To think that people who don't do very much have almost got their lives back

[Ghostlyglow]

Certainly not judging those people, nothing wrong with a quiet life if that's what you enjoy.
Those of us who quite like to keep work life separate from home life and like to spend their leisure time attending gigs, going to the pub, travelling etc. have no light at the end of the tunnel yet.

probably a bit jealous of the people who seem relatively content

'Seem' is the important part of this isn't it? Some people moan less than others but it doesn't mean they haven't been affected, because surely everyone has? I work from home but can't at the moment, but you wouldn't necessarily know that. Please don't be 'jealous' of me and my zero income.

We avoid places with loads of people, I cannot understand why people would flock to the beach in Dorset yesterday, there were thousands of them, just why? There are other beaches available

Yep! Got this week off work to go to six concerts at the O2. Not allowed to change my leave.

My life certainly isn't back to normal.

On the plus side hubby has been furloughed and the garden looks amazing!

Swings and roundabouts!

I don’t do very much and my life is far from back to normal. For one thing, I’m running out of crap to watch on Netflix.

We do quite a lot, maybe not in the same way as you. It’s more walks, hikes, day trips out, swimming, picnics. So we can do these things now, it doesn’t mean we don’t do a lot

I get it OP
I'm not overly social, nor been to a festival in a few years but no live sport, not being able to see my team play live is doing my head in, actually go to a game, I even go alone by choice. I NEED to see a live footy game this year, in person. Live games start back in a couple weeks just no crowds so it's a start.

It's the thing I dive into to destress. My "me" time
Even when a game on tv both dd and dp know that for that 2 hours, leave me alone. I'm busy.

I am retired. I don't do as much as when I worked and ran my own business, but I feel my life has come to a complete standstill. No holidays to plan or go on, no city breaks, no seeing close family who live a distance away, and some of whom are shielding. Some friends who live close by also have serious health problems (like transplants, lung problems etc) so are virtually shut away as well (so much worse for them) No visits to the pub, meals out etc etc. To make matters worse, I was planning a little sally out tomorrow, visiting a couple of places a distance apart, and then realised that my ageing bladder won't allow me to do that! I shall have to visit places individually and pop back home in between because there are no bloody loos anywhere. Oh well it will give the car a run, but, no I would like my real life back. This is hell. I cannot envisage spending the rest of my life in this 'half life', I'd rather be dead.

To think that people who don't do very much have almost got their lives back

You mean like my husband who had a 4 hour daily commute on a packed train on top of a busy working day?

No, he is not suffering from not being able to go to the pub at the end of the day: he used to come home and collapse in bed at the end of the day. He is discovering what it is like to have 4 hours to yourself in the day. He is a different man.

People who seem generally content also includes people like my dd, who knows that the virus is likely to kill her. It's not about going to the pub or gigs- that sounds lovely, but she is 23: she would quite like to live a bit longer.

I find working from home stressful and it involves much longer hours, but knowing that those two are safe makes it worthwhile.

You sound like one of life’s moaners anyway, OP.

How hard someone else does or doesn’t find things right now literally has no impact on you. Only you do.

And when I feel like grumbling about not being able to travel or go for a meal out, I remember two colleagues of mine who are on the 9th and 10th week of the virus and still suffering heart trouble, kidney trouble, blood pressure/clotting issues and a whole spate of other problems. No idea if either of them will be able to work again. But as far as the general public goes, they sort under the heading "not badly affected by the virus"- because they are not actually dead or on life support.

@Dollywilde I feel the same. I'm 21 weeks pregnant with my first and we had so many plans for weekends away, meals out, seeing extended family, a couple of holidays etc before the baby arrives and everything is a bit more difficult. I feel most sorry for women who are currently on maternity leave with nothing open - it must feel wasted and with everyone else off too it's like you've been cheated.

I think those of us that don’t fill our lives with big gestures, days out, instawanker picture perfect places etc etc etc will have found this a lot easier yes. It must be difficult when all of that is stripped away to find excitement in the small things

I love WFH full time. I miss weekends spent in the pub with groups of friends and restaurants and cafes and travelling abroad every couple of months but I do not miss commuting into central London and having to deal with colleagues face to face a few days each week.

YANBU Must be much harder if there are more things you are missing...

much easier as an introvert!

We are boring and happy

Our life may be 'quiet based on partying/socializing standards, but it's very, very active under normal circumstances. We're not a family that goes to clubs/pubs/football or rugby matches, etc ... but we do our own active things.

My children should be in school.

My DH and I should be working outside of the house.

My children's sporting events have been cancelled through most of the summer ... 2 of them are competing at youth national levels in a particular sport.

My other child's competitive travel sport has had all it's events cancelled through the summer. Very sad for her, as they train for months for the competitive season.

My Year 6 has lost all the 'fun' parts of the final year of primary school and is not getting a transition to secondary.

My Year 10 has lost a GCSE and will be working flat out when schools finally go back to cover the material for the rest of them in time for exams next year.

My Year 8 has lost his first secondary school trip, one he's waited two years for. And he's missing his friends and his routine desperately.

My Year 11 niece has lost her GCSEs.

My final year university niece has lost her last term and a half at university.

I worry I may never see my older mom again who lives in another country.

My inlaws who are in their mid-80s live 6 hours away and we worry about not seeing them and them not being able to go out. They were very social and travelled a lot before lockdown.

We were hoping to travel to see extended family (many, many aunts/uncles/cousins for our children) this summer; people from the UK probably won't be allowed into their country this summer, not to mention 2 week quarantine upon return. So another year before we can try to see them again.

YABU.

And yes, what @speakout said. We do plenty, but it's stuff that hasn't really been affected by lockdown. We go for long walks with the dog in the forest and local beach, spend lots of time playing in the garden, reading, doing crafts, baking, playing games, going out to see animals on the nearby farms. We just enjoy pursuits that don't involve lots of other people as we are fairly introverted and enjoy our own company most of the time, but that doesn't necessarily mean we aren't 'doing much'. We just aren't doing the same things you are 🤷‍♀️

YABU. I didn't use to do much mainly becuase I have a severely disabled child to look after. However prior to lockdown my disabled child did go out to school giving me a bit of a break and time with my other child.

Lockdown has meant that existing support is no longer available and now I am caring for my disabled child 24/7 without a break.

There are a lot of other people in similar circumstances with zero time to themselves and really missing a bit of personal time and peace and quiet at home as result of lockdown. I certainly do not have my life back and will not until there is any form of respite.

longearedbat it's hell you'd rather be dead than have to drive home if you need to go to the toilet in between visiting leisure time attractions? Hyperbolic much?

@roarfeckingroar completely. My hope is that I might be losing this ‘last bit of freedom’ but maybe things will be slightly more relaxed by the time we have our babies so we’re not losing out twice, but who knows 🤷🏻‍♀️ Guess either way I’m going to have to love staying in!

I like socialising but this has made me realise that 'me time' is important. My attitude is when life gives you lemons...make lemonade.I am loving painting, sewing and gardening etc ...and i am skint with no perment job.
I have no doubt that this is tough for so many but you don't need to see it as "no life" just a different life.

And I think the work/home life thing depends on your setup. We WFH prior to lockdown anyway and both have our own office that we can close the door on at the end of the day. We aren't working in our living room or trying to get stuff done while life goes on around us, so I think that's a big factor. If you aren't properly set up for home-working then it's a lot more tricky.

I’ve already seen posts from people who have enjoyed not having to see friends and family etc and don’t want lockdown to end for partially the reason that they don’t want to be ‘obliged’ to socialize etc

It’s selfish and annoying for those of us who miss our wonderful friends and families and LIVES. I miss being able to attend university in person. I miss my job.

If you dislike your friends and are not bothered about seeing family as much, then take this an opportunity to simplify your life. Cut people out who you aren’t arsed about. Don’t live your life to please others - if you’ve enjoyed not seeing people, why’s start seeing them again ? Go low contact with family if you’re not too bothered about them. Set boundaries. But don’t whine that you’re going to ‘HAVE to start socialising’.

The only things I really miss are live music and meeting up with friends in the pub or coffee shop for a catch up, but both were fairly infrequent anyway these days.

roarfeckingroar everyone else isn't off! Vastly more people are still working, either actually going out to jobs in health and social care, supermarkets, supply chain or simply businesses which never allowed homeworking, or are working from home (in many cases whilst doing childcare) than are furloughed!