It just sunk in that I may be all alone for months.

[leftyladyfrommo]

I am used to living alone but this is different.

It is an eerie feeling. I realized I am starting to just accept the situation. Time doesn't mean much. Day is nice because I can watch outdoors. I can sit in my backyard. I can play with the dogs. I text a few friends.

But i wake up in the night , too. Doesn't matter. I have no place to go.

This feels just really weird.

[Chainfire]

1. It feels weird

because it is weird. I am fortunate that I have my wife and dog for company, but it is weird for us too. Hang in there!

[cbdo2007]

2. Try doing some "yard" visits with friends or go enjoy nature at Lake Jacomo or something.

We did a "yard" visit with some friends and family a couple of days ago and it was great. A handful of families there, all brought their own food and we just sat about 10 feet apart from each other in the yard and got to visit and the kids got to play in our little area and it was nice.

Also we try to get out to parks or nature at least a couple of times per week. Even just going out to look at birds or walk on a trail or sit on the dock and watch the water. It is safe and different from your backyard.

Hang in there!

[enough]

13. How did you handle distancing among the kids? NT

[cbdo2007]

16. Same thing we do everything else - we just yell at them to "stop it!!!", lol

No, realistically we've talked a lot about it with our kids and even with the neighborhood kids they do a good job of staying back, so we just set up boundaries and say "Ok don't go past that red chair and don't go past that planter" and then make sure they keep busy with yard games and stuff. In the most recent one, they had they play house in our area so they were good and the other kids were different ages so they weren't interested in a play house anyways.

The hardest part is the grandparents wanting to hold them and keeping the kids back, but the more you teach them and the more they do it, the easier it has gotten.

We're pretty good at the "sidewalk" or "backyard" visit at this point. We even had a bonfire with some neighbors...we just stay on our side of the fire, they stay on theirs.

[enough]

44. Your kids are lucky have such dedicated and energetic parents!

It’s such a complicated situation but you’re finding ways to keep it enjoyable for them. Kudos!

[True Blue American]

3. You may be alone

But I bet you had a routine.

Even My DIL, newly retired said she misses being able to shop for groceries. She was never a shopper. Her husband takes after his Mother! but when he goes shopping he knows exactly what he wants and she goes along. But she does the grocery shopping. A Food Scientist she has made him a health nut,too.

I like to look, find the bargains but want quality,too.

Shopping, visiting with family and friends, big family Holidays together. Luncheons, Church activities, visiting the Y Pool, chatting with friends, all gone for now.

Nothing is or will be the same. Of course what we listen to daily is not conducive to good mental health

[PJMcK]

4. At least months

Let's face it: Until there are antibody tests, treatments and a vaccine, this disease is going to be around and we'll have to socially distance until we have those tools. Businesses will be irreparably changed, schooling will be very different and our previously normal social activities will never be the same.

Even with fast-tracking and relaxing of testing protocols, a vaccine won't be available in 2020. So more people will become infected and more people will die. The disease isn't Trump's fault but his lazy dismissiveness and inattentiveness will cause suffering and death for many Americans. MAGA, my ass.

I'm lucky to have my best friend (my wife) to isolate with. We're able to do some of our work remotely and we're developing a "new normal" for our day-to-day lives. Our big thrills of the week are when we leave the property to go to the post office, the dump or the supermarket! Sometimes, we'll go for a long drive through the Catskill Mountains and with gas so cheap, I don't feel any anxiety about the supply for now.

I'm with you, leftylady, this feels really weird. I have no idea when we'll be able to go home to our NYC apartment but I know it won't be soon. Several weeks ago, I changed my mailing address to a P.O. Box here in Pennsylvania making this the 6th state I've officially lived in. We were thinking of retiring here just not this soon!

[Sanity Claws]

5. I'm in the same position

It makes me sad. I try not to let myself go there but sometimes I do.

[Walleye]

6. I'm with you. Today I feel I'm starting to lose my will to live

Like the Hank Williams song. 😞

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. See. That's it. I don't want to waste my life

just doing nothing. Fortunately I have SS so I can pay most of the bills. I may have to stagger some.

I spent years building up a small pet sitting business. It was gone overnite. The good thing my main expense was gas and now I don't have that.

I stay in touch with my small family thru FB. They are 2000 miles away.

I have 2 friends that are long time waitresses. They had a bunch of regulars that came every morning, including me. Now it's all gone. Overnite. I worry about them. Their 401k accts tanked. I miss those people. 0

I do have one house I go to and let the dogs out. I can watch TV over there. And my masks came so I can go the store about 2x a week. All our parks are closed. And they they are enforcing it.

I don't know my neighbors. These houses are all rentals except mine. People just move in and move out. I do know the guy across the street so I can yell at him.

So I read because I don't have a TV. I clean. That's coming along. I play with my dogs.

I need a long term plan. A schedule. I need to get out and walk. And I make wreaths abd I have all the stuff but I can't get motivated. So I am working on that.

I am Buddhist so this is a great opportunity to sit and
not be disturbed. I can order some new Dharma books to read.

Brave New World. We can do this!

[jcgoldie]

27. Yeah the key is giving yourself responsiilities

I have a small farm so always theres a ton of shit to do and Im just enjoying some time to do it. Beehives and goats and fencing and cleaning stalls is constant work only difference is how much you get done. The other day I built a 10 x 8 shed for some weaned kids...

If you like to garden then you are just a couple weeks away from a lot to do out there... if not then I heartily recommend the hobby. Dad use to say "only 2 things money cant buy is true love and home grown tomatoes!" Hang in there!

[cwydro]

36. Walking will do you a world of good.

I have dogs, so I take them at least twice a day to parks to walk. They’ve not closed our parks, thank god.

Also since schools are closed, I’ve started exploring school grounds for places to walk them. They love going to new places.

Hang in there!

[cally]

18. Take time to grieve the loss of our life

It's OK to grieve and feel anxious. We are living through tough times with a terrifying government. We need you to help all of us. We cannot let the corrupt, evil, incompetent moron and his cult defeat us.

It's helping me to realize that it is OK to grieve the old life. Puts a name on some of my emotions.

[Walleye]

21. I also grieve for the demise of our beloved country

Let’s face it. The United States is being murdered by a gang of thugs.

[cally]

24. Yes

It's overwhelming.

[panader0]

7. I was more alone before this shit started.

Jeannie would leave every morning at 7 and come home at 4:30.
Now she works from home, which is a good thing, but my time spent alone
is gone. I like being alone most of the time. I sure miss playing music
and joking with my friends once or twice a week. over two months for me now.

[42bambi]

8. Here on DU there are always lots of hugs to go around, we are here to

give (and take) support. Hang in there - BTW, it's OK to feel weird, because it is.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. Weird is okay. Oddly natural given the circumstances. . . . . nt

[shockey80]

11. I hear you, you are not alone.

What helps me is going for long walks through the neighborhood. You get to see people, talk to them. Unfortunately the weather has been so shitty I haven't been able to walk much.

Yesterday I told my wife I was going out. She asked me where are you going? I said I am going for a drive. Where? No where, I am just going to drive. I took a nice long drive with no destination in mind. I enjoyed it. It helped with the cabin fever.

[leftyladyfrommo]

12. At least gas is cheap. nt

[DarthDem]

14. Not alone at all and not weird! :)

I think your existence sounds very peaceful and very nice, especially with the dogs and being able to meditate and such. And we will get through this!

[leftyladyfrommo]

15. We got thru plague, flu. Tuberculosis, cholera

smallpox, yellow fever, polio.

I just hate feeling like I have to distance myself even from close friends.

[DarthDem]

38. Exactly!

But I take your point. Have you done videoconferencing over FaceTime, Zoom or whatever platform? It's actually quite cheering, I've found.

[leftyladyfrommo]

40. I don't know how to do that. And my brother is

older than me. He finally learned to Google.

We do talk on the phone. I want to make sure my family is safe.

[DarthDem]

41. Glad to hear that

You can find Zoom information anywhere on the Web. Setup is easy - just beware of some of the security concerns and look into those first. Skype is older and works well too. Of course the people you want to talk to have to have it installed too.

[ananda]

17. It really does.

I plan to distance for as long as it takes.

But it is weird.

[cry baby]

19. I live alone, too. Nights are not pleasant.

I get scared at night. Negative thoughts creep in especially if I wake in the night. I was a night person and now I dread it.

My adult kids that live locally and they check in with me almost every day. I’m grateful for that.

It’s going to be hard and lonely but we have no choice but to get through to survive. You’re right to believe that this hell is going to last beyond a few months.

I’ll be thinking of you and wishing you peace and calm through the nights.

[Marthe48]

33. I've had trouble sleeping for years

If I wake up, it is too easy to get thoughts that make me wakeful. So I make lists. I started out easy things like alphabetical lists of names.

My other trick is thinking of a favorite book or story and casting the movie with any actors, living or dead. I usually don't get past the main character.

We will get through this, adapt and thrive

[cry baby]

39. Helpful tips! Thank you and stay well! nt

[roamer65]

20. Play some soothing music in the background.

That’s what I do. Plus I get constant attention from the cats.

[Walleye]

22. CSN&Y: Rejoice, rejoice you have no choice but to carry on.

[Boomerproud]

23. I was going to respond but who cares.

Bye.

[redwitch]

25. Sounds like you are in a bad place too.

Hangin there!

[flibbitygiblets]

47. Lots of us care. ❤

I truly hope you are okay Boomer. Please reach out to others if you can, lots of people are hurting right now and could use some human interaction.

[warmfeet]

26. Strange days indeed.

Nothing is the same, nor will it ever be again.

[Lilaclady]

28. Very difficult

On March 20 I found out I have Stage 1 breast cancer. On March 27 I had my updated will notarized. Today was supposed to be my surgery but it got put off until the end of May. I am 72 and scared to leave the house. My husband runs errands once a week and when he comes home we wipe off all the groceries and he changes his clothes and puts his other clothes in the wash. He always wears a mask and gloves and no one is allowed in the house. This is the new normal. I’m spending my time making masks for family member and friends, watching Acorn tv and reading. We’ll most likely be like this for quite some time and nothing will be the same. It’s tough but we’ll help each other through this. November can’t come soon enough.

[Hortensis]

50. More difficult for some than others. I'm so sorry you have

this additional threat to worry about, LilacLady. For sure November can't come soon enough. And when it does, we'll also be that much closer to a vaccine.

Virtual hug.

[cutroot]

29. If you have dogs, you are not alone

[MissMillie]

30. And then there's the flip-side

of having a houseful and trying not to blow up at each other. Everyone's sleep schedules are off. The young ones don't know what to do w/ themselves.

Not easy either way.

[flibbitygiblets]

48. I think it was TheFerret who asked "On a scale from 1 to the Shining...

how is your self-quarantine going?"

[Marthe48]

31. I have a morning circle

text family and friends, just to say good morning. I have a night owl friend, and my sister is an early bird, so i turn my phone down when I go to bed. And we text through the day.

I have a Medicare Silver Sneakers card. Some young relatives opened a fitness center a year ago, so when they got the Silver Sneakers contract, I signed up, but didn't go much. One of my friends leads a chair exercise, and has it set up on Zoom. So I have that on twice a week. I wonder if you could find live online classes that are based in other countries, which you could tune in if you wake in the night?

I can stream video and audio with low use of broadband, so I have something running during the day. I have a little am-fm radio and have it on all day, so I hear classic rock and a little local information. Alice Cooper has an evening show, and there are other shows hosted by Little Stevie, and Sammy Hagar that are fun to listen to.

I joined some antique groups on facebook,and if i want to chat, I'll take a picture of something in my house and put it on the site. Sometimes there is a lot of interest, sometimes not. And of course, I am on DU (thanks everyone!) and follow posts I am interested in. If you wake up in the night, come here

[Buckeye_Democrat]

32. I'm not much more alone than usual.

It’s a one-way interaction, but my isolation gives me more opportunities to read and see ideas from people that I admire, which is often rare among coworkers and the general public.

Many thanks to my former teachers who showed me that opportunity many years ago.

I’m not trying to downplay your feelings, though, because I think it’s pretty normal.

I watched a History Channel series called “Alone” a few years ago. Survivalists competed to stay alone in the wild with just a few pieces of gear and cameras to document themselves. They also had an emergency radio for help, but they were eliminated if they used it. Doctors would briefly check their vital signs and health about once a week, and they’d get fresh batteries for their cameras at that time too.

What surprised me was how many of them, who were clearly well-trained survivalists and keeping themselves physically healthier than most of their competition, would suddenly break down and quit because the loneliness became too much for them to bear.

Edit: This is the guy that outlasted all the other contestants, winning $500,000, in the first season. He kept it simple, such as living in an old bear den rather than building a shelter like the others. He had a bear family that settled in another nearby den, so that might’ve helped keep him alert. Lol.

[c-rational]

34. Hang in there. The fact that your are starting to accept this is a good sign, i.e. the acceptance

may be part of your being a Buddhist.

[sarcasmo]

35. YouTube live streams can be fun and offer some interaction in the side chat.

[ooky]

37. Me and my dog are here by ourselves. He's great company.

As long as my internet stays running, I'm not feeling too isolated or much anxiety over it. Granddaughter is video calling me multiple times a day. She's struggling with it the most, I think. I'm staying in touch with the rest of my family by Messenger and phone, seeing the neighbors on all sides of me daily, all very friendly. I can do this as long as I need to.

[Codeine]

42. Doesn't really faze me, but my wife and kids

are starting to show the toll. They’re very social, so this is really difficult for them.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

46. My ex-wife was that way.

I had a bad dream a couple weeks ago that we were together again during this pandemic.

She was driving me crazy with non-stop complaints of being bored and wanting to meet up with other people.

I awoke after thinking, “Wait, what’s she doing here anyway?”

Edit: I can almost guarantee that your family wouldn’t be as bad as her in that regard.

[Chalco]

43. I set up a drum circle with neighbors, zoom happy hours, zoom meetings, walks with friends.

Been writing a lot. Finished a one act play. Writing a book.
Taking objects found on walks and making sculptures.
Hmmm, what else? So much to do.
Take your boredom and let it fly.

[Ilsa]

45. You may need to meet up with a

Good friend who has also been in isolation. Being alone for so long isn't easy. I think we all need some measure of live human contact, and I'm a loner!

Good luck to you.

[shanti]

49. Same

This is normal for me EXCEPT for the fact of choice. Then it feels like a prison. Before Covid, I was happy as a clam at home alone. It was voluntary before, it isn't now. That's the diffference.

[leftyladyfrommo]

51. True. nt