Do you have any close friends you have not seen at all since the pandemic started?

[Anonymous]

Because of my risk profile, I have not seen a single person in person nov except for DD, DW and medical personnel (chemo infusion nurses, doctors, and inpatient people). Tomorrow, I get to meet a CT tech -- yeah baby.

But seriously, from March to July, I was isolated. In July - Oct, the COVID numbers had dropped low enough here in NOVA that I was willing to go out, and see some friends outside at a distance. In Oct. I was diagnosed with a particularly bad cancer and have been isolated since.

Once the weather warms up, I plan to visit with friends outside at 12-20 feet, in my yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen a single friend since last March. We're in the home stretch before full vaccine availability and I'm not about to blow it now just to do something dumb.

This. I haven’t seen any friends since March. Why start now?

[Anonymous]

My best friend and I had an amazing first-weekend-in-March 2020. We took a class and saw a show at the Kennedy Center and had two killer restaurant dinners.

I haven’t seen her since. I have had a baby since. We text every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen a single friend since last March. We're in the home stretch before full vaccine availability and I'm not about to blow it now just to do something dumb.

Truly, how is this possible?!?!?

I have not been inside anyone's home, eaten in a restaurant, or done any indoor activity like bowling, movie, etc. I have been SO careful. BUT I have seen a ton of my friends outside! How can you literally have gone this long without seeing someone? Do you literally not set foot outside?

[Anonymous]

All of them. We’re all over 50, and some of us have to work outside the home as essential workers. But my DH and I have both gotten our first shots, as have some other friends, so in about another month, we will likely relax.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we are those friends. I have an autoimmune issue and my dh has borderline asthma. It's taken us both months to recover from a regular, pre Covid, virus--not to mention something like the flu.

Not worth to get together with friends, who we still like, who are taking so many more risks than we are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen a single friend since last March. We're in the home stretch before full vaccine availability and I'm not about to blow it now just to do something dumb.

Truly, how is this possible?!?!?

I have not been inside anyone's home, eaten in a restaurant, or done any indoor activity like bowling, movie, etc. I have been SO careful. BUT I have seen a ton of my friends outside! How can you literally have gone this long without seeing someone? Do you literally not set foot outside?

Not that pp, but I do go outside to walk / exercise.
I don't socialize other than saying hi for a ten minutes or less, because many friends don't understand what six feet looks like, and it's not worth my dh or I catching Covid, given how poorly we recover when catching other viruses.

Just totally not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen a single friend since last March. We're in the home stretch before full vaccine availability and I'm not about to blow it now just to do something dumb.

Truly, how is this possible?!?!?

I have not been inside anyone's home, eaten in a restaurant, or done any indoor activity like bowling, movie, etc. I have been SO careful. BUT I have seen a ton of my friends outside! How can you literally have gone this long without seeing someone? Do you literally not set foot outside?

DP: Why is it so hard for you to imagine that people have decided among themselves not to plan meetups? I have managed this — with a very small number of exceptions— because I don’t want an interaction with me to be the reason that a good friend’s elderly Mom dies. It hasn’t been easy. But you and I clearly have different standards for what “SO careful “ means. FWIW, I literally set foot outside almost every day.

For context: I have spent time in ICUs with people I love. If my being stir crazy has even a tiny chance of sparing someone I love, or even someone I’ve never met, from that, I’m comfortable with my choice. Once larger numbers of people, including me, are vaccinated, we will all have more and safer options. I can wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen a single friend since last March. We're in the home stretch before full vaccine availability and I'm not about to blow it now just to do something dumb.

You must be my friend. We haven't seen you since March, except for when you dropped off a halloween bag for us. We miss you and wish you felt comfortable going on a masked hike or having the kids ride bikes at the same park. I'm sad that you haven't been able to open up even a little given what we know now about transmission and effective masking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because of my risk profile, I have not seen a single person in person nov except for DD, DW and medical personnel (chemo infusion nurses, doctors, and inpatient people). Tomorrow, I get to meet a CT tech -- yeah baby.

But seriously, from March to July, I was isolated. In July - Oct, the COVID numbers had dropped low enough here in NOVA that I was willing to go out, and see some friends outside at a distance. In Oct. I was diagnosed with a particularly bad cancer and have been isolated since.

Once the weather warms up, I plan to visit with friends outside at 12-20 feet, in my yard.

I'm so sad for you, PP. I wish you are able to live each day to its fullest. I hope that you can see all the people you love soon.

[Anonymous]

Only close family members who have been tested recently.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think these replies are representative. Most people I think are seeing folks outside for visits — with fire pits or on walks with masks or something.

[Anonymous]

I’ve seen all the friends and family I’d usually see in any given year on the regular. Indoor and outdoor dining, get togethers like BBQs, game nights, birthday parties, etc. They’re all worth it to me.