I am loving quarantine, but no good way to admit it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. I am actually out of work, so the financial part of this sucks.

But I do like the quarantine also. So much more time with the family. So nice to see everyone out.

If your life is so nice, stop seeking attention and go live it. Stop seeking validation online and offline.

[Anonymous]

I’m liking it too. My employer never trusted us to telework, and I hope this will change that. I’m working hard to prove it works....

I’m also enjoying having both kids back. We’re doing a lot of baking, puzzles, series binging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your life seriously sucked before if you are enjoying this current situation. Anyone who had a good life before does not enjoy this period.

NP here. I feel like OP. Have a very good life before this period, but also really happy to spend more time with my family now.

I think it is a function of having financial security, education, good health and a great family life.

The fact that you fee you did not have enough time to spend with family before means your regular life is not good. Really sad that it took lockdown for you to realize that.

YOU are telling me what my life was like before? I can only pity you.

[Anonymous]

OP it’s like my husband said to me the other day:

“You seem happy. A little... TOO HAPPY.”

[Anonymous]

Yes, OP!

The guilt of what I should be doing is GONE. I am an introvert who wishes she was an extrovert for many reasons. This situation takes away those pressures and it is so BLISSFUL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First let me say, that I completely recognize how privileged and lucky I am to be in this position and feel very grateful. We are donating money to places helping those less fortunate in this downturn, supporting our local businesses, etc. I completely get that this is devastating for many people and businesses. Which does not negate that for me personally, I have been feeling at peace for weeks in a way I have not for years.

I am working full time as is my husband, and we have two kids, so we’re managing the online schooling, which has been challenging. We’re doing occasional virtual happy hours and keeping in touch with friends by text and phone. But the running around busy-ness and the social activities and the commuting and everything that drives me crazy is gone. I have time and patience, I’m being honest with friends if I just don’t feel like doing something social, I just decline and catch them next time instead of pushing myself into a bunch of stuff I don’t want to do. I’m doing activities I love in my house, playing games with the kids and catching up on housework.

My anxiety and light depression is gone - there’s no overwhelming choice of what I SHOULD be doing. I am release from the guilt of just doing what I want, which for the most part is a slow and simple life with the people I love. I buy only what I need and then don’t think about what I want. I’m not overwhelmed with social interaction. I’m very introverted and it exhausts me, but I feel pressured to go out and have fun and keep up with a bunch of friends.

I have had to have the same conversation with several friends and coworkers - “how are you holding up?” They’ll say and share their stories about how they miss regular life and they’re being driven up the walls and their kids won’t do their work, and I’m not overly honest, but generally say I’m surprised that I’m enjoying it so much. And it’s kind of a conversation killer. “You aren’t missing going out and hugging friends? Your kids aren’t driving you crazy?” No, they’re really not - I’m loving having so much time with them, helping them with work and watching them be creative in finding things to do. I almost feel pressure to be miserable and feel a lack of connection with my friends that I’m not sharing in their misery.

I went to be authentic in how I’m feeling and mostly, I want to continue this feeling to the degree possible when this over. I’m realizing no one else I know is feeling this way and it’s isolating but also worrisome - how do I not get sucked back into the busy busy busy extrovert thing that makes me so miserable in “regular” life.

Anyone else feeling this way? How will you hold on to some of these lessons learned from this period if so?

+1
I had become very mindful of not being "very busy" even before the pandemic, but it was wonderful to realize that our family was on the right path. I have a large social circle and we do entertain a lot, but we also have build in the periods where we unwind in our schedules.

It is also helpful to be a prepper to some extent and also having some "pioneer spirit". I can cook, sew, cut hair, clean, prep, teach, fix things, grow food etc. Not being on social media kept things in perspective.

Grateful for our frugal ways that has resulted in a lot of financial security. Thankful for our education. Thankful for our good family life. Thankful for being healthy.

[Anonymous]

There are aspects of this quarantine that are horrible. Working, managing and elementary schooler and a toddler is awful. My husband and I lash out at each other and our 9-year old more than either of us would like.

But I don't miss the rushing around. I don't miss rushing to work, rushing to daycare and school for pickup, rushing to do dinner and bath and bed every night. I don't miss the pressure to do do do all weekend long. We've been doing things around the house, reading more, walking more, doing nothing. I look forward to when things return to normal, but I hope we can retain some of this slowness later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your life seriously sucked before if you are enjoying this current situation. Anyone who had a good life before does not enjoy this period.

I'm enjoying some of the things OP posted about. I'm an introvert, and I love being by myself, but I also love having my family nearby. I have the best of both worlds in this pandemic.

OTOH, I miss the gym and my friends and the activities I participate in. I miss going to church. I miss my committees, my volunteer work, the parents I regularly chat with at school.

I'm not miserable, though. I'm busy doing lots of things there are to do at home (including posting on DCUM!), and I'm enjoying this quiet interlude.

I don't think I'd enjoy it so much if it lasts all summer. I'm gardening, so I get outside, and I walk my dog, but I live in the suburbs, so social distancing is easy. Plus there's a huge park near my house, so I walk there and encounter few people. And I talk to my neighbors while I'm out walking the dog.

I think I had a good live before this situation, and I have a good life now. Extroverts (like you, PP?) must be miserable, but introverts can cope with this. As long as I have my family near me so I don't have to worry about them, I'm OK with the quiet and social distancing.

[Anonymous]

I think people that are enjoying it had too much stuff going on in thier normal life. It is time to take a look at your priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the same. If I could go to the salon and get my hair done and still go on vacation somehow (magical thinking, I realize), I would be 1000% happy.

I was sooo happy to have Easter with just my husband and kids and none of my in laws! And my in laws aren't even bad people, I just don't need to see them all the time.

I'm as snug as a bug in a rug during this stay-at-home period. I hope it lasts until July.

haha, same girl same.

Dying to get my roots done.

[Anonymous]

I think all the people who are miserable now have shitty lives. You can't be happy in your primary home with your immediate family members (spouse and children)? Something is seriously wrong there.

[Anonymous]

I have noticed that among people who say this, a large number seem to be what I would consider controlling personalities. Their kids in particular are now under their control 100% of the time, and have few external influences the way they used to have. People I see expressing this are now able to control their immediate world in a way that is comforting for them, but that may tip over into stifling for others in the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your life seriously sucked before if you are enjoying this current situation. Anyone who had a good life before does not enjoy this period.

Nah, it’s just that some of us are still content with ourselves and our families even when we strip away the shopping and the travel and the eating out and all the other indulgences of a leisurely life. Life was good before. Now it’s good in a different way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to admit that this post, and its supporters, stress me out. No doubt, it is nice to get paid and not have to commute or run around for crazy schedules but those were choices that you made for your life. If you didn't like, you could have changed it.
Your happiness is also built on other people's back, e.g. people that stock groceries, keep your lights on, pick up your trash etc.
Lastly, your posts triggers a fear in me that this continues on just because some people like the way things are now.

Uhhh. I think that this is the way things have been headed for a long time, just at a slower pace. I’m sorry you’re somewhat triggered, but based in this thread, it’s clear the status quo (not just personal choices) were negatively impacting some people.

BTW Quiet is a great book and TED talk. There’s a children/teen version as well.


-another ambivert

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your life seriously sucked before if you are enjoying this current situation. Anyone who had a good life before does not enjoy this period.

Nah, it’s just that some of us are still content with ourselves and our families even when we strip away the shopping and the travel and the eating out and all the other indulgences of a leisurely life. Life was good before. Now it’s good in a different way.

Yes. All of the death and destruction is awesome. You are a psycho.