MAY 27, 2020: Am I worried about going out or am I just comfortable staying in?
That’s the question I’ve been asking myself for about a month now.
To be honest, I haven’t been going places much since this coronavirus thing got serious. I’m working from home every day, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Other than very rare runs to the grocery store, the liquor store, or the home improvement store, I’m at home full time.
And it’s worked pretty well. I’m not going stir crazy with cabin fever.
I used to be a major introvert. I didn’t like socializing because frankly, I was never taught how to socialize. It wasn’t a skill I developed growing up. That made for awkward situations when I was forced to socialize for one reason or another. Eventually, I tried to just avoid it altogether.
But over the past twenty years or so, I’ve somehow learned how to meet people, talk to them, be gracious. I’ve made a few friends. In more normal times, I’m even known to initiate social interaction with people.
Now, with the pandemic taking hold, I was forced to isolate for a while. My spouse has been gracious enough to do a lot of the shopping for us. Yet when there are opportunities to visit social-distancing style with others, I’m usually begging off.
Looking inward at my own behavior, I think I finally have to admit that I’ve just liked being at home. It feels comfortable. And the pandemic gives me an excuse to say no to going anywhere sometimes.
I still have a healthy fear of infection. But I hope this homebody thing is just temporary. I don’t want to be an introvert again. And to be honest, I miss my friends.
Corona Dailies 