Is anyone else leading a nearly ' normal' life.

[Christmaspud20]

For me. Except the local theme park being closed again and things like soft play for the kids,
Nothing else is different for us.
Thankfully this time dh isn't furloughed or anything, so he's working 6 days.
We don't mooch round the shops in general. I rarely go to town as I find it stressful at the best of times.
I generally wait till I have a few things to go for and just do 1 morning and list the shops in order to get it done fast.
We don't go for meals or drinking. The last time was December for his works drinks
I shop 1 big one a week and maybe 2 small top ups, but often just 1 We just don't have the fridge space to just do the once.
I do use wilko etc for toiletries so still do that and it's walking distance
Kids are at school and pre school as normal.
My bubble is my DF who's a single parent to my dsis who is under 18, she comes round most days after college when dad's at work.
I Drive to school runs etc, so obviously traffic is near enough the same as that's the time everyone is so understandable.
I know I'm very lucky and dh could be furloughed at any point of there's not enough work for his place to keep them all on atm.
But for me the only different thing is the social interaction with others at groups etc. But I'm happy in a group chat online and be done with it.

Loads of others I know in my normal social circle is the same. Only my DM is saying how different it all is as she's furloughed.

Not at normal for me in that I’ve been wfh since March when normally I would only do it once a week.
I normally commute to London from Home Counties and my friends are in London rather than where I live so haven’t been able to see any of them in person since March. I’m also going to evening classes which are being held virtually so I haven’t met anyone from my class or the lecturer.

My office is near a big shopping centre and I often have a wander on my lunch break which I’m obviously not doing. Nor am I going to the gym which I was a member of, also next to my office.

Were it not for the pandemic we probably would have had more of a summer holiday than two nights camping. Probably would have gone to the Edinburgh Fringe. Would have been to the theatre/concerts.
We’ve been able to spend more time outside though which is nice and put more time into our allotment.

Normal enough here. I WFH this last 9 years anyway. I've 4 small kids so we had a nanny who was able to keep coming through all this. Only difference is not easy activities on the weekend like soft play and I've no back up for when my nanny is off (usually grandparents).

Very far from normal I feel very sad for people who consider this normal

Could you possibly be any more patronizing?

I think it totally depends on the type of life you lead and how social you are 'normally' @Christmaspud20

For example in a 'normal' year I would:

Seeing family or friends for a coffee/dinner/get together at each others houses/BBQ/party
I would have a 2 week holiday abroad and several smaller breaks each year.
Eating or drinking out often
Cinema
Theatre
Galleries/museums - love these and much prefer to shopping
Gigs and festivals - I went to 4 festivals in 2019 and a music weekender and 4 separate concerts
Watching live sport - in 2019 I went to 'The Races' once and attended 4 live football matches

I live a full and varied life and this being restricted to my home with limited contact with others is very far from normal. I am following the guidelines though and hope that life can return to the way it once was. I appreciate we all live very different lives and some do less that others. It does feel quite 'goady' OP and if you are ok leading a simple existence then great but some/many of us did a lot more so have given up a lot more to help reduce the spread of the 'virus'.

No. My normal is gone. No theatre, no singing, nothing that makes my life worth living. My life feels empty and pointless.

@kittensarecute

No. My normal is gone. No theatre, no singing, nothing that makes my life worth living. My life feels empty and pointless.

I've sacrificed so much that I love for this fucking virus and got nothing in return. And until normality returns(if the government ever decide to lift these stupid restrictions) I'm seriously considering attempting suicide. No reason to be here. Every day is the same. I can't do it anymore.

@kittensarecute

No. My normal is gone. No theatre, no singing, nothing that makes my life worth living. My life feels empty and pointless.

for you

I think some don't realise how important socialising is to many of us. I am sorry you feel life is empty at present and hope that things can get back to your normal as soon as possible. I also hope that others that don't want/need social interactions can understand that it is much more difficult for some to life this way.

Good luck.

Reborn2020 it's quite patronising to describe not going to lots of events as "a simple existence". Those living in rural areas don't live a simple existence, we have incredibly full and busy lives, we just don't rely on attending events full of people as part of that life. Doesn't make it simplistic, just different to your life. We are by no means farmers but live in an area where farming and the local farmers estate is a large income source for the area. Everyone is still at work, the crops still need planting/harvesting, the livestock all need care, everyone within the community is still operating as normal. Yes the pub is shut but that is the only real noticeable difference.

@kittensarecute

Hold on in there. There are lots of us that feel this way. We keep the museums/theatres/restaurants/music (etc) industries going and whilst I realise some don't care there are lots of us that do. There is a whole range of diverse interests and activities that have been restricted some completely for the majority of this year and often people with little insight don't understand this. The jobs in those sectors have also been decimated and so I feel for all the workers worried over their jobs and income as well

Stay strong

dh and I both work from home anyway.
Kids still at school
shopping delivered once a week anyway.

Money is tight so me don't tend to do shopping for fun and don't go out much.

So, yes day to day life is pretty much the same.

BUT overall, over the last 8 months, we have missed so much. Mainly meeting up with family. I have seen my brothers and their kids once since march, and that was in a garden, and not all of us were there. Haven't seen best friend who lives far enough away to need overnight stay.
And life is pretty dull, so we don't go out much, but we do go out sometimes! Now not one single thing, no cinema, no meal out.
dd has her 13th birthday tomorrow, we'll have a take away, whoopy do.
Ds 18th early December. No party, probably can't even gather family together.
2 big school trips cancelled. Holiday was a week in Wales instead of 2 weeks in the sun.
dd had saved for Harry Potter experience, that was cancelled, she has also asked to go to the sciende museum, can't do that.

Thinking about Christmas, the biggest problem is that we are so tired of each other's company, with nothing new to relieve it!

and hugs. I want to hug my Mum.

I am extremely grateful for jobs and health though, and realise my moans are pretty superficial.

More normal than last time as DH is working more (manufacturing is open) and DCs at school - however missing swimming

Dentists a it weird - had a filling and they wore PPE...seeing friends but for a walk instead of e.g. cafe (but mind you kind of did that before as they have a health condition) Autumn is quite pretty here which helps a little. I'm quite an introvert anyway so kind of appreciating not having to see so much of certain family etc

No. It's shit. No hobbies, no gym, no meeting for lunch, not working as I have a vulnerable child who is currently regularly unwell (furloughed), both NHS workers so scared of getting covid, can't meet friends, reduced family meetings, kids have missed summer holidays and days out...I could go on

@ShadowsInTheDarkness

I apologise for using the term 'a simple existence' because it was not meant to be rude. I meant 'simple' by the lack of diversity in what is done day to day. Some do live a much less social life and don't attend museums/galleries/restaurants/theatre/live music/festivals/travel/holidays/choirs/live sporting events etc etc etc so simple was meant in terms of concentrating on working and not socialising. To some more' simple pleasures' it's a standard expression - reading/walking/knitting etc are preferred. There is nothing wrong with that but people that life that way will have not noticed so much change to their lives with lockdown as more 'social' people have. I can very much sympathise and empathise with people that use to live a varied life engaging in the activities above that have all but disappeared currently... hence might struggle and the workers in those sectors.

*people that live life that way!

No, it's far from normal. Work is incredibly stressful(NHS). My children can't do their usual sporting activities or meet up with their friends outside of school.
I can't see my parents, my friends or meet with colleagues outside of work.
I think life feels far from normal. For so many different reasons, I feel very sad about what is currently happening.

@WendyJames19

No, it's far from normal. Work is incredibly stressful(NHS). My children can't do their usual sporting activities or meet up with their friends outside of school. I can't see my parents, my friends or meet with colleagues outside of work. I think life feels far from normal. For so many different reasons, I feel very sad about what is currently happening.

I cannot imagine how stressful it is in the NHS at present and thanks for everything you all do

No, not even close. I run a small business effectively closed because of Covid but I get no support.

None of the fun things we used to do are easy or safe to do.

I’m not supposed to see family or friends.

It’s the complete opposite of normal.

Everything seemed pretty much open in our local town Saturday! Not sure all open shops were strictly essential... Day time seems the same ish, especially during the week. DH went to get takeaway curry sat night and said it was deserted though, more of a night time lockdown this time round.

Some do live a much less social life and don't attend museums/galleries/restaurants/theatre/live music/festivals/travel/holidays/choirs/live sporting events etc etc etc

I do wonder if you realise quite how privileged you are?
I am not saying that in a nasty way. But I love all those things, and in our house, they are a treat, a special occasion, a birthday event largely, as they are all pretty expensive.

You need to have a fair amount of money to live the life where they are your norm. (other than galleries and museums, but then they are also on big cities, so that means travel to get there)

steppemum - I totally agree with that. On a day to day level things seem ok (kids at school, both of us working) but stepping back and looking over the year then yes, not at all normal! So much hasn't happened and so much has changed.

I'm surprised by people who say it doesn't affect them at all. I mean, I don't socialise a LOT and I'm not down the pub every night getting smashed, but the limited day to day interaction is hard. I'm self employed and technically WFH but used to be in town meeting clients and contacts regularly, would work from coffee shops and libraries - often interacting with people there too, etc. I also usually meet up with friends about once a week or, if not with a friend, take myself off for some time alone at home - eg go to gym, use the sauna/steam room etc then sit in the cafe for dinner and a glass of wine with my book (vs going to a class, then rushing home for bed and bath time).

Even more importantly, my kids are missing out. No after school activities which are important for their physical and mental health. No play dates and parties. They miss seeing their cousins. Both had to cancel their birthday parties during the first lockdown.

We're not unhappy as such. But my life is definitely smaller than it was.

Why would anyone feel sad for someone that is quite happy living a simple life? (I don’t find that patronising) If they’re happy doing what they do, good for them. Each to their own.. I’m sorry for those struggling because they can’t do the things that make them happy. I can understand. I like those things too from time to time, but I can live happily for a while without them.

Not really. Both DH and I work in schools so technically, it's back to normal work days. But right now we are running around like headless chickens as we are short of staff, in both schools. Everyone who is in the high risk category is at home, plus a few teachers whose children are self isolating. It's crazy.

Why would anyone feel sad for someone that is quite happy living a simple life?

Exactly! I live the life the way I want to.
I don;t much like socialising, I dislike pubs and busy places , hate crowds.
I like silence and solitude. That makes me happy.
I would be miserable going to endless gigs and nights out.

Nope not at all. I really miss being the office, which I was back to. No socialising, which I didn’t think we were hugely into, but we would have had a play date/friends meet up/kids party/people for dinner most weekends. No kids activities, which is a huge shame.

I‘ve seen my parents only three times since March, which I find very difficult and the kids are very upset about. I love wandering round the shops and this time of year would be picking bits up for Christmas.

It sucks.