Misanthropy By Fiat

So, I wasn't sure I'd ever get post 1001 up.  1000 sat for a month or more and started to feel more and more like a nice way to finish blogging for good.

Then all this.  My thanks to those that reached out to ask if I was okay after the long silence.

First, I hope no one is coming to a place like this for advice. 

Blogs, Facebook, Twitter and all the rest are REALLY not the places to be looking for advice on staying safe at a time like this. 

My advice?  Get your advice elsewhere.

Go to the CDC or Health Canada.  Don't listen to your Uncle Zeppo who says to soak a mask in vinegar or some Twitiot who says to disinfect your home with canola oil or whatever other nonsense you hear from the millions of (probably) well meaning sites and people who think they know what they're talking about.  Get your information from science and medical professionals. 

Okay.  So I'm okay and hopefully so are you and all your loved ones.  Stay that way. 

Listen to the professionals, stay in your bubble.  Stay home if you can and stay as far from others as possible when you can't.  Think of it as an enforced vacation from people. 

Personally I like what I'm calling "Misanthropy by Fiat".  While I'm a naturally chatty, friendly guy, I am also a bit of a natural loner.  It's contradictory, I know, but like most humans I can hold two diametrically opposed viewpoints in equal esteem as long as I don't think about it too long or hard.  Right now I'm embracing my inner hermit. 

I'm certainly getting a lot of television watched...

My job is on the "essential" list of occupations that are being exempted from the stay at home order.  The company I work for has reduced hours but I'm still working 3 days a week, so I'm out in the world more than I really would like to be right now.  I can only do my best to maintain that social distance and keep my hands as clean as possible.  Thankfully, I don't have anyone at home to accidentally infect, so it's just me at risk and I'm doing my best to minimize that risk.

It turns out I do have some advice to share.  To the obvious "stay at home if you can, stay in your bubble when you can't" that we've all heard ad nauseum, I add this:

Find a way to enjoy this.  While there's the financial down side to deal with, it's not every day that you are given weeks of personal time.  Fix something you've been putting off, rearrange that furniture you've been looking at for months, paint a picture, do a puzzle, watch the show you'd never have time for otherwise.  You don't have to go stir crazy.  You can lean into the down time and turn it into a positive experience.

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay sane.  This will all pass.