I was in a bar, Coronavirus edition

[Ginevra]

Honestly it just felt super weird. It wasn’t packed but it was holiday-busy. We were specifically going because my nephew’s band is playing there and we wanted to represent. But that is the most…Covid-unfriendly? Environment I have been in since Feb 2020, when I walked through a Fasching revelry in Austria. My meal was delicious. We have patronized this restaurant a few times in the past year and a half, but only via carry-out. Kinda strange sitting inside these days. I’m banking on my triple-vax and the high vax compliance of the county. 

[Catwoman]

I would have been too nervous to eat! 🤪

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, Catwoman said:

I would have been too nervous to eat! 🤪

I feel that. I did warn dh before we left that if I don’t like the situation, we’re getting our food to go and not sticking around. It wasn’t super busy though. There were even vacant tables. 

[Hilltopmom]

I met a friend at a coffee shop last weekend- there was only one other customer there but it still felt so weird the whole time to be out, eating & drinking and visiting.

Ive only gone out for shopping and work (teacher) since Covid started, figured that was enough exposure as it was.

The coffee shop was nice 🙂

Doing it again soon with a different friend! But will probably walk outside not sit inside and chat. Supposed to snow though.

Edited November 25, 2021 by Hilltopmom

[goldberry]

I went to a Supernatural convention with my 22yo that she had been waiting two years to go to. They required day-of testing and mask wearing. But there were a TON of people and the usual mask issues (masks under the nose, masks taken up and down). I came home and told DH, well, if I get Covid, I deserve it! 

Been really careful otherwise.  We have been doing outdoor dining when the weather is good.

Edited November 25, 2021 by goldberry

[Lady Florida.]

I've eaten indoors several times recently and it felt fine but each time we weren't in a crowded restaurant. I think it would feel very strange to be in a bar or any other crowded indoor venue. I wonder how long it will take for some of us to feel comfortable doing "normal" things again. We booked a cruise for the end of Feb. 2022 and are hoping things will be much better by that time. Then again, we all thought 2021 would be better didn't we?

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Lady Florida. said:

I've eaten indoors several times recently and it felt fine but each time we weren't in a crowded restaurant. I think it would feel very strange to be in a bar or any other crowded indoor venue. I wonder how long it will take for some of us to feel comfortable doing "normal" things again. We booked a cruise for the end of Feb. 2022 and are hoping things will be much better by that time. Then again, we all thought 2021 would be better didn't we?

Yeah I feel like it’s more than a year before I would be on a cruise. But we’ll see. 

[lewelma]

I have the opposite feeling. We have been 18 months without covid, and the Aucklanders are being released on December 15th at which point covid will spread throughout the country. I'm double vaxed (done in Sept/Oct) and my city is 90% double vaxed (over 12s), but having to actually think about whether it is safe to be somewhere will be new for me. Luckily, we are entering summer which is why I think they are doing this now and not waiting.

[Ausmumof3]

4 hours ago, lewelma said:

I have the opposite feeling. We have been 18 months without covid, and the Aucklanders are being released on December 15th at which point covid will spread throughout the country. I'm double vaxed (done in Sept/Oct) and my city is 90% double vaxed (over 12s), but having to actually think about whether it is safe to be somewhere will be new for me. Luckily, we are entering summer which is why I think they are doing this now and not waiting.

This is me today.  Mask up, brace myself and shop with a list.  It feels weird to know Covid could be around (and already has been in a couple of shops we occasionally frequent)

[Guest]

9 hours ago, lewelma said:

I have the opposite feeling. We have been 18 months without covid, and the Aucklanders are being released on December 15th at which point covid will spread throughout the country. I'm double vaxed (done in Sept/Oct) and my city is 90% double vaxed (over 12s), but having to actually think about whether it is safe to be somewhere will be new for me. Luckily, we are entering summer which is why I think they are doing this now and not waiting.

Yes that must feel weird. I’ve been envying NZers because you’ve had a govt that cared about fencing it off right from the start. (Or, that was how it seemed to me from my spot far away.) Do you think there will be a significant rise in bad outcomes? I can only dream of being so solidly surrounded by vaccine-compliant citizens. 

[Lady Florida.]

23 hours ago, Quill said:

Yeah I feel like it’s more than a year before I would be on a cruise. But we’ll see. 

Dh is retiring at the end of the year. I asked him what he wants his first post retirement trip to be and without hesitating he said a cruise. 

I looked into it before booking. We're going on Royal Caribbean to St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and the cruise line's private island. Things might change by the end of Feb. but as of now RC requires proof of a negative Covid test within 48 hours of the sailing date, regardless of vaccination status. At embarkation they take your temperature and check your vaccination card. I'm on several FB pages for people sailing on RC and as of now passengers who aren't vaccinated are limited in what indoor activities they can attend, including many of the shows and the casinos. Apparently when you embark you get a wristband indicating vaccination status. If not for these precautions I wouldn't be going. We're taking ds 24 because we know he'll not likely get to cruise any time in his near future. Dh and I are boosted and ds will have had his booster by the time we go. 

Edited November 26, 2021 by Lady Florida.

[lewelma]

6 hours ago, Quill said:

Yes that must feel weird. I’ve been envying NZers because you’ve had a govt that cared about fencing it off right from the start. (Or, that was how it seemed to me from my spot far away.) Do you think there will be a significant rise in bad outcomes? I can only dream of being so solidly surrounded by vaccine-compliant citizens. 

My son went to laser tag last night and this place has like 50 other physical games like throwing balls, dance matt, fuseball etc. I went into find my son and it was packed with teens and they were all wearing masks (and wearing them correctly, I only saw one older guy with it under his nose). And I'm serious, it was like all of 200 people inside were wearing masks while being very physical. I swung by later after shopping and found my ds's friend group outside. They were bright red and said that they were "breathing" (no masks and physically distanced). Then they put their masks on and went back inside.  I was very impressed.

Masks are mandated here in indoor venues. And right now there is no covid in Wellington. 

Edited November 26, 2021 by lewelma

[chocolate-chip chooky]

18 hours ago, lewelma said:

I have the opposite feeling. We have been 18 months without covid, and the Aucklanders are being released on December 15th at which point covid will spread throughout the country. I'm double vaxed (done in Sept/Oct) and my city is 90% double vaxed (over 12s), but having to actually think about whether it is safe to be somewhere will be new for me. Luckily, we are entering summer which is why I think they are doing this now and not waiting.

Most things you post reflect my reality here in Queensland. NZ govt and QLD govt seem to have handled things much the same.

Same as you, I'm feeling a bit edgy.

I still don't know a single person who has had Covid, and I hope it stays that way.

Good luck to you, Ruth.

[Guest]

21 minutes ago, chocolate-chip chooky said:

Most things you post reflect my reality here in Queensland. NZ govt and QLD govt seem to have handled things much the same.

Same as you, I'm feeling a bit edgy.

I still don't know a single person who has had Covid, and I hope it stays that way.

Good luck to you, Ruth.

That is still just so amazing to me. I would have to break out a notepad to log people I personally know who have had COVID, though thankfully I don’t know many people (directly) who have died or had long term complications. I know so many people who have had COVID. I can’t add it up in my head anymore. And if I start including friend-of-friend type people, it’s beyond counting for sure. (And I feel like that really is saying something, because my part of the US has been careful and has had mandates since March 2020.) 

[chocolate-chip chooky]

3 minutes ago, Quill said:

That is still just so amazing to me. I would have to break out a notepad to log people I personally know who have had COVID, though thankfully I don’t know many people (directly) who have died or had long term complications. I know so many people who have had COVID. I can’t add it up in my head anymore. And if I start including friend-of-friend type people, it’s beyond counting for sure. (And I feel like that really is saying something, because my part of the US has been careful and has had mandates since March 2020.) 

We've had a lot of things in our favour here. The three biggies would be 1) a state govt that acts fast and hard, 2) exceptional contact tracing for every single case, 3) overall a society that complies with the rules, and has a 'we're in this together' mentality.

Our vax rates are pretty good, but I'm still nervous about borders loosening. We've been spoilt with a no-Covid lifestyle for all this time, but I know we all need to transition to a living-with-Covid lifestyle at some point.