Shielders, when do you think you'll feel happy to venture out into the world?

[SistemaAddict]

I'm shielded until late July. My GP told me that I should continue to shield after then until the pandemic is over.
So many are talking about things getting back to normal but i just can't imagine it and have started to feel slightly anxious about being back in the outside world. I've been in for 10 weeks already and with no end in sight I don't even know how I feel about the whole situation.
How are you feeling about things being back to normal whenever that might be?

DH's employers have asked him to work from home until September. Then they will review. Commuting into central London would certainly be too big a risk.

I work in a school, but have been told not to come in by our SLT. One of our colleagues passed away from Covid, this has hit our head and colleagues hard and nobody who is shielding or who has a shielded person at home is expected to be at work. While many of the children remain at home we have plenty of remote work to do.

I've started to go out at quiet times because I was going a bit nutty after 2 months in the house.

I won't be sitting in any parks or going to any beaches tho!

We have a lovely walk across the street from our house. A long, high path that looks right down over the town where we live. It's always super peaceful, except since people have been allowed a daily walk they have been processing back and forth down there all day every day.

Hopefully now they have all headed to the beach we can have our quiet walk back.

Maybe when everyone that doesn't need to shield or chooses not to shield goes back to work then it will be quieter and we can venture out.

I'll admit to being really scared of what this easing of restrictions will bring.
Like many, I have a complex "rare disease" where my health can literally turn on a sixpence with only a few mins warning, requiring urgent emergency injections. Unfortunately not many medics are aware of this condition (they can't know everything!) so I wear alert jewellery, always carry info & meds etc to try to help.
I just can't see myself going out until there is a vaccine, both in the general population & for myself.

I've started to think about going out. Just thinking and imagining. I thought a walk in the rain might be a good start. The local disused railway cycle/bridge/walk/run path is really busy. On a 12 mile cycle I usually pass 15 people at the most, usually groups of 2-4. Not that I've been for months though. My neighbour told me her family have had to stop cycling or walking there because it's so busy now and you can't social distance. I've had a look at the local map though and there's some paths I didn't know about that might be ok, especially in the rain, as they aren't the main route and don't cross under or by the canal or any main roads. I figure it will be quieter if raining. Also from the end of next week all our primary schools are back so again there will be less people about. I never gave exercise a second thought 3 months ago and loved my walks and bike rides.

I see Wales have extended shielding to the middle of August and wonder if England will do the same. Scotland seem more cautious so I think they will too. I've not followed Northern Ireland to be honest but to me it makes sense that they follow Ireland rather than GB as they share a border. Hugely contentious and political I know but just my thoughts.

My mum ventured to a local quarry a mile up the road from her house. In the car and got out for a walk just round the car park. She said there was no one there. Not the safest idea there mum and age didn't tell me until she was there as she knew I'd say it's not safe. Not covid safe. 80 year old woman in deserted quarry along not safe. I swear she's trying to repay me for all the worry I caused her when I was younger!