Aside from the Obvious, What Positives Have You Experienced From this Shelter in Place Directive?

I enjoy spending time with my family but do realize one day, we will be Empty Nesters. My DD's have become somewhat of avid cooks and know the advantages of cooking for thy self just because of the health and monetary advantages. I always knew this but we are spending way, way less money on our charge cards. Most of the charges have been for groceries, sundries and other necessities. Two of my DD's received stimulus checks. They have not spent any of it yet. One is contemplating purchasing a Ninja Foodi 5 in 1 grill. WTH? It's a big footprint. I told her if she purchases it, she/we must use it.

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More acceptance to working from home, being in my industry and as large of a company as a whole. My company that got bought out is like 100 employees total after cutting like 1/3 due to the oil crash, but have always been old school about being in the office the majority of the time. While the parent company as a whole is 10,000+ employees worldwide.

Also, I’ve spent a LOT more time educating myself on areas I know I could learn more from including working out, how to program my strength training, etc., and also optimizing my investment strategies.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
I adopted a beautiful cat a couple years ago, and since I was busy finishing school and taking licensing exams, I had my sister take care of her for about a year and a half (she LOVED my sister as well, so she was happy!) I got my kitty back in December and she was living with me and I knew something was wrong because she kept getting thinner and thinner. Turns out she had cancer and I ended up having to put her down at the end of April. At least I was home all day long for the last month and a half of her life.
I have completely cleaned and reorganized my kitchen storage, appliances, counters, etc.; given away food items that I would probably not use; carefully stocked for the shutdown (without hoarding); sorted clothing and household items and given away a TON of things on Freecycle; used Freecycle to have others come and remove a lot of plants and shrubs that I could not have afforded to have removed otherwise; restocked that front yard with items that I can manage and to enhance succession blooming; assembled a lot of clothing to donate to the local shelter; started baking again (but not bread); experimented with foods that I had not tried recently (or ever); had the time to comparison shop for the best replacement clothes dryer; saved a lot of $$$ on gasoline, meals out, and impulse purchases. Those savings will probably be most of the price of the new dryer and its pedestal and installation.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
There's obvious positives? I haven't met one. I lost so much muscle tone from staying inside that once I got out I could barely move. My feet, legs, and lower back have never been so stiff and sore. I DID lose 3 pounds, but that's because I often didn't feel like walking the 10 feet to the kitchen and back. My hunger just could not overcome my inertia.
Lucky one here: I have not experienced anything traumatic due to the Covid-19 issue. I spent a lot of money for masks and additional gloves (more than I usually use for one job). I was cutting back on my IC work anyway, and I have learned to live with fewer assignments and to be more present at home. I need to be more and more of a caregiver for the elderly hubby. These are just life things which are unrelated to the dratted disease. Long before the dratted disease, we emptied closets and a storage unit. Somewhere in there, I hurt a leg and lost about eighteen months of grunt labor productivity. Years later, we are still processing all that unprintable. There are treasures interspersed with all the rest, and we are the only people who know what anything means to us. So, it is up to us to deal with it. This keeps me busy, if not paid. On the flip side, if I am tired and forget ergonomics, I move something in the wrong way and wrench the back. *oops.* *ow!* Then, I get to do back care while reading and watching movies. This gets old, and I am always glad when the back is functional again. Would it be fun to have a more thrilling tale of excruciating pain? Of derring-do? Of glamour? Of far-flung and exotic locales? For others who like vicarious drama, maybe. But for me, no.This is enough.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
We are getting closer as a family of all adults who help each other because we are friends--not because of parent/child bonds/roles. The cooking has certainly been a high point for me as my grown sons have suddenly become foodies. They are reading cookbooks, asking lots of questions about ingredients and putting in lots of requests to borrow equipment or ingredients. Critiques of dishes are going both ways and are recognized for what they are--suggestions to improve flavor or textures.
@HoomanShopper, attempting to keep everyone healthy and COVID free. Are you able to go out for walks? I hope you feel better soon.
@Maderoshop. It's too hot and humid to get out much right now. I'd love to get back to the gym where I can ride the recumbant bike, but gyms arent allowed to reopen yet. Walking is painful if I'm on my feet for longer than 10 or 15 minutes. I'm looking forward to gas shops where I can rest in the car after each shop!
I had a recumbent bike at home for awhile. I should have kept it!!!!! Do you have space in your place for one?

If you can be on your back, you can do bicycles in the air. This is not as good as being on the bike.


@HoomanShopper wrote:

@Maderoshop. It's too hot and humid to get out much right now. I'd love to get back to the gym where I can ride the recumbant bike, but gyms arent allowed to reopen yet. Walking is painful if I'm on my feet for longer than 10 or 15 minutes. I'm looking forward to gas shops where I can rest in the car after each shop!

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
I agree, there are plenty of strength training exercises you can do at home using just your bodyweight: squats, pushups, planks, etc.

The hardest part is getting started.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
DH constructed a chin up bar on our tree in the yard. I told him it was going to collapse. Well, wouldn't you know it, he fell flat on his knees. Thought he broke them, knuckles cut up, you get the jist. DD's told me. SMH. I clocked 4 miles tonight after work. I find if I have a destination in mind rather than walking primarily for pleasure, the more miles I get in.
I do everything on the permitted list from the surgeon. My workouts don't look like anyone else's... grinning smiley But they get the job done. I merely mention this in solidarity for anyone else who has body parts who define how fitness will be accomplished. If you are out there, I am standing and doing cat cow this way and thinking of you.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
My garden has never looked better....

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl -- year after year..."
Well, since all youth sports were cancelled, hubby couldn't do his regular softball/baseball umpiring this Spring, which he absolutely loves. So instead, we began walking a mile each evening after supper back in March, at one of 2 county parks that remained opened. The biggest benefit and surprise to me is that my back feels SO MUCH BETTER! Back in 2016 or 2017 (have to go look it up!) I had a large disc rupture of L4/L5, and since then have been faithful to do my back exercises 4-5 days a week. And my back has always remained still a bit stiff and sore. But since we started walking in March, 5-6 nights a week, for a mile, the discomfort in my back has lessened about 90-95%! I'm just flabbergasted!! I wasn't expecting that! I guess it's so true that strengthening the abdominal and back and leg muscles is really what helps keep the spine held up. We haven't lost any weight by walking, but I sure am so pleasantly absolutely surprised at what it's done for my back!
I put in the biggest garden I've had since 2013 with a record amount of help from my husband. Our nest emptied, so we can get the house clean and have nice things. LOL Finances worked out so we can finally switch from labor-intensive wood heat to propane for next winter. My quilting skills are improving. With fewer places to be, I'm more focused on posture and core strengthening, which I'm sure I'll *feel* the benefits of any day now. @Shop-et-al I think I do cat/cow in any position except on my arthritic knees! grinning smiley

Also, just noticed that according to my mood tracker, I haven't had a "bad" day since before the quarantine. Yay for introverted me!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/2020 05:42AM by lowcloud.
lowcloud:

Depending on where you live you might want to check out a rocket stove mass heater. With propane, you will want to look at a dehumidifier.
I got an amazing job at Amazon. The pandamic has their business at Prime level, which is higher than Christmas.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I have never shopped online until now so WOWEE ZOWEE. I have found great deals at Walmart, eBay and of course Amazon. I got houseplants...snake plant, parlor palm, 2 spiders (white on green and green on white), Indian borage. I have learned how to successfully cook steaks and pork chops. lol Ride my bike a lot more, planted seeds for geranium, basil, coleus, lavendar, spearmint,cilantro and oregano. Got asics sneakers, socks and last but not least got a KINDLE PAPERWHITE!! Oh my what a gem*
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