Our Senior Adventure

The pandemic is the main topic of discussion everywhere I go.  There is good reason for that.  It is world changing.  Since late March of 2020, we have been isolated staying at home and avoiding contact with others.  As a seniors, my wife and I have adjusted because we have been told we are most vulnerable.  We are figuring out what are safe activities during the pandemic for us.

Safe Activities During the Pandemic

Things are beginning to open up here in central California, but we are still being cautious.   What are safe activities outside the home at this stage of the pandemic?  Because my wife and I have had both our shots, we have some degree of confidence in the vaccine, but  still wonder what is safe to do.  The CDC has issued pandemic safty guidelines for everything from grocery shopping to extending families living together.

I find the guidelines issued by California helpful.

It is up to each person to determine what feels safe as they practice any pandemic cautions. My wife and I  have discussed safety for hours to come up with this series of personal guidelines.

1. We will go into the community only when necessary.
2. Only close family, who have been isolating, will be able to be in our home without masks.
3. We will wear a mask outside of the home when in contact with anyone.
4. We will wash our hands or use hand sanitizer after every “out of home” encounter.
5. Curbside delivery will be used whenever possible.
6. In store shopping or pickup will be done during special senior citizen hours when possible.
7. If necessary, “take out” restaurant food will be ordered where curbside pick up is available.
8. Each of us will schedule our medical appointments will be scheduled on the same day as much as possible.
9. Minimally, we will have weekly contact with children and grandchildren via some for of video conferencing.
10. Monthly, we will plan a large family video gathering.

Camping Got Us Out of the House

Things are beginning to open up here in central California, but we are still being cautious.    Keeping in mind CDC,  we decided to travel just a bit.  Our motorhome helped us go camping and keep 8 of 10 of our personal pandemic guidelines.

We had everything needed for 3 or 4 days away from home.  We only drove about 50 miles to the redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains, but, after a year at home, it felt like going around the world.  There were others at the campground.   The California nights are cold in winter so the closest camper to us was about 50 yards away. The only contact we had with people for the weekend was with office staff when we paid our camping fee and our daughter and her husband.

What was There to Do?

We did exactly what we were doing at home, but we were somewhere else.  The quiet majesty of the redwoods made all our normal activities seem new.  We cooked meals as we do at home.  Using a propane grill or open fire made cooking an adventure.   We walked the dog.  The big difference was that we were walking through the redwood forest.  We sat around and read.  Not in the house or our backyard, but in camping chairs listing to a creek just a few yards away.

Even Sage enjoyed sitting around in a new place listening to new sounds and smell new smells.  It was chilly.  Sage need in pjs under her jacket, but it was time away to familiar safe activities in a new place.

Will We Do it Again?

With two shots, we now have full immunity from COVID.  At least we hope we do.  Our RV will be our means of fun travel for through to the fall.  With grandchildren and siblings across the country, we envision so fun road trips.  In our minds, staying at a hotel is not among the safe activities despite the CDC standard.  So, we travel with our little hotel room on wheels.

We have been told that planes are safe because of the mask and distancing rules as well as the sophisticated air circulation systems.  My wife and I have no desire to spend time walk or waiting in a crowded terminal.

Rail travel seems to be a good option because of spaced seating and the possibility of a private room. But, we want to be able to stop when we want to and take the route that seems most interesting to us.  We would travel by rail before travelling by plane.  Fortunately, as retirees, we have plenty of time to devote to travelling.

Figure it Out!

You know what are safe activities at home.  Figure out a way to do what you do at home away from home.  Keep as many of the new rules for interacting as you can.  Take every precaution as you need to when you meet people.  Have have you tried camping?  You can rent motorhomes in almost every city.  A tent and camping equipment is reasonable especially if you use it a number of times.  Just figure out what you need before you buy.

Day hikes at county and state parks can be a great way to leave home without going very far.  If you are close to a national park, makes a reservation to visit with a day pass as soon as you can.  A day in the beauty of nature is refreshing in itself.  Being with other people, who have something in common with you, can be very uplifting.

So, there are safe activities to do during this pandemic.  Figuring out a way to travel with which you feel safe is important.  Once that is settled you can get away and a lot of the things that are safe at home while visiting a completely different place.