To have massive FOMO and worry this will happen repeatedly (local lockdown)

[Napqueen1234]

We live on the borders of the local lockdown in Greater Manchester (basically one of the small towns outside it) but virtually all our friends live in the next town along which is Merseyside. I feel so left out as they are all able to meet in pubs, go for meals, to each other’s houses (following the rules max 6, 2 households etc) but still. I know we can meet in parks etc but they don’t all have kids and just want to meet in pub gardens. I worry that winter will mean Manchester gets locked down a lot as a large city and densely populated so more likely to have spikes. It was ok when everyone we locked down but seeing friends out when we can’t really socialise is so depressing. We have young DC so DH and I can’t even go out for a meal or drink etc alone as we can’t use a babysitter. I was feeling so low in lockdown, I was doing better but my mood is sinking back down. Does anyone feel similar? Any advice?

"yossell

According to the current guidelines, it says you should not:

"socialise outdoors in a group of more than six people from different households; gatherings larger than six should only take place if everyone is from exclusively from two households or support bubbles".

By omission, I take that to allow you to take at least four of your kids to your grandma and meet in her huge garden."

People who live in Greater Manchester can't meet in a private garden at all (whether that's in the area or further away).

In most of the country you can legally meet up to 30 people for a private gathering. The two households/six people thing is guidance, not law (which is why it says "should", not "must").

Well I can't cure the global pandemic for you and I can't in all conscience advise you that the rules and guidelines don't apply to you because you have FOMO, because suppose I said that and you caught the thing and were ill or everyone else decided the same thing because their FOMO was as big as yours.
The main thing in your post seems to be that your friends are in a slightly different area. Perhaps you could come to some agreement with them that you will behave as if you are in local lockdown if their area of Merseyside is in lockdown and they will behave as if in lockdown if your area of Greater Manchester is in lockdown. (With the exceptions of school and work). Would that make you feel better? Not perfect advice, but all I can think of to help. The key component if FOMO is the belief that other people are enjoying something you are not.

Just go and meet them! It's outside of the lockdown area.
Your very lucky to have friends to go out with, so make the most of it