Looking forward

I find myself unfocused at the moment. I’m struggling to do anything much. Still taking my vitamins, managing at least 30 mins activity a day (long walk today) and am eating well.  Though that last isn’t true right this second because I’m eating a Fudge. I’ve been trying to write, but can’t get over a certain bump.

Was listening to Jeremy Vine at lunchtime, as I often do, one topic was what are people looking forward to when we come out of lockdown.  As I listened to what people were saying, I found that I didn’t share any of the things others were looking forward to.

I don’t want to go to:

• a pub – never been a major fan.
• a restaurant – I enjoy a meal out, but I’m not missing them and it’ll be a while before I’ll trust to sit in a restaurant, but a drive through I’d do.
• a sporting event – never have.
• a concert – only ever been to 15 in total, so not in a hurry to go to no 16.
• the theatre – well not much, I do rather enjoy a good comedy show, but again not in any hurry to be amongst that many people.

Eventually I figured out the only thing I am looking forward to, and it so fits maintaining social distancing.  I do want to go out in the campervan. To park near the sea, watch the waves. To park on a mountain, listen to the breeze, hell I’d even enjoy listening to the beating rain if I had a decent view, or rather a different view.

I guess we’re all looking forward to different things, and we all have a different point at which we’re prepared to do risk doing those things. 

Wonder what the new ‘normal’ will look like.

Distance

I went for a walk today, a path that’s known and used, but was light on walkers.  Everyone (except one older man) maintaining the 2m distance.  It was good to get out for a little fresh air and exercise, even saw a heron.

What I saw (I’m not a photographer, sorry)

The walk made me think about social distancing, frankly I’ve been practising social distancing for 50 years, but it does make me wonder what society will be like when we come out of this crisis.

Not shaking hands is fine with me.  Too many times I’ve had to suffer sweaty palms, or have somehow fumbled the act.  Instead a small head nod is preferable.

Not getting too close. Fine with me. There are only a handful of people I will naturally hug.  There’s a batch more that I’ve had to learn to hug because of the social side of selling books, but I’m not comfortable with it.  Hopefully that won’t come back.

Not going to pubs. Okay, it’s not something I enjoy, but history suggests that pubs will reopen, they have always been at the heart of communities.  I kind of hope pubs return for the greater good, but I also hope that ‘pub culture’ as such doesn’t. 

I realised a while ago that physical money has a limited lifespan, there are many science fiction books which have done away with cash, and you are granted credits that transfer by various means (chip under the skin, iris scan). Seeing now how many places are now taking card payments only, I also wonder if we’re seeing the death of cash rushing forward. 

I have no idea what society will be at the end of this crisis, but I am pretty sure it won’t be exactly what it was when this year started. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.