What it's like to be retired during Covid

[Terrierman]

3 hours ago, JestersHK said:

If you want to wear a mask 24/7 indoors,  outdoors, while driving down the road so be it.  

If you believe that your mask will protect and save you while driving or being outdoors and away from others who am I to question your mask wearing logic.  

That's your choice and you have every right to behave that way, and believe whatever you need to.

I also have a right and choice to wear a mask as I see fit.  If you require me to wear a mask in your store and I refuse to wear one,  it's your right to refuse me service and it's my right to not shop there.  I wear a mask everyday to work as its required.  Do I support it? Not really but I'll comply as it's a term of my employment. I also have the right to not comply and go find employment elsewhere as it's my choice.

It's a 2 way street that right now is a very gray area for me.  Don't infringe on my rights though and dictate what behavior you require from me to be compliant with whatever demands you deem are necessary by a government run health agency that has yet to prove they even know what the transmission rates or risk rates truly are. 

I watched my said previous employer ( a major healthcare provider that many hete frequent in the STL area) just about bankrupt their operating model based off fear mongering and death totals that never materialized.  How many people died due to fear of going to the hospitals or skipping elective surgeries due to covid fears or the fact the hospitals stopped elective surgeries altogether.  Knee jerk reactions I witnessed and was impacted by play out firsthand...

This whole mess has been a giant crap sandwich that has impacted countless lives I'm not denying that,  but we all should still be allowed our freedom of choice to make the decisions for our own families based off our own fact finding and experiences and not just blindly follow what the media and government tell us to do.

 

 

 

You mad bro?

[JestersHK]

2 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

You mad bro?

I'm mad, but not at anyone in particular... just fed up and frustrated with the nonsense.   

I just need to get out and fish more...

[Terrierman]

1 minute ago, JestersHK said:

I'm mad, but not at anyone in particular... just fed up and frustrated with the nonsense.   

I just need to get out and fish more...

Take a deep breath, take a nice shot, watch MNF and relax. Have a brat or two with some kraut and spicy mustard and have a beer with it.

At least that's my plan.  And then go fishing.  With friends and so on...

[snagged in outlet 3]

47 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

Take a deep breath, take a nice shot, watch MNF and relax. Have a brat or two with some kraut and spicy mustard and have a beer with it.

At least that's my plan.  And then go fishing.  With friends and so on...

SMH.  Stinking retirees....

[Terrierman]

Guess what I'm getting ready to do..... Order Ava Trappist Monk fruit cakes.  Ever been there?

[ness]

1 hour ago, Terrierman said:

Guess what I'm getting ready to do..... Order Ava Trappist Monk fruit cakes.  Ever been there?

Yep. Br. Dominic and I kinda hit it off. He let me take his picture:

 

As I was leaving he stopped me and said, ‘May your fortunes be like the capital of Ireland: Always Dublin.’

[Al Agnew]

I'm sick and tired of this whole mess, too...but reality bites.  Whether or not Covid deaths are being misreported by for profit hospitals (fairly likely), reality is that a lot of people are dying from it and the trend is going in the wrong direction.  It's not a conspiracy that hospitalizations are rising to the point where the health professionals are getting freaked out about it.

Here's the thing that makes the whole mask question so tough...the fact is that a mask protects others from you more than it affects you from others.  The analogy I like best of all that I've seen is the cartoon where two people are standing close together, both naked.  One guys starts to pee on the other.  The other gets wet.  Second frame:  the guy getting peed upon has on clothing.  He still gets wet, but not quite as quickly.  Third frame:  the guy peeing has clothes on.  Now the second guy doesn't get wet.  Masks slow the speed and spread of aerosol virus from YOUR mouth.  It also give SOME protection for the other guy, but certainly nothing like complete protection.  But the two of you both wearing masks, plus staying 6 feet apart, should make the spread of the virus from the first person to the second one highly unlikely.  The biggest, scariest problem with this virus is that you can have it and not know it, and still be a spreader.  That's where masks help.  And that means that this should NOT be a personal choice...because YOUR choice can adversely affect others.  It's why it really burns my toast to see other customers in the grocery store not wearing masks.  I have zero idea whether they are contagious or not, and they are putting MY mask-wearing self at more risk by not being responsible adults.  And sorry, but that's how I feel...if you refuse to wear a mask and go into any enclosed space where you will be close to people you don't know and who don't know you, you are not being a responsible adult.  In fact, you are being extremely self-centered.  You don't go into a grocery store blindfolded and swinging a big knife around, and that's exactly what you are doing by not wearing a mask when around other people...you are possibly putting them in danger.  And the less likely you are to wear a mask, the less likely you are to do other responsible things that will keep you from getting this virus, so the more likely you are to have it.

I've been out here in Montana for quite a while, and one reason we've stayed out here later than we usually do is because in our little town, most people and businesses are taking this seriously.  But this week, I finally ran afoul of a couple businesses, both automobile businesses, who are NOT taking it seriously, and found out about another business who is explicitly going against taking it seriously.  The first was a dealer where I had to take my truck in for an oil change and to get one of the electrical outlets operating again.  Everybody in the service department, and the cashier, were wearing masks...under their chins.  The second was an auto repair shop where I take my old Montana truck, a 2003 Chevy, to get oil changes and all the minor repairs that old trucks like that need.  Walk into the very small office area to hand them the keys, and the wife is behind the desk, no mask, and her kids running around the room, no masks.  I stood in the doorway and reached in to lay the keys on the desk, answered her questions, and got out of there.  But you see, in both instances, I was doing the right thing by wearing a mask, not to protect myself, but to protect others from me (or actually, because I'm fairly certain I don't have it, to give others a little more peace of mind, not having to worry quite as much that I might have it).  I EXPECT others to show me the same courtesy.  The third place is a meat market where we've always gone, a great place to pick up sandwiches and bacon and sausage, run by a guy that we really liked...until we heard today that there is a sign on the door that they do NOT wear masks, don't expect their customers to wear masks, and if you don't like it don't come in.  So we won't.

In fact, there are two levels to this idea that what you do or don't do affects others as much or more than it affects you.  If we were all doing the right thing (and yes, I firmly believe that it IS the right thing to wear masks and socially distance), not only would we be spreading it to each other less, but overall, the numbers would be far lower, and when there WAS an outbreak, we could more easily do contact tracing and quarantining.  A whole lot of other countries are handling this better than we are.  But because it has been completely politicized that doing the right thing makes you a scaredy-cat liberal and doing the wrong thing makes you a macho conservative, there is no way we are ever going to get a handle on this.

You do have to make decisions for yourself.  From everything I understand about this virus, it is highly unlikely that you will catch it if you are outdoors and more than 6 feet away from other people, or even indoors, unless you are in fairly close proximity to a spreader for a significant period of time.  But indoors, "fairly close" doesn't mean 6 feet--studies I've read have shown that in restaurants, for instance, who gets infected depends in large part upon which way the air is circulating.  But, I don't wear masks outdoors, partly because I am NOT going anywhere that I'll be forced to be crowded with other people I don't know.  I do wear masks 100% of the time when indoors (except for my own house).  I don't go to restaurants and dine in, because that is a KNOWN way it spreads...spending an hour or more enclosed with other people (and you can't wear your mask while eating).  I hate that, partly because I like going to a good restaurant, and partly because I know that restaurants are struggling, but reality bites.

 

[fishinwrench]

Until mask wearing is A LAW, then copping an attitude about people that choose not to....is worse than racism on the highest level.  600% worse. 

If it makes you uncomfortable to go somewhere that you might see someone not wearing a mask....then stay home.   Order your stuff online.  Like tools....and fix your own dam truck!

As soon as this election is over.... we'll see how much longer the mask wearers continue their phobia.   I give them 2 weeks, tops. 

[JestersHK]

35 minutes ago, Al Agnew said:

I'm sick and tired of this whole mess, too...but reality bites.  Whether or not Covid deaths are being misreported by for profit hospitals (fairly likely), reality is that a lot of people are dying from it and the trend is going in the wrong direction.  It's not a conspiracy that hospitalizations are rising to the point where the health professionals are getting freaked out about it.

Here's the thing that makes the whole mask question so tough...the fact is that a mask protects others from you more than it affects you from others.  The analogy I like best of all that I've seen is the cartoon where two people are standing close together, both naked.  One guys starts to pee on the other.  The other gets wet.  Second frame:  the guy getting peed upon has on clothing.  He still gets wet, but not quite as quickly.  Third frame:  the guy peeing has clothes on.  Now the second guy doesn't get wet.  Masks slow the speed and spread of aerosol virus from YOUR mouth.  It also give SOME protection for the other guy, but certainly nothing like complete protection.  But the two of you both wearing masks, plus staying 6 feet apart, should make the spread of the virus from the first person to the second one highly unlikely.  The biggest, scariest problem with this virus is that you can have it and not know it, and still be a spreader.  That's where masks help.  And that means that this should NOT be a personal choice...because YOUR choice can adversely affect others.  It's why it really burns my toast to see other customers in the grocery store not wearing masks.  I have zero idea whether they are contagious or not, and they are putting MY mask-wearing self at more risk by not being responsible adults.  And sorry, but that's how I feel...if you refuse to wear a mask and go into any enclosed space where you will be close to people you don't know and who don't know you, you are not being a responsible adult.  In fact, you are being extremely self-centered.  You don't go into a grocery store blindfolded and swinging a big knife around, and that's exactly what you are doing by not wearing a mask when around other people...you are possibly putting them in danger.  And the less likely you are to wear a mask, the less likely you are to do other responsible things that will keep you from getting this virus, so the more likely you are to have it.

I've been out here in Montana for quite a while, and one reason we've stayed out here later than we usually do is because in our little town, most people and businesses are taking this seriously.  But this week, I finally ran afoul of a couple businesses, both automobile businesses, who are NOT taking it seriously, and found out about another business who is explicitly going against taking it seriously.  The first was a dealer where I had to take my truck in for an oil change and to get one of the electrical outlets operating again.  Everybody in the service department, and the cashier, were wearing masks...under their chins.  The second was an auto repair shop where I take my old Montana truck, a 2003 Chevy, to get oil changes and all the minor repairs that old trucks like that need.  Walk into the very small office area to hand them the keys, and the wife is behind the desk, no mask, and her kids running around the room, no masks.  I stood in the doorway and reached in to lay the keys on the desk, answered her questions, and got out of there.  But you see, in both instances, I was doing the right thing by wearing a mask, not to protect myself, but to protect others from me (or actually, because I'm fairly certain I don't have it, to give others a little more peace of mind, not having to worry quite as much that I might have it).  I EXPECT others to show me the same courtesy.  The third place is a meat market where we've always gone, a great place to pick up sandwiches and bacon and sausage, run by a guy that we really liked...until we heard today that there is a sign on the door that they do NOT wear masks, don't expect their customers to wear masks, and if you don't like it don't come in.  So we won't.

In fact, there are two levels to this idea that what you do or don't do affects others as much or more than it affects you.  If we were all doing the right thing (and yes, I firmly believe that it IS the right thing to wear masks and socially distance), not only would we be spreading it to each other less, but overall, the numbers would be far lower, and when there WAS an outbreak, we could more easily do contact tracing and quarantining.  A whole lot of other countries are handling this better than we are.  But because it has been completely politicized that doing the right thing makes you a scaredy-cat liberal and doing the wrong thing makes you a macho conservative, there is no way we are ever going to get a handle on this.

You do have to make decisions for yourself.  From everything I understand about this virus, it is highly unlikely that you will catch it if you are outdoors and more than 6 feet away from other people, or even indoors, unless you are in fairly close proximity to a spreader for a significant period of time.  But indoors, "fairly close" doesn't mean 6 feet--studies I've read have shown that in restaurants, for instance, who gets infected depends in large part upon which way the air is circulating.  But, I don't wear masks outdoors, partly because I am NOT going anywhere that I'll be forced to be crowded with other people I don't know.  I do wear masks 100% of the time when indoors (except for my own house).  I don't go to restaurants and dine in, because that is a KNOWN way it spreads...spending an hour or more enclosed with other people (and you can't wear your mask while eating).  I hate that, partly because I like going to a good restaurant, and partly because I know that restaurants are struggling, but reality bites.

 

Some valid points there Al.  While I can certainly see your points I must ask where was the call for mask with sars and h1n1? Why don't we wear mask to prevent tuberculosis, or during the flu season?  I'd guess half the folks out there wearing masks don't even know the difference between a n95 versus a cloth mask versus a respirator... What is the driving point here besides the numbers which may or may not be fully or accurately represented?  Why do we still not understand more on this virus,  it's transmission rates,  it's ability to kill some while sparing others?  

Can you honestly say you put 100% blind faith in what our government, for profit hospitals, and media are telling you to be true in regards to covid? 

Based off my experience with covid and generally every other topic those 3 groups touch there's no way I can just blindly follow... again not a call out and you're fully within your rights to do what you want and take risks as you see fit.   

I don't think it always has to be liberal vs conservative either.  I don't think of myself as macho for fishing without my mask, nor do I feel emasculated by wearing a mask to work... I do understand how these points have been manipulated by certain parties and quite frankly the behavior on both sides disgusts me. 

Stay safe out there in God's country.  I do think isolation will definitely help in regards to limiting your chances of exposure and I truly wish you well.

[tjm]

I bet there would be more acceptance of mask wearing if it had been introduced as "the right thing to" or even as "the polite thing to do" rather than mandated by panicked politicians. Most folks try to be polite and I think most folks try to to do right things, but I know that most folks hate to be dictated to. And in this case there is so little evidence of good effect that the dictation rankles even more to some folks.

The mask on the chin or just covering the mouth and not the nose is about 80% of all mask wearers that I see. But twice I've seen someone properly wearing a mask pull it off or to the side and then sneeze. I guess sneezing into that mask is messy.

I for one would accept wearing of a mask much better if we could get effective masks to wear, N-95 N-98 etc., but by far the greatest transmission route for this kind of virus is our hands and if the gubment is serious about curtailing the thing they will mandate that any one within sight of any one else must wear gloves. This keeps others from picking their nose and then touching door knobs (unless they have really big nostrils) and it helps to keep us from touching contaminated  objects then sucking our thumbs. But they have not even mentioned wearing of gloves, I think they just don't care. 

Then a well read fellow asked me the other day how many of  the masks are imported from China and are they pre-contaminated ? gosh I don't know but now you gave me another worry.

The wonderful thing about being retired during this mess is it means we don't have to be exposed for work and that we didn't lose our jobs and means of living due to shut downs. Darn sight worse for those trying to raise kids and make a living while dealing with stupid panic reactions.