New Normal

[Gopher Gary]

I'm curious if anyone else has made changes because of the pandemic, that they think will continue from now on. 

I used to only grocery shop twice per month, but now I shop every week because I don't want to look greedy buying too much at one time, and I've grown to like having everything well stocked all the time, so I think that change is going to stick.

I've also increased the amount of frozen and non-perishable food I keep in the house. I think my previous disaster preparedness food efforts were fine but I've gotten accustomed to having more now and have a good rotating system, so that's probably going to stay too.

I may think of more, but food is probably the biggest changes I've made. 

[Yuri Bezmenov]

A high school friend of mine has a new normal.

It's called "Do meth, do some really stupid shit and end up in an encounter with the police"

In his latest episode, his uncle got a hotel room in Ventura for he and his mother to come down from Santa Maria and visit. In addition to struggling with meth addiction, he's also a sex addict and nothing makes him hornier than meth. So at some point he got some meth, looked up some porn videos on a laptop and stated to masturbate right in front of his mother!!!.

Lucky for my friend, she didn't call the cops, instead she called up her other son to come pick her up.

[Gopher Gary]

[Gopher Gary]

Oh, my new normal insecure food habits also include an increased back up supply of dog food. I had a panic moment running a little low on dog food and not being able to find it in any store, but luckily found a place I could order it online, so now I keep lots and lots more dog food. 

[Dirty Big Yoke]

Increased overall anxiety and actually being irrationally nervous about going out.

[Gopher Gary]

Yeah, the food stuff is definitely an insecurity coping mechanism, but I've been doing it long enough I think I've formed permanent habits. I've worried most about Sugarbutt's special dietary needs because I haven't been able to react on those concerns. I already had about 3-4 weeks of non-perishable special food stashed for him, but I'd like to increase that too and it's been impossible to find since this all started. I'll just have to keep watching and grab some when I can.

[Dirty Big Yoke]

The other main change for me is a renewed interest in photography, among other things. I've been eating far less as of late too.

I also guess that my hygiene overall has improved - I'll likely keep wearing a mask outside even when the pandemic is over, and I'm always far more conscious on washing my hands etc. when out.

[Gopher Gary]

I haven't really thought about masks as a permanent change going forward. I would definitely say it's become a habit though, because I do it reflexively now and sometimes forget I have one on, even though I only leave the house once per week. I was already a neurotic cleaner, and Sugarbutt's immunity means we already did extra stuff. I wasn't one of those people affected by not being able to find antiviral cleaners and masks because we already had that type of stuff. And toilet paper, no one's ever going to make fun of me again for hoarding toilet paper. 

[Parts]

I avoid going in stores even more than I did before and any place with a line of more than two people is defiantly a no go.  I used get lunch at a deli at least once a week which I have done only once since March

[Minister Of Silly Walks]

I now attend meetings in my underpants.

That's gonna be a tough habit to break when I go back into the office.

Then again, maybe I can start a new trend.

[odeon]

I suspect I'll be less inclined to regularly spend a week at a client site without a very good reason.

[Jack]

None of the changes are likely permanent.

Now drink hazelnut coffee every day; previously drank plain coffee from the office and the hazelnut was a weekend treat. Coffee was a tough adjustment, oddly missing the cup kept in the office, and in the beginning was still drinking hazelnut only on the weekends at home. It still seems like a treat, though now a daily one. Will probably go back to drinking office coffee because that's easier.

Have completely stopped wearing makeup, though this has caused a dry skin issue due to missing the moisturizers in foundation. Have purchased facial scrub and moisturizer, but that seems to completely defeat the benefit of not spending money on makeup.

Also recently decided to forego hair color, now knowing returning to the office will not happen until next year. This is a huge maybe for when the time comes to make that decision.

TBD if Jack will embrace her natural appearance as permanent pandemic change.

[Jack]

Probably going to miss coming here on lunch break, when things get back to old normal.

[Parts]

I've changed where I walk the dogs due to all the people out in the parks and on the trails at all hours.   Hopefully the numbers will drop and I can go back to my favorite spots

[Phoenix]

I'm home far more than I was before because the things I did previously involved large gatherings like choir, monkeyboys ASD social groups, weekends away with my friends etc. I think it will be a long time before those things happen again.

I walk my dog in places where I won't run into many people (she tends to draw a crowd due to her breed and size, everyone wants to pet her). That will probably continue because I like the quiet.

I never really kept much of a supply of staples outside of winter and I've started doing that. I will probably continue to do that going forward.

I miss my twice yearly getaways with my kids and not having to worry so much about germs and contagions.