I think that our behavior will permanently change when this virus is controlled. We will wash our hands regularly, appreciate our freedom to move around, enjoy the lack of fear each day. I think when we come out of this, we will be cleaner, stronger, more resilient and more appreciative of our wonderful life.

So well said.

YES! We WILL get back to normal, or something like it. How long it takes depends very much on whether people can be patient and not go stir crazy. In a month or two or three or four, the time will come when there are fast, easy tests to know if people have the virus or have had it. The time will come when no one in The Villages has come down with the virus in a day, then a week, then two weeks.

Then we move to containment. Things will reopen, gradually. At first restaurants may be required to keep customers separated, but that will shift. Perhaps there will be guards taking temperatures of everyone at the gates, or at least all villagers. If someone does come down with it, instead of closing everything, there will be health guards to make sure there is a local quarantine and a careful look at contacts. We will do most of what we love doing, though we may have an extra level of stress.

People who are Immuno-compromised may remain much more vigilant than others, but eventually they too will relax.

It’s going to be okay, people. Just be patient and do the right thing.

Easter Day + 1
 

It’s amazing to me how none of us think of GOD in times like this. Easter is behind us ... so let’s put the message of a risen Savior behind us too. No!!! We need to be strong in our FAITH! We have time on our hands! Can’t we use it in a positive way? We need to reflect on our world and country and ask for GOD’s help ... in JESUS name!

Geesh - taking my temperature when I come home?
Health Guards?
Sounds rather achtung to me.

Some of this pessimism is way off.
Wife and I both grew up through WW2 and its aftermath.
Tough times to be sure. But everything got better, life goes on, and improves.
Plenty of food and water, and lets face it, many will have enough stock to see out the upcoming Hurricane season!
Give it a while, and this will be just another "Do you remember!" episode.

Because faith does such a bang-up job in protecting the faithful from the ravages of a deadly virus that causes their own bodies to drown them to death.

No thanks. I'll put my faith in science. The odds are better.

The number of restaurants and small businesses here in the villages will decrease. Quite a few of these businesses are independently owned and operated. If restaurants are required to ha e a capacity of 50% that means they only need half the previous staff and who knows whether any of their former staff will even return. I’ve met a few people here that believe once the go switch is flipped on it will be like nothing happened and they’ll just go back to City Fire, Red Sauce, and country club bars etc as if nothing happened.

I wonder if a restaurant can operate at 50 percent capacity and still stay profitable?

They can operate at 50% of their in-room capacity, IF they make other changes.

Well first off, they can't reduce their staff 50%. If a restaurant only has 4 cooks, and they're open 7 days a week, they can't reduce to 2 cooks. Unless each cook doesn't mind working 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, and they're not allowed to take any days off, or sick time, or vacation time, or anything else.

They can probably get away with 2-3 fewer servers per day - but not per shift. There has to be some overlap, just as there always has had to be some overlap.

The dishes need to get done, no matter how many or few there are. So someone has to load the machine, every shift. So they can't do with fewer dish washers.

What they CAN do, is increase delivery, take-out, and curb-side (or parking lot) service. I think we'll definitely see some of this becoming a trend even after the country is re-opened. I think this will be part of the "new normal."

Even driveway parties can be improved by having a restaurant bring all the goodies to the driveway for a reasonable delivery fee, or allow you to pick up the entire order in trays, and perhaps get discounts like frequent-diners - there's a pizza joint back home that sells thermal pizza bags. If you use that bag to pick up your order, they take $1 off the pie. Their reasoning: they recognize that a piping hot pizza tastes much better than a lukewarm pizza, so they want to keep it hot between their counter and your dining room table. It ensures that you'll be going back to their shop for more.

I think you'll see a lot more of this. And I think that's a great thing.

That’s great but it has what to do with this subject and my post specifically??

The normal is constantly changing. What was the norm a second ago is now changed. Some will no longer want to socialize out of fear. Some will continue to stay six feet away. The concern of mine is how this is affecting the younger people of all races. They will be the ones that have to live with a different type of normal. They have to adjust to a stay at home order every fall and winter. This is only a concern of mine. Something to think about. STAY HEALTHY MY FRIENDS

This whole flu thing is looking more like the normal flu everyday as more get tested. 3 weeks ago death rate was nearly 5 percent. Now it's far less than one.

Confirmed
1,883,119
+82,328
Deaths
117,569
+6,677
Recovered
443,816
+31,282
Updated Apr 13 at 1:17 PM

What is abnormal has been societies reaction to it or should I say over-reaction. Even here you have people wanting to know names and addresses of the sick. Rather a sick thought of it's own really.
"Will we ever get back to normal?" You're looking at the new normal IMO and it's quite sad.

At what level can restaurants/retail businesses survive?

Any that have been around a few years know they can operate at lower levels and survive because once upon a time they did operate at significantly less volume over the years.

Remember what some refer to as the slow season of today has a larger population present than during the busy season of 5-10 years ago.

So yes, many know how to operate a lesser level....it is where they came from to get to today's (pre-virus) levels.

And yes there will be an impact on the number of employees for that reduced level of business....until it comes back.....which it will.

Sorry you feel that way
 

Diane, that a terrible shame that you should feel that way. You must feel terrible that you should live in such a shallow manner. My heart goes out to you and I hope that you will begin living meaningful times with people you barely knew and now have them as true friends.

You’re assuming I’m not contented. I’m perfectly fine. I have what I need. No need for your concern.

You are so right Diane. I am grateful for this time to catch up, unwind, relax, breathe and let many things go. Tomorrow when we get back to "normal" I hope to keep these lessons learned as a part of my new normal.

Rely on science but keep your faith in God to hold us in the palms of his hands. It is good to know He is there.

:bigbow: Thank you! I never understood why any intelligent being would put blind faith in an invisible made up entity. I'll take scientific proven facts every time.
"One pair of hard working hands accomplishes more than a thousand clasped in prayer."

Except when you need him!:pray:

I’m with you.

I hate to break this to you, BUT.....

117,569 deaths/1,883,119 cases = 6.24%

Not quite the "everyday flu", which generally has a mortality of 0.1%

It is sobering to look at deaths 118,304 vs. recovered 444,492.

Of course we do not know how many have had and survived it without ever needing enough medical attention to warrant testing.

Yowser. I'm taking cover !!! :boom:

As someone with an anxiety disorder (PTSD), I have found it difficult to deal with crowds even before the pandemic happened. I've always been a homebody, so the stay home protocols have not affected my life that much. I do feel empathy towards the extroverts who must be going stir crazy. I realize we are all inconvenienced in some way, but I have little patience for those who blatantly defy the guidelines, putting everyone's health at risk. JMHO.
I also have compromised health issues so I am terrified of catching the virus, too afraid to even go to the store. Due to being on a restricted diet, the thing I miss the most is picking out my own produce, reading labels, and choosing what is safe to eat; those foods are difficult to find with all the empty shelves and lack of stock. Spouse comes home with whatever he can find, some things I can not have. I also try not to worry about all the medical appointments that have been cancelled. That is out of my control. Other than that, we are managing. I'm hopeful things will improve but it might take a long time.
We Villagers pay a LOT for this "lifestyle." I sometimes wonder what percentage of the population were unable to take advantage of the amenities (before Coronavirus) due to physical limitations that can't endure standing in long lines, overcrowding, etc. I'm sure a lot of people aren't getting their money's worth for amenities/events that really end up being only for the first come first serve healthy residents. I'll bet many of us have given up trying and just accept enjoying our overpriced homes. TV sells a lovely concept in theory to new residents, but in sheer numbers of population, it is not possible for everyone to enjoy. How ironic that now that virtually everything is closed, the social butterflies have nowhere to go and nothing to do. They'll have to amuse themselves at home ... like the rest of us already know how to do! :icon_wink:

Once there is a successful vaccine and treatment options for Covid 19, I have no doubt Americans will have very short memories. We will forget what we are going through at this time and it will be a distant memory. Business as usual once there is a successful vaccine and treatment for the disease.

I honestly never knew the flu killed people every flu season. I've never had the flu and barely have had a common cold in my 70 years. I can count on one hand the amount of times I have had a common cold. I guess I'm just very optimistic that life will go back to the normal we have always known once there is treatment for this virus.

Predictions are bunk
 

If we could predict what you appear to be predicting, we would be sharing in the power of God. I'm not so sure that we have powers like that. Now, if you are "hoping" these ideas will occur...just like those who are predicting the opposite will occur, I can go along with that.:pray:

Are you wearing a mask when you are out and about? Hope so.

Ever sent to your room as a kid and your parents said, "You can come back out after you think about it for a while....." Sounds like alot of us have done some thinking. I still have too much on my "To Do" list, but I'd like to scrap it and get on with other things. Enjoy It. ...... and it will be interesting to see how God works all of this out for us.

I share that optimism. Which is why we shouldn't be making long term changes. Economic stimulus bills are fine, when the money has been spent, all that's left is 3 or 4 trillion added to the national debt, we'll survive that. But we shouldn't allow a certain group of politicians to put an entire shopping list of long term crap into these bills---that's what will change this country

While I am fortunate not to have the issues you mentioned, I too have never gotten much use out of the “amenities”. I have given up trying to be what TV thinks I should be and just do my own thing. As an only child I learned the art of being “still” within myself and amusing myself. I have not had a problem with staying at home.

The restaurants may have to raise prices. That's OK by me.

I have always said The Villages is like a cruise ship on land. You can do lots of activities or do nothing at all. It is completely up to you and what makes you happy.

Me neither.

I'm just curious...and I ask with no judgment either way. A number of people on this board have recently said they're not interested in TV's amenities. May I ask why you would move to the Villages if not for the activities? Is it because a significant other wanted those amenities? Is it because you just like central Florida? Home prices in TV are higher because of the lifestyle, so if it were me, I'd go with a community with fewer amenities and lower prices.

Unfortunately New York City never returned to the pre 911 ways. When this is over people will probably not shake hands with each other. Social distancing will be the new normal.

I originally moved from Long Island to Lake Nona in the Orlando area. Beautiful fabulous area until you left it to go shopping or just wander. Orlando is not all that safe and I needed to get out while I could. TV seemed like a good option. I drove the 55 miles several times and spoke with people in stores, etc. I THOUGHT I wanted the amenities and truthfully the price range for houses was fine and the amenity fees (basically an HOA) are not high at all. I tried initially but quickly realized I was out of place. Hindsight is 20/20. Please don’t tell me to move if I don’t like it. It’s easier to just relax, do what I wish and wait out my expiration date.

Moving here from the Washington DC area caused my living costs to decrease by about 70 percent. So, price was not a factor at all. And, the monthly amenity fee here is less than my previous HOA fee that only included a swimming pool, a clubhouse, and private road maintenance. I have visited several other housing developments around The Villages, but I think that The Villages is just better in terms of safety, attractiveness, friendliness, and maintenance.

Agreed. New York was not the same. We were so broken. Other parts of the country were aghast but we were crushed and afraid of every plane we heard for a time.

This should not be considered a rude message but just an honest question. Why did you move to The Villages?