Patricia Johns: Don't hate me, but...

I'm kind of liking quarantine. Is that crazy? It might become crazy over time, but I'm such a home body that this really isn't bothering me too much.

Like many people I worry about staying clear of the virus. I take precautions and do my best to be as responsible as possible. I wear my mask when I go out on essential errands, and use sanitizer on my hands.

And at home? I write books. I read books. I do basic yoga that is probably not very pretty to look at, but it keeps me limber.  I cook a lot... and I tend to my little balcony garden. I hang out with my son who is homeschooling until my husband comes home and we eat together.

100678764_10158029101895743_4523725719565500416_n
It's rather peaceful, actually! I mean, I do have deadlines to meet and a living to make, but I can do all of that from right here in my home, and taking away any obligation to leave the home for anything but groceries or the post office, I'm gone from stressed out (stage one of quarantine?) to kind of mellow.

It makes me think of ladies back in the 1800s, taking their strolls through the garden, doing a little painting by some trees, and then reading in the sitting room. I used to wonder how they didn't die of boredom, but I think I'm starting to understand what happens to you when you're cooped up over a long period of time. You kind of give in to it!

I think an 1800s life of leisure would suit me, so long as I was allowed to write books, wasn't squeezed into a corset, and didn't have anyone patronizing me. Oh, and no balls! I couldn't survive a hot, stuffy social obligation rife with airborne pathogens. (I would have been difficult to marry off, wouldn't I? ;) )

So maybe what I want is just a gorgeous country house with lots of beautifully kept land surrounding it, and to be left alone at it. Too much to ask? Probably.

Comments

  1. I've always worked quite a bit from home, so working most of the time from home wasn't as big a transition for me as for some people. I miss hugging friends. Can't wait for my favorite organic veggie stand to reopen. I miss some of the activities I did, but since they involved spending at least some money (such as at marble, glass, or rock shops), I'm saving a little that way. I have spurts of writing; have cleaned out some junk. Glad to hear it's going well for you. I wouldn't have liked the 1800s balls either, or corsets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think when you already work from home, it's not as big of a jolt to your routines. You seem to be doing well, too! I'm glad!

      Delete
  2. I relate--although I was thinking of the enforced isolation of pioneer women living miles and miles away from the nearest neighbor. I like your image of painting under the trees better. As a lifelong work-at-home person, I enjoy being in my own space and I've lived alone for decades now. But since I don't have responsibility for other people, it's easy for me to enjoy this time. I'm aware of that. My son is both a teacher and a homeschooling dad, so summer vacation was a welcome change! It's going to be interesting to see what the new normal really will be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm curious to see what the new normal will be, too! I have one child, who is old enough to follow his online lessons without much from me, so I know I'm fortunate there.

      Delete
  3. As the happy hermit of our family, I haven't minded the lockdown situation either. But my situation isn't the same as most people. I'm living on a catamaran sailboat in the Caribbean, so it's always warm, mostly sunny. We have a dog, so we've been okay to leave the boat every day to walk him (until this two week quarantine in Grenada, but two weeks isn't anything like what the rest of the lockdown was like). I signed a three book contract in January, so I haven't been bored, but had stuff to do. I have just enough data to be able to download books from the library. And we were in St. Martin, with French cheese, baguettes, duck, chacuterie...yeah, my lockdown hasn't been that bad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sounds wonderful, Kim! I follow your adventures on social media. I'm glad you're living the life! :) Someone has to do it!

      Delete
  4. Great explanation of how you are coping. I agree with the reading and writing part.. I'm currently reading You're Not Listening, What You're Missing and Why It Matters – Kate Murphy
    AND working on my CIP: 32ยบ North, a series of short stories -Romance, paranormal.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think quarantine has been the best litmus to determine who is an introvert and who is an extrovert. I've always asserted I'm an introvert, though my husband (an EXTREME introvert) has doubted that. I'm social and I LOVE people. But I am with you, Patty! I'm truly a homebody and I prefer the simpler routine so much. I don't even go into grocery stores - curbside pickup for the win. So many folks are struggling so I don't mean to make light of this strange time, but the past few months have really given me time to think about what we should "let back in" to our lives once things begin to really pick back up again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love people, too, but I don't recharge around people. I think that's how you figure it out. Luckily, I'm married to another introvert, and our biggest struggle is forcing ourselves to be social off line. LOL That's a neat take on it--who to let back in.

      Delete
  6. When my daughter asked how I was coping recently, I confessed that since I'm basically a hermit anyway, not that much has changed for me. My biggest worry has been my mother, who is in an assisted living facility and hasn't been allowed to leave her room for months. She is an extrovert, and this is very hard on her. Even when I call to chat, since she's had no experiences, she has nothing much to talk about. Other than that, it's been easy-peasy. (Right, Elizabeth?)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That would so tough for your mom! But for happy hermits, the quarantine isn't so bad. Is your mom a TV watcher at all?

      Delete
  7. I work mostly from home, but I found it hard to concentrate or focus on writing. Glad you guys are all accumulating pages. I'm not. Reading is also difficult for the same reasons. I try to get away from the news, but it's everywhere. It pops up no matter what you're doing and every conversation invariably leads back to the virus. I'm hoping this will wear off or I get used to it. So far I'm not used to anything and it's been going on for at least three months. Please send me some of your happy juice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome to some of mine - it comes with coconut and rum.

      Delete
    2. Unfortunately, I've been busier than I've ever been and not from writing although I did manage to put together a proposal for my agent to shop. I shop for some of my neighbors and I've been building a website for my nonprofit which takes up lots of time. I'm hoping I can get started on a new book, though...one that's due November 1...

      Delete
    3. Shirley--I do agree about the stress of the news. I worry much more about the virus than I ever worried about things before.

      Pat--Good luck with the new proposal! And with the book with the looming deadline. LOL! Sometimes being forced to get it written helps to distract from other things.

      Delete
  8. Students find Political Science Writing Services as being of great assistance since they are able to complete their political science research paper writing services and political science essay writing services on time.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Aside from being afraid of getting sick from this virus, or someone I love getting sick, this isolation suits my introverted nature. I haven’t been reading much though. Like Shirley Hailstock, I’ve been finding it difficult to concentrate. The news is very disconcerting, and I’m sad about the things going on in the world. I miss hugging my daughter, but we’ve been seeing each other at a distance and we had our first Zoom dinner together. We were talking on video for over 2.5 hours! And this when we text just about every day. I hope to get my reading back on track. I have been sewing a bit more though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's good you're having video. I've been embracing them, too! It's so nice to see a face when talking. I'm quite introverted, but I do need faces from time to time. :)

      Delete

Post a Comment