How has this crisis affected you personally?

[Guest]

My life seems to center around travel, entertainment, sex, extended family (I don't live with any family), and friends. So my life has been seemingly rather meaningless at this point. At least I have work, but work isn't what really puts meaning into my life. I feel I'm just existing. It's hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel.

From a financial perspective, my long-term investments have taken on a major hit. However, since almost all of my money goes towards travel, entertainment, sex, extended family, and friends, I have a lot more cash on hand (taxes are a constant, I suppose). I've been giving more to local food banks, Meals on Wheels, and Feeding America. I do have a feeling that I will regain what I lost in the market eventually.

[RomanticRick]

Unable to visit parents in a foreign country. One of them is being treated for cancer while already going through mental decline.

Long term investments down, yes, expect them to eventually regain value indeed.

On the positive side, all the self-isolation entails extended periods of meditation. That's something to be counted for being able to maintain a positive mental attitude.

Edited May 10, 2020 by RomanticRick

[+ honcho]

My life centered around music - being in performing groups, and recording live events for others. Needless to say, that came to an abrupt and total halt in march. Difficult to motivate myself to continue practicing under the circumstances. I am retired and other than a (mostly) secure university pension, the 403(b) had been 100% invested in CD's, treasure notes, etc. So it hasn't affected me financially - just has left me sort of rudderless ...

[jonnychgo]

I retired from a long career back in December around the holidays. So fortunate that I do not have to work or go back to work (public municipal service) when my former employer reopens. And I have a well funded pension so receiving money. My investments were on the safer end so not doing badly. However, I too feel like life is kind of meaningless. Some days I get a positive frame of mind and do things, but more often than not, in a low grade funk. While I have always slept in and took naps on days off, I now feel like I could probably sleep most of the day. I echo Unicorn's statements about his pleasures, etc and to be honest, I cannot see them coming back for a long time.

[+ OliverSaks]

I’ve been watching (and lots of people have alongside me) a lot of performers live stream on twitch or Reddit. It’s been really cool to check out people on the accordion, traditional Chinese stringed instruments, piano... to name some.

 

you might find that what you can offer up as a musician, might be something that a lot of people are interested in checking out

 

happy to point you in the right direction if you’re unfamiliar with those corners of the internet - it might help others pass through some of the rudderless times just as it could give you a bit of a boost

My life centered around music - being in performing groups, and recording live events for others. Needless to say, that came to an abrupt and total halt in march. Difficult to motivate myself to continue practicing under the circumstances. I am retired and other than a (mostly) secure university pension, the 403(b) had been 100% invested in CD's, treasure notes, etc. So it hasn't affected me financially - just has left me sort of rudderless ...

[+ OliverSaks]

I’ve been reading more, growing a beard (it ain’t great but why not?), learned to make baguettes, cook Seitan, brew kombucha, took a course on farming oyster mushrooms, growing some mushroom crops, playing Quite a bit of online poker (and thankfully doing quite well), connecting with a lot of my peeps more than pre-COVID

 

financially, it has been quite unfortunate but happy to have had some Very good luck in My investments outside of ‘scortin’ - feel very fortunate and give myself a good, hard pinch whenever I drift to “oh I lost out on all these really substantial appts I had scheduled due to COVID” because I am so, so lucky

[jjkrkwood]

Relaxation by dining out or going to a movie or theatre, stress relief by going to a sex club, having to think about masks and gloves with every trip to a grocery store, and bobbing and weaving in the aisles or streets to avoid others, in addition to having to see the world thru constantly fog-up eyeglasses has been the worst part. Yes I had more disposable cash, but with nothing to do with it...

And a closet full of unworn clothes because I tended to grab the same t-shirt and pair of joggers all the time, unless they were in the wash.... BUT on the other hand, I have perfected several recipes, caught up on all my TV shows, I can tell you the name of every big cocked porn star AND my home is so clean you CAN eat off the floor..... Is that a silver lining ?

[Smurof]

Unicorn, your picture posts of attractive people make me and countless others very happy. We are glad that you're here to share your interests with us. As to the others who subsequently posted about feeling sadness, I also thank you for sharing with the forum members what it is that you do in your private lives. Everyone has something to contribute to society, even if it may seem mundane to yourself.

 

I look forward to seeing the Covid-19 success stories, where lives were made better for many around them due to something terrible that was unforeseen happening first. I've finally gotten off my round ass to compose rock music and write stand-up comedy, as well as erotic fiction. I would not be doing these things otherwise if life was going about as normal.

[bendable2019]

It’s been relaxing and peaceful staying alone at home - Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime... eat sleep and shit! Hope this corona is over but news seems to direct us the other way.

[+ Charlie]

Because my spouse and I are an elderly retired couple who live in our own house in a senior community, sheltering at home is pretty easy. Our only family is far away and we usually see them only about once a year; by chance, we paid them a long visit in February, so we wouldn't be seeing them now anyway. Most of our oldest friends also live far away and we normally communicate with them by email or phone, so no change there. I have a few friends with whom I play tennis regularly, and through most of the past few months we have found ways to get together for exercise on a court once or twice per week. We both miss the normal socializing with friends here in our gated community, but we are close friends with one neighboring couple, and we have broken shelter once to eat at their house, and on several occasions I have played Rummikub with one of them, usually outdoors on our patio; they also have socialized only with us. No one else has been inside our house in eight weeks, not even our house cleaner, whom we have been giving a paid vacation to stay away. I do all the shopping, but I go only to a few grocery stores and the pharmacy. I do all the dinner cooking, and I really miss being able to go out to restaurants at least once or twice per week. I also miss shopping in other kinds of stores. My spouse especially misses the library, where he normally takes out several books each week, and bookstores. He naps even more than usual.

 

We are lucky not to have been economically affected so far. Our investments have taken a hit, but we have always lived frugally within our fixed income from S.S. and annuities, so we can afford to wait as long as necessary for the market to come back. We both have good health insurance if we need it. It was nice to get the stimulus payment, which we immediately spent on a big ticket item to stimulate the economy instead of dipping into savings. If we get any more stimulus money, we will probably donate it to charities, or save enough of it to eat in our favorite restaurants every night for a month.

 

The only really negative effect on us has been psychological. We love to travel, and we had been planning to do a lot of bucket list type trips in the next two years, because we know we haven't got much time left to do it. Now it looks like even our regular getaways may be impossible for the rest of this year, and the more elaborate trips are out of the question. Another year of nothing but evenings playing gin rummy and Scrabble at the dining room table is a deeply depressing prospect. Even worse is the possibility of sheltering in place for a long time only to contract COVID-19 anyway.

[xyz48B]

Same shit. Different day. Every day.

 

I was used to going to work, seeing people, planning...None of that now. My stress levels are the the roof seeing colleagues posting on social media about their opinions on this pandemic and the plans to reopen. My field is as far from epidemiology or virology, yet my colleagues all seem to think they can speak with authority on the matter. Too much time on their hands. I’m on a Facebook hiatus for the time being, started today, because there are so many “experts” with conflicting opinions and my emotional health couldn’t take it anymore.

 

So…personally I’m stressed. Living alone has also been rough, particularly in isolation, because I miss people, even as an introvert. Thank God for the pets!

[+ sync]

I'm pretty much a self-isolationist by nature. While isolation is not an issue for me, it saddens me to see the toll it has taken on some of my neighbors and some members of my family. We all could use some solid good news from the front.

[jjkrkwood]

I'm pretty much a self-isolationist by nature. While isolation is not an issue for me, it saddens me to see the toll it has taken on some of my neighbors and some members of my family. We all could use some solid good news from the front.[/QUOTE]

 

Hopefully good news will come in November ?

[+ pepa_e_mango]

I used to love going to the gym and spending 2-3 hours working out and hanging out in the sauna afterward, I miss that the most. I hope to drive to the high mountains next month and spend a couple weeks camping and hiking after the snow melts, that will lift my spirits. Since I live in southern Texas I'll have to drive straight through (about 24 hours) because I don't want to take risks in hotels or other high occupancy places.

[+ FreshFluff]

Not doing well at all. I have a couple of medical problems whose treatments will cause me problems. My place is a mess, and I don't have room for everything. Like @sync , I'm an introvert, so I don't feel acute loneliness. But the level of social contact I had was more helpful than I had realized. The days feel longer and longer.

Edited May 14, 2020 by FreshFluff

[Caliboy95]

I’ve been doing good emotionally. I’m catching up on my readings and try to play video games to entertain myself. I’ve been saving up some money since before the pandemic so I haven’t struggled financially yet. I sometimes get paranoid thinking of what could happened next with my job since my check has been cut 20% this month.

[BasketBaller]

I'm able to telecommute and am basically fine, if a little stir-crazy. The main thing is that all three of my sons are home for the foreseeable future, which I love but I know they are very frustrated by. Two have serious girlfriends they can't see in person the other has an active social life in Chicago he can't pursue. And I've been seeing a guy who I can't see in person, so I'm guessing the horniness level in the house is high. We bike, together and separately, my oldest gardens, my twins cook, and I take advantage of it.

 

Working from home is hard, though, because everything takes so much longer. The boys hated distance learning but did fine. My twin at the Naval Academy had several things to look forward to, including the Ring Dance, a huge event when all the juniors get to wear their rings for the first time, and some awesome summer training that almost certainly won't happen. Still we're in reasonably good spirits and I'm enjoying their company.

Edited May 14, 2020 by BasketBaller

[SirBillybob]

Relaxation by dining out or going to a movie or theatre, stress relief by going to a sex club, having to think about masks and gloves with every trip to a grocery store, and bobbing and weaving in the aisles or streets to avoid others, in addition to having to see the world thru constantly fog-up eyeglasses has been the worst part.

 

Just wash your spectacles with soap and water. This disinfects them but also leaves a transparent film that repels your exhalation moisture. It works.

[+ sniper]

For the fogging thing you could also take a twist tie or a pipe cleaner and attach it to the mask and use it to crimp down the mask around your nose so air doesn't blow up into the glasses. Paper surgical masks tend to have a small piece of metal in them for this purpose.

[xyz48B]

Shaving cream works too.

[+ Axiom2001]

This week marks the ninth week of my "staying inside" for almost the entire 24 hours. As a retiree, I think I'm adapting reasonably well. But, my being inside most of the day has given me more time to reflect on the future, which to me is one hell of a scary thing since this pandemic has affected everyone and every facet of life worldwide.

 

I'm missing honoring my mother on the 25th of May on her 100th Birthday, the NBA semi-finals and finals, going to movies and live theater, concerts, driving down Coast HWay 1 in California to Big Sur whenever, attending art and book festivals, domestic and international travel, sex, sex, and more sex, and a plethora of normalcy in general.

 

There are other things that I have begun to yearn, but they, too, are on hold temporarily or perhaps permanently. Bah!