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Original poster

Will you be going back to 'normal'?

170 replies

supersop60 · 25/04/2020 17:56

Since we don't know yet when lockdown will be eased or what that might mean, I was wondering what you all might do when things become more normal?
DP and I have both said that we shall not be attending any large gatherings of people, and still be observing social distancing for as long as possible. I do not want this disease. Ever.

OP posts:
Kcnana · 25/04/2020 17:59

I'll be going back to normal as soon as permitted. I can't wait to be able to see my friends and family properly again. I don't want covid but I also don't want any of the other diseases I could contract at any time. Very much of the opinion life is for living and must go on.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 25/04/2020 18:03

Normal as soon as permitted. We're all going to die at some point, can't get particularly worked up over when/how (as long as it's not burning to death).

Chocolatecakeandpinkcustard · 25/04/2020 18:05

I'll be carrying on as I have been for the foreseeable. Which is staying at home but going out to exercise or for essential shopping.

I certainly won't be rushing out visiting anyone or rushing out shopping.

The only thing I will consider is sending my dc to school and going back to work, if I believe there's a good plan in place by the time that happens. I see work/school as much more important and essential than visiting and we've been told that household to household transmission is one of the biggest risks.

So I'll be watching and waiting. When I decide the risk is low for my family I'll venture out, but I'll be making my own decisions.

I'd rather go to the beach then have my children climbing all over and kissing their grandparents thanks.

amber763 · 25/04/2020 18:05

I've spent time thinking about aspects of my relationship that I'm not happy to go back to when we see each other again. I don't think I want that normal back at all which makes me sad in some ways.

Sparklfairy · 25/04/2020 18:06

@Dinosauratemydaffodils true, but Covid sounds a particularly unpleasant way to go.

I don't know. I was texting a friend today and saying that stupidly the one thing I want to do is go out to a nice restaurant with some good food and some good company. Out of all the things to miss Hmm But in reality I would be hesitant about actually going.

It's trying to find that balance between 'you can't hide forever' and 'walking into the lions den' - if lockdown was lifted tomorrow the floodgates would truly open, around here at least.

Firef1y72 · 25/04/2020 18:07

I will be going back to as normal as I'm allowed. But my normal isnt the same as most people. I only socialise with a very small group of people anyway, and hate crowds and noise and places I don't know.
Autism does have some advantages.

Forgone90 · 25/04/2020 18:09

Life is far far too short.. We are currently just existing and not living.... Like a pp has said there are thousands of other ways to die ans im not gonna hide away from them either!

BakedCam · 25/04/2020 18:10

I'm in 'nornal'

RunningNinja79 · 25/04/2020 18:11

I will be too. Although my normal is parkrun and races at weekends. Problem with these is that they both can attract large numbers. I miss both of these things far too much so can't wait to go back.

However, I would like to work from home forever. Think my boss might have something to say about that though. Certainly going to start making some noises about whether it could be a more regular occurance though.

Lavenderpurple · 25/04/2020 18:15

I’d like to say I’d just go back to normal but I’m pregnant and that does concern me. Therefore I think I will still be mindful of unnecessary visits, but I can’t live totally like this for longer than necessary, I’m really not enjoying life like this.
If I weren’t pregnant I’d be straight back to normal.
Also need to get back to work as currently no income.

Hileni · 25/04/2020 18:15

I have a very young DC and so catching it would be horrendous as I wouldn't be able to care for her properly. If I didn't have DC, I would return to normal as soon as I could. However, I need to try my best not to let it infect out household so we will be social distancing for the next year or two Sad

Original poster
supersop60 · 25/04/2020 18:17

Ah yes - you've got to die of something.
I'm sick of hearing that.
Why would you deliberately put yourself at risk of catching this awful virus? I could get run over by a bus - but not if I'm careful crossing the road. I could get cancer - but you don't 'catch' that by being irresponsible.
Chances are that I wouldn't die - I'm 60, rarely ill, not overweight, don't smoke. However, I have two teenage Dcs that I have no desire to see grow up without their mum.
Death from covid sounds awful - can you imagine the terror of being told you're going on a ventilator, not knowing if you will wake up again, no family round you?
Yes - life is for living, not for being reckless.

OP posts:
DeathByBoredom · 25/04/2020 18:21

Back to my normal as soon as I can

I'm a bit germ phobic in the sense that in winter I try to keep away from public transport and crowds, so something along those lines.

Holidays abroad will be more difficult because I worry about health insurance/no cover. That's the main change - I'll wait a while on those

BlueGheko · 25/04/2020 18:21

My life's not a whole different in lock down tbh. Hate crowds anyway and usually see friends one on one. As someone who has major issues with people encroaching on my personal space, social distancing is a dream come true for me. I love mooching about at home doing my hobbies or little projects, definitely don't feel like I'm just existing, I feel happy and relaxed and am really enjoying the break from work and time with ds. Going forward I'll still be keeping my distance where possible to protect my parents who I hope to be able to see by the summer.

SpratsOnParade · 25/04/2020 18:24

Living a normal life isn't reckless as far as I'm concerned. If guidelines are still in place to keep six feet apart I will observe that, but as soon as I can get out as often as I like and restaurants and shops open I'll be going out. There are a thousand things that could kill me, inside the home and out, I can't spend my time flapping over each and every one of them. I could barely get out of the house even accompanied by a family member I'm not going back to that again. That was a living hell and much more likely to kill me than this virus.

Everyone has to make their own decisions but for me life is risk and it's one I'm willing to take to have any quality of life while I'm here. It'd be all too easy for me to slip back into not going out and fearing public places. I'll do what I can to avoid it.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 25/04/2020 18:25

@Sparklfairy

That's true but I know what it's like to fight for a mouthful of air, thinking each tiny precious bit you get is going to be your last and to have a heavy weight crushing your chest (being choked by someone and I believed him when he said he'd kill me if I didn't stop fighting) and yes, it's not very nice at all but fear is worse, far worse.

Michaelbaubles · 25/04/2020 18:26

To those who are “existing and no living” - a life in lockdown in a warm, dry house with food, running water and electricity, beds for all, a bath and indoor sanitation, education supplied for children (through the BBC if not through school), access to the Internet, television, online shopping, a neighbourhood to walk in where you’re safe from violence or crime...if you have most or all of these things you are still better off than a very large proportion of the world.

bigchris · 25/04/2020 18:26

Well I'm still working so my normal will depend on if my bosses do anything to stop the general public breathing on me

Life will be worse in that the buses I get currently are very quiet and they'll be back to rammed

I'll go to the pub, and eat out, but I don't go to concerts or festivals often

bigchris · 25/04/2020 18:27

Oh and my kids will go back to sch as soon as it reopens

Kelsoooo · 25/04/2020 18:30

I'll be going back to normal. Social distancing for a year or two? That way madness lies.

AuntieMarys · 25/04/2020 18:32

I'm looking forward to treatments at the salon, hairdressers, eating out, weekend breaks, gigs, theatre....everything.

legodisasterzone · 25/04/2020 18:36

This current way of life IS my ‘normal’.
As a full time carer for a chronically ill child, the only thing that has changed for me is that by husband does the shopping (I have bad asthma) and I don’t get the rare coffees I used to enjoy with friends.
I won’t be doing anything that will put us at risk, as for us and many others, the outcome is unlikely to be happy.
I think what people do once ‘allowed’ depends on so many factors.

Kcnana · 25/04/2020 18:39

@supersop60 I don't think anyone in their right mind would deliberately go out of their way to contract the virus. Death from anything is awful but what is the point in being here to live your life in fear? Of course it's all choice and if you want to live within limits then that's fine. It's also fine for people to want a little bit more.

Kcnana · 25/04/2020 18:41

@supersop60 also, some people do get cancer through being irresponsible i.e smoking, drinking, obesity.

lucysmam · 25/04/2020 18:42

I think we'll be lying low for a while yet - a former colleague's dh has today been discharged from one of our local hospital's Covid wards, and one of dd2's friend's mums, who works on the ward, is being tested tomorrow.

It's a bit close to home today :(

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