Covid and the Outdoors

[Mark]

I'm seeing more people out fishing than normal with the "stay at home" order. I don't have a problem with that, I can't think of a better way to stay isolated than out in a boat. Personally, I can't wait for nice weather and go "isolate" myself on a gravel bar on a river for a week or two!! I expect there to be an explosion of outdoor recreation when the covid restrictions are lifted, but people are still going to shy away from large crowds and choose to go to parks, campgrounds, lakes, and streams. I heard on ESPN radio yesterday that in a poll, 71% of Americans said that when things open up this summer they will not attend sporting event and other entertainment events with large crowds. I can see a lot more families going camping this summer for vacation instead of going to the beach and Disney World. And I see this as a good opportunity to introduce kids to the outdoors. But I do expect it to be more crowded at our favorite fishing places. We all are going to have to have some tolerance and patience.

[fishinwrench]

I think that as soon as the "all clear" is given, people will go right back to their herd mentality.   For many(most) that is the only life they know.   They don't find comfort unless they are closely surrounded by other people.     This social distancing thing is wonderful for me, but my wife and her friends are miserable.  They simply do not know what to do with themselves.  

[snagged in outlet 3]

My whole family is doing well with SD.  Heck I’m by myself waiting out a rain shower on the river right now.  
 

[MOPanfisher]

My wife is miserable having to stay home and take care of me and mom both.  I would happily adopt most of this life style myself.  I think people will sort maintain an adjusted social distancing in but it will quickly fall back to old ways.  If I had both arms working this would be fabulous for me, lots if home jobs to do.  Son came up to help with a couple and put some band aids on a few others until I can get to them.  Last night I taught myselt to cast a crappie rod left handed and reel it right handed, sort of sloppy and painful but there is a good possibility I might make a run over to one of my bank spots and catch me a crappie.  A buddy wants me to meet him and says he will get me in the boat and tie me in if necessary, my wife is giving me a series stink eye at the concept.  If I can catch me a couple crappie then they can do surgery, IVs radiation, whatever and I will retreat into the memory of the "thump/tick" while they do it.  Life is good!

[BilletHead]

6 minutes ago, MOPanfisher said:

My wife is miserable having to stay home and take care of me and mom both.  I would happily adopt most of this life style myself.  I think people will sort maintain an adjusted social distancing in but it will quickly fall back to old ways.  If I had both arms working this would be fabulous for me, lots if home jobs to do.  Son came up to help with a couple and put some band aids on a few others until I can get to them.  Last night I taught myselt to cast a crappie rod left handed and reel it right handed, sort of sloppy and painful but there is a good possibility I might make a run over to one of my bank spots and catch me a crappie.  A buddy wants me to meet him and says he will get me in the boat and tie me in if necessary, my wife is giving me a series stink eye at the concept.  If I can catch me a couple crappie then they can do surgery, IVs radiation, whatever and I will retreat into the memory of the "thump/tick" while they do it.  Life is good!

             I am rooting for you! 

[Al Agnew]

I am perfectly happy to be isolated most of the time.  There are just a few things I'm missing.  Biggest is that we should be at our place in Montana right now, but our health insurance doesn't cover much or consistently out of network, and Montana is definitely out of network.  So we can't take the chance of catching this virus out there.  Last I heard there were only a handful of cases in Livingston--our house is just outside town--but a lot of cases in Bozeman just a half hour away.  It was in the upper 60s out there yesterday...snowed today!

Other things I'm missing...playing basketball.  Stopping at the grocery store after playing basketball from 6 to 7 AM to grab a few donuts.  Stopping at quick shops for a Coke whenever I feel like it.  Fishing with friends on the somewhat rare occasions when I am not fishing alone.  And maybe the biggest one...going out to a restaurant now and then, mainly because Mary and I are getting tired of each other's cooking and especially cleaning the kitchen every dang day and night afterward!

[Mitch f]

2 minutes ago, Al Agnew said:

And maybe the biggest one...going out to a restaurant now and then, mainly because Mary and I are getting tired of each other's cooking and especially cleaning the kitchen every dang day and night afterward!

Same crap at my house

[MOPanfisher]

I hear ya, I don't think our dishwasher ever stops running, and washing machine too. I swear we didn't dirty this many dishes when both kids lived here.  But they were both here today and I cooked so that always adds to the dish pile.  If just me, usually a skillet and a paper plate, but that almost never happens any more.

[jdmidwest]

Life as usual around here with the exception of no kids and constant rain.  I still shop when I want, eat where I want, just take out or drive thru. Don't have to put up with bad servers.

Day trips only as there are no places to stay but farm and house.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I got out on the river yesterday.  Packed!!!!