I have been living my life quite well in spite of the restrictions.
Drove from MD to Fla, and ate in restaurants along the way and there. Visited a sick relative in the hospital, mandatory masks and scrub before entering the room. Surrounded by people in masks the whole trip, and that made me comfortable.
Drove to Long Island, mask on at appropriate time, long visit with family, good scrub in the shower before close contact. No hugs on arrival, plenty of hugs 5 days later, and before leaving.
Sailing with a friend on the Chesapeake Bay, we both had our shots, and had limited contact with other people prior to going.
Many visits with local family, with agreed pre visit limits to "public contact", which is achievable since all but one of my adult grandchildren work from home.
Local bike riding and walking 3 to 4 times a week, depending on the weather.
Recently, bowling, masks mandatory, temperature checked at arrival, and sanitize your hands on arrival. No big deal, in exchange for the pleasure of the social contact (All the bowlers have had their shots, no big deal, only one anti shot member of the bowling club, he got shot to re join is friends).
We will miss an old friend's 88th birthday party under the maple trees in her yard, because we are going to LI again. The invited guests have all had their shots, except her youngest grand daughter. Masks will be worn, except when enjoying the cake and ice cream. Her family has lost at least one member to Covid, and her daughter lost a classmate, so they are aware of the danger on a personal basis, but are not stopping life, just adjusting.
We are not living in fear, just adapting and doing what is safest, with suitable precautions, such as masks and sanitizers. There is a mask in my hip pocket all the time, just in case I need one, and a 1oz plastic bottle of sanitizer in my front pocket for the same reason.
The early months, we did stay out of contact until we were comfortable with the protocols that should protect us, then eased back into a more normal life, without fear.
My wife feared tilting the wings of the plane when I turned, but got over it and flew 80,000 miles with me. Flying to the places we wanted to go was more important than keeping the wings level. Flying into clouds was the next fear, but she learned to handle that too.
We even went to a funeral where the only person without a mask was in the coffin.
Our life has not stopped, just adjusted.
As a young boy, I was extensively exposed to a man with active tuberculosis when we shared a house with him and his wife. We moved out when we became aware of his condition. I endured suitable protocols for 3 years after, to see that if I developed any symptoms, I would be treated immediately. Inconvenient? Yes. Destructive to my mental health or happiness? No. Just killed half a day to go to the clinic for tests at regular intervals.
This has been incredibly less distressing to my life than being drafted.
