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- May 17, 2014
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Thanks! We have done several months of zoom meetings.
We wanted to get together safely while the weather is nice so we can be outdoors.
In the US, this is not going away any time soon. So we are trying to find a way to socialize safely.
Thanks for all your replies.
The 5 of us have agreed to---outdoors, masks AND 6'+ distancing.
We are lifelong friends and even though some of us are okay with only either distancing or masks outdoors, we want to make our friend feel safe. She has agreed that we may lower our masks to eat or drink.
This is my 4th time doing any socializing in almost 6 months, and I feel we have made it as safe as possible.
If the weather does not cooperate, those who are comfortable moving indoors (with masks and distancing) are welcome to do so.
At the party I was referencing above, I was sitting on the steps of the patio, and everyone else was sitting around a table (right next to each other). They kept saying "Hey, Violet, here's a seat right here. You don't have to sit on the ground!" I just kept saying no thank you.
Then most recently, my friends were at a restaurant and I walked by (with my mask) and stopped to say hello quickly, as I was walking to the grocery store to shop. My one friend offered me a sip of her cocktail, and when I said "no thank you," she said "I was offering you the side I didn't drink from," and she rolled her eyes at me.
It's a little like living in the twilight zone here, because it's a resort town, and people are TRULY acting like it doesn't exist, which is why we are a hotspot. I've just stopped saying yes to anything after that party, because here people treat you as if you are being ridiculous if you ARE following the rules and socially distancing.
I'm so glad you'll be able to see your friends safely @Elizabeth35 - socialization is so important for mental health!
Ugh, @violet3 , that sounds truly idiotic, I'm sorry!
My friend , a GP who was requisitioned (that's a thing here I France, they called upon the "medical reserve" and drafted doctors) during the height of the pandemic to care for Covid patients has been called "anal retentive" by friends because she's NOT comfortable pretending COVID is gone (indoors gatherings , kisses on the cheeks to day hello - even masked it's just plain unnecessary). And we're in a much better situation here than the US is. People seem to do everything to get that second wave rolling![]()
I guess I am befuddled that my invitation was really clear on what I was offering safety wise regarding distance, outdoors, food/drink, bathroom sanitizing, etc.
Thank you for your responses. It reinforces that everyone has different guidelines. And I respect that and try to honor that.
This is the first time I am patio entertaining so I am trying to make everyone feel comfortable and safe.
I am trying to be super clear with everyone and asking what will make them feel comfortable so that expectations are clear.
I guess if I was invited to something that was, for example, indoors or without masks or distancing, I would simply decline. I would never ask the host to change the rules for everyone.
So as a host--I am struggling to make it be safe for everyone, and we are all different.
I think this will be my first and last attempt at hosting a get together with 5 lifelong friends. It's not worth people feeling unsafe.
It drives me crazy that the Australian government insists that social distancing is 1.5m (5 feet) whereas everyone else is 6ft! How did they come to their number? I will never know!
From my understanding 6 feet isn't even really sufficient.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Everything You Need to Know | Healthline
Live news & updates on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreakwww.healthline.com
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Six foot social-distancing will not always be enough for COVID-19
To avoid COVID-19, keeping a 6-foot social distance is a good rule of thumb. But for plenty of instances, that might not be nearly far enough.www.sciencenewsforstudents.org