FRACTURES |
Covid-19 pandemic descended on the global population curtailing the free life style we had all come to enjoy. It has been an eye-opening discovery for an advanced nation like United States where individual freedom has been defined without bounds. The environment has created previously unknown behavior management rules and requirement, setting up in some case an argument between the individual liberty and freedom versus rules and restrictions. Wondering aloud, what takes precedence – the individual liberty and freedom or the rules and restrictions for the good of everyone? This is a debate which will be around for as long as calamities like Covid-19 continues to envelope our free life.
I want to share a few elements affected by the paradigm shift.
BEDROOM DOMAIN
A friend of mine and his lovely wife, live in a nice suburban home. In Feb 2020, due to onset of Covid-19 they opted to share the living quarters with managing social distancing. They decided to sleep in separate bed rooms. Both are safe, vaccinated and on the bottom of Covid-19 bell curve. During our very recent conversations, the separate bedroom topic came up. They shared while the Covid-19 risk is lessened, they continue to sleep in separate bedrooms even after almost 33 years marriage. It has brought us closer in our relationship. We have not lost our intimacy and it reminds us of the period when we were dating, my friend said. When we dated, I used to walk her home and hope she will invite me in. When she did, they were very special moments. This is replaying now for us. He continued; we now enjoy separate temperature settings, watch different television channels or read books without disturbing the other. The personal lifestyle change, for sure but it is much, much better.
SHOPPING SPREE
The shopping habits due to pandemic has changed. We have moved more to on-line shopping except for quick need essentials and fresh food ingredients. In 2020 at least our on-line expenditure was large and pivot towards hoarding with a back fear of shortages. Still have 1.5 months-worth of essentials on hand. In 2021 when things begin to open up, in-shop purchases have increased but not at pre-pandemic level. For the first time comparison price shopping between on-line and in-shop is creeping up. To my surprise while on-line shopping offered convenience, there is a premium to pay. Outcome, a hybrid shopping spree based on need, availability, pricing and actually wanting to get out.
DRIVING & DINNING
I just told a friend, the pandemic associated working off-site has drastically cut-down on my driving. Loving my fabulous cars and associated driving pleasure; shockingly I found driving less than 25 miles per week compared to 180 per week. This created a call to my insurance carrier reducing my per year mileage to 5,000 and increasing deductible to $2,000. Gained several hundred dollars in premium savings. Dining out has been a pleasure but it is almost wiped out now converted to infrequent take outs. In last 15 months I have not visited my club which has a 5-star dining butt for 4 times. This used to be my monthly frequency. The outcome is a major social living and behavior change with fair amount of cost savings while significantly sacrificed community and social interactions.
I wonder and assimilate these impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on the social behaviors and living patterns. Ten years ago, these lifestyle changes would have been unimaginable. My 50+ year of enjoying untethered freedom of lifestyle in this country, I am wondering about adopting to these shifts without hesitation. Circumstances always exist for us to adopt like age progression, financial changes and others. But they are all expected while pandemic fueled changes are so broad brush – I am left with What’s Next?