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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So now that most/all of us here have stocked up, can you share how you’ll handle life? Are you (1) living off your stockpile so as to avoid stores altogether; (2) holding your stockpile for when it’s necessary but in the meantime still grocery shopping weekly or whenever while it you’re still going to work/kids to school; or (3) planning to use the stockpile exclusively once there is some event signaling things are bad enough that you don’t want to go out — i.e. confirmed cases near you; or your work says no one in the office etc.

My goal in buying ahead was to be able to avoid going to the store and being elbow to elbow w others once bad news hit. But right now I kind of feel — [b]if we’re allowed to go to work, what’s one more stop at the store? (Though even still I want to go as little as possible, at non peak times etc just to have some distance.) How will you handle?[/b][/quote]

Mostly avoiding any unnecessary trip to the store. The key word ... unnecessary. 
Even if you have to leave home for work this is not a choice. However having a choice one can risk more or less. With every contact odds grow. It takes one time, one person.. one sneeze.. one touch.. so logically speaking the more people we see a day the more chances to get it because people we see ... see other people...

With food.. going first through normal stuff until  it ends and then moving to resourcess.
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My initial goal was to stockpile for an out of control outbreak and carry on as normal until then, but we had questions about sick customers and cleaning after a quick trip to two of our local grocery stores. I watched a woman cough into her hand and pick up packages, then put them back. DH observed a man sneeze directly onto a fruit display. True you would wash fruit, but you have to touch it and bring it into your home to do so. So we’re mulling stopping groceries runs now. And that means giving up fresh foods sooner than I am ready. March is when I crave fresh green things. Planted some peas this morning. [/quote]

Ageeed. Our freezer is stocked with frozen produce and we are ready to hunker down until this thing passes.[/quote]

Reality is people are ALWAYS coughing on your fruit and touching your packages with unclean hands -- customers + store workers who stock the goods. There's only so much you can do. It is one huge reason that I'm leery of fruit generally esp during peak winter season when everyone is coughing -- because you eat it raw and IDK how much rinsing really removes. Luckily I don't love fruit either so not missing much. I'm all about vegetables - which can be cooked.

But in answer to the question -- I think it'll become a day to day/week to week decision. Shopped enough that I don't HAVE TO go out and as a PP above says -- risks grow the more contacts you have. So I had planned it so this weekend (which to me means Thurs-Sun bc so many people in this area "telework" and then start their weekend chores starting Thurs/Friday morning), I would NOT be going to the store. I figured they'd be busier than normal as people stock pile or feel that their existing stock isn't enough and add more (plus they'd be picked over). I don't want to be elbow to elbow with people, touching self check outs that are being touched by 50,000 other people (I have seen them wipe down screens at my store but I've seen that happen more at 9 pm when crowds are thin not at peak shopping time on Sunday afternoon). Then I think stores will need all of Monday and maybe Tues to restock given the sheer buying craze that's happening. So I will make a decision Tues afternoon, whether I need or want to go. Ideally I'd go Tues or Wed evening for a quick regular shopping -- milk etc. If I don't feel comfortable by then, really need nothing, etc. then I stay home and start using the stock pile. I just think for a while it'll be about (i) do I really need to go; and (ii) WHEN can I go where it'll be relatively empty -- while that doesn't remove the exposure of touching surfaces, it does remove the exposure of direct coughs and sneezes.

Other option -- if I really feel I don't need much, I may skip the crazy of Arlington altogether and go to a store near work. I work in the city but not in an area that is residential or well to do; those stores are actually well stocked and fairly empty during the day -- so I could pick up what I needed and get in an out quick without the frustration of everything being sold out or being elbowed out of the way by panicked Arlington types.[/quote]

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