 GMT

What is better? The traffic!

I live in a boom town and the past few years have been h e l l on the roads.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

Buffalogal47 — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:04:01 GMT

I am an introvert. For me the best thing to come out of this is that I don't have to go to social gatherings and make small talk with people I either hardly know or can't stand. And the second best thing is that hugging acquaintances as a form of greeting will probably and hopefully be gone forever.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

threecees — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:05:10 GMT

My Mom is no longer driving in her 80's and I am one of her three daughters.

So for the last year I am the one who does everything for her. So I am doing

more shopping, picking up prescriptions, running her to appointments, etc.

It is stressful but she knows who does everything for her while other family

just comes around to sit and chat.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

Luvitorleaveit1 — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:13:23 GMT

Last year when the pandemic started I was driving in twice a week to Manhattan-25-30 minutes it was wonderful, but now I drive in one day a week or every other week and the traffic is horrendous....I think I heard "New York is a ghost town".....I sure would like to know where if I am in traffic for an hour or more now.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

deepwaterdotter — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:16:41 GMT

My cooking skills have improved. Husband says he doesn't even want to return to restaurants in the future.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

Kachina624 — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:21:47 GMT

@Luvitorleaveit1 wrote:
Last year when the pandemic started I was driving in twice a week to Manhattan-25-30 minutes it was wonderful, but now I drive in one day a week or every other week and the traffic is horrendous....I think I heard "New York is a ghost town".....I sure would like to know where if I am in traffic for an hour or more now.

@Luvitorleaveit1 Check out those cars in adjacent lanes. There's a strong possibility they're being driven by ghosts.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

On It — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:25:31 GMT

@Goldengate8361 wrote:
To be clear, the pandemic was horrendous--causing much pain and suffering with many lives forever changed. Many changes were made over the year out of necessity--and not all of them are bad....some are good! Are there any changes that you hope will be permanent? What do you think might be "better" after the pandemic becuase of changes made this year? .......For me, I would say some of the good changes are.....working from home; less in-store shopping - more online deliveries; ...and I love it that folks on TV are all broadcasting from their homes instead of a studio. What do YOU think?

The overall sanitation efforts are my top change that I hope stays forever. My whole work life has been public facing. The public in general is not sanitary. In fact they are downright filthy. Sticking fingers in eye shadow testers, applying lipstick straight from the tube testers, asking to use the restroom in a retail store and leaving feces on the toilet seat are a few examples of women's behavior. Children are not taught to cover their cough or sneeze probably because many adults don't bother. Walking out of a restroom without washing hands is just bad! Sneaking a taste of the unwashed fruit at the market is gross.

As long as we are sharing the world with these people, I hope most if not all the sanitation efforts in public areas continue especially hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

Johnnyeager — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:28:23 GMT

Elevator crowding. My building adheres to no more than 2 and everyone is very mindful of it. We use to cram 7 or 8 in, back in the old days. I don't think we will go back.

Unnecessary social greetings like the fake hug or handshakes with nonfamily or close friends. I think those will be rare and I always disliked them.

Tables tightly spaced in restaurants. I will never sit on top of someone in a restaurant again, even when they are 100% capacity. Why did we do that? I'll sit outside or go elsewhere.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

Luvitorleaveit1 — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:32:16 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:

@Luvitorleaveit1 wrote:
Last year when the pandemic started I was driving in twice a week to Manhattan-25-30 minutes it was wonderful, but now I drive in one day a week or every other week and the traffic is horrendous....I think I heard "New York is a ghost town".....I sure would like to know where if I am in traffic for an hour or more now.
@Luvitorleaveit1 Check out those cars in adjacent lanes. There's a strong possibility they're being driven by ghosts.

LOL....no joke I have been looking more now than ever at the cars and drivers.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

BlueFinch — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:35:12 GMT

What's better is that my needs have changed and I'm much more content to be alone than ever. I'm amazed at how much social drama my isolation has eliminated.

After witnessing the horrors of this past year, who needs to bring toxic, negative people into their lives? We don't have a mask to protect our feelings. It's up to each of us to do so.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

Pearlee — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:40:36 GMT

Hand sanitizer, wipes, toilet paper and paper towels are readily available again and I appreciate them so much more now!

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

SeaMaiden — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:51:18 GMT

I can just leave the house makeup free... so much time saved! Love not feeling I have to put on makeup... love masks for that reason

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

Mistreatedbycs — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:52:25 GMT

I am more prepared for the next one to come.

Also, I take more precautions and continuing those steps and they are now part of my routine.

I also read and research more, before I just took the reporters word for what they wrote, now I read various different articles on any given subject.

Everything is "better" because I made it better not because of any outside sources.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

deepwaterdotter — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:59:50 GMT

@Mistreatedbycs Your post makes sense to me. I will continue to wear masks and social distance in public. If a vaccine booster is needed, I will get it.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

software — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 16:13:50 GMT

You saved me from having to post it.

Our environment is cleaner but it won't stay that way.

@On It wrote:
@Goldengate8361 wrote:
To be clear, the pandemic was horrendous--causing much pain and suffering with many lives forever changed. Many changes were made over the year out of necessity--and not all of them are bad....some are good! Are there any changes that you hope will be permanent? What do you think might be "better" after the pandemic becuase of changes made this year? .......For me, I would say some of the good changes are.....working from home; less in-store shopping - more online deliveries; ...and I love it that folks on TV are all broadcasting from their homes instead of a studio. What do YOU think?
The overall sanitation efforts are my top change that I hope stays forever. My whole work life has been public facing. The public in general is not sanitary. In fact they are downright filthy. Sticking fingers in eye shadow testers, applying lipstick straight from the tube testers, asking to use the restroom in a retail store and leaving feces on the toilet seat are a few examples of women's behavior. Children are not taught to cover their cough or sneeze probably because many adults don't bother. Walking out of a restroom without washing hands is just bad! Sneaking a taste of the unwashed fruit at the market is gross.

As long as we are sharing the world with these people, I hope most if not all the sanitation efforts in public areas continue especially hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores.

Re: What is "better" after our year of pandemic?

chrystaltree — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 16:36:29 GMT

There was virtually no seasonal flu this year, that was amazing. Businesses, places of worship, organization were forced to leap into the 21st century and take advantage of technology. With fewer people on the roads, Air quality improved remarkably and it happened quickly. People adopted more pets. Many people, like myself, slowed down and enjoyed the slower pace and got to enjoy the comfort of our homes. I've always been a shopper and a fashionista and I discovered that I much prefer shopping online to schlepping through malls with shopping and seeing the same stuff in every store. I discovered some wonderful shows and movies on the streaming services. Restaurant meals delivered to my home! I love it that restaurants that I once had to get dressed up and drive to, are just a few keystrokes away and I can enjoy the meals while I watch Netflix. It was a rough year but there were many positives too. Video appointments with my doctors! Love that rather than waiting weeks for an appointment, sometimes months, I get telehealth visits in a few days or a week.