[DianeM]

Originally Posted by Anne17

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.

I’m with you.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by nututv

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.

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%

[manaboutown]

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.

[LiverpoolWalrus]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

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.

Yowser. I'm taking cover !!!

[NavyVet]

Originally Posted by DianeM

We have learned that it’s okay not to live in a whirlwind of fake activity spent with people we barely know

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!

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by merrymini

Does the common flu keep you in? It is estimated that 28,000 to 60,000 people in the US die from it every year. Those numbers should also indicate how accurate estimates are. About 40,000 people die in car accidents every year and nobody blinks. I will be glad to have my freedom back to do as I please.

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.

[Mumbles]

Originally Posted by Choro&Swing

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.

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.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by PugMom

wow, i was waiting for a post like yours, lol. i've always done my own thing, & for what it's worth, we've been on lockdown about a month now, & i've had enough of it. i decided on my own the 'quarantine' is over, & now go about my day as normally as possible like before. there is such a thing as overkill, imo. & if someone wants to stay locked in, go ahead, power to you, but i've re-joined the living

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

[E Cascade]

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.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

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.

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

[DianeM]

Originally Posted by NavyVet

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!

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.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

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

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

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by DianeM

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.

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.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by DianeM

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.

Me neither.

[LiverpoolWalrus]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

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.