Uncertainly

[forestofglory]

Right now my experience of the built enviroment is full of uncertainly. Locally case numbers are low and vaccination rates are high. California is officially "open". However I just feel like everything is changing and I never know what will be open, or how open it will be.

We feel comfortable with some outdoor dinning, but its really hard to plan for. Which restaurants have outdoor dinning is changing pretty fast. Some places have outdoor dinning that didn't before the pandemic, but some places that had outdoor dinning while restrictions where in place, no longer have it. Last time R and I went out to lunch we ended up picking an area with many restaurants an walking around until we found something we liked.

The library is now open for in person browsing, but for much fewer hours. Since I only want to be able to go and pick up my holds, its less convenient for me. I hope the library staff like the new arrangement.

It's not just the built enviroment that feels uncertain. I'm constantly worrying about if I'm making good choices with regards to covid, if my county is, if my state is. But the uncertainly feels especially present when I'm out of the house, trying to do things that used to be "normal"

Comments

[askygoneonfire]

"I'm constantly worrying about if I'm making good choices "
Oopf. Yes. I really feel this one. Guidance is so inconsistent across borders and governments, it feels like it's all on us as individuals and it's dizzying in how impossible the "right" choice is

[dragoness_e]

Someone please explain to me what is "dizzying in how impossible the 'right' choice is" about "get vaccinated; you're done with the need to make choices"?

[dragoness_e]

Are you vaccinated, preferably with one of the 2-shot, mRNA vaccines? If so, let go of your worries and relax. The mRNA vaccines (Pfizer & Moderna) have a very high success rate, and look like they'll be able to protect against the new variants as well. You're unlikely to get it, and even less likely to spread it, so you've been responsible and can stop worrying or feeling guilty.

If you're not vaccinated, and don't have a good medical reason (e.g. SEVERELY immune compromised) not to, go get vaccinated yesterday!

[libitina]

Patronizing much? Perhaps a quick read through to check for mentions of immunization before the lecture.

And then everyone's risk assessments are different. For example, even if you can only get a mild version while fully vaccinated, you can transmit it to children, who can't yet get vaccinated, and who knows who they come in contact with.

And while to some extent there might actually be nothing to worry about within one's specific community and lifestyle post-vaccination. But that sure doesn't stop my brain weasels from worrying.

[askygoneonfire]

Thank you. Exactly this

[lunabee34]

Hugs

I know exactly what you mean and am struggling with the same issues.

[forestofglory]

*hugs back*

[torachan]

My city library has in person hours two days a week at the main branch, two branches are still totally closed, and two others have pickup only, including the one closest to me. Honestly I'm perfectly happy with that arrangement, since even pre-pandemic I almost always reserved at least one book to pick up when I dropped stuff off, and then browsed to see if I wanted anything else, so I'm fine with continuing to just reserve stuff for pickup.

[forestofglory]

Yeah, for me personally I only need to pick up holds, so the rest doesn't matter. But I went to the library yesterday and they had sign saying they are open for outdoor pick up during some of the hours the inside is closed. So that's good to know.

[oracne]

Me, too. There are a lot of "breakthrough" cases in fully vaccinated people that don't cause hospitalization, but I still don't want to risk one of those mild cases giving me long-term issues.