Does anyone feel as if they’ve become ‘institutionalised’

[Toomanymuslins]

I know it’s completely the wrong term. But things like shopping and eating out, trips to the zoo and swimming, seem like another world.

I’m just used to it now. It’s become normal.

Is it just me?

I have no concern at all. But then I've worked throughout, my kids have been at school and nursery throughout, and I've always shopped daily even at the very worst of it. None of us have had CoVID and no-one in my close circle either.
Yesterday I went to the local retail park and it was rammed...people queuing out of the door for Costa and Gregg's, supermarket and M&S jammed, roads busy. The roads into where I work in a big city centre are crazy busy too. Loads and loads of people are already back out there, shopping, socialising etc.
I have a load of restaurants booked, a zoo visit, 2 Uk holidays for May and November, the kids are booked to go and watch England cricket matches, they're heading back to sports clubs next week. I cannot wait. I think the only people who are nervous/don't want it are massive introverts who've loved the excuse to stay in. I get that, but for as an extrovert, I cannot wait for full normality to resume. Almost all of my friends are the same, except for a couple who are very health anxious.

I am super super keen to get back to normal. I spent a lot of time over January/February kicking myself for the tickets I didn't buy for plays / gigs when we could go out and do things.

But - a thing we did a lot before was eat out, DH is a bit of a foodie and we would go out to fancy restaurants , as well as more local cheaper ones a lot. In lockdown, as dh is now working from home, weve eaten as a family every night around 6pm (previously with dh being home late some times, or the dcs having evening activities meaning they needed to eat early to be dropped off, or us going out, we'd only eat as a family 3 or 4 nights a week). He mentioned he's not sure he's going to be able to cope with waiting for dinner for 8:30/9pm anymore - we're going to have to shift back to that slowly! (Or 2 dinners on nights when we've got a table booked)

I also don't think I can walk in heels anymore. Even "taxi to table" might be too much.

I feel like my social life won't bounce back, too many people have lost jobs or are self employed amongst my friends and financially hanging on my the fingernails. They just won't be up for theatre and dinner plans for a while.

2021 is going to be a tough year for many.