Covid19 Spare time

Bash74 · March 4, 2021

I still have the same amount of time as I did before the pandemic. I do the same stuff as before except date night with the wife and now I have been flying to see family instead of them coming to me like before. The wife on the other hand has less time then before because work ramped up, so she had a harder time doing things she usually did. Throughout this time I never had worries about the pandemic but I did have worries about the unknown. The worry was what is going to be the next mandate or protocol to be put in place.

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Grumpy Bear · March 4, 2021

4 hours ago, Donstar said:

Worry about a perceived loss of freedom/control may be something people do more of with their extra spare time. This pandemic has impacted everyone. Depression is something I've fought with since I was cut off from in-person contact with my children and their children. A paraproskokian I sometime use is, "When the going gets tough, some quit." I pride myself in adhering to the proper part about, "The tough get going". Or, lemons and lemonade may be more appropriate. Today, my wife and I are going to declutter our closet. This is something I cannot remember ever doing with her but she promises it will give me room for new stuff for when we can seriously shop. Throughout this pandemic, I've woken up in the morning with a specific and measurable goal. The unknown and the resulting worries of this pandemic can be distracted. Please share things that you have done or plan to do with the extra time generated by the pandemic. Your idea or discovery may help another member. I bet you I helped many learn a new word today; like I did yesterday!

More stuff I do not need, more focus I do. Doc mentioned to me that since I am retired it might be worthwhile to turn some of that time into doing the things I neglected for forty years, like my health. Covid-19 Isolation enhances that. Wife has been a big help in that crusade ( read that pushy ) Like most things I find it hard to take interest in things I don't know anything about, diet for example. However, once the learning pieces start to fall in place something you never thought to give a thought can be quite a bit of fun and now I'm the one pushing. :crackup: C'mon guys, everyone has put on the Covid 15 or more OR MORE in my case. Lord.....

The joke goes when your on a diet, "If you put it in your mouth and it taste good....spit it out". Rubbish! My experience is that as I find my balance the opposite to be true.

I've also reestablished some old connections with family. Aunt's and Uncles, Cousins I haven't seen or heard from in decades. Talk more to the kids now than before this all started. Real conversations.

Boredom is not a word I am familiar with as a general rule. Mind is way to busy for that sort of thing.

OnTheReel · March 4, 2021

Yes, depression is a very serious issue surrounding our response to the pandemic. My work hasn’t been heavily impacted so I am fortunate to have finances and my sanity mostly intact. My wife continues to struggle because she’s the only person working in office. Everyone else is working from home and using it as an opportunity to sleep in, drink on the job, and just generally be less productive. Constant issues with the tech, computers, VPNs, phones. Microsoft Teams calls with kids screaming in the background, etc.

I am shocked they continue to allow it but she works for a “woke” company that’s afraid to force anyone back to work. Some have even said they won’t come back until they get a pay increase for commuting! Look at the monster they created.

I imagine those who are retired have lost most contact with the outside world. That is depressing for sure. Those who are lucky to still have a job find themselves doing nothing but working, with little recreation available. And the ones that lost their jobs are getting it from both ends. I just review the numbers daily and struggle to find any justification for what we are doing.

Bash74 · March 4, 2021

Yes, depression is a very serious issue surrounding our response to the pandemic. My work hasn’t been heavily impacted so I am fortunate to have finances and my sanity mostly intact. My wife continues to struggle because she’s the only person working in office. Everyone else is working from home and using it as an opportunity to sleep in, drink on the job, and just generally be less productive. Constant issues with the tech, computers, VPNs, phones. Microsoft Teams calls with kids screaming in the background, etc. I am shocked they continue to allow it but she works for a “woke” company that’s afraid to force anyone back to work. Some have even said they won’t come back until they get a pay increase for commuting! Look at the monster they created.

I imagine those who are retired have lost most contact with the outside world. That is depressing for sure. Those who are lucky to still have a job find themselves doing nothing but working, with little recreation available. And the ones that lost their jobs are getting it from both ends. I just review the numbers daily and struggle to find any justification for what we are doing.

There is actually no justification for what is being done. I am retired and never lost contact with the outside world and is why I still traveled to visit family and hangout with friends. I am also lucky to live in an area where most people didn't get all worried about covid so not to much changed when going into town and stores. The wife though has had to work more so it has made it more difficult for traveling but we still try to get recreation in close to home like fishing, hiking, camping and other outdoor stuff.

It is to the point now that the decision needs to be left up to people and not the government if they want to open their business or not, if people want to go into the business or not, and if masks are required or not. The government is not protecting the people. They are gaslighting the people.

Also, your wife deserves more pay then the ones that don't come into work.

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KARNUT · March 5, 2021

There is actually no justification for what is being done. I am retired and never lost contact with the outside world and is why I still traveled to visit family and hangout with friends. I am also lucky to live in an area where most people didn't get all worried about covid so not to much changed when going into town and stores. The wife though has had to work more so it has made it more difficult for traveling but we still try to get recreation in close to home like fishing, hiking, camping and other outdoor stuff.
It is to the point now that the decision needs to be left up to people and not the government if they want to open their business or not, if people want to go into the business or not, and if masks are required or not. The government is not protecting the people. They are gaslighting the people.

Also, your wife deserves more pay then the ones that don't come into work.

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During covid it’s becoming more apparent what works and doesn’t. I hope people wake up and realize the difference. Before choices are made for you. Where that’s happening people are leaving.

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Donstar · March 5, 2021

16 hours ago, Bash74 said:

The wife though has had to work more so it has made it more difficult for traveling but we still try to get recreation in close to home like fishing, hiking, camping and other outdoor stuff.

This is an example of how Covid19 has generated extra time for you. Your wife's extra work has resulted in you having staycations. My wife and I are both retired and aren't huge travelers. However we estimate that by not visiting our kids or entertaining them, we've freed up close to two months over the past year! Cutting out my daily trips to the coffee shop and/or "shopping" has added an hour or so to each day. The coffee shop has generally been replaced with extra walks with my wife and our "retired" best four legged friend.

Donstar · March 5, 2021

19 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

More stuff I do not need, more focus I do. Doc mentioned to me that since I am retired it might be worthwhile to turn some of that time into doing the things I neglected for forty years, like my health. Covid-19 Isolation enhances that. Wife has been a big help in that crusade ( read that pushy ) Like most things I find it hard to take interest in things I don't know anything about, diet for example. However, once the learning pieces start to fall in place something you never thought to give a thought can be quite a bit of fun and now I'm the one pushing. C'mon guys, everyone has put on the Covid 15 or more OR MORE in my case. Lord.....

The joke goes when your on a diet, "If you put it in your mouth and it taste good....spit it out". Rubbish! My experience is that as I find my balance the opposite to be true.

I've also reestablished some old connections with family. Aunt's and Uncles, Cousins I haven't seen or heard from in decades. Talk more to the kids now than before this all started. Real conversations.

Boredom is not a word I am familiar with as a general rule. Mind is way to busy for that sort of thing.

I am not a good example of health and fitness but will comment on how I strive to increase my time on the green side of the grass. Several years ago, my weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels were embarrassing. A back injury was my excuse. When I found myself altering the truth to my Doctor about how much I was putting into my mouth, I gave myself a good kick in the ass. I replaced beer with large amounts of water and hooked a pedometer to my belt. At the end of each day I recorded my steps. No booze, 10k+ steps in a day and patience soon found compliments from others. I tell this because last summer, I had to buy larger shorts for the heat and pants for the cooler days. I put a new battery into my old pedometer and started my old routine. 10k+ steps is now a much more difficult goal to achieve due to osteoarthritis in the feet but 5-7k steps proves I haven't sat for much of the day! My looks may not garner many complements but those who matter recognize my effort!

Grumpy Bear · March 5, 2021

8 minutes ago, Donstar said:

I am not a good example of health and fitness but will comment on how I strive to increase my time on the green side of the grass. Several years ago, my weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels were embarrassing. A back injury was my excuse. When I found myself altering the truth to my Doctor about how much I was putting into my mouth, I gave myself a good kick in the ass. I replaced beer with large amounts of water and hooked a pedometer to my belt. At the end of each day I recorded my steps. No booze, 10k+ steps in a day and patience soon found compliments from others. I tell this because last summer, I had to buy larger shorts for the heat and pants for the cooler days. I put a new battery into my old pedometer and started my old routine. 10k+ steps is now a much more difficult goal to achieve due to osteoarthritis in the feet but 5-7k steps proves I haven't sat for much of the day! My looks may not garner many complements but those who matter recognize my effort!

Osteoarthritis in my lower back. I feel for you. In the feet would be awful. Not that the back is a picnic.

I treadmill incline walk. Helps the back stay loose. I always do better in the summer than winter. More active. Still push mow a half acer lot. Anyway those first few hours in the morning are tough. Like crawl to the bathroom tough. A hot shower and some stretching really helps as does a trip the the chiropractor now and again when it get really bad. Nice wide back belt for lifting anything heavy like cases of water or long drives.

I love to eat good food and hate to eat bad or even nondescript dishes. Problem is wife is a good cook I can eat or not. I found since this Covid thing started pushing us inside my snacking habits got out of control. A Mountain Dew in my hand often. Poor choices for snack foods. Adds up when your a grazer like me. I quite smoking about 7 years ago. That will mess with your metabolism hard.

I went through a long period where my cholesterol was off the hook. Over 400 for a few years. Nothing done seems to help. Then in a blood work it was noted my vitamin D level was zero. I was working at the time indoors and on the graveyard shift 12 hours a day. Once my D level was restored my cholesterol dropped like a stone in a well. Under 150 total. Then old habits and I was in the low 200's again. Small statin now. Hoping this newest diet will eliminate that.

I'm rarely bored. Age, change, relearn....

Bash74 · March 5, 2021

This is an example of how Covid19 has generated extra time for you. Your wife's extra work has resulted in you having staycations. My wife and I are both retired and aren't huge travelers. However we estimate that by not visiting our kids or entertaining them, we've freed up close to two months over the past year! Cutting out my daily trips to the coffee shop and/or "shopping" has added an hour or so to each day. The coffee shop has generally been replaced with extra walks with my wife and our "retired" best four legged friend.

I am actually away from home more now. Most of the time family came to me to visit. Covid has made that more difficult so now time is spent flying to see them.

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KARNUT · March 5, 2021

W Watchers going on 30 years. 250 to 220. Blood work is fine. On blood pressure meds since I was 20. Hereditary. Walk daily 4to7K per iPhone. Was hard on body for 30 years on pipelines running clearing eq. So hips, knees, back complain after 7K steps. A byproduct of blood pressure meds getting hungry means getting hangry, weak and nauseous. For years I overeat to avoid that feeling. Learning to eat with WW fixed that.

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Donstar · March 6, 2021

Yesterday, I unearthed a laptop I forgot I owned. It is a Windows XP machine and the date on start up reads 2003. Of course it is password protected and I've been pretty good at changing passwords. In other words, I don't have a clue how to log on, so this morning I called upon Google for ideas. It looks like I will be able to eventually log-on but I think the value of this old computer is relegated to recyclable metals. Saving all things electrical has really backfired on me these past few months. I really thought saving this stuff would be useful one day. Now it is just hard to dispose of garbage! I'm sure many members have a lot of stuff that will never be used again. If you still have some extra time, deal with it now. You may be lucky and not have pandemic free time ever again!

KARNUT · March 6, 2021

Yesterday, I unearthed a laptop I forgot I owned. It is a Windows XP machine and the date on start up reads 2003. Of course it is password protected and I've been pretty good at changing passwords. In other words, I don't have a clue how to log on, so this morning I called upon Google for ideas. It looks like I will be able to eventually log-on but I think the value of this old computer is relegated to recyclable metals. Saving all things electrical has really backfired on me these past few months. I really thought saving this stuff would be useful one day. Now it is just hard to dispose of garbage! I'm sure many members have a lot of stuff that will never be used again. If you still have some extra time, deal with it now. You may be lucky and not have pandemic free time ever again!

I have two iPods 7K songs. I put a lots of time in those. I pug them once in awhile. With the accessibility of Pandora and others I don’t mess with them much anymore.

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Transient · March 7, 2021

I have two iPods 7K songs. I put a lots of time in those. I pug them once in awhile. With the accessibility of Pandora and others I don’t mess with them much anymore.

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You could try transferring all those songs to your phone, then use your phone to connect to your truck via Bluetooth and play them while you drive down the road. Steering wheel buttons work to skip songs and change volume. I have over 2k songs on my phone. This is what I did, but I have Android and bought all my songs through Amazon Music.

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KARNUT · March 7, 2021

You could try transferring all those songs to your phone, then use your phone to connect to your truck via Bluetooth and play them while you drive down the road. Steering wheel buttons work to skip songs and change volume. I have over 2k songs on my phone. This is what I did, but I have Android and bought all my songs through Amazon Music.

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I use my phone for everything. GPS, music, as a computer, watching Netflix, Amazon Prime, directTv before I switch. And as an iPod. Thanks for the tip. Some people just don’t know what their phones can do.[emoji106]

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Donstar · March 7, 2021

6 hours ago, KARNUT said:

I use my phone for everything. GPS, music, as a computer, watching Netflix, Amazon Prime, directTv before I switch. And as an iPod. Thanks for the tip. Some people just don’t know what their phones can do.

We recently switched to a new provider and purchased identical unlocked phones from Costco. My wife and I are working hard to master these devices. The most frustrating challenge is making phone calls! (new provider issue)