Cruise Maven…without the Cruise, Means Staying Sane in Self-Isolation

One week ago, I decided to physically distance myself from everyone in this tiny town. The only exception is when my daughter stops by every few days, to drop off a bag of groceries or pick up an egg salad sandwich, a Claussen’s pickle and a bag of chips for lunch.

Welcome to Day 7 of Self Isolation 

My neighbor came by yesterday morning to drop off something she baked. Luckily, I was in the shower and didn’t have to answer the door. I replied to her text message with a polite, “No thank you” but she insisted on leaving a lone scone at my door.

Eight hours later, under cover of darkness, and my hand fully cloaked in a green plastic grocery bag, I scooped the paper plate and its content into the bag. Placed on an empty spot on my kitchen counter, I wiped the ziplock bag with sanitizer. 

Then came 20-30-seconds of hand-washing and disinfecting the doorknob. Paranoid? Maybe. The little scone sat on my kitchen counter for 24hrs before I bit into it. Stuck in Alaska on an island with no way out except by plane, self isolation sounds fine to me. I’m trying to take as few chances as possible.

Memorable phrases from TV and movies

Thoughts pop into my head. Last night, my own version slightly changes what William says when he meets Anna for the first time in Notting Hill and describes what most of us probably think every day, “Surreal…but not nice.”

Call it what you want, coronavirus or COVID-19. I’m hunkered down (words from 20 years in Florida during hurricane season) and staying indoors. We should all be doing self isolation and I wish everyone would, but I don’t run the zoo. Maybe when people are finally ordered to isolate and stay home, not hang out with buddies at bars, things will improve. 

Guess what…I’m old!

Until I heard it on the news, I didn’t realize it; I’m elderly. And so are all my grammar and high school friends. Wait…”grammar school”? If anyone remembers using the words “grammar school” to describe grades K through 8th grade, then I feel compelled to inform you, “We are old.” Being categorized in this boomer group means taking certain and necessary precautions.

I quarantine the daily newspaper, the mail, the groceries that my daughter brings over so I don’t have to go to the store. Everything in a shiny box or container is isolated in the unheated mudroom for 3-4 days before it’s put away. Things that need refrigeration get a thorough wipe-down, then air dry. Thankfully it’s cold enough here that I don’t worry about things sitting out for an hour or so without going into the fridge.

Life is so different and so tremendously sad and surreal but not nice…for all of us all over the world.

There’s a zillion Things to do at home when it’s Life as a Shut-In

Last night, I began my list of things to do at home to help pass the time. My guess is that we’re all in this for at least another two or three months, so now is as good a time as ever to stay busy, stay active and keep the mental wheels turning.

When you’re working full-time, whether in an office, a factory or from home, how many times have you said to yourself, “I’d love to…go/do/see/learn/try/taste/sip…” fill in your own something that undoubtedly gets put off till who-knows-when.

My List of things to do at home during isolation – in no particular order

1. Unpack and learn to use my new Ninja Air Fryer – it’s been in quarantine for over a week.
2. Learn Italian on Duolingo – enough to be slightly fluent for when I head back to Italy.
3. Take online ukulele lessons
4. Get back into yoga Lilias Yoga on Amazon Prime (who remembers Lilias from PBS-TV in the 1960s?)
5. Finish reading Lady at the OK Corral – part of my obsession with Wyatt Earp and Josephine Marcus Earp and their 47-year adventure
6. Finish reading The Yiddish Policemen’s Union – very quirky but engrossing
7. Start doing very basic cooking videos and publish recipes
8. Find an aerobics video with old school cardio – I just did! Richard Simmons “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” hahahaha!
9. Keep doing more research on being a full-time RVer and my cross-country National Parks tour
10. Get more videos uploaded to YouTube.com/cruisemaven
11. Re-tool my podcast – either Cruise Maven Travels or River Cruise Radio
12. Oh! And keep adding content to CruiseMaven.com. Someday we will all cruise again.

When a sense of normalcy returns, there will be more Cruise Maven content. Especially for Alaska, USA road trips, and recipes, too. Lots to ponder in the next two or three months.

Have you made a list of things you want to do while at home for the duration? If so, please share in the comments below.

Stay safe, and stay healthy.

XO,
Sherry