My friends are getting out now, receiving personal invites. very tempting

[QuietRiot]

I am noticing a lot of my friends, and even some outdoor Meetup hiking groups are starting to pop up back on the schedule of events. Some are posting things about social distancing and limiting their numbers. Others are not. 

For instance, there's this hiking Meetup today, 14 hikers RSVP'ed. Entitled "Break free of the quarantine at so-and-so trail" She mentioned it's a Sunday, so it could be busy at this park. I would imagine there will be a surge of anxious people getting out of the house and swarming even national parks. It's summer ,and school is out...so...a lot of variables to consider here among just the 14 in this group that's going.

I even have some close personal friends wanting to hang out together at a restaurant. Saw pictures of them on the beach during the launch of the Space X rocket on the coast of Florida...and so on. I've even received personal invites...but to more intimate get together's one -on-one and so on.

In a nut shell, it is beginning to get VERY tempting to join my friends once again...and at this point, I feel some kind of resentment that they have no qualms about going out.

Anyways, are any of you experiencing this? I mean, it's far from the scenario of one boyfriend visiting his one girlfriend.

 

[d0nnivain]

We "escaped" quarantine over Memorial Day.  We went 2 states away to visit my cousin.  I felt anxious before the trip like it was going to be a catastrophe.  Once there it felt so normal.  It was a such a relief. 

As long as you can maintain social distance going for a hike seems OK.  You can start the hike & then drop out if you find it too much.  

[FMW]

My friends are starting to get together, so far the largest group I've been part of is 5 people (including me).  I trust those people have limited exposure (grocery shopping in masks, etc.) and our get-togethers have been in backyards.  

My mom lives in a less populated area and has been out and about much more than I have, but says she always wears a mask.  She handles things as d0nnivain mentioned above, if she doesn't like the way something looks she leaves.  

[Ellener]

I'm still only seeing my son and two friends and tonight- my walking group. Which I'll play by ear, if I feel anxious I'll go off on my own.

I think everyone has to weigh things up based on infections where they are and how they are coping with their anxiety, ease back to everyday life.

Most things are non-contact, social distance for me still and for the forseeable.

I've got good at saying 'let's stand apart', and I don't plan to return to hand-shaking; or hugging and kissing as general greetings- I don't know how I ever got into that, I'm English for goodness' sake!

I read this cool book yesterday, The Machine Stops, by EMForster, it's a short futuristic tale and some of it was really accurate considering it was written in 1919: the people don't touch each other and The clumsy system of public gatherings had been long since abandoned.

 

[Ellener]

3 hours ago, FMW said:

I trust those people have limited exposure

yes, I see the two friends who do that too, and who would feel protective of me if they did get sick, they'd not come out, and they'd let me know as I would with them.

My son would not come near me for weeks because he had a cough when the pandemic first broke here and there were no tests...

 

[Foxhall]

Im in favour of opening up more and loosening the hatches, cant stay at home forever

Personally id have no problem going on a hike,

maybe the restaurant gathering Id be holding off on for another while.

you mention you are feeling a possible resentment about people meeting up- so perhaps in your case "if in doubt dont"

you might end up having an unnecessary fall out with your buddies. let them enjoy it, dont join up unless your heart is in it.

[Eternal Sunshine]

I am going to my first ever friend gathering in 2.5 months in a few days. My friend is having a BBQ in an apartment (indoor area) and 10 people have been invited. Our state allows gatherings of 20 in an indoor area. Even 2 of my friends who are paranoid about COVID are going. Everyone seems so excited to get out.

[QuietRiot]

14 hours ago, Eternal Sunshine said:

I am going to my first ever friend gathering in 2.5 months in a few days. My friend is having a BBQ in an apartment (indoor area) and 10 people have been invited. Our state allows gatherings of 20 in an indoor area. Even 2 of my friends who are paranoid about COVID are going. Everyone seems so excited to get out.

 

Hm, be better if it's outdoors...less of a viral load that way. Besides, It's interesting that a BBQ would not be outside?   Our state it's 10 people. Do you all plan on being spaced apart 6 feet whilst indoors? If you cannot be spaced apart past 6 feet, then masks would be recommended.

[FMW]

I ventured out to a restaurant yesterday for the first time since all this started, met a friend for lunch.  We sat outside though, the closest other patrons were about 20 feet away (The temperature was about 90 so not a lot of people wanted to sit outside I guess).  

It's certainly done a lot of good for my mental health to start seeing friends again, but we're trying to be smart about how we do it.  The only risk-free option is staying isolated forever, not something I want to do.  After about a month of the loosening of restrictions, the COVID hospitalization numbers in my City continue to go down.  

[Gaeta]

Follow your city instructions. 

I've never been the kind to jump off a bridge cause others do.